A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

20 Japanese Miscellany
So speaking, the haunter vanished. The bride
became senseless with fear. Until the dawn she
so remained.
Nevertheless, in the cheery light of day, she
doubted the reality of what she had seen and
heard. The memory of the warning still weighed
upon her so heavily that she did not dare to
speak of the vision, either to her husband or to
any one else ; but she was almost able to persuade
herself that she had only dreamed an ugly dream,
which had made her ill.
On the following night, however, she could
not doubt. Again, at the Hour of the Ox, the
dogs began to howl and whine — ; again the bell
resounded, — approaching slowly from the garden
— ; again the listener vainly strove to rise and
call — ; again the dead came into the room, and
hissed, —
" You shall go; and you shall tell to no
one why you must go ! If you even whisper it
to HIM, I will tear you in pieces !" . . .
This time the haunter came close to the couch,
— and bent and muttered and mowed above
it. . . .