The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-10-26
The Sacrifice of V7eru San.
A Tragedy of the Japanese War.


A boy and girl sat on steep grass
slope in a japanese garden. The boy,
who wore the apron affected by STU
dents. was talking earnestly-far too
earnestly for his years, we in the west
would nave thought. The girl, whose
kimono and paper sunshade formed the
only colored relief to q background of
fresh emerald green, was listening
with downcast eyes.
1T is no use, OTeru San," the youth
said, almost mournfully; Il shall have
to go tV work like q common coolie,
for we have not the money for me TO
continue my education" The maid
made no comment to this statement.
and the boy continued to pour out his
troubles.
1T is very, very hard" he said, that
! should have come from a family of
princes, and have now to do menial
work in order that may live-perhaps
even be obliged TO serve foreigners in
some low capacity, and profess my
self obedient to people whom | de-
spise. To think of IL, O'Teru San!
From tomorrow shall so to the col
lege no more, and from the next day
will be apprenticed to al artisan. /,
who was to go next year to the mill
tary school, in order, as befits one of
my station, to become an officer; and
now, just because my father has spec
ulated badly in some Western enter
prise, | must give up all thought of
the future and live in the present-a
coolie!"
The youth cast himself over on his
side, and, although his companion
did not look up, yet she knew that
his brown eyes had filled with tears.
There was brief silence, during
which Teru San was making up her
mind.
Although to our Western ideas she
was but a child, yet here in the East
those whom we would still opine chill
dren have, in their teens, reached a
mental balance which we call matur-
ity. The cruel fate which seemed
about to ruin her companions am
bitions hurt her, as deeply as If a bann
had been placed upon herself. She al
SO had her own ambitions. But her
hopes for the future were bound up in
the success or failure of this youthful
student who had been in her life ever
since she could remember, Personal
ly also, she did not wish to be the
wife Of a carpenter or a 'rickshaw
coolie.
"Is there no way?" she said; will
not your relations do something for
your" She turned and put her hand
upon the shoulder of the PROSTATE stu
dent He shook his head mournfully.
In a moment the girl made up her
mind. "Then Teru San will do some
thing for you. O'Tanaka San, go back
to the school tomorrow. will find the
money"
There was a grand entertainment at
the Mitsui club. The resident men,
bers of this great and exclusive family
were giving a farewell send-off to a
batch of officers of the Imperial Guard
who were due to leave Toxic on the
following morning to join the trans
ports collected in the inland sea. For
the purpose of this entertainment the
ten most popular geishas in Toxic had
been retained.
The evening was halfway through,
and the young men, grouped in easy
attitudes around the room, were satia-
ted with the ordinary efforts at fe-
male dancing. Where is O'Teru SAM"
somebody shouted; others took up the
cry and clapped their hands. A screen
at the far end of the room was pushed
aside; the little frail figure appeared
in the opening 1t was Teru San. She
fell to her knees and bowed to the
ground, as is the etiquette on such oc'
casions. Then she stood up in all her
glory of gold and gray. A perfect
round of applause greeted her, for at
the moment she was the idol of young
Toxic. Even to the European estimate
she was beautiful-to young Toxic,
peerless. She glided into the center
of the room, radiant in the knowledge
Of her success, magnificent in the
blending colors OF her flnery, and she
danced as young Toxic had never
seen a geisha dance before.
Her dancing finished she stepped
down among the audience and grace
fully acknowledged the congratulations
which were heaped upon her. Surely
this girl was happy, If the happiness OF
a geisha is to be judged by popularity
Daintily she took the little China cups
which were offered her, modestly she
pressed them to her lips, just tasting
the contents. Then they pleaded with
her to dance again. All smiles she re-
tired to the stage, and gave repre-
sentation in graceful movements OF
some old ballad of love and war, such
rs young Toxic adored.
Then, bowling low, she puassed again
behind the screen. And as the sound
OF applause died in her ears. SO did
the smile Of happiness from her face