Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 32, Number 224, 15 September 1907 — Page 8

PA0E EIGHT.

T MEGO'tlHO', situated about three miles from Tokio, rises a hill at the furamlt of which appear two very ancient mausoleums. Each year in the springtime, when the cherry trees are in blossom, the young men and women of Tokio come to place flowers on the tombs in which sleep since two hundred and sixty years ago, two beings who loved each other, the Camourai Shiral-Gom-patchi and the maiden. Komourasaki. I. Money is good for the indigent. In the heart of him who supports the golden song of love, whose eyes cry the tears of happiness likened to brilliants, who sheds the ruby of his blood for a noble cause that one Is rich even without money. Thus would speak the sage if he were among us. Formerly there lived a Samourai, who when he died left only one son and a large fortune. Numerous were those who pretended being his relatives, and all of whom began to feel a marked interest in Shirai-Gompatchi, the young son of the Samourai, deceased. When Shirai-Gompatchi had attained his eighteenth , year he had nothing, neither money noj- goods. His guardians remitted him the sword of his father, saying: "Ten generations of your ancestors have preserved this sword in all its purity. Do likewise so that it will not fall dishonorably from your hands. Go and be happy." "But what have you done with the fortune of my father?" asked ShiraiGompatchi. "You possess a treasure," answered his guardian "for whrch each one of us would give all his money, that he might, alas, again be the possessor of your eighteen springtimes. Go, and employ your youth the best you can." II. On the road Shlral-Gompatchl at length met some persons who were preparing to sleep on the roadside where the night had overtaken them. By their sumptuous dress and beautiful arms the young man took them for rich travelers. Among them was a young girl of rare beauty, who was seated, weeping. After having exchanged with them the ordinary terms of politeness, Shirai-Gompatchi enquired why the young girl wept. "This young girl has lost her father, answered the oldest of the men, "and now she Is weeping." Shirai-Gompatchi observed with what a severe air the old man looked at her. They are hiding something, thought the young man, seating himself to eat on the invitation of the travelers. "Judging from your appearance you must be a young man of distinction," said the old man. "And you appear to be one not traveling without his fortune." "Here is all my fortune," answered Shirai-Gompatchi. "It Is very little," replied the old man. Shirai-Gompatchi answered with animation and drawing his sword from the 6cabbard and contemplating it with love, he told how in many combats it had been stained with the blood of enemies and In how many noble suicides it had saved his ancestors from the shame of captivity. "It will render me also the same service, said the young man. "With it I will buy either honor, riches or a noble death." "Audacity Is a powerful force If it Is directed by prudence," said the old man, smiling, and he invited ShiraiGompatchi to pass the night with them. Fatigued by the journey, the young man did not allow himself to be urged to accept this offer. Hardly had Shar-ai-Gompatchl thrown himself on the

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THE RICHMOND PATaIiADIlJ3I AND SUN-TELEGRAM,

ground when he was overtaken with profound sleep. In the middle of the night the young man was awakened by a low voice which whispered to him, "Young man, arise and flee." He opened his eyes painfully and saw by the feeble light of the stars, the beautiful young "girl whom he had seen weeping. "Young man, arise and flee," repeated she in a voice resembling the rustling of the fear which flowers have when they feel the breath of the cold morning. "Escape while there is yet time. I heard them conspiring to take your sword in the early morning while yoit slept. If you awoke, they were to kill you." "Is that possible?" cried ChiraiGompatchi. "They know, however, that my only fortune is this sword." "I swear it by my father, who is not dead," answered the young girl. Shirai-Gompatchi arose with one bound, as if he had been bitten by a viper. "The cowards; they dream of robbing from their neighbor that which seems to them to have the most value. Oh, well; I will take from them that which is more precious than all." And drawing his sword the young man with rage struck off their heads while they were sleeping. Then Shirai-Gompatchi, covered with blood, said calmly to the young girl: "Pardon me, lovely flower of which I am ignorant the name, pardon me for having killed your parents, for having caused jou so much sorrow." "I am called Komourasaki," answered she, blushingly. "I am not a lovely flower, but only a flower for the buttonhole, which will die after it has been warmed by the sun of love. It is not pain but joy which you have caused me. These men are brigands. They took me from the house of my father In order to demand of him a large ransom. My father is very rich. He is not dead. Convey me to my father so that he can thank you." Shirai-Gompatchi conveyed the beautiful young girl to her father, who received her with great joy. "My daughter has told me all," declared the father of Komourasaki to the young man, after he had prepared to depart, "and I know how I can thank you. You have given me my life. In exchange I will give you the most precious treasure which I possess. I am very rich and my daughter has confessed that she has been pleased with you since she saw you. Take her for your wife and remain with us." Shirai-Gompatchi answered with pride: "Your daughter also pleases me very much. Your money is of very little importance to me. But I do not wish that the sword of my father should become rusty because of my idleness. It would be shameful in me. I will first acquire glory and honor and then return to you. Adieu." And "he parted, not without feeling that something was being torn from his heart. III. ' Because of his bravery and his nobility, Shirai-Gompatchi made numerous friends at the court of the Damio of Leddo. A courtier whom the Damio esteemed and loved for his intelligence and attention became particularly attached to Shirai-Gompatchi. One night at a late hour this courtier entered the chamber where ShiraiGompatchi was sleeping and said to him: "Do you wish to obtain at once a situation more elevated than that of the Damio and at the same time glory and honors?" "It is for that reason that I have come to Yeddo," answered Shirai-Gompatchi. "Well. then, listen to me," said the courtier. "I could go and inform the Damio of a danger which menaces him and I alone would be loaded with these favors but I wish you to participate in obtaining these honors and glory. Ten intimates of the Damij have formed a

plot to steal his son this night with the object of obliging the latter to recognize the succession of his father in favor of another person whom they favor. I am cognizant of these plans because I pretended to participate in

them. I am physically feeble. You on the contrary are brave and a past master in the art of handling the sword. If you wish we will both go and guard the door of the sleeping chamber of the son of the Damio and if you kill all the conspirators remember the numerous favors that will fall on you like rain." . Shirai-Gompatchi immediately arose and answered: "This indeed compensates me for all which I have suffered. Let us be gone." The courtier gave the young man his sword. Never before had Shirai-Gompatchi found it so light. The two friends placed themselves on duty. At midnight the conspirators appeared. "Halt there, traitors," sried ShiraiGompatchi, coming out from the shadow and plunging his sword in the breast of the first conspirator and likewise attacked the others and when the ten were laid out on the ground he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back and fell unconscious. When Shirai-Gompatchi came to his senses again he saw by the light of the lanterns that the Damio was being brought .accompanied by his suite and the guard. Beside the Damio was the friend of the young man, the courtier, who spoke in these terms. "Having heard that these traitors had formed a project to steal your son, I alone put myself on guard near the door of his chamber. I am feeble, but being sure of my affection for you this gave me superhuman strength. I killed ten of these traitors, who notwithstanding all, were brave, for, as you can see, they have all been stabbed in front. As to the eleventh, he like a coward fleeing. He was not worthy of being stabbed by an honorable sword. I drove a poignard in his back and he rolled on the ground. And do j-ou know who is this coward, this p ltroon? My best friend, him whom I loved like a brother." "This base wretch lies," cried Shirai-Gompatchi. "It Is I who have killed the plotters. It is sufficient in order to convincs yourself to look and see to whom belongs the sword covered with blood." "To treason and cowardice you add lies and calumnies," cried Damio with disgust. "It is not necessary to know to whom belongs the bloody sword as jours is brilliant as a mirror. It speaks against you." Shirai-Gompatchi understood then why his sword had appeared so light. The artful courtier had given him his sword in the darkness and he, ShiraiGompatchi had covered the sword of his perfidious friend with, the blood of the plotters. The young man, in tears, cried: "What perfidious man!" "As for you," said the Damio to the courtier, "the fact that you have wounded jour friend in devotion to myself only makes you appear more honorable. The courtier bowed verj- low and saidf "As guilty as Shirai-Gompatchi is I will continue to love him and pity him. I am readj' to act thus with aij- of j-our enemies, were it even my own brother. The Damio was deeply touched by these words. "I do not wish to put j-ou to new sufferings," said he. "therefore let the criminal have his life. I will not punish him because he is j-our friend. Let him be thrown outside the palace." "Accord me onlv- one favor, Damio," asked Shirai-Gompatchi. "Order that thej- render to me my sword, the sword of my ancestors. I hope some day to have occasion to use it in your service against your enemies and to prove to you that I am Innocent. I beseech you to grant me this favor." The Damio directed that his sword

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be returned to Shirai-Gompatchi and that he be driven from the palace. As to the deceitful courtier, he was showered with honors and riches. IV. What is man? The son said to the father: "You have given me life; I have taken jour name. I must render to you my life in order that your name should remain as honorable as it was. These are the words of a good son. Thus would the sage speak if he were with us. Youth is the best foe of sickness. Shirai-Gompatchi became cured of the wound which he had received. Weak and crushed he wandered hungry in the streets of Yeddo. All the people fled from him and said to each other: "Here is the man whom the Damio has driven from his palace." When the winds of winter have passed the spring flowers begin to bloom. When the passion for honors, for glor" and riches have passed, love blossoms in the heart of man. Then Shirai-Gompatchi thought with bitterness: "Why did I not marry the beautiful Komourasaki? Today I would be tranquil and happy, because love alone gives true happiness. But at present, all the world detests and condemns me." Thus sighed Shirai-Gompatchi as he wandered in Yeddo. While musing thus he passed before a tea house, the most luxurious of the city and heard the voice of a woman singing. The strings of the instrument with which she accompanied herself seemed to give out a moan, but the voice sang a poem of gladness. He stopped to listen. "Who is the most beautiful and the most intelligent and the bravest of all; His name is Shirai-Gompatchi. "Who is he whose lips have never been soiled by an untruth. His name is Shirai-Gompatchi. "Who is he who 13 really worthy of being called the Samourai? "Who is he who knows how to carry with the most dignitj the sword i-t his, ancestors? "His name is Shirai-Gompatchi." "Who dares," cried Shirai-Gompatchi "celebrate in a loud voice the name of Shirai-Gompatchi. him whom all Yeddodetests and condemns?" V And he ran into the garden. He stopped stupefied. On the balco-nj-was seated on rich pillows, a young girl adornea with flowers. It .was Komourasaki. more beautiful than before. She was weeping while she sang. When she saw the young man she cried out and hid her face in her hands. "You here!" she cried, surprised and terrified. "You are a singer and a musician: you the daughter of a rich father and respected by all I" said Shirai-Gompatchi. "You carry a name which has always been honorable." Komourasaki uncovered her face and answered with spirit: "That name has remained honorable !" Then she recounted to Shirai-Gompatchi that which had happened since the time when he had departed from them. By a series of unfortunate circumstances her father had become ruined. When they had sold all that he possessed, there yet remained many persons to whom he was indebted. "I am completely ruined," he cried. "I have lost my good name. What is there remaining to me? A miserable life and a daughter who will be dishonored. An old custom requires that I sell my daughter to pay my debts. Which will she choose? A condition of slavery or the torture of her soul which will be afflicted by the dishonor of her father?" Komourasaki answered: "I will kill mj-self if you do not sell me." The father replied, crying, "My daughter. I knew what you would an

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER

swer," and going out with her into the street he said to those whom he met, "See how beautiful my daughter is. I am going to sell her in order that I maj- pay my debts. Such is her desire." All spoke in praise of the beautiful young girl and of the father, to whom their good name was dearer than all else in the world. All the villagers accompanied the father and the daughter on their departure for Yeddo and raid them the greatest marks of respect. As Komourasaki was of rare beautj the mistress of the tea garden bought her for such a large sum that the honorable merchant was able to return to his city and pay all his debts. "And thus it is I am hero in the home of Idji-San." said she. ending her storj-. "Thi3 Is the reason why I can carrj' with pride the name of my father." "And I," said Shirai-Gompatchi. "I have not kept honorable the name of my father as when I received it." a a What is love? A large river which ran smoothly in a vallej", asked one day of a verjr small rivulet of the mountain. "Why are you so impetuous? The rivulet answered, "Because there are many stones in my way." Such is love. It becomes impetuous when it encounters obstacles in its waj Thus would speak the sage if he were with us. At this moment Idji-San, the mistress of the shop, arrived. "Who is this frail young man she asked. "I am called Shirai-Gompatchi," he answered with shame. Idji-San laughed affablj-. "Come in and sit down," she said. "I know jour name. I hear it everj- daj- sung bj- the most beautiful flower in my flower garden." Shirai-Gompatchi recounted to IdjiSan in what circumstances he had met Komourasaki and all that had passed between them. He ended his recital by saying: "Remember me to Komourasaki." Idji-San. who had listened to him with Interest, answered. "Why will I render to you Komourasaki?" He answered, "Because I love her." Idji-San began to laugh. "But all Yeddo loves Komourafaki. She Is the most beautiful flower of all the tea gardens, and In truth since 1 have rucha?,ed her. prosperity has come to me. The highest personages and the richest patronize my shop daily, into which gold pours now like a river. Nevertheless I consent to realize jour desire, young man. Paj' me back that which I have paid for Komourasaki. Give me enough money so that I can finish my days in ca.e. Give me also a sum which will permit my son to acquire glory and honor. Give me. finally, sufficient money so that my daughters can bring large dowries to their husbands, and Komourasaki will be yours." Shirai-Gompptchl took his hat between hfcs hands. He understood that Idji-San was right. "Alas!" he said, "I do not possess ro much money." "Then show your arrogance before others," answered Idji-San. Such beauty as Komourasaki is rarely born. It is also necessary that you leave because I expect a visit from the richest and most Illustrious man of Yeddo who is about to purchase Kcmourafakl and will pay what you confess jou are unable to give." . And she pronouncthe name of the perfidious courtier who had betrayed Shirai-Gompatchi. The young man contented himself with grinding his teeth and departed. He began to wander about the streets. He would procure the money by no matter what means. While musing thus he thought of his sword. "I will sell It and buy my happiness. Animated by this thought he raised hi3 head. At the same moment he per

15, 1907.

ceived the courtier who was on his way to the tea garden. The courtier was smiling. At the sight of this man who had stolen all from him and was now about to take from him Komourasaki. Shirai-Gompatchi felt the blood mount to his head. He looked behind him in the deserted street. There was no one beside himself. Shirai-Gompatchi approached the courtier, who was plunged In his happy dreams, and put his hand on his shoulder. The courtier raised his head and started on seeing before him the friend whom ho had betrayed. "It was before that you should have feared me and above all not to have placed yo'urself in my waj Now it is too late." "Why do you grow pale so soon In an instant it will be death which will make you pale." "Do not kill me," cried the courtier. "I will do that which I promised to the Damio," replied Shirai-Gompatchi. "I will prove my devotion by killing with my sword the most miserable wretch in his dominions. It was on this breast you hoped shortly Komourasaki would repose her head, there near the heart, was It not?" saying which Shirai-Gompatchi plunged his sword through the heart of the courtier. He fell dead without a murmur. Shirai-Gompatchi after having taken from the corpse all the money which he found, re-directed his step3 to the house of Idji-San. "Komourasaki," cried the young man on entering, "we can now at last belong one to the other and we owe this to my friend the courtier. He has a better heart than Idji-San. Having Veard that I loved Komourasaki, he has given me his purse so that I can buj you from Idji-San. He has even given me his word that he will never come to see Komourasaki and even though he pass for the most cunning and the most astute courtier I am convinced that for this once he will keep his word." "There are many brave men and above all' among the rich and Illustrious." answered Idji-San. A feast had been prepared in honor of the expected courtier and now Shirai-Gompatchi seated himself at the table with Komourasaki luxuriously gowned and more beautiful than ever. Geisha, girls danced in honor of the two lovers. Musicians and singers celebrated their youth, beauty and love. Komourasaki grew pale as she suddenly noticed traces of blood on the hands of Shirai-Gompatchi and asked him in a low voice, "What is that? I am afraid." "Silence." answered Shirai-Gompatchi. also in a low voice. "That is a few drops from the river in which I have washed my gold and they have festered." At the same time clamorous strides were heard from below. Idji-San entered hurriedly, crying. "Assassin! you have killedthe most honorable man In the whole city." Behind ter entered servants of the Damio. "Your crime is discovered." cried they. "Who could have killed the favorite of the Damio, the honorable courtier, the most illustrious and the richest, if it Is not the man whose life he had saved by hl3 friendship." "That Is the reason j-ou have blood on your hands," cried Komourasaki, with affright. Shirai-Gompatchi drew his sword In older to plunge it In his bosom, but they stopped him and disarmed him. "No." they taid, "you are not worthy of an honorable death. By order of the Damio you will be beheaded llk the commonest of assassins." Then Shirai-Gompatchi. filled with despair, cried. "They have taken all from me, my fortune, my honor, my good name, the affection of the Damio, the woman whom I love, and last of all the sword of my ancestors and the

possibility of dying honorably ad gls riously." They took Shirai-GompUht to the same place where he had kJWcd the deceitful courtier and they ci his ba off like the commonest assassin VI. What is death? "What would you do if one day the desire, took me to crush you with all the unhappinesR?" asked with arrogance iVstiny of Man. "I would die!" answered Man, with no less of arrogance, and you would be helpless against me. Man can be deprived of all except the possibility of djing when he wishes." Thus would tho sago speak if he were with us. Shirai-Gompatchi had a friend, a Samourai like himself, who admired his bravery and his experfness with the sword. He had been unhappy, he was a Famournl, and he should be buried like a Samourai. He went to the Damio and bought of him for a large sum the body of Shirai-Gompatchi and carried it to Megouro and buried him with all the honor which was due to a Samourai. It was then springtime. Hearing of the burial of Shirai-Gompatchi, Komourasaki picked branches of cherry blossoms and went to the tomb of Shirai-Gompatchi. Komourasaki decorated the tomb with the blossoms of cherry and cried: "Shirai-Gompatchi! to the flowers which I have strewn on j-our grave I add another one which they call the most beautiful flower In Yeddo," and saying this she drew a knife from his kimona and plunged It in her bosom and fell dead on the tomb of Shirai-Gompatchi. The friend of Shlral-Gompatchl moved bj' the grandeur and beauty of tho lovo of Komourasaki raised two mausoleums over tho remains of Shirai-Gompatchi and Komourasaki. And since this time, every year at the springtime when the cherries aro In blossom, the young men and tho young women of Tokio make a pilgrimage to Mcgouro to cover with flowers the mausoleums of the two beings who loved each other and paid for Uisir love with their lives.

Active exploration of a new Cuban deposit of iron ore, according to the Iron Age, has brought to light above "Kk,0maK tons, which would add .i per cent to the figure representing the world's total Iron ore supply, as published last year In a report of the Swedish government. The Xocndajr Of Life. Married people sboull learn what to do tnr cm another little ills, and for tba 11 of tha children thct may coma. 1 bey are aura sooner r later to have occasion to treat constipation cr indigestion. When the opportunity comet remember that tbe quickest way to obtain relief, aod finally a permanent cure, is with Dr. Caldwell's Syrup Pepn. the great herb laaatitre convoound. A bottle should aiweya- be in tba bousw. ltcostsonly50cent!irlatdruectjre Loois IVrede is now located at 34 S. Cth Street. Besselinan's old stand. All invited to call Hudepohl's FAMOUS BOTTLED BEER put up specially for family use, delivered to all parts of the city. Phone 356. Electric Fans, Peel Tables, Card Tables, etc