Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-10-11
A Remarkable Story.

a few days ego japanese named Suda
Tomojiro, advanced in years, went for
days outing to see the cherry blossoms at
Glon, accompanied by his daughter Kuni, 2
charming girl Of is or 10. After a long
stroll, spent in admiring the beautiful flow
ers, they sat down to rest beneath fue
cherry tree outside of the temple gates,
where SudR was not sorry to refresh himself
from the sake bottle which japanese gener
ally take with them on such occasions.
Hard by and similarly occupied was another
Japanese, about 40 years old, accompanied
by q lad just out of his teens.
AS soon as this stranger cast his eyes on
Suda his features underwent an extraorGi-
nary change After scrutinizing for space
OF some minutes he inquired in an excited
tone whether his name was not Suda Tomo
jiro. The latter asserting, asked him with
some surprise what his business might be.
To this the stranger replied ~ ais s. young
or brother Of Moyada HirUnda, formerly Il
samura of Hikone, whom you, his fellow
clansmen, slew. TO ayenge my dead broth
or have for long years Sought you Inr aud
near, but always without success until This
auspicious day which has brought Us togeth
er. DO you remember that AFFAIR."" IT.
indeed was l." answered Suda, who slew
your brother, but slew him justly, because
he offered me insult--a proyocatioa which
no samurai could brook. If you seek re
venge, think not that |, samnrai of the old
time, shall evade you we will cross swords
as becomes men Of our birth. Fake revenge
on me if you eau l am ready al any tine"
The two samurai then arranged to meet
in combat that very night at ReizsD, and
were about TO solemnize their agreement
with libation OF sake when The agony or
Kuni hitherto suppressed, broke forth
Bursting into tears and seizing her parents
hand, she copured him not 10 pledge him
self to this terrible duel, aud 5esought him
at least to reflect on what would become OF
her were she to lose the father whom she go
loved and to whom she owed so much. AT
this appeal the stranger, by namo Kakuiiro,
was greatly moved and hung down his head.
1T was some thirteen years ago." he at
leagth said, that business brought me 10
this city, together with my wife and our lit.
tie daughter who was then six years old.
We went to worship ST the Kitano shrine
and lost our child in the crowd; nor, in
spite Of the utmost efforts, were We ever
able to find her again. My wife soon after
ward died. broken hearted, at this sad cal
amity. Were our child living now she
would be grown as this your daughter.
Duripg Kakujiro's recital Buda's face dis.
played UNUSUAL interest. AT its close he
drew near to the narrator and said: "You
have told me you lost your daughter at
Kitano when she was six years old. Now
this little maid, it SO happens, is not my
real daughter, but lost child, found By my
wife near the Kitano shrine about the very
time of which you speak. Never having
been best with any children we adopted
her as our own daughter. But it seems not
at all impossible that she is tho very child
whom you lost." II have heard my wife
say,n replied Kakujiro, "that our daughter
wore at the time a bag containing three
charms by which she could easily be linden.
titled" Almost before be had finished
speaking Kuni produced from her bosom q
little bag, out OF which she eagerly drew
three charms, asking whether they cores
ponded with those OF the lost child
Kakujiro at once recogHized them, and in
the joy OF this great discovery the duel was
forgotten, and the little party went happily
away to celebrate the joyful discovery Of
the long.lost daughter and to VOW ties of
future relationship between the two men,
who but few minutes before had resolved
on mortal combat-Tokio Letter to London
Times.