Evening star., 1909-05-15


that he would soon come again.
He had been with her nearly week
when Hama came down from the hills
for one of her periodical visits to the
village: several pretty heads had been
exercised about the handsome lad. and all
manner OF errands invented to bring their
owners into the shop a dozen times
day. The country maiden, have more
liberty than their sisters in the towns.
and Matsu, whose fath.r was the inn
keeper. told her parents frankly that If
she had her way. there was the husband
for her! But lima was not dazzled by
her preference or her prospective fortune.
He did not want to talk to Matsu or
any other girl-they were all silly crea-
lures. And then Hama, tho maid of the
woods. had come in. with her arms full
of her pretty wares, the soft shadows
and sudden sunbeams Of the forest still
in her eye, and some of its music in her
voice; her feet fell lightly as the leaf from
the tree. and in her crown OF shining
hair baby pine cone had been stuck
for a pin. Her blue and white robe
smelled Of the mountain flowers. and
lima thought he had never seen any one
SO beautiful in his life. His big. foolish
heart. (for no heart Is overwise at
twentyD jumped wildly and then stood
still. Hama had paused in the doorway;
the sun behind her framed her in a golden
haze, and, indeed. the girl was a picture
Of sweet and happy innocence.
She looked shyly at the young man. and
then Kamoyo had hurried forward to re-
lieve her. Of her baskets. and they all be-
gan to talk and lima was soon himself
again. Then had come the walk up the
hill and the sight of Hana's forest home.
Old Sakubei had received him kindly
and thanked him for helping the child.
For the next few days Ijima's moods al.
ternated between dreams Of ambition and
dreams OF love. When the sterner At
was on him he was silent and rather
lordly with good Aunt Kamoyo. But In
the soft sunset hour. when he would stroll
out to smoke his pipe by the stream that
emptied itself into the broad lake. then
q. remembrance of Hana's sweet face
and laughing eyes would come back 20
him. and the pines reaching down long
green arms to the water would seem to
sigh her name. 1t was only a pet name
after all, but lima had heard her called
by no other. It meant Blossoms" and
must have been made for her alone, to
Judge by its fitness.
Seen In the light Of those about Hama,
his mental landscape changed. The dis
tant horizons looked less inviting. nearer
sweetness more sweet.
So It was a foregone conclusion that
lima should climb the hill tho next morn
ing and knock timidly at the cottage
door. No one answered him Old Sakubei
was out at work. and Hama was sitting
at the foot Of her favorite tree, looking
up into the branches and wondering what
It felt like to have wings. Then there
was the sound OF footstep. and she
turned to see lima standing by her side
in his best clothes. the sun shining
down through the pine branches on fis
kind face ana friendly eyes. He had his
straw hat in one hand and with the other
was holding out little packet Of sweets,
tied with red and white paper strings to
show that 1t was present. His heart
was humping wildly. and he felt terribly
shy. but Hama had no idea Of that.
She jumped up quickly and made her
Lima could see the back Of her smooth
sunburnt neck where the hair left 1t ex-
posed. Then he bowed also, and found
his tongue sufficiently to ask after her
health and to beg her to accept the quite
unworthy sugar cakes as q present from
his aunt. This was bold untruth, for
he had robbed Kamoyo's store Of the
sweets and tied them up himself.
1T will have to be the 'farmw said lima
aloud. feeling that his mind had been
made up for him without his own CO.
operation, and Hama turned and gave
him a puzzled look.
What did you say about a farmr' she
asked II did not understand"
"Oh. nothing was thinking Of
something else. he answered, getting
rather red. Forgive my rudeness, o
Hama San! And now will co." he added,
reaching out for his hat, which he had
thrown on the ground.
So he went on. happy thoughts keeping
pace with young feet, and all his smbi-
tions to see the world forgotten. Hana's
pretty face had done in a moment what
the good uncle's years OF lecturing had
never accomplished.
Kamoyo worked rapidly. and . great
pile Of the fragrant squares was on the
counter at her elbow. ehe looked up at
her nephew with q smile, but did not
cease from her occupation. He came and
sat down close beside her. looking 90 i'm
portant that she said. laughing:
What has happened. my boy? You
look as II some one had left you for