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Literature.

THE GEISHA'S CHOICE. (Continued.) Captain Iyayogo bowed ami left her. His heart throWbed at the thought of war, because for nine years it had been expected, and) now Japan had the chance of driving the aggressor backwards-! But his fierce joy was tempered by his love for Ashkita ; he was troubled, he ha<d a rival who was likely to be successful ! For a moment lie felt 'that he could hate the handsome Britisher, but Iris sterling better nature prevailed immediately.

"lie is brave and honaur.aibd<e ! I like him !," he murmured. --'We will fig'ht the battle of love fairly and the -defeated one will take his defeat gallantly. I k'now him, and I can emulate the spirit of the British !" Ashkita was sad and wept several times during the ensuing twenty-four hours ; after the manner of her own religion, she prayed, and turned her t'uee in the direction of the sacred volcanic mountain that towered into the clouds and from which the war-igod, the firstoofi f the sacred lino of the Mikados, came to rule Nippon. She started hi fear and turned to fly, when, at the appointed hour, the two friends and rivals paid the visit which she had asked for. •"Can I face them ? What am I about to do ?v- g?re moa/ned. " Yet it must be done !" She nerved herself for what was to follow, and met them with a gracious smile that had something wan about it. in spite of herself; she welcomed them, and then addressed them in a firm voice : i "War is declared. X feel that it will be a great struggle, and one in which our land will roqfiire all the help it can obtain ! lam of the old religion ; both Westerns and my own modernised compatriots may laugh at me, but I firmly i believe in the things which were taught me ) I believe that the gods will listtsu to one who will'go to the top of one of the sacred' mountains • which still bums.with holy fire.

' I know that you Eurbpleane call them valcisnoes, Wit they are more than that'! You do not understand To Mm who will go to the top of such a mountain, of which we have many, nnd who will descend into the hollow and offer up the prayer whicn I will teach him, to that one will come a certain death, tat his action will bring l an answer to that prayer !i My prayer is that Japan shall win ! Alas, lam (not strong enough to climb, and.l turn to one of you and ask that he will do this for me, that I may save the country I love biedause it gtive me 1 Wi'rth '!• AVMoh of ytou Uovee mo well I enough to die for mo ?"

Tyayogo understood the awful significance of her request immediately, but. Thornton had to reflect ere it dawned upon him. Poor child of superstition ! How he would teach her that such beliefs were nonsense, gpntly. tenderly, as Ik? would a little child !i How sweet would life be with her, training her simple nature to a knowledge of .what' waa IfcaJHi Ashkita waited, anxiously, breathlessly, for a sign from either. The two men looked at one another with understanding glances ; it was | the crucial test'! Each had sworn that he Would die for her, if need he, and she was calling for a fulfilment oT that vowlt was death on the volcanic mountain, or life wi'th Ashkita !

"Do ytou wish me tb go 1" asked both men, Bimuttjanietoasly. Ashkita wrung 'her 'hands in despair. "We uro both ready !" said Thornton calmly. "Choose between us ! Send to his doom the one you love less, and let the other enjoy bliss wi'th yo!u ! : It is for you to choose 1 The one whom you do not love well enough to marry had blotter 'die, for life would be worse than death without you, and lie will at least be doing you a laist service."

Nalcamurah Iyayogjo ■ bowed his head in agreement with Thomson's words. "Choose !"• he said simply. "Wo are ready. It will prove our love !" Tt was a terrible dilemn-a for Ashkita ; in her extremity she could not decide, for it seemed to her that; she loved both ! Yet she. must propi tiale the gods—it'was necessary ! The fate of both mein depended on her answer. Whom would she choose ? Both men watched her with that, awful mingling of 'hope and unxiety thut fills the heart of men who are waiting to hear a verdict that will send them to death or release them to live a life of happiness ; yet there was u sentiment of rivalry even to be sent, on a fatal errand, and an observer might have been inclined to think, from the aittitue of the men, that they were ttbout to fight for the privilege.

Ashkita seemed tor a moment to lean towards Thornton, and the men listened far her words ; was it to ask him to go or stay "It is hard for me to decide !" she cried. "Yet," she placed her hand on Thornton's arm, "I must send Nakamurah !"

Iyayogo started in spite of himself ; he had expected from her lust movement, that she was eUout to send. Thornton gently to his death, and give herself up to the love of her own countrymen ; ami now " "Be it so !" he Raid,, resi^iing himself with a great effort and presenting a stoical demeanour. Even although heihad lost faith in his old superstition, yet ho loved this girl so deeply that he would die for her. as he had sai'di. "I will go. Success to Japan, and hapiriness to you both'! " Thornton involuntarily stretched out his hand, and the two men exchanged a firm grip. Then Captain Nakumurah Iyayogo turned on his heel, and with a low bow to Ashkita went (orth to meet his fate !" "I have sent him to 'his death!" she cried, bursting into tears. And she sank into the'arms of Ralph Thornton !

Kalph caressed her a/nd tried to saotho her, 'lAit it was quito two hours later when ho was able to leave her ; Ashbita's eyes were red with weeping', and her face appealed to have assumed 1 a fixed melancholy. He wns in a whirl as he returned to his own lodja'mgs In the house of Hosaki. It was weird, terribly weird ! It was foolish superstition and a man had (lieerv sent to his doom to gratify it ! Yet it was hardly thlat; it was that a man had gone willingly to his death to prove his love for a woman ! "It requires more pluck lo do that than to win the V.U. in the excitement of battle !'' muttered Thornton. "And, by .love, I envy him the chance of showing his grit!" Three days passed, and Tfrnrnton coulit' not see Ashkita ; he wished to ask her to accompany r him, Tor lie was leaving Japan, and to be his wife in fulfilment of her promise, hut it appeared like gltaaUng over his friend's untimely end. Arid then there came reluctantly into his mind the thought that Ashkita was sorry for her choice ! That uncontrollable lit. of weeping ! Had she, like other women, 'discovered the real state of her feelings by the revealing aWency of loss '?

He pained admission to her this time. ami the red eyes, indicative of recent weeping,, confirmed iris suspicions. His heart seemed to turn to stone. She lovwri I.vayogo, and he was dead. "AshWita," ho saw! tenderly, "you loved him hotter than me ; you were mistaken ?" "Yes !" she cried. "And I killed him." "I wish I could take his pl'ace." said Thornton, and he meant i(,, "Perhaps he can he saved !" he cried, a moment later. "I will use every efTort V She shook her head sadly, but ho hurried from the room ami Into the street. ITosaki would help ! He hastened to bis llod|giin|gß and bjirtit unceremoniously into the ajuartment where Hosoki was talking, Hosaki and his visitor turned as he entered, and Thornton uttered a cry. It waa lyayogio !

Safe ! Ue hud accomplished the strange mission ami hail escaped as by ti miracle I. "She wants you I" said Thornton, seizing Ilia hamd amd pushing hijn to the door, -"Go to her and make her happy. lam so g/Laxl and, as lyayog'o left the house with alt speed, the Bailor said, with a curious lump in his -throat—'"And I am so sorry 1" He left Tokyo the next day, and joined'his'ship on the Olvina station, tout his fellow-officers wondered what had happened to the lighthearted Ralph Thornton.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19040427.2.29

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 96, 27 April 1904, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,432

Literature. Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 96, 27 April 1904, Page 4

Literature. Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 96, 27 April 1904, Page 4

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