St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-09-27

everything but the girl herself, and
felt like throwing up all his plans
staying in Japan, and-yes, ever
marrying Natsu. But these wild
ideas only remained with him Will,
he was in her presence, and one,
alone he returned to all his firm reso
lutions Of duty to Grace Evans.
But as the boat moved away, ant
he saw the dim outline of the re
ceding shore, he wondered if after al
he could forget Natsu so easily.
AS for Natsu-San? She found he1
way back to the tea-garden, her face
happy in spite of the tear traces OF
it. AS she passed in at the gate three
geisha girls were playing on harps
and samisens. Natsu caught up {
small drumstick, and beat four ire
menduous blows on the drum. This
relieved her.
1t was two years later. Grace
Evans was very happy. She was wait
ing for Frank Garfield. When he hac
returned to America the girl haG
again put off their marriage, plead
ing that she was not yet prepared tc
renounce her girlhood. Now she was
ready. 1t would be only one month
before the wedding. The girls fair
beautiful face was flushed and happy
She had just returned from a trip tc
Europe.
She stood with her hands clasped
before her, looking out of the win.
dow. Frank had come in very softly
upon her, she raised her calm eyes
with the little dream still in them as
he took her hand in his.
'Oh, it is you'll" she said, emphasiz-
ing tenderly the last word. They
sat down together side by side, their
hands still clasped, the girls face
shining with its quiet pleasure, which
however was not reflected in the
mans. He was nervous and con-
| strained.
cit is quite near the time now,
little girl" he said tenderly.
eyes, dear"
"You have made me wait a long
! time"
Eyes, have" she was smiling at
him in her slow, calm way, ''but it is
all over now"
"Yes, all over" he breathed be-
tween his set teeth. His words
| sounded like a sigh.
"Why,' she pouted, ''you look quite
gloomy"
His face turned from hers now.
He got up restlessly and walked
across the room. For moment he
was silent, then he stole look at
her sweet, dreamy face. She had
forgotten already what she had said,
and scarcely noticed his nervousness,
for she was SO assured and happy.
Garfield almost groaned aloud as he
looked at her. He knew the bitter,
agonizing truth, even though he had
hidden it from her. He did not love
her after all. He had not yet for
gotten Natsu-San.
One night he had dreamt of Natsu-
San-dreamt she was standing by
his side; once more she was minis
tering to his wants; she was smooth
ing away all the lines of care from
his face that had come there since
he had left her, and he, Garfield, the
stole, as they called him, was laugh
ing aloud in boyish delight. All the
next day he thought of her, and each
day after that the memory had
grown, not diminished. Sometimes
he was filed with wild, almost in
sane, longing to go to her, to see her
once more, if only for moment, to
whisper sweet words of love with all
the abandon she had loved to hear in
the old days. But in the midst of
his longing Grace returned, and for
the time being his delirious mind
came back to the ever-present duty
"a stern duty that he felt he owed
her.
Now that his mind was consumed
with memories of Natsu-San he was
Mortified to find that what he had
hitherto reverenced in Grace, that
strange atmosphere about her that
even held him at distance, was slow
ly being replaced by feeling of re-
pugnance, almost dislike. When the
girls long, cold, white hands rested
in his he felt strangely repealed, and
longed with longing that was al
most insanity for the clasp of warm
little fervid fingers that would cling
to his with passion that would
thrill him.
Now a silence had been between
them for some time. The girl broke
it to say, in her slow, gentle way,
II forgot to tell you, dear, but we
had little surprise yesterday"
eyes," he said, trying to appear
interested.
eyes, thought it would interest
you, after your having been in Japan.
Papa brought a friend home to DIM
ner last night-a Mr.. Pierce. We
knew him in Philadelphia. He is very
and used to live in Japan
some years ago. He went back last
year, and now has returned with a
dear little Japanese girl-and-she
is-his-own-daughter, he says.
Was born on his first visit to Japan.
No one knew of it, but he was mar
ried to a Japanese woman. He didn't
tell US why they separated, but they
did anyhow. She died-the wife
and now he has the child. He is just
as proud of her as he can be. He
said he would bring her to see us
tonight. He told us all about how
glad she was to see him, and how
fond he has grown of her. Isn't it
Just to think of that
poor man living all these years alone
when he had little daughter"