Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-03
CHAPTER XVII.
II t,,a pavhoo Lana.

What did Bersohin mean? Phil re-
plenished his glass, feeling tense
nervous excitement.
why had he listened so intently-
made him Iisten--to what the men in
the next room were saying? He could
recall 1t all-for some reason every word
was erlgraven on his mind The visit
of the foreign squadron. Spectators
who had once made quick fortunes
through an accident to a battleship. He
thought Of the look he had seen on Ber-
sonin's face.
what do you want me to dor" He
muttered the words to himself AS he
rose TO go he glanced half-fearedly over
his shoulder.
He walked along the street, his brain
afire. What do you want me to do?
The words wove oddly with the refrain.
why should he say them over and over?
Again and again it came-an echo Of
an echo-and again and again he seemed
to see the look IN the experts hollow,
cat-like eyesl It haunted him as he
walked on toward Aoyama parade
ground, to the little house in Kasumiga-
tani Che, the "Street-of-the-Misty- VAL
ley" RI
Then, as he walked. he saw some one
that for the moment drove it from his
hind. He had turned for a shortcut
through temple Enclosure, and there he
met her face to face--the girl OF the
matsuri, whom he had seen wading In
the foam at Kamakura. Her slim neck,
pale with rice-powder, rose from soft
white neckerchief lowered with gold,
and a scarlet poppy was dreaming in
her black hair. PhiPs face sprang red,
and wave of warm color overran her
own. af
eOrHaru-san!' he cried.
''Konichi-wa," she answered with
grave courtesy and made to pass him,
but he turned and, walked by her side.
please. pleased he entreated. IF you
only knew how often I have looked for
you! Don't be unkfnd!"
why you talk with meF said Haru,
turning MY Japanese girl-no all same
your country" Ig
You wild, pretty thingl" he said. why
are you so afraid Of me? Foreigners
don't eat butterflies"
mo-" she answered, without hesita-
ton, they JUS break wings"
He laughed unevenly. Her quiclxness
of retort delighted him, and her beauty
was singing his blood. He put out his
hand, and touched her sleeve, but she
drew away hurriedly:
''seer she said. my know those peo-
pie to come in gate. Talk-bout my
papa San-please, so they will to think
he have know you. ne7"
Phil obeyed the hint. but Haru's cheeks,
as she saluted her friends, were flushing
painfully. II was her first subterfuge
employed in a moment of embarrassment
with the realization that her home was
near and that she was violating the code
of department that from babyhood hedges
about the young Japanese girl with
complicated etiquette.
The women they had passed looked
back curiously at the foreigner walking
with her. One, girl OF Haru's own age,
called smilingly after her:
"Komban Mukojima de sho?' Phil I'M
derstood the query. Was she going to
Mukojima-to the cherry 6estival-to-
night! His eyes sparkled at the tossed
back. Hair Well, he would be there,
too! He had appreciated the quick wit of
her subterfuge. The clever little baggagel
She was not such a small, brown saint,
after all
IT think l did that rather well,' he
said, when they had passed out Of earshot
They'll think your honorable parent and
1 exchange New Year gifts at the very
least"
little smile of irrepressible fun was
lurking under Haru's flush. you have
ask how is papa-San rhu-ma-tis-um,"
she said "In our street he have some
large frame, for because he so old and
no have got"
Phil laughed aloud Look here, little
Haru," he said, you and / are going to
be great friends, aren't WEI" He looked
down at the slim, nervous arm, so soft
and firm of flesh, so delicately turned and
modelled. He knew a jade bacelet in
Yokohama that would nightly become 1t
he would write tonight and have 1t sent
upi when can see you again, chr
They had turned into narrow desert
ed lane, bordered with bamboo fences,
and opening, little way beyond, into the
wider Street Of Prayer to -the-Gods. She
stopped as he spoke and shook her head.
my no can tell" she answered. mo.
come more far. My house very near
now"
He caught her hand-it was almost as
small as a child's. with its delicate wrist
and slender fingers. GIVE me kiss and
will let you co. he said.
AS she shrank back Indignantly against
the palings, her free hand flung up across
her face, he threw his arms about her
and strained her to him. She wrestled
against him with little inarticulate sobs,
but he lifted her face and kissed her
again and again.
He released her, breathing hard, the
veins In his temples throbbing, his lips