The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-04-24
DEFIED THE MIKAD0
sy JANE CRAWFORD.


were dire and dreadful, II ! continued
longer to defy the traditions OF my
family. Ny prediction for girl
bacheiorhood was a thorn in tho
mesh OF my worthy relative, who de-
olared she didn't know where got
T. She mentioned II as disease
that had stolen upon me in spite OF
her watchful care. Again and again
she recsted the matrimonial achieve
ments Of my family. My mother was
q bride at seventeen. My two sisters
were debutants and brides Bimulta-
neously. She herself was twice re-
lict. while at twenty-eisht still
roamed the earth under the name to
which ] was born. reminded her OF
my engagement to John. which nj.
ways served TO divert her wrath to-
wards that most devoted and consid
crate OF lovers She had no personal
objections to John; on the contrary.
she. In common with other designing
mothers and aunts realized that he
was most eligible part. but court
ship OF three years standing! Well. II
was not so in her day A more i'm.
patient wooing was far more natter-
Ing than such patient waiting. II was
bad enough for a man TO be i'm
mersed In musty books studying the
manners and customs OF the heather
Japanese, but TO made those manners
and customs the sole subject OF con.
~ M nit hat uJa N
loo much!
She admitted the Japanese were an
Interesting people, and John talked
well. but she threatened to assert her
authority as my legal guardian and
break on the match laughed and
20 did John. knowing that she
couldn't and wouldn't We demanded
why we should rush out upon trou.
blod sea when we were both enjoying
the calm of the harbor' Why slip
the ropes from the present pleasant
mcorings7
Which aippancy she received in
disdalnf'l silence.
My perversity finally got upon her
nerves and she took TO her bed.
threatening TO go into decline, but
our good doctor persuaded her that
a long sea voyage would restore
her polse and. wonder OF wonders,
she selected the Oriental route, with
Japan as the objective point, and one
beautiful spring morning we landed
IN the Kingdom OF the Mikado. that
land OF sunshine and flowers. and con-
trary customs where the little brown
people laugh when they should weep
and make merry when they mourn,
I met Carolyn Warrington one morn
ing stroiling through the shops In
Tokyo, and after the first greetings
were over she demanded: Aren't
-sa married yeti"
mot yet" responded
take care" she cautioned, "ths
laws are strict here regarding old
maids" at which we both laughed
and after promising TO see each other
soon and often we parted.
Married got! An old maid. in
deed" I'm year younger than she
But her recurring words were like
the pricking Of q pin. wondered
what she meant BY that law. Some O
her nonsense. OF course. She was al
ways joker. and then foreot al
about II In the bewildering display o.
eilks and curios. but when returnes
60 our hotel | found my aunt In I
state bordering on hysteria. Thu
caupe was little japanese gentleman
who looked like toy in the conven
tionai black that Americans YEA
only. after six O'Clock In the after
Noon. He was bowling and salaam!nI
and sndeavoring 10 force upon her I
roll OF parchment, which he said wa
a letter. II was written by the yard
and looked like the laundry check 70
the entire kingdom.
Il am the Imperial Go-Bstween.
ne explained. turning to me,
looked properly impressed. Yes
Go-Between what?''
Read the letter; II will explain"
But can't reed Japanese; In
rsorry.-
"Ah, then will translate" and II
Dcautilul, COIIoCt hhkihbu NO Tchu
most Interesting epistle. II said tina
IN this charming country OF his tn,
affairs OF the heart were managed b,
third disinterested party. called I
Nakodo, or Go-Between. That when .
lady refused the husband selected fol
her by her relatives the Emperor
himself took q hand and chose hus
band for her. was long past the age
when the women OF japan marry
quite an old maid, in fact. WINGED
but smiled and blushed when he con
tinued that was too rich. and fai
TOO beautiful to i've longer without 4
husband. He said ether nice things
\ which am too modest 70 repeat n
short, the Emperor. mindful OF my
many me points had selected for my
husband his own elder brother and
vas commanded to como at once tc
no Imperial Palace to be united II
han age 70 this worthy gentleman.
I laughed heavily. What absurd
onsena6! I'm not q Japanese"
IT docsn't seem at al fsnny "a
y" unmarked my STUNT grizzly, 81
ew come ridiculous thing would
bpen to you I've aiwasp told you
ana ne ssemed somewhat con-
a. 49, ful0IIyY,ant ~ ~, o. -