A Maid of Japan (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1905. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER I HE night was too still for sleep. All gentle spirits seemed to be if /f/7 DEGREES DEGREES DEGREES- DEGREES abroad in the X l l silence of the silver air--on the bosom of the dreaming sea, whose molten radiance spread from the velvet sand at Hint's feet, to the far-swelling line of the horizon where star-fringed sky and world of water met. The burnished tide heaved slowly under that rain of light, and the stars grew paler as they sank through it and dropped, one by one, beyond the distant verge of the argent dappled sheen. Not a sail transgressed the empty majesty of air, no seabird's wing divided sky and sea. Broad ripples came whispering up the smooth, undinted sand, and spread in fans of silver lace beneath the moon, then sank back reluctantly to the full flood, that anon sent others out to woo the perfumed shore. The benison of peace was shed upon the night, and Hime," light as a foam bell, lay upon the sand. Her chin was resting on her hands, her elbows had sunk deep in two tiny dimpling pools, and her hair floated round her in a wide, dark circle as the water broke, cool and soft, over her young body. She was gazing out to sea with a look of deep content in her eyes. Hime" was satisfied, and apart; the things of earth seemed to touch her no more than if she were some sea-sprite resting for a moment on an alien strand, ready to float back to her home on the next outgoing wave. As she lay there, the tide sent in a long streamer of honey-coloured sea-weed, and she caught it in her hand and threw it far out on the water, laughing at the arc of diamonds it scattered before it fell. Then she wanted it back, and, springing to her feet, waited till one broad, slow billow rolled up to the shore; she flung herself on its breast and swam out into the deep. A few strokes brought he