Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-03-31
CHAPTER ~.
One Fond Kiss.


know" he said "Englishmen think
coolies, and so they don't do it, don't
you know"
Well we shan't lose any caste by
dining with this little woman" re-
piled Hardy, warmly, "any more than
if we were to dine with the queen of
fairyla Personally, | shall feel
honored to sit at the same table with
SO much grace and beauty. We shan't
need a bouquet with her there. Real
ly, | consider her about as rare and
exquisite a feminine creation as
have ever seen, and ! shall think you
mean to be disagreeable, if you do
not show more respect for my feel
ings in the matter"
'Oh, all right" growled Neville;
but he could not help adding: Most
fellows feel as you do when they first
come to this bally country"
They all started up the steps to-
gether, but Neville was detained. He
had refused hotly to take off his
shoes
But, sir, it is the custom of the
country" explained Masatsura, defer
entially.
Better take 'em off, old man." pro
tested Hardy, who was trying to be
civil but had begun to weary of his
companion. "They may think it posi-
lively indecent to go into a dining
room with shoes on"
After some opposition, on the
ground that it made him feel like a
fool to go about in his stocking feet,
Neville removed his shoes and started
up the stairs with them in his hand.
Better bring your shoes, too" he
explained to Hardy. They'll prob
ably steal them if you leave them
down there"
They all squatted about a low
table, whose legs were not over a foot
high. and waited for dinner Their
room, which had been enlarged to suit
the size of the party by simply sliding
together a partition, looked out on a
court. Diners in other rooms on the
opposite side of the court could be
seen, also squatting about tables. In
less than five minutes Hardy had be-
come most uncomfortable, but Aisome
and her father sat there on their toes
as easily as if they were reclining on
couches. They ordered of the pretty
girl who came to serve them, and
waited perhaps Is minutes, when Ne
vile exclaimed: where are my
shoes?" in such a tone that Aisome
looked up inquiringly, and her father
evidently asked Masatsura what the
trouble was.
The waiter took them out to have
them blacked," explained the guide.
"She will either bring them back or
else leave them down there with the
others"
1t was necessary to hurry through
dinner somewhat, for the Teijo Maru
sailed at three.
Neville spoke about his shoes two
or three times, insistently, and they
were brought back to him in a few
moments.
When the two foreigners left for
the boat Hardy made pretty parting
speech to Aisome, which Masatsura
translated.
At the wharf he was arrested again.
He was thoroughly disgusted and
threatened to make trouble, but, to
tell the truth, his rage was somewhat
Modified by the fact that he might
see Aisome again, and that he would
not be compelled to pass a week or so
longer in the Englishman's company.
Nevertheless, he said to him on part
ing: "If this thing keeps on, / shall
begin to share your opinion of the
Japanese"
Hardy was clapped into room
overlooking the sea, from the window
of which he could see the Teijo Maru
steaming out into the purple distance.
An elaborate and dainty dinner was
brought to him in the evening, and
about ten that night he was escorted
to the wharf again. A tiny figure,
mufIled in a cloak, was waiting there,
and the others stepped aside as this
person approached.
81 hope you are not vexed with me-"
said a familiar voice in the well-modu-
"Aisome!" cried Hardy.
yes, Aisome."
"But-but-you speak English"
Yes, | am a graduate of Vassar
college and now in the service of my
country. Listen-I have only a mo-
ment and / feel that I would like to
make you an explanation. Your com
panion was Russian spy. The plans
of the forts, on oiled paper, were
found between the soles of his right
shoe. 1t was he, no doubt, who put
the copy of them in your pocket. hay