Evening journal., 1910-04-21
A GEISHA GIRL,
BY SADIE oLcorT.


The words were spoken by young
Japanese who rushed into a tea house
where stood a startled gcisha girl. lt
was more than forty years ago. when
the followers Of the mlkado and thu
shogun were struggling for the su
premacy in Japan.
"What is it, Herobumi?' asked tho
girl quickly
'The shoganitesl They are after me.
II they catch me they will kill me.
Quick, Nikamaw
The girl darted glanccs in every di'
rection, and finally her eyes lighted on
what she nt once recognized as tho
best place for concealment. In every
Japanese house is a dust hole. Tho
ground floor is raised about two fec;
above the earth. and a square hole -
cut in the floor, into which the dust
and litter Of the rooms are swept.
"Get in there, Quickw cried the girl.
pointing to the hole
Hcrobumi spraug into the hole dou.
bling himself up to occupy the space.
Nikama put a board over it. and on
the board she placed brazier, thus
concealing the hole and making Il ap.
pear that the brazier rested on tho
floor. Then she sat down before tho
brazier in which was fire. and ap.
peared to be lazily warming herself
In another moment a band OF armed
men rushed in. The girl looked up az
them IN feigned surprise.
"A man is here" said their leader
"whom we seek. We saw him enter
Where Is he?"
"You are welcome to look for him"
"We will see for ourselves replied
the man. and, with his followers. h,
began a search Of the premises. They
moved furniture; they opened closets
/ they pulled out drawers. Into ever,
Granny in the house they peered, bu
none OF them thought Of the dus
! hole Thinking him they sought ha6
j simply passed through and had gon'
on, they rushed out as hurriedly al
! thew had come in When they were
well away the girl called to the hider
There is nothing now 70 fear. Hero
bumi. but YOU had better remail
where you are for awhile in case the,
come back
Thank you, Nikama. You hav
saved my life I knew when I came
having been here at times for tea, tina
I would not he betrayed. but l did NO
know that would find one who b.
her presence Of mind would keep m
head on my shoulders"
The girl went out and looked abou
and. finding all pursuit of the fugitiv
] In that vicinity had been abandoned
returned to the house, removed th
I brazier. and Herobumi came out OF Il
hole He did not think Of the dui
. with which he was covered, but \
P kama did, and. getting a wisp brooI
z she brushed his clothes. Then he too
d both her hands in his and said TO he
e "You are hut poor geisha girl, VIII
s, / am OF far different rank, but
promise that you shall never regr
= the act Of this day"
= When It was dark he slipped out
!, the tea house and found more pc
manent place OF safety.
One day-it was after the shogu
!. had been permanently defeated an
q the mikado securely placed upon a
i throne OF Japan-a jinrikisha stoppC
z before the tea house Nikama W.
standing At the door. and who shou
she see alight from the jinrikisha bl
J the young man whose life she ha
a saved He came up and led her ol
on TO n veranda
Il have not seen you for a lor
while" she said. Il feared that Il
4 shogunites had caught you at last
q NO; l was too slippery for then
70 But all my inventive powers-an
o there are those who esteem them col
y siderable-are as nothing compare
with yours. Had it not been for yol
quick acting brain I should not no
be here"
IT The girl. naturally pleased at his a
probation Of her act smiled ar
blushed.
Y 81 told you that you would not r
" gret your ret Of that terrible day
n continued the visitor. nor shall yo
- I wish TO make you a present W
FIRST offer you that which value mo
W highly and which will include with
itself all / can give you. Then II "
y prefer a part rather than the who
" you may ask for what you like and
=, will give it.
"You speak in riddles. Herobun
. or. rather, you speak like the mikal
IA when you say you will give what
m ask. Are you, a young man not Y
Is. thirty years old, so powerful that y
"a can give me anything I askf'
nd q can at least give you that which
prize most"
be And that is
as Myself"
The girl stood looking at him in {
he tonishment. No high caste young m
r. in Japan was likely TO marry gels
.al girl
no Il am the whole" resumed
nj young man. IF you don't find me
your taste you may take part
IN But l know you only as one W
~ has come here to drink tea and
= amused" said Nikama.
"Oh, you wish for my credentia
Well. then, know that when our n
Il. government was formed It was l W
- was principally intrusted with
lin formation. Then / was made pri
ng minister by the emperor. and q
lat Office I hold at the present time"
ng 1t is true that Prince Herobumi
Ire of Janan who yvag recently assa