The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-10-03
The Silent Woman.
LOVE STORY FROM THE JAPANESE.

LOVE STORY FROM THE JAPANESE.
Oshikoji Nobutaro was young noble
who found himself quite disillusioned,
80 that the gayeties of society, the va
riety of travel nor the achievement Of
literary distinction were pleasing to
him, and he retired, q prey to unuttera-
BILE weariness, to the ancestral abode on
the beautiful shores of Lake Biwa, hop
ing to find at least tranquility.
In the time of the second gathering
of the tea, the mildest and fairest of the
year, when the trees begin to fill with
little nests, and when all nature trem-
bles and bushes with conscious warmth,
Iriye Ichigoro ordered a couple of nori-
mono. and started off to Biwa to take
counsel with his exiled friend. He
found Nobutaro in the fields at the base
. of Hi Yei Zan, practicing the enlivening
pursuit of hawking. The greetings of
the young men we're polite and decor GUS.
and their conversation, which turned
upon various subjects, was at once ex-
hilarating and instructive.
Toward the close Iriye introduced the
topic which most closely interested
him.
"Nebutaro, there is a maiden -
said he.
"Alas, there are SO many" said Nobu-
taro.
eff MY amiable and well-conducted
friend would restrain for q moment his
noble impetuosity, his servant would
endeavor to make himself more plainly
understood"
pardon me, Ichigoro, I will listen
with the respect which is due your ex-
cellent character"
"There is maiden, Nobutaro, whose
indescribable charms have for many
weeks afforded the youth of Kioto the
most pleasing sensations. Her father is
known to us all as eminent for riches
and refinement, and is, in truth, mem
ber of the exalted house OF Sanio. As
for the girl, who has but recently
emerged from the rigid privacies of girl
few whose rank may claim 80 rare a
privilege, the incapable words of Iriye
Ichigoro can convey only faint and in
adequate ideas respecting her. Her
form is like the waving willow leaf, and
her face as full of beauty as the moon,
of which she is the younger sister.
Her eyes are like the brightest stars of
winter, and her feet, which have never
been spoken of without emotion, are
said to be wholly incompetent to the
support of her delicate Frame"
"And what of her tongue ?" asked
Nobutaro.
"Most accomplished, Nobutaro, F."
answered Iriye, in some irritation, "you
talk like person of vulgar birth and no
education whatever. Her conversation
is regulated by wise discretion, and
modesty conceives every word that is
issued from her exquisite lips"
"Ahl" sighed Nobutaro, "if I could
hear of beautiful woman who is not
possessed with the oni of speech"
"Nobutaro, my first and only broth
er |" exclaimed Iriye, twill you take
one of my ,,orinono, and, after a
journey which we will all pray may be
disturbed by no unhappy misadventure,
gaze upon this fair and dazzling damsel,
and consider her for yourself? ?"
"No, Ichigoro," said Nobutaro,
"that is entirely out of the question"
But the truth was, Nobutaro had al
ready found that his self-imposed exile
was not wholly relief to him. Total
feminine abstinence had operated some
what to the increase rather than to the
diminution of his weariness. AT least,
in Kioto. he could exploit his grievance.
He keenly felt this, although his pride
would not suffer him to acknowledge it.
And now Ichigoro was very pressing,
and it became Nobutaro in due time to
gradually dispose of his scruples, and,
by slow degrees, to yield.
When Nobutaro first encountered the
maiden, Tama-ko. of whom his friend
had told him, his breast did certainly
culver with new and strange sensation,
and his self-confdence, which, until that
moment, had never known variation
from its firmness, experienced an unex-
pected shock. Her loveliness, he was
Compelled to admit, was not to be dis
puted. The fash of her dark eyes kim
died inextinguishable flames. The smile
of her ripe and deity -gilded lips was
brighter than the thinner of sunbeams.
Her whole countenance was elegantly
pale and full of sweetness. Her hair,
falling in black waves about her face,
added grace and symmetry to the move.
ments of her head. Her dress was EN-.
broidered with marvellous accuracy, and
revealed as she moved twin feet of pro,
portions too minute to be distinctly
measurable.
Iriye saw with friendly satisfaction
that Nobutaro was for moment moved.
And the distinguished people of Kioto,
not few of whom were present on the
occasion, carefully watched the coming
together of the manifest of the manly
and the fairest of the fair. Nobutaro
approached Tama-ko, his hands folded
upon his breast and his body reverently
inclined. She knelt awaiting him, hel
eyes cast in humility downward, and q
timid flush of expectation illumining
her brow.
" Health is with the daughter Of the
stars, ;" said Nobutarc.
"Thanks to your accommodation
Wishes" said Tama-ko.
"Your air announces YOUR poodness {,
said Nobutaro.
"Ah, sir" it is you alone who can
judge" said Tama-ko.
"Virtue and contented mind are
painted upon your face, said Nobutaro,
My acknowledgements should be-
everlasting" said Tama-ko.