arkness for
a thousand years.

THE MIRROR MAIDEN

In the period of the Ashikaga Sh[=o]gunate the shrine of
Ogawachi-My[=o]jin, at Minami-Is['e], fell into decay; and the
daimy[=o] of the district, the Lord Kitahatak['e], found himself
unable, by reason of war and other circumstances, to provide for
the reparation of the building. Then the Shint[=o] priest in charge,
Matsumura Hy[=o]go, sought help at Ky[=o]to from the great daimy[=o]
Hosokawa, who was known to have influence with the Sh[=o]gun. The
Lord Hosokawa received the priest kindly, and promised to speak to
the Sh[=o]gun about the condition of Ogawachi-My[=o]jin. But he said
that, in any event, a grant for the restoration of the temple could
not be made without due investigation and considerable delay; and he
advised Matsumura to remain in the capital while the matter was being
arranged. Matsumura therefore brought his family to Ky[=o]to, and
rented a house in the old Ky[=o]goku quarter.

This house, although handsome and spacious, had been long unoccupied.
It was said to be an unlucky house. On the northeast side of it there
was a well; and several former tenants had drowned themselves in
that well, without any known cause. But Matsumura, being a Shint[=o]
priest, had no fear of evil spirits; and he soon made himself very
comfortable in his new home.

* * * * *

In the summer of that year there was a great drought. For months no
rain had fallen in the Five Home-Provinces; the river-beds dried
up, the wells failed; and even in the capital there was a dearth
of water. But the well in Matsumura's garden remained nearly full;
and the water--which was very cold and clear, with a faint bluish
tinge--seemed to be supplied by a spring. During the hot season many
people came from all parts of the city to beg for water; and Matsumura
allowed them to draw as much as they pleased. Nevertheless the supply
did not appear to be diminished.

But one morning the dead body of a young servant, who had been sent
from a neighboring residence to fetch water, was found floating in
the well. No cause for a suicide could be imagined; and Matsumura,
remembering many unpleasant stories about the well, began to suspect
some invisible malevolence. He went to examine the well, with the
intention of having a fence built around it; and while standing
there alone he was startled by a sudden motion in the water, as of
something alive. The motion so