"It was I -- I -- I! Yuki it was! And I told you then that I would kill
you if you ever said one work about it!... But for those children asleep
there, I would kill you this moment! And now you had better take very, very
good care of them; for if ever they have reason to complain of you, I will
treat you as you deserve!"...


Even as she screamed, her voice became thin, like a crying of wind;-- then
she melted into a bright white mist that spired to the roof-beams, and
shuddered away through the smoke-hold... Never again was she seen.




THE STORY OF AOYAGI


In the era of Bummei [1469-1486] there was a young samurai called Tomotada
in the service of Hatakeyama Yoshimune, the Lord of Noto (1). Tomotada was
a native of Echizen (2); but at an early age he had been taken, as page,
into the palace of the daimyo of Noto, and had been educated, under the
supervision of that prince, for the profession of arms. As he grew up, he
proved himself both a good scholar and a good soldier, and continued to
enjoy the favor of his prince. Being gifted with an amiable character, a
winning address, and a very handsome person, he was admired and much liked
by his samurai-comrades.


When Tomotada was about twenty years old, he was sent upon a private