The Detroit times., 1909-01-16

songs he remem Oereu from COllebe,
in a rich baritone. keeping time with
his strokes.
Il so soprise YOU sing. she SAID
when ne had finished And then, to
his great delight, she clapped her little
hands. as she had seen the foreigners
DO.
As they walked leisurely away from
the lake shore more than one prom
enading couple turned TO look after
them Being of medium height and
well built. he was not too tall for her
petite graceful figure. Moreover his
dark eyes and nut brown hair and
mOustache and regular features did
not emphasize the contrast usually oh
served between the facial appearance
of persons OF different races. Morden
was dressed in a light inconspicuous
business suit. but the geisha had
donned her holiday attire and was re-
splendent with color. The radiance
OF their countenances betrayed their
secret and gave rise to whispered re-
marks. All the world loves lover,
and Japan Is no exception TO the rule.
That evening. for the first time.
she allowed him TO take her home and
her dwelling with melodious Good
night" On attempting 10 give her
farewell kiss, however, he found that
there was still one barrier between
them. the infiexibilty OF Japanese
decorum.
On returning TO his hotel he felt
vaguely that il was his duty 10 break
the news TO the girl waiting for him
across the seas; 10 tell her OF his
changed life. his discovery that
what he had felt for her was
naught but friendship-that he
had never known what love
was until he met Kohana. But
he shrank from this disagreeable duty
and decided TO put off writing to her,
until II became absolutely necessary.
What did il matter, anyway. whether
she received what would be sad It'd
ings TO her a month sooner or later.
With all the conceit Of the average
son OF Adam he imagined that his
faithlessness would all but crush her.
and he deemed ii a mercy to put off
anything that would bring naught but
sorrow TO her
Had he but known IT, she was in
formed OF his detection even then. A
letter postmarked Kyoto, from a mis-
sionary friend with whom she had at
tended Wellesley college, that had
reached her but a day or two before,
conscientiously executed the duty
Morden had shirked.
"Mr. Morden," her friend wrote, us
infatuated with a Japanese singer and
dancer OF unusual beauty A report
has gained currency that he proposes
10 marry this geisha and settle in
Japan. | hope II Is unfounded. am
going TO call on this girl and see what
| can do with her. 1t appears to be
a useless task, however, as | am told
the geisha is as deeply in love with
him, as he is with her. hope he will
come TO his senses before IL Is too
late"
And true to her word. Miss Alice
Brown called upon Kohana. She had
no difficulty in being admitted. The
geisha was just engaged in dressing
herself. for her daily visit to the tea
house. In fact, attended by her maid,
she was just putting the final touches
70 rather elaborate toilette. from the
Cross-stcks and butterfly ornaments
In her couture TO the delicate silk EN-.
Droidery on her clogs. Though the
missionary was inclined to be critical,
she had to admit II was no wonder
this woman had turned the head OF
her countryman. Kohana's kindliness
of manner and beauty softened Miss
Browns heart and made her disin-
clined to disclose the real purpose OF
her visit If 1t had not been for what
she considered her duty. she would
have turned back and fled precipitate-
~, But duty was her strong point. Be-
ing perfect Japanese linguist and
fully conservant with the customary
ceremonial OF the land of the mikado.
she began by exchanging compliments
with Kohana. eulogizing her ancestors
and finally coming down to the present
day. herself and then--and then to her
irotoko the Japanese term OF en-
dearment for men. corresponding to
our lover"
At the commencement OF the con-
versation the women had seated them.
selves on the floor mating, whence
the geisha now regarded her adversary
with flashing eyes. At length she I'M
derstood why the Christian had come
TO see her. What puzzled her still.
however. was TO divine the motive that
led the missionary to interfere
But the latter did not leave her long
In doubt concerning this point. Brief.
ly she told her OF the girl to whom
Modern had been betrothed I'm far-off
America, and frankly predicted that he
would break his faith with the Jap
anesc girl as he had broken IL with
her countrywoman, and more to the
same effect. She reminded Kohana.
too, OF the unhappiness that had fol.
lowed the last Japanese American
union at Kyoto.
The girls faith in her lover was not
TO be so lightly shaken. however. much
less destroyed. She told Miss Brown
she was convinced Of the integrity of
her irotoko. and politely intimated that
she would not be disconsolate at her
visitors departure.
The missionary became aware OF the
necessity OF change OF tactics. II she
would accomplish her purpose and pres.
emily began 10 make comparisons be.
tween the respective stations I'm life
OF the geisha and her lover. Morden
she told the poor girl. was rich and
had every prospect Of becoming
power In the mercantile world. ultl
m1tely taking the place Of his father