Shibusawa; or, The passing of old JapanAdams, I. William
History
Shibusawa; or, The passing of old Japan
Adams, I. William
Japan -- History -- To 1868 -- Fiction
As night came on, however, the rain ceased, and the weather began to
clear under a stiff breeze blowing from the eastward. It was a chill
October night, the leaves were falling, and the white clouds sped low in
the sky. The sun had fringed the western horizon with a snowy-fleeced
red, and Shibusawa stepped to the outer edge of his veranda to take a
parting glimpse of the golden scene spread over the hills above. He
could not see the site of the hidden cave, but his eyes moistened; he
turned away and looked toward the lake below.
There he saw emerging from a cluster of bushes Okyo, tugging along a coy
maiden, whose dress and appearance signified that she did not belong to
the castle; yet he observed her neat and modest appearance; also that
Okyo endeavoured with difficulty to induce her to approach. Shibusawa
drew back and waited their coming with amusement, if not interest.
Presently they came near, and after much consultation and persuasion on
Okyo's part they entered the house and groped their way hand in hand--he
pulling and she shying--into Shibusawa's presence. Okyo saluted his
master, she courtesied; between them they stammered an explanation, and
the host begged forgiveness for the unseemly confusion of identities.
"And this is Shiyoganai, the pretty young girl whom we rescued while
guests at the Look-See tea house. Let us see, that is several years ago,
and I am afraid our claim is now more than forfeited. However, I suppose
the double is fancied and the bargain might be renewed," said the young
prince, in a manner intended to place them at ease, and save the direct
embarrassment of a possible recognition.
The unexpected rather upset Okyo, and a feeling somewhat akin to fright
suddenly came over him. He said nothing; his voice failed him, and
hanging his head he partly turned and whispered:
"You tell it, Shiyoganai; I can't."
She blushed deeply, and told the story of how Okyo had again met her
after his venture upon the sea and with his meagre assistance saved her
from being sold a second time, possibly into something worse than
slavery. She added with much hesitation that they had dearly loved each
other for a long time, and asked him to be so kind as to let Okyo come
back sometime to see her.
"Tell him that I want to marry you," interposed her would-be suitor,
boldly.
"And are you both quite sure you wish to take so serious a step?"
"Oh, yes, we are," said they in chorus, scarcely the words left his
lips.
"Then you shall marry and welcome, for I shall want you to remain here
with the keeper until I return."
Shibusawa tendered Okyo the funds necessary to make settlement with her
parents and bade them expedite the marriage, as he must move early on
the morrow and should certainly expect them to be punctually on hand.
Nor did they waste time, but hurriedly saluted and were not seen again
until late the next morning, when Shiyoganai came trudging in, was
forgiven and seemed happy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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