The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-09-25

'uie mCmorys AVT oisSH al Su0 W.
impossible for him--a Japanese girl!
What would his friends, his parents,
his society sisters say were Ae to re-
turn with Japanese bride? The
idea was preposterous. And SO for
the present he let the memory Of his
old love absorb his heart, and push
slowly from it the dear delight of
his present love.
When he. had told her the parting
would not be forever she had been so
sweet and acquiescent and trusting
that for n moment Frank forgot
everything but the girl herself, and
felt like throwing up all his plans,
staying in Japan, and-yes, even
marrying Natsu. But these wild
ideas only remained with him while
he was in her presence. and once
alone he returned to all his firm reso-
lutions of duty to Grace Evans.
But as the boat moved away, and
he saw the dim outline of the re-
ceding shore, he wondered if after all
he could forget Natsu so easily.
AS for Natsu-San? She found her
way back to the tea-garden, her face
happy in spite of the tear traces on
it. AS she passed in at the gate three
geisha girls were playing on harps
and samisens. Natsu caught up n
small drumstick, and beat four tre-
.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 had
returned to America the girl had
again put off their marriage, plead
ing that she was not yet prepared to
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 trip to
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!" 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.
1T is quite near the time now,
little girl" he said tenderly.
"Yes, dear"
"Iou have made me wait long
time"
"Yes, l 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 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
tcring 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
stoic, 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 filled with a wild, almost in
sane, longing to go to her, to see her
once more, if only for a moment to
whisper sweet words of love with all
AII' dbillNl'i SIlN lluNl lbNtNl " utuT Ill
the old days. But in the midst of
| his longing Grace returned, and for
the time being his delirious mind
came back to the evcr-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 a 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 repelled, and
longed with longing that was al
most insanity for the clasp of warm
little fervid fingers that would cling
to his with a passion that would
thrill him.
Now a silence had been between