Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/210

150 Clan, Hisamatsu forsook his fellow travellers unknown to them, and retraced his steps to the oil-shop. When he arrived, it was midnight, so he climbed over the wall into the courtyard. Suddenly he was startled to hear the sound of footsteps approaching, so he hastily hid himself in the warehouse close by. The black-hearted Kosuké had observed him; so creeping stealthily up, the ruffian rapidly shut and locked the door of the warehouse, and Hisamatsu was "caged like a bird" inside.

It seemed as if some divine intuition told O-Somé of this incident. She seized a lantern, and ran out into the courtyard. Hisamatsu saw her from the window of the warehouse.

"Is it you, dearest O-Somé?" he exclaimed involuntarily.

"Oh, Hisamatsu!" cried she looking up. "I cannot hope ever to become your wife in this world. I have made up my mind to kill myself, according to our promise. Do not fail, I implore you, to join me in my determination." With these words, she buried a dagger in her throat.

"My God!" exclaimed Hisamatsu, in amazement. He struggled with all his power to break