The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-09

Tomojiro, advanced in years went for
days outing to see the cherry blossoms at
Gion, accompanied by his daughter Kuni,
q charming girl OF eighteen or nineteen.
After long stroll, spent in admiring the
beautiful flowers, they sat down to rest
beneath fine cherry tree Just outside OF
the temple gates, where Suda was not sorry
to refresh himself from the sake bottle
which japanese generally take with them
on such occasions. Hard by and similarly
occupied was another japanese, about
iorty-tive years old, accompanied by lad
just out OF his teens. As soon as this
stranger cast his eyes on Suda his features
underwent an extraordinary change, and,
although his young companion, seemingly
apprehensive OF some evil, sought TO divert
his attention, his gaze was kept intently
riveted on the face of his elderly brother.
AT length, after scrutinizing Suda in
this wise for space of some min
utes, he inquired in an excited
tone whether his name was not
Suda Tomojiro. The latter, asserting,
asked him, with some surprise, what bio
business might be. To that the stree
replied: II am younger brother Of Mega
da llironda, formerly asamurai OF Hikone,
whom you, his fellow clansman, slew. To
avenge my dead brother / have for long
years sought you far and near, but always
without success, until this suspicious day
which has brought us together. Do you
not remember that AFFAIR." 81 IL indeed
was" answered Suda, "who slew your
brother, but | slew him justly because he
offered me insult-a provocation which no
samurai could brook. II you seek re-
venge think not that /, samurai OF the
old time, shall evade you; we will cross
swords rs becomes men OF our birth. Take
revenge on me II you can. | am ready at
any time" The two samurai then ar
ranged TO meet in combat that very night
at Reizan, and were about TO soemnize
their agreement with libation of
sake when the agony OF Kuni.
into tears and Selling her parents hand
she conjured him not TO pledge himself to
this terrible duel, and besought him at
least TO reflect ON what what would become
OF her were she 10 lose the father whom
she so loved and to whom she owed 80
much. At this appeal the stranger, by
name Kakujiro, was greatly moved and
hung down his head at was some thir-
teen years ago" he at length said, that
business brought me to this city, together
with my wife and our little daughter, who
was then six years old. We went TO wor-
ship at the Kitano shrine and lost our
child in the crowd; nor, in spite of the
utmost efforts, were We ever able 10 find
her again. My wife soon afterward died
brokcn-heancd at this sad calamity.
Were our child living now she would
be grown as this your daughter" Dur
ing Kakuiiros recital Suda's face dis
played unusual interest. At its close
he drew near TO the narrator and said:
"You have told me you lost your daugh-
ter ut Kitana when she was six years old.
Now, this little maid, IL so happens, is
not my real daughtcr,s.but u lost child
found 10y my wife near the kitano shrine
about the very time OF which you speak.
Never having been blessed with any chill
dren, we adopted her as our own daugh-
ter. But Il seems not at all impossible
that she is very child whom you lost. 81
have heard my wife say" replied Kaku-
jiro, that our daughter wore at the time
n bag containing three charms, by which
sho could he easily identified. Almost
before hc had finished speaking Kuni pro-
duced from her bosom little bag, ont OF
which she eagerly drew three charms,
asking whether they corrcsponded with
those OF the lost child. Kakuiro ut once
recognized them, and, in the great JOY OF
this great discovery, the duel was forgot
ten, until kuni reverted 10 il, entrcated
her newly found father 10 abandon all
thought Of revenge upon one 10
whom she owed the deepest debt OF grati-
tudc. lie, unable 20 insist, was silent,
when the lad in his company for tho first
time spoke, ayowing not only that the
case was clearly one for reconciliation, but
revenge after the manner Of feudal times
was now thing OF the past. This dcclari.
ton satisfied both sides -Suda because no
had only accepted the contcs, when
forced upon him. Kakujiro because Of
the discovery that Suda was his own
child's foster father. So the little party
went happily away to celebrate the Joyful
discovery OF the long lost daughter and TO
ayow ties Of future relationship between
the two men who but few minutes before
had been resolved ON mortal combat.