The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-03-24
A GEISHA GIRL.
sv SADIE oLcorT.

beseech you TO hide me-
The words were spoken by a young
japanese who rushed into a tea house
where stood a startled geisha girl. II
was more than forty years ago. when
the followers Of the mikado and the
shotgun We're struggling for the SUI
premacy in Japan.
"What is it. Herobumi?" asked the
girl quickly.
The shoganites, They are after me.
II they catch me they viii kill me
Quick, Nikamar'
The girl darted glances in every d.
rection, and finally her eyes lighted on
what she at once recognized as the
best place for eoncealment. In every
Japanese house is a dust hole The
ground floor is raised about two feet
above the earth. and a square hole is
cut in the floor. into which the dust
and litter Of the rooms are swept.
''Get in there. quickr' cried the girl.
pointing to the hole.
Herobumi sprang into the hole, dou.
bling himself up TO occupy the space.
Nikama put a board over it, and on
the board she placed a braZier, thus
concealing the hole and making 1t ap-
pear that the brazier rested on the
door Then she sat down before the
brazier, in which was a fire, and APP
peared to be lazily warming herself.
In another moment a band Of armed
men rushed in. The girl looked up at
them In feigned surprise.
"a man is here" said their leader,
"whom we seek. We saw him enter.
Where is hep
"You are welcome TO look for him."
I'VE will see for ourselves" replied
the man, and, with his followers, he
began a search Of the premises. They
moved furniture; they opened closets;
they pulled out drawers. Into every
Granny in the house they peered, but
none Of them thought Of the dust
hole. Thinking him they sought had
simply passed through and had gone
on, they rushed out as hurriedly as
tueN udu ColHt III W hth lhVy NCAN
well away the girl called to the.hider
There is nothing now to fear. Hero
bumi. but you had better remain
where you are for awhile in case they
come back"
''Thank you, Nikama. You have
saved my life. | knew when | came,
having been here at times for tea, that
/ would not be betrayed, but did not
know that | would find one who by
her presence of mind would keep my
head on my shoulders"
The girl went out and looked about
and, finding all pursuit Of the fugitive
in that vicinity had been abandoned,
returned to the house, removed the
brazler, and Herobumi came out Of the
hole. He did not think of the dust
with which he was covered, but Nj
kama did, and, getting a wisp broom
she brushed his clothes. Then he took
both her hands in his and said to her
"You are but poor geisha girl, while
am Of far different rank, but
promise that you shall never regret
the act Of this day"
When it was dark he slipped out OF
the tea house and found more per
manent Iiace of safety.
One day-it was after the shogur
had been permanently defeated an(
the mlkado securely placed upon The
throne of Japan-a jinrikisha stopped
before the tea house. Nikama was
standing at the door, and who SHOULD
she see alight from the jinrikisha bu
the young man whose life she haC
saved. He came up and led her on
on to a veranda.
81 have not seen you for Ions
while" she said. II feared that tn,
shogunites had caught you at last"
mo; | was too slippery for them
But all my inventive powers-an(
there are those who esteem them con
siderable-are as nothing compared
with yours Had it not been for you
quick acting brain ! should not nov
be here"
The girl, naturally pleased at his ap
probation of her act, smiled an'
tlushed
II told you that you would not re
greet your act Of that terrible day,
continued the visitor. nor shall you
| wish to make you present viii
first offer you that which l value mos
highly and which will include within
Itself all ! can give you. Then If yor
prefer a part rather than the Who'll
you may ask for what you like and
will give it.
You speak in riddles, Herobum
or, rather, you speak like the mikad
when you say you will give what
ask, Are you, a young man not ye
thirty years old, so powerful that 20
can give me anything l ask?'
81 can ut least give you that which
prize most"
And that is
Myself"
The girl stood looking ac him in al
constituent. No high caste young ma
In Japan was likely to marry geish
girl
81 am the whole resumed I'll
young man III you don't find me
your taste you may take a part"
But I know YOU only as one wi
4 -. lt,.. T., 81 ton opd l