Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-04-23
THE SILENT WOMAN.
Oshikoji Nobutar0 Discovers his Ideal.

USUIhOil NUDutdiO DlSCDttIS HIS IuCstis
Toxic (Japan) Times.
Oshikoii Nobutaro was yong Jap
anese noble who found himself quite
disillusioned, so that the gayest of So
ciety, the variety of travel, nor the
achievement of literary distinction were
pleasing to him; and he retired, prey
to unutterable WEAKNESS, to his ances-
trail abode on the beautiful shores of
Laka Blwa, hoping to find at least tram
guilty.
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, Irive IchigorO ordered a couple
of nOrinlonO, and started off to Biwa to
take counsel with his exiled friend. He
found Nobutaro in the fields at the
base of Hi Yei Ian, practicing the en-
livening pursuit of hawking. The greet
ing Of the young men were polite and
decorous, and their conversation, which
turned upon various subjects, was at
once exhilarating and instructive.
Toward the close Iriye introduced the
topic which most closely interested
him.
"Nobutaro, there is maiden" said
he.
Alas there are so many" said No
butaro.
"If my amiable and well-conducted
friend would restrain for moment his
noble impetuosity, his servant would en-
deavor to make himself more plainly
understood"
Pardon me; Ichigoro; L 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. His father is
known TO US all as eminent for riches
and refinement, and is, in truth, "a mem
Der of the exalted House of Sanjo. AS
for the daughter, who has but recently
emerged from the rigid privacies of
girlhood, and been revealed to the eyes
of few whose rank may claim SO rare
a privilege, the inca 0able 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 win
ter, and her feet, which have never
spoken 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," an
swered Iriye, in some irritation, "you
talk like a person Of vulgar birth and
no education whatever. Her conversa-
ton is regulated by wise discretion,
and modesty conceives every word that
is issued from her exquisite lips"
'Ahp' sighed Nobutaro, eff [ could
hear of a 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 norimona, and, after a our
ney which we will all pray may be dis
turbed by no unhappy misadventure,
gaze upon this fair and dazzling damsel,
and consider of her for yourself?"
mo, Ichigoro," said Nobuiaro; that
is entirely out Of the question"
But the truth was, Nobutaro had al
ready found that his self-imposing exile
was not wholly relief to him. Total
feminine abstinence had operated some
what to the increase rather than to the
diminutiOn of his WEAKNESS. At least,
in Kioto ne could exploit his grievance.
He keenly felt this, although his pride
would not suffer him to acknowledge
it. And now Ichigoro was very press
ing, and it became Nobutaro in due
time to gradually dispose of his scru-
piles, and, by slow degrees, to yield.
When Nobutaro first encountered the
maiden, TOma-ko, of whom his friend
had told him, his breast did certainly
culver with a new and strange sensa-
ton, and his self-confdence which, TN
til that moment had never known va
ration from it's frmness, experienced
an unexpected shock. Her loneliness
he was compelled to admit, was not to
be disputed. The flash of her dark
eyes kindled inextinguishable flames.
The smile of her ripe and deity gilded
lips was brighter than the glimmer of
sunbeams. Her whole countenance
was elegantly pale, and full of sweet
ness, Her hair, falling in black waves
about ner face added grace and symme-
try to the movements of her head. Her
dress was embroidered with marvellous
accuracy, and, daintily gathered to her
slender ankles, revealed as she moved
twin feet of proportions too minute to
be distinctly measurable.
lriye saw with friendly satisfaction
that NObutaro was for a moment
moved. And the distinguished peo-