Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/284

214 a tanzaku and handed it to Asojirō, with downcast eyes.

At sight of this poem Asojirō comprehended her meaning and said:

"Is it possible, Miyuki, that you have such a regard for me who am only a humble samurai?"

The girl blushed rosy red as she responded: "Oh, Asojirō, you are the only desire of my heart. Pray—." But with that came a long embrace and vows of eternal fidelity.

But suddenly a raucous voice bawling, "Asojirō! Master Asojirō!" broke in upon the blissful conversation of the young lovers. This ill-timed interruption came from Asojirō's henchman, Shikanai, who brought a letter, sent in urgent haste by his master's uncle, Komazawa Ryōan. This letter had been carried post haste by a messenger from Asojirō's native town. The gist of the letter was that his liege lord, Ōuchi Yoshi-oki, then domiciled at Kamakura, the seat of the