The new South-news., 1908-02-29
The
Great White Face
By F. iIadland Davis.


Kinjuro had fallen in love with a
beautiful geisha named O-kama Every
night he went to the House of the
Dancing Girls. Every night he lis
tened to the soft drum-taps of the
tsudzumi and the gentle tInkle of the
samisen And kinjurd often played
one Of the ken games with O-Kama
because he liked to watch her white
hands making the sign of the fox
or the man or the gun" He pre-
ferred TO lose at tomo-se. because then
his forfeit was to follow the bright
robed maiden round the room. But
most of all kinjuro loved 10 watch
O-kama dance and to listen TO her
song when the wine killed memory.
and only the present-only O-Kama--
was sweet.
But Kinjuro was married. and his
wife. OTsaki-San. knew about O.
Kama. For many days and nights
she kept the sorry secret to herself.
excusing her lord over and over again
because she loved him. because she be-
lieved that his love for her was great
er than his love for O-Kama But
these unexpressed excuses and these
vague beliefs did not case the sad
heart of O-Tsako-San.
One night OTsaki-San asked her
lord if he would be honorably pleased
to walk with her by the seashore. And
kinjuro restless and distracted, con-
sented to come.
Very beautiful 1t is by the sea. Kin
juro. is it not2" said O-Tsaki-San.
Very beautiful" replied her lord
moodily
Very lonesome it seems tonight,
continued O-Tsaki-San. "Why do the
waves run away from the sea and rest
in soft, gold pools ard never come
back again? Why do the pools love
the gentle touch Of the seaweed and
the white dance of the moonlight"
Il do not know, O-Kama." answered
Kinjuro.
"'O-Kama?' why do you say o.
Kama? murmured C-Tsaki-San very
sorrcwfully.
1T has a pleasant sound--only
heart of O-Tsaki-San.
kinjuTo and his wife remained ST.
lent for some time. only the noise of
the waves and the silk-like rustic OF
the washed shells broke the stiffness.
Then O-Tsaki-San said
Dear lord. upon the sacred noun
tain of Oki there is a shrine of Co
gem -Sama. On a certain night II Is
said that three great lights go up to-
gether from the sea and enter the
lamps that stand upon the sacred
mountain. But only the pure in
heart and the true in love 1an see those
lights. Kinjuro''
And Kiniufo knew In his heart as
he looked out across the wafer. that
n16uSi 49, he could not see the three
rs go UP from the ocean to-
-. Tonight and Tomorrow anl
for always he would not see the fires
of Gogen-Sama. But IL troubled not
the heart Of kinjuro. Very sweet and
very beautiful and very winsome was
little OKama. What were tie strange
fancies OF a god compared with his
dancing girl? More beautiful We're the
love songs and love ways Of O-Kama
than all the gold pomps Of the sea-
Once, continued OTsaki-San, 'the
Emperor Go-Toba was troubled by the
croakng of frogs. and Go-Toba went
out into his garden and said to the
frogs. Be silent And once a pine
tree made fearsome noise in the
night. and the Emperor said 10 the
zine tree. Be still And the frogs
and the pine tree never spoke again.
-. My love tonight has said to me.
Be silent. be still.' And oh my lone
some heart shall be silent and still in
deed"
But Kinjuro said never a word ex-
cept BE honorably pleased TO come
home now" And Kinjuro and O.
Tsaki-SAn retraced their steps. and
the sawed played softly In the pools.
Softly the sound Of music came from