The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-09-02
WHAT CAME OF
A FILTRATION
BY E. bartlett THORPE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

mission 10 go ashore together.
| We sauntered along one Of the
streets till we came to the outskirts,
where the houses were farther apart
and their surroundings more ample
Passing garden inclosed by low
wall, we saw u couple of pretty Japa
nese girls picking flowers. Jack took
out his handkerchief-th method In
those days of flirting; | don't know
| how they do 1t new-and waved It,
| We were not more than dozen yards
from the girls. one Of whom. seeing a
! couple of European youngsters in uni
form. tossed n rose over the wall. 1t
fell at jacks feet. He picked it up.
inhaled its odor. kissed 1t and put it
IN the buttonhole of his jacket.
Both girls laughed. and the other
girl threw another rose, which pick
ed up. inhaled. kissed and put In my
own buttonholes. Then, like good boys.
We walked on. We didn't care to ap-
pear too presuming, and we didn't
wish to frighten the little birds by
rushing matters. But we didn't walk
very far. We soon turned and went
back toward the place where we had
seen the girls. We argued that If they
wished for our further acquaintance
they would remain where they were
expecting our return.
We found them In exactly the same
place. but as we drew near they turn
ed their backs upon us. Jack gave
loud "Ahem" One of the girls turned
and smiled. | gave another "Ahem!"
and the other girl turned also. This
was enough for Jack. who needed
only moiety of encouragement. and
he vaulted the wall. | followed him.
II was making an acquaintance under
difficulties, we not speaking the Japa-
nese language and they not knowing
word of English. Jack, whose bold
ness naturally gave him the initiative,
pointed to the flowers growing about
us and by well enacted pantomime
indicated that we would like some Of
them. The girls understood, plucked
lot for each of us, then by pantomime
OF course we got separated. Jack 60
ing with her who had thrown him the
rose, with her companion, who had
favored me- Why they took the lib
erty Of receiving us so unceremonious-
ly l didn't know. They were surely
Of the samurai class and must have
been of wealthy and respectable par
ents, for the place in which they lived
was large one and their kimonos
were made Of the finest texture. |
was inclined to think that papa and
mamma were not at home At any
rate, we spent couple of hours with
them. chatting all the while in the I'M
spoken language Of love which young
people don't need to study. Before
parting with them we exhibited sufti
cient ingenuity to inform them that
we would call again as soon as we
could get another leave.
1t was two days after this that we
were ordered to report In the captains
cabin. We found there couple Of
japanese men of the higher class and
u WIN WAS an uC
men looked as solemn as owls.
Young gentlemen" said the cap
tain. "since you were the only officers
ashore on leave the day before yes
terday think that message brought
by these persons must be for you.
Besides, recognize these gewgaws as
belonging to you"
He held up scarfpin that l had
given one of the girls and ring Jack
had given the other. Jack and l were
dumfounded. The captain motioned
the interpreter to speak. He told us
that each of us having given a pres
ent to young girl-a gift in Japan
being considered a proposition Of mar
riage-their fathers had come aboard
to say that two noble Japanese fami-
lies would feel honored at an alliance
with so great nation as the United
States by giving a daughter to each of
the young officers who had asked for
her hand.
The matter was far too serious to
warrant any expression of amusement.
got into Irritation and unwittingly
proposed marriage. Not wishing to
give offense. he took the matter into |
his own hands, much to the relief of |
US youngsters who had got into the |
scrape.
"Tell the gentlemen" he said to the |
interpreter, that. representing the |
United States. am highly honored |
that the propositions of my officers
should be accepted, but that since the |
offer was made without permission !
shall be obliged to lay the matter be-
fore the president. | sail for America
tomorrow. will discover his excellen-
cy's wishes. If possible obtain his per-
mission and act accordingly"
The Interpreter translated the cap
tain's speech. and the japanese gentle
men signlfCd acquiesCence and after
leaving their addresses. with all nee
essary information. departed.
Gentlemen" said the captain when
our would be fathers-in-law had gone,
you may consider yourselves under
arrest. To suffer any of my officers to
put slight upon the japanese people
might cost me my commission"
We sailed the next day. and on
reaching American waters the captain
wrote to Japan that. while the presi-
dent felt highly bonored that two no.
bic japanese families had accepted the
proposition of two of his young naval
officers, in the American navy mar
riage was discouraged and permission
could not be granted.