The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-09-25
THE LOVE OF A
GELSHA GIRL.
BY ONOTO wATANNA.

MATSU'S father had been an Ameri-
~ can, her mother was n Japanese
woman. She had never seen her
father and her mother had died when
she was a little bit of girl, so that
she had been brought up by her
Japanese relatives, who secretly de-
spised and disliked her on her
fathers account. He was said to
have deserted her mother.
Natsu was very beautiful. She
earned her living as n geisha girl in
one of the prominent tea houses of
Nagasalli, and although her life was
essentially gay one. in view of her
profession, she had lived strangely
lonely and isolated life.
Frank Garfield was the first friend
she had ever had, and he was only
sojourning in the country for a short
season. From the first day he had
visited the tea-house with party
of tourists Natsu had attached her
self to him, and had thereafter sought
him out and followed him around
like a pathetic and faithful little dog,
to the amusement of his friends and
stealthy delight of the young man
himself, who was keenly susceptible
to the girls extraordinary beauty.
In few weeks time he had lost his
head, if not his heart, to the little
girl.
"You are the prettiest thing I have
ever seen" he told'her one day. D.,
''Morc bcauteefool than the Ameri-
cazan ladcs?"
Ever so 'much," he told her, ex-
travagantly.
$50? Then perhaps you tekin' me
with you mex time you goin' bag cross
the west waters."
"What do you want to go FORE"
She. shrugged her little shoulders,
and moved rcstlcssly at his feet.
"Me MY own self dom know. Ccp'
thad also | blongin' ad your red-head
country. Pray tex me with you.
Whad you say?"
AS he did not answer her, she CON
tinued, cproachfully, "Mcbbe you
'shamed tex me there?"
I'm not--not bit" he answered
quickly, taking her two little hands
in his, and smoothing them lovingly.
"But-cr-you lnow-that wouldn't
do at all Natsu. You wouldn't un-
derstand the people in the slightest,
and you might be very unhappy
Natsu did not answer him but the
dissatisfied look on her face deepen
ed. The dreamy, sleepy, happy days
of japanese summer passed in the
company of her lover banished the
shadow, however, and lit up the wist-
full, questioning eyes to joyous con-
tentment with her lot.
Then there came n day when Frank
climbed the hill with tagging steps.
II am going home" he told her.
with brief cruelty. The girls face
blanched pitiful white, and she be-
gan to shiver.
AN me?"
His courage broke down in the face
of her grief.
II am coming back to you. I am
coming back, sure, sure!" he lied to
her. lie knew, even as he spoke,
that il was his intention never to see
her again, but he could not summon
the courage to tell her so, and drive
away from the girls beseeching face
all its trembling, questioning, hope
full light.
Before Frank Garfield had sailed
t, hn hpI
to be his wife. She had told him very
gently that she was not prepared to
answer him then. Frank had started
out on q voyage round the world.
They had corrcspondcd constantly
during the period of his travels, and
now her answer had come to him.
1t was such as would have thrilled
him with gladncss in the old days,
for she had bade him come to her!
Yet when he read the letter slowly
he was conscious only of a pain that
stupifcd him. 1t is true he had
looked forward to, and waited for,
3his answer; yet now that it had come
he felt no delight. With hands thrust
deep into his pockets, the young man
paced the floor, thinking of Grace
Evans-thinking of Natsu
He tried to assure himself that he
was mistaken in his feeling for Natsu,
She had merely helped him bear the
pain of the separation from the
other. She was dear little thing,
tut-Erank Garfield thrust her from