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Segaki…service to be performed on behalf of the spirit of the Rokuro…Kubi。
And that tombstone known as the Tombstone of the Rokuro…Kubi
may be seen （at least so the Japanese story…teller declares） even unto this
day。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
A DEAD SECRET
A long time ago； in the province of Tamba （1）； there lived a rich
merchant named Inamuraya Gensuke。 He had a daughter called O…Sono。
As she was very clever and pretty； he thought it would be a pity to let her
grow up with only such teaching as the country…teachers could give her： so
he sent her； in care of some trusty attendants； to Kyoto； that she might be
trained in the polite accomplishments taught to the ladies of the capital。
After she had thus been educated； she was married to a friend of her
father's family a merchant named Nagaraya； and she lived happily
with him for nearly four years。 They had one child； a But O…Sono fell ill
and died； in the fourth year after her marriage。
On the night after the funeral of O…Sono； her little son said that his
mamma had come back； and was in the room upstairs。 She had smiled at
him； but would not talk to him： so he became afraid； and ran away。 Then
some of the family went upstairs to the room which had been O…Sono's；
and they were startled to see； by the light of a small lamp which had been
kindled before a shrine in that room； the figure of the dead mother。 She
appeared as if standing in front of a tansu； or chest of drawers； that still
contained her ornaments and her wearing…apparel。 Her head and shoulders
could be very distinctly seen； but from the waist downwards the figure
thinned into invisibility； it was like an imperfect reflection of her； and
transparent as a shadow on water。
Then the folk were afraid； and left the room。 Below they consulted
together； and the mother of O…Sono's husband said： 〃A woman is fond of
her small things； and O…Sono was much attached to her belongings。
Perhaps she has come back to look at them。 Many dead persons will do
that； unless the things be given to the parish…temple。 If we present O…
Sono's robes and girdles to the temple； her spirit will probably find rest。〃
I was agreed that this should be done as soon as possible。 So on the
following morning the drawers were emptied； and all of O…Sono's
ornaments and dresses were taken to the temple。 But she came back the
next night； and looked at the tansu as before。 And she came back also on
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
the night following； and the night after that； and every night； and the
house became a house of fear。
The mother of O…Sono's husband then went to the parish…temple； and
told the chief priest all that had happened； and asked for ghostly counsel。
The temple was a Zen temple； and the head…priest was a learned old man；
known as Daigen Osho。 He said： 〃There must be something about which
she is anxious； in or near that tansu。〃 〃But we emptied all the drawers；〃
replied the woman； 〃there is nothing in the tansu。〃 〃Well；〃 said
Daigen Osho； 〃to…night I shall go to your house； and keep watch in that
room； and see what can be done。 You must give orders that no person shall
enter the room while I am watching； unless I call。〃
After sundown； Daigen Osho went to the house； and found the room
made ready for him。 He remained there alone； reading the sutras； and
nothing appeared until after the Hour of the Rat。 ＇1＇ Then the figure of O…
Sono suddenly outlined itself in front of the tansu。 Her face had a wistful
look； and she kept her eyes fixed upon the tansu。
The priest uttered the holy formula prescribed in such cases； and then；
addressing the figure by the kaimyo ＇2＇ of O…Sono； said： 〃I have come
here in order to help you。 Perhaps in that tansu there is something about
which you have reason to feel anxious。 Shall I try to find it for you？〃 The
shadow appeared to give assent by a slight motion of the head； and the
priest； rising； opened the top drawer。 It was empty。 Successively he opened
the second； the third； and the fourth drawer； he searched carefully
behind them and beneath them； he carefully examined the interior of the
chest。 He found nothing。 But the figure remained gazing as wistfully as
before。 〃What can she want？〃 thought the priest。 Suddenly it occurred to
him that there might be something hidden under the paper with which the
drawers were lined。 He removed the lining of the first drawer： nothing！
He removed the lining of the second and third drawers： still nothing。 But
under the lining of the lowermost drawer he found a letter。 〃Is this the
thing about which you have been troubled？〃 he asked。 The shadow of the
woman turned toward him； her faint gaze fixed upon the letter。 〃Shall I
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
burn it for you？〃 he asked。 She bowed before him。 〃It shall be burned in
the temple this very morning；〃 he promised； 〃and no one shall read it；
except myself。〃 The figure smiled and vanished。
Dawn was breaking as the priest descended the stairs； to find the
family waiting anxiously below。 〃Do not be anxious；〃 he said to them：
〃She will not appear again。〃 And she never did。
The letter was burned。 It was a love…letter written to O…Sono in the
time of her studies at Kyoto。 But the priest alone knew what was in it； and
the secret died with him。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
YUKI…ONNA
In a village of Musashi Province （1）； there lived two woodcutters：
Mosaku and Minokichi。 At the time of which I am speaking； Mosaku was
an old man； and Minokichi； his apprentice； was a lad of eighteen years。
Every day they went together to a forest situated about five miles from
their village。 On the way to that forest there is a wide river to cross； and
there is a ferry…boat。 Several times a bridge was built where the ferry is；
but the bridge was each time carried away by a flood。 No common bridge
can resist the current there when the river rises。
Mosaku and Minokichi