The new South-news., 1908-02-29

a nFisniIs-lit dwelling. and the tap Of
feet and the low murmnr Of laughter.
Presently the music and the laughter
and the dancing ceased screen was
pulled aside. and kinjuro stepped out
from tie house Of o-Kama and went
IN the direction Of his own home.
Snow began TO fan from the dark
clouds above. kiniu-o pulled his obi
more tightly mound his waaded robe.
strange fear possessed him. The
snow seemed to cry as he trod upon 1t.
and ghosts and gohlirs seemed to
siobcr at him from behind the pine
Trees Surely the Fox women were
pfowling about tonight. kinjaro shud-
dered. and tried 10 sing a line from one
Of o-kama's songs; but the wind lay
cold fingers on his throat and Kin
liro remained silent; Then. just in
front Of him. great white figure
loomed Her face was very beautiful
and her stature was greater than the
tallest pine tree.
Il am Nuki-onna. am the Woman
cf the Snow. The sound of her
voice was like the sound OF breeze.
Come. kiniuro. come into the for
est for ! am thirsty tonight"
kiniuro tremblcd and followed the
Woman OF the Snow until they came
into the forest. Finding an open
space. they rested. and Yuki-onna rut
her arms tightly round kinjuro and
her embrace WIS cold as ice.
'ha, Ha, my lover. arc these arms
coldY' exclaimed Yuki-Onra.
Very, very cold" replied Kiujuro.
Then she pressed her great white
face against his and laughed softly to
herself.
Are my LIS coldY7 murmurcd Yukl-
onna
Very. very cold. answered Kinjuro.
You will be just as cold some day.
just as cold"
fnki-Onna united the robe and un-
derearments OF kinjuo, and pressed
her lips against his breast. And Kin
juro knew that his life blood was be-
ing sucked away
Big Jumps of snow fell with soft
thud on the ground. and the wind
made sad music in the pine trees.
This Is Ike the love of geishas. the
love Of o-Kama," said Yuki-Onna.
still pressing her lirs against his
breast, 1T wastes and wastes until the
end comes An the songs and the
dances and the laughter grow still I'm
the Place of the Eternal Enow. This is
the love that grows cod. this is the |
love that is called Death this is the
love" But Kinjuro heard no more.
The gods had been very good to o. |
Tsaki-San. when her lord did not re- |
turn they directed her to the forest |
where Kinjuro lay And when she ar |
rived at the open space where her hus-
band was lying near a great pine tree |
iestooncd with snow, great fear |
possessed her--a fear that Kinjuro was |
dead and that the snow was his wind |
Ing sheet Softly she laid his head IN |
her lap and tried to restore him to |
consciousness.
And presently all the loving care Of |
O-Tsaki-San was rewarded. Kinjuro
opered his eyes and they we're fun of |
fea-
The Great White Face. whore Is the |
Great White Face. the Woman of the |
Sno"T murmured Kinjuro. Look,
she is pressing her lips against the
stars. See, how red they are,"
Hush, dear lord. you have been
dreaming. Trouble not now that
have found you" and tears fell upon
the face of Knjuro.
This is the love that grows cold.
this is the love that is called Death"
said Kinjufo. over and over again.
Gradually the mind of KInjuro grew
more clear, and presently his heart
grew very tender, and a gentle smile
lit up his face. His lips trembled; but
he could not speak. O-Tsaki-San ca
ressed her lords face and wept for
Joy.
Then Kinjuro said. Little Moon
Lady think You that could see the
three great lights rise up from the
ocean now?'
And O-Tsaki-San nodded and laughed
and sang. and then she whispered
very softly. Sometimes the little pools
run down TO the sea and never go back
again. And this is the love that is
called Life"
And presently there were four foot
prints In the snow. and Love was
long. long time making them. Black
and White