Richland beacon., 1888-08-04
A STORY FROM REALIZE.
The Proper Way to Settle a Fcud
Between Two Men.

AT the famed Gion Temple III Kyoto,
the Getty of gardens" there happened
very lately dramatic incident in which
the dying embers of an old feudal prac-
tlce flashed into momentary brightness.
The world may never hear again tale
from real life In this country SO strange
ly connecting the present with the past.
\ few days ago japanese named ST..
ola TomOjiro, advanced in years, went
for days outing to see the cherry bios
SONS at Glon, accom- anied by his dau-
glitter kuni, charming girl of Is or 10
After long stroll, spent in admiring the
beautiful flowers, they sat down t. rest
beneath fine cherry tree outside the
temple gates, where Suda was not sorry
TO refresh himself from the "3ake" bottle
which Japanese generally take with
them on such occasions. Hard by, and
similarly occupied, was another Japan
ese, about A. years old, accompanied by
a lad just out OF his teens. As soon rs
this stranger cast his eyes on Suda his
features underwent IN extraordinary
change; and although his young COM
panlon, seemingly apprehensive of some
evil, sought to divert his attention, his
gaze was kept inteutly riveted Oh the
face of his elderly neighbor.
At length, after scrutinizing Suda in
this wise for space of some minutes,
he inquired in an excited tone whether
his name was not Suda Tomojiro. The
latter, asserting, asked him, with some
surprise, what his business might be-
10 this the stranger replied; 81 AN
younger brother of Meyada Hironda,
formerly samurai of Hikone, whom
you, his fellow -clansman, slew, TO
avenge my dead brother L have for long
years sought you ia and near, but al,
ways without success, until this auspic
lous day which has brought us together.
DO you not remember that affair."
81 it indeed was," answered Suda,
"who slew your brother, but l slew him
Justly because he offered me insult-a
provocation which no samurai could
brook. If you seek revenge, think not
that l, a samuari of the old time, shall
evade you; we will cross swords as be-
comes men of our birth. Take revenge
upon me if you can. l am ready at any
time"
The two samurai then arranged to
meet in combat that very night Mt Reiz-
an, and were about to solemnize their
agreement with II s'ibation of sake
when the agony of Kunf, hitherto suppress
sed, broke forth. Bursting into tears and
seizing her parents hand, she coniured
HIM not to pledge himself to this terrible
duel, and besought him at least to reflect
on what would become OF her were she
TO lose the father whom she SO loved and
to whom she owed SO much.
At this appeal the stranger, by name
kakujirO, was greatly moved and hung
down his head. cit was some thirteen
years ago" he ut length SAIL "that bus
mess brought me to this city, together
with my wife and our little daughter,
who was then years old We went to
worship at the kitanO shrine and lost .
our child in the crowd nor, in spite of .
Ihe utmost efforts, were We ever able TO
ind her again. Ny wife soon afterward
lied, brOken-hearted at the sad calamity.
We're our child living now she would be
crown rs this your daughter"
During kakujiro's recital Suda's face
displayed unusual interest. At its close
10 drew near to the narrator and said:
You have told ME you lost your daugh
er Mt kitano whc she was Il years old.
Now, this little maid, it 50 happens, is
lot my real daughter, but n lost child,
ound by my wife near the KitanO shrine
'boIt the time of which you speak. New
n having been blessed with any child
Ell we adopted her as our own daugll-
er. But it seems not at all impossible
hat she is the very child whom You
ost"
81 have heard my wife say" replied
lakujiro. ''that Our daughter wore at
he time bag containing three charms.
y which she coull easily be Identified
Almost before he had finished speak
ng kuni produced from her bosom Il
title bag, out Of which she eagerly drew
hree charms, asking whether they cor.
espondcd with those of the lost child.
AakuIirO at once recognized them. and.
the Joy of this great discovery. the
uel was forgotten, until kuni, revert
lg to 1T, entreated her newly-fOund ia
her to abandon all thoughts of revenge
pom one to whom she owed the deepest
ebt OF gratitude. He, unable to resist,
as silent, when the lad in his company
II the first time spoke, avowing not :
My that the case was clearly one for
cancellation, but that revenge afte- The
tanner of feudal times was now thing
the past. This declaration satisfied
9th sides -Suda because he had only ac
opted the contest when forced upon {
i'm, kakujirO because of the discovery
lat Suda was his own child's foster
Ither. So the little party went happily
way to celebrate the joyful discovery
the long lost daughter and to VOW ties ,
future relationship between the two :
en who but few minutes before had I
cen resolved OF mortal combat. -London :
imes.