The House of the Misty Star / A Romance of Youth and Hope and Love in Old Japan

wo simple old women perfect subjects on which to vent her long-suppressed spirits. She entered into the activities of the household with such amazing zest, it seemed as if we were playing kitchen

t Kishimoto had to und

lk and the bibs to the babies," Zura begged one day when these articles were to be

ean, but much-patched baby on her back, one in each arm, and a half-dozen trailing behind.

eader, "come quick. We need a bush an

ess of all the work piled up on my desk in the study. I thought maybe I

rd did not appear. We explained to Zura that h

t again? Yes, I remember his outlines. Where did you find him? Loo

rning, describing to Zura the good looks of Pa

nner and the funny twist in her tong

urged once again, "Do let's have

e the 'chefess,' I'll be assistant potato peeler. I can make the best salad. It's called 'Salade de la Marquise de

and I sent a note to Page Hanaford aski

I could label a reason why

ane or Zura. Not knowing what the result would be, I gave the cook a holiday and

oving feet and gay laughter. The old house seemed infected with youth. Contact with it was sweet. Some of my dreams were coming true. I fou

Jane's collar and the rose in her hair that young and skilful hands had been at work. Zura's white dress was dainty enough, but it seemed to melt into nothing about the neck and sleeves. It

ane as they approached, adding wistfully, "B

, if it is sudden. I've worked hard to coax it in the straight and narrow path. I've even slept on my face for a week at a time."

d to curve the angles in the boy's face and body. He still looked ill. The

e "Misty Star." I was glad too, but the situation did not seem to call for hurrahs and fireworks. Two young American people meeting, shaking hands, and courteously greeting each other was an un

peeler" had procured the materials necessary to so pretentious a meal. Though surprised, I so

d by the new cooks the little party grew gayer and friendlier. The quaint old dining-room had never witnessed festivities like these. In the long ago it served as the audience chamber of a Daimyo's 'Besso' or play place. It was here t

side remarks for, of course, she was the source of all the merriment, the life of the party. She also reduced Jane to a state of helpless laughter. I felt the years dropping away from me, and the face of the boy whom I had learned to

here near my heart, little thrills jump up and down, like corn in a hot popper. I was getting what m

Page prepared to smoke, and we sett

by the loss of an arm, and no longer being useful in field work, trudged every mornin

hands, and my tongue thrown in. I do not see how she man

you can with two. It's hoping with all your might, while one is doing, th

he V.P's., the B.B's., and chilly zeros they tagged on to my deportment, but I would have worked myself into a family skeleton, before I

d forth my unqualified sympathy for the teacher when once again the gong

delight. "Oh!" she said, "it's Pinkey Chalmers! Who'd believe

did not need to be told that he was the young man with whom she had been seen on the highway. He was introduced

d seen too much of the world and not enough of his mother. He declined my invitation to d

You said in your note, Zura, it was the 'Misty Star' at the top of the hill. Before I reached here I th

nsitiveness to feminine beauty quite overbalanced his physical exhausti

soon excused himself on the plea of work, saying as he left, "I'll

r face, Jane called to her little attendant

the genuine pleasure of the girl. As the night was warm and g

mate companionship suggested by his actions, nor his unreserved manner. The girl had told us of their chance meeting on the steamer coming from Seattle. Any mention of his name on her part was so open, she spoke of him as just a good playfellow to help her to pass away the time, I could not believe her feelings involved. But, fearful tragedies can be fostered by loneliness and in Mr. Chalmers's eas

between the distant hills and the light of the great evening sta

her companion, "Hush, Pinkey! L

I am looking at you. That is a

was the unv

er-backs," "full-backs" and a kind of "great rush," though what it was after I never knew. I supposed he was telling her of some wil

e moving." Then more softly, "Remember to-morrow night. You take a wrap and I'll see to the

here Mr. Chalmers bade Zura good-night and the lodge where I aroused the sleeping I

e night-wind, fell on the great gate and transformed the ca

k fear, "That dragonette seems alive; hope he and

ed in curious thi

from jiujitsu to eels an

his country which boasts some thr

d like to gaze o

h the young man, and as it seemed one of the few sights

t is in its full beauty. I wonder if you would come

as he swung down the street a