The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-10
z HE LITTLE GEISHA
BY ONOTO WATANNA.

Copyright, 1905, By Joseph B. Bawles.)
Okikusan was In trouble again.
This time she had offended her master
by refusing TO dance for tho American
who threw his money 30 lavishly about.
the red cheeks large eyes and white skin
be asked to dance for him.
Tho dancing mats were thrown, the
music started, and INku had thrust
forward one little foot and had courtesied
to the four corners OF tho earth Then
she twtrled clear around on the tips OF
tho toes of one little foot, her hand
tapering out toward the American. She
had started to dance without once glanc-
ing at the visitor. BY chance her ego
happened to fail on him. and with n
| sudden whim she paused In her steps
and subsidized to the mats, her little feet
| drawn under her.
The American was watching the girl
with amused eyes. Then he crossed to
| where she sat on the ground.
Why did you stop dancing?'' he asked
her, in fairly good Japanese
She answered him In broken English:
"Tha's account nod lig' to DAME for
you'll" she told him candidly.
The girl still sat on ten mat. looking
straight out before her. her face I'M
readable in It's cold indifference. Hilton
could not understand her. She was so
unlike any Japanese girl he had ever
met, for they generally were 80 willing
and eager to please. After a time he broke
tho somewhat strained silence to say. In
his soft. drawing fashions:
Would you not like eon1ething-er-to
drink? Shall fetch something for you?"
The question was 80 absurd that the
girls studied Indifference broke down.
"Tha'a nod your place to waid on mel"
| she said softly, rising to her feet. ~
thing thad you lig something to dring.
| Yes? Thad I git paid to worg here.
| thing. bedder bring yo,i something to
drlng." she added stlftly. bud I nod
| lig to waid on you. prefer vaery much
waid on Japanese gents
There was slhdlant softness to her
voice that was bewtldering In It's charm
and sweetness, and her broken English
was prettier than anything he had ever
| heard.
When she brought the hot sake" back
| to him her face was smiling above the
dainty tray. and as she knelt at his feet
while he drank 1t. he could see that her
former 4petulant mood was gone, and
that she was now using every effort to
please and conciliate him.
Now you look like Japanese sun
BEAM" he told her. softly. looking I'M
utterable things at her out OF his deep
gray eyes.
That's account I .frald Citing dis
charged" she told him. calmly, still
smiling, 'Mr. Takahashi tell me IL nod
| vaery kin to you he goin to send mo
long way from here
"Ah. see. Then you are only pretend
ing to smle?'.
/ ey,~ H.
Yes. she said. .indifferently. That's
worg for .gelsha girl. whad You thing
we gotn' to git paid for? Account we
frown? Or account we laugh? thing
/ tha's account we laugh. Thad Is my worg.
What you thing?'
THAT You are philosopher" he told
her, smiling. and added: but what a
cynic. too; ! didn't expect to find It
among Japanese women--syniclsm..'
The girl smiled n trifle bitterly.
"oa!" she said. YOU nod fin thad
mong Japanese-only ma! different
from aeverybody else She set the tray
on the ground and. sat down at his feet.
How old are you?" Hilton asked her
curiously.
Twenty two" she told him.
you look like n chi,d.'
1t was two weeks later. With a rest
less fascination he could not understand
Hilton went every day to the little tea
house on the hill. Always he sought ont
Okikusan, and would SPEND the entire day
with her. totally obltvious to almost all
else save the girls beauty and charm.
And Hilton forgot his mission In Japan,
forgot that Japanese women had always
been merely the playthings OF moment
that he had tired OF lire--eYerything save
the delightful, Irresistible feelings that
had awakened In him. What was IT.?
Hilton was In love. and with a Japanese
wnnnan!
Years ago. he had married one In jap
anese fashion. and had left her, She had
been a gentle, clinginE little woman. with
whom he had passed a dreamy. sleepy
4 summer. What could he do with Kiku?
i She was unlike any Japanese woman he
had ever known-unl,ko any woman he
had met. She was this one woman In
q the world he had .loved during all his
j long. checkered cnreer-a lie spent IN
idle pursuit Of his own pleasures.
Hilton's friend. WHO had Accompanies
him on the voyage. was peglnnlnE y 3ee 60
anxious about him. TOT M sp'.s o. ~
admission OF his own weakness for dap
me SO women, he was far more alive &c
and quick to scent real danger than Hill
4 ton. who followed his extrava CANT Inn
MUSES. only, while the cooler man kept
q. level head in the midst Of his pleasures
"My dear boy. ne sag .,,a' 70 ~. tit'ou'
Hilton laughed weakly.
''Nonsense!"
YOU are in love with some Japanese
r,rll,, his friend continued. You want
4 to look out for them. you know,
Hilton rose to his feet and began pac-
ing the room in long. irregular strides,
"Don't you suppose am old enough
TO he proof against such things!"
well, don't know. Hilton. to tell
YOU tho truth You see, Japanese NO
men are different. you're oply human.
after all, Id advise you. to marry her
for awhile, of course. as you did thu
other one"
II have an idea Hilton said, Will
some hesitancy, that am too old Tor
another affair OF that kind. thought
Of settling down-that Is, Intended re-
turning to America, andvTer-mar arriving y.
"What are you waiting for, them"
He flung himself restlessly pcross q
couch, staring moodily at the fusun,a,
What do you say to our leaving next
week?',
II Good N