The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-05
Ths Pilgrimage Of 0'TOys- san.


by IDA MANSFIELD WILSON.
CcoDynght 1901. b Daily story Pub. CO.,
Poor little O'JOya-san. Che Dluckel
nergously At her 1irdle. while be-
mother poured out yoluble admoni
flons az 10 the necessity Of this dis
tasteful marriage offered 10 her. Dis
tasteful What was she. a mere girl
70 have opinions of her own, As Il
she could be supposed 70 know what
was best for her future weifaFel Here
was a man who would honorabiy con
descend 10 settle ten kOlsus Of rice
upon her honorable father. besides the
presents Of tea and silk which had al
ready been received Would she in
deed dare to question the wisdom Of
her parents IN this matter concerning
her welfare.
OToya-san poutod her red lips and
essayed feeble protest: But be Is 80
old, 70 yellow. He IL Ike withered
tree, bent and twisted by storms. His
teeth are Ike the fox-demon's and
when he looks at one bis eyes CLEAN
like a ferret's" A shudder Of disgust
qniyered through her frame.
The O-kami-san eyed her daughter
with suspicion.
who has put ruch nonsense In your
hcadY she queried This comes Of
your visits TO the Bund. and the bold
talk Of the young girls who hire them
selves to the foreign devils az amahs.
II was not so when ! was young We
knew that In order 70 be pleasing TO
the Buddha We must show flial respect
and piety Go away from my sight
ungrateful one, until you learn 70
show an obedlent spirit 70 your par
ents wishes"
O'Toya-san went out into the min
iature garden with bent head and fore
bodlng heart. She had no eyes for the
pink cherry blossoms. which clustered
in fragrant bloom upon the leahesa
trees. showing lnterstices OF blue sky
between. In vain they drifted like
prigmatic snow-hakes at her small
feet She relcntlessly crushed them.
She was deaf 70 her Gagged singing
crickets. which greeted her with mu-
eical raptures The goldfish IN the
artificial pond darted TO the side in
quest Of the tiny morsels Of rice cake
OToya-san needed them not, for to-
day she felt that crisis had come In
TO her young life and that she must
pray 70 Hotai God OF Happiness, to
help her.
fhat which her mother had said
was true, O'Toya-san reflected. Down
on the Hatoba she had frequently met
certain friends who, with their young
children Of American
tourists we're IN the habit OF stroIllng
there. One Of them hal accompanied
her employer to America. and in due
time returned with wcndrous tales OF
that great and free land
II was like q dream " onchantment |
TO listen to tho greatly-traveled one
OToya-san recalled the description OF |
the palaces whore one bought beauti-
ful things 70 wear and 10 eat. Of the
toa houses which reached tho sky, and |
of The small rooms substitute for
stairs, which moved swiftly up and
down inside these huge buildings
3he described the wonderful cars
which flew up and down hills without
'ither horses or linrilusha runners. AT
Tho command Of man who stood in
fhe front part and grasped an iron
handle. And then, most strange In
his land Of opsy-turyydom. the young
ylrls Kissed the young men What a
Itir that statement had created II
VAS received with little shrleles OF In
and fearful delight. What
Really Are you certain? lmpossible
lsaallod the ears OF the Japanese
O'Toya-san herself was
keptical. No modest. self-respectlng
'irl would be guilty OF such breach
i modosty. 5till II one liked some
nc else very much-pne face rose be-
ore O'Toya-san--0nd II were the Ct
quette Of even a barbarous country
he blushed. Later a thought flashed
trough her mind which crystallized
nto resolve. will go 20 the shrine"
he whispered TO herself. and learn
ny fate"
9bc day was done All the world