Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-24
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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his own, incosing them warmly, almost savage
ly, in his grasp. Then his voice came to him. II
was very husky and strange.
"Speaki"
"Gol-Gol"
This was all she whisperingly cried. She kept
repeating il over and over between her chatter
ing teeth AS he wound his arms about her
shivering form he found that she was dripping
wet Could it be that she had fallen into the
moat? BY what miracle Of the gods, then, had
she been saved? The dark waters were so deep
SO deep
"You are wet and cold You have met with
an accident"
'No, no." she said. at was the honorable
grass-so wet-so cold, like a lake. l crawled
through 1t, on my hands and knees, close to the
moat."
But why did you do it, why did you do it?"
His voice was implorng.
"To come to you. To be with you--to--"
He clasped her closer, warmed to the soul by
her words.
"Ah, then it is not true" he cried, "and you
do still love me, Fuji-waraW
Better than my soul Better than my duty
to the gods" she whispered.
The sound of her voice was muf6ed. Her
words literally sighed through her lips. He
could not comprehend; he knew only that she
loved him, had come to him, and she was
all water-wet, pale-eyed and trembling one
who sleeps with fear. And because that strange
voice hurt his SOUL he covered her lips with his
hand. She made no remonstrance, but sank into
his arms, almost as if she had tainted. But
looking down he her eyes were wide open,
shining like dark stars. They startled him. They
were like those of dead woman. He shook
her almost roughly in his fright.
Wistara Speak to me! What is it? Tell
me your trouble"
"Trouble!" she repeated dazedly. "Trouble"
Then she remembered. She grasped his arm
Ir,nc ,Niar o,Un fha
into his flesh
You must go-go! Go quickly-run all the
way Do not stop one moment-not one little
moment"
''Go away? Run? What are you saying?"
Listen! In moment, perhaps, ] may not
have power to speak. My strength is failing
me. 1 thought you would obey the word / sent
you. But saw you fall down among the grasses
and all day long | have watched from my win
dow, waiting, waiting, waiting to see you de-
part. No, no-listen unto me-do not speak.
escaped the vigilance of my iailers-my execu-
TONERS Oh, will you not understand? I have
come through perils you cannot imagine to warn
you-to beg you on my knees to go away at
once. Hasten to Choshui!"
Her breath failed her. She had been speak
ing quickly, in sharp gasps
But | do not understand" he said.
"Your prnce-your august prince is in dan
ger!'
"What%
"The Prince of-the young Prince Keiki," she
gasped. =.
'The young Prince Keiki!" he repeated, in
credulously.
eyes, yes; they have discovered his secrets
they will arrest him for treason and"
He almost shouted
Ellis secrets! The cause! Oh, all the gods"
"You can save him. There may be time.
They will take him and cast him into dungeon
and kill him!'
'I must set off at once" excitedly he NUT
tered. "What could have happened in my abb
senceH
Her shivering, trembling presence recalled him.
He was distracted at the thought of leaving her
He could think of nothing else. He tried to see
her white face in the darkness, but could only
trace the pale outlines. Suddenly he took it in
his hands.
'Fuji-wara" he whispered, in voice of min
qled love and agony. "How can / leave you?
How can do so? And yet you would not have
me act the part of coward, the false traitor,
You would be the first to bid me CO."
CO. go" she cried, releasing herself from his
hands feverishly.
"And you?"
"Lead me back into the path. I shall find my
way from there"
Leading her, he questioned anxously:
"There is danger for you here, Wistaria? Tell
me. or | shall not depart"
She turned the question.
"I.ast night there a slight earthquake in
the province. There is always danger. But you
and / have pledged each other. For the time of
this life and the next, and as many after as may
come, will be your Aower-wife and you my
husband"
At parting he kissed the hem of her kimono
and the little, watersoaked foot beneath.