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258 HONDA THE SAMURAI.
" The matter was in this way. Miss Asai Hoshi's
father is one of the wealthy merchants of our city,
and, as such, is much honored by the gentry and
even by our prince. For years, despite our severe
rules of etiquette which encourage affection after,
rather than before, marriage, Honda and Hoshi have
seen much of each other and, it is believed, were
secretly betrothed. But when Honda became a
fanatical student, he gave himself up entirely to the
aims of the Mikado-reverencers, and neglected her.
She could not understand it, and he would not explain.
When the news of the Americans coming to
Japan was told him, Honda avoided meeting her,
never wrote her a word, and for months she has
heard nothing of or from him. She believes he
loves some other woman, and only thus
can she explain
his conduct. By accident my serving-maid
overheard her this morning at the temple praying
'
and saying to herself, To-night, to-night, at Fudo's
shrine ;
no candles, no fire and bamboo, no light but
moonlight, and '
revenge revenge She seemed to
! !
be in great excitement."
"Then you think we are likely to see the rare
sight of a woman crossed in love taking vengeance
on her lover by straw proxy, do you ? "
" I do," answered Mrs. Sano, pouring out another
cup of tea for the speaker, Mr. Rai.
The lady clapped her hands, and after the echo
of a " "
Hai ! from the kitchen, in stepped the rosycheeked
maid again.
" Get the gentlemen's rain-coats," said the lady.