Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-23

short flight the cherry-blossoms have
persisted without fruit
Shirai Gompachi was u young Japanese
gentleman, q two-sworded Simural, IN
the train OF Daiuiio OF Tnaba. who by
the age of eighteen had become widely
known in hie own province for great
personal beauty and courage and perfect
skill in the use OF the sword. Those
we're the days when the sword was the
"life and sword Of the Samurai."
THR FATAL SWORD.
The sword makers were honored be-
yond all craftsmen they forged their
blades amid solemn ceremonies, and to
mount and ornament them the best work
men lavished all that art could command.
Noblemen would give whole estate to
buy famous weapon, the edge OF when
should be SO keen that lotus-staik de-
scending stream against 1t would DO
cut in twain, while il would not turn or
notch If you Glove an iron spear handle
with it. The etiquette of the sword gov
erned all Japanese society. once drawn
il must never he sheathed until REDEEMED
by blood, and must never be unsheathed
in the precincts OF the palace. Young
Gompachi, on certain unlucky
day, quarrelled with companion, and,
drawing his sword upon him IN the
court. fought with and killed him. For
this he had to fly to Yeddo, then but a
small city, and TO hide in It's suburbs.
IL was a wild time everywhere, and he
put up one night in an inn where gang
of robbers lived, some six or seven, VINO
could not see his richly-Ornamented
sword and dirk without covetlng them,
aud also concluding that the owner must
have plenty of gold coins in his glrdle.
As little could the 7ausDlec of the house,
singularly lovely girl, wait upon tho
handsome young stranger without inter
est. in the dead OF the night Com
pachi was sleeping soundly after his long
flight, when he WAS lightly touched ny
some hand, and, starting up, saw the
Dlus11ec kneeling by the side of bis Jufon.
He had not noticed before how beauti-
fnl she was, this damsel of fifteen years,
which in Japan is maturity. "Damatte
do not speak, " she said, 81 crave Your
honorable pardon for arousing you but
YOU must know this is den OF dreadful
robbers. who last year carried me Oil
from my fathers house In MlkaWa, un-
der the hill Of A2abu. Tonight they
will murder you to get your sword
and clothes and money. You seem
30 be rs brave as you are hand
some. If you are really skilful with the
sword prepare yourself and will try to
help YOU, and if you can get away safe
" take me with you, for ] love you, and
am risking my life to tell you oil this.
Gompachi answered "Greatly thank
YOU. o Ko- Murasnki San but | will not
have you hazard one hair OF your beau
tiful head for nv sake. Steal out OF the
house and wait in the shadows OF the
bamboos for me. As soon as | have tied
ND nv sleeves and fastened back my hair
| will come 10 you. and if any seek to
stay me L will kill them.
WITH HIS GOOD RIGHT ARM.
Accordingly she went out, and while
Gompachi was putting on his day dress
the thieves stealthily entered by
another door, with drawn swords. but
were disconnected to find the young
Samurai leap upon them, his long sword
in one hand and in the other the Al-ku-
Chi the dirk, to guard and dispatch. Two
of the knaves he instantly cut down,
slashed the arm from another, and from
another the leg, so that the survivors,
being terrified. made way for him, and
then calmly wiping his katana with white
paper before sheathing it, he came to
where Little Wild Indigo waited trem-
bling for him in the bamboos. Reas-
surfing her. he conducted her TO Nlkawa,
TO her fathers home, where they over
whelmed him with thanks, and would
have kept him as son OF the establish
ment. but that he said Samurai must
live bv his sword, and so he would go to
take service with some lord. He
promised. however, to the weeping girl
that he would soon return and receiving
as a friendly present 200 ounces of silver,
he started forth again on his wander
ings.
He had been absent about year, ex-
periencing all sorts OF adventures, TIL he
fell into the society OF wardsman OF
Jeddo. named Chobei, who helped him
to lead, | am sorry 70 say, the usual
reckless life Of his time and age. In
those days letters were seldom written,
news was scant, and he neither heard
nor, it seems, tried very much to hear
from Ko- Murasaki. But one night at
dinner talk arose at Chobei's house
of very beautiful Gesha, who
was newly come to the foshi-
wara, and whose dancing and sing
ing made the sign of the "Three
Sea Coasts" where she was an inmate,
famous. Gompachi repaired TO the
"Tbree Sea Coasts" and saw there SIT
ting among the immortal sisterhood his
Ko-Murasaki, the Little Wild Indigo Il"
of Mikawa. In deep distress she told
that overwhelming calamity had fallen
upon her household; that her parents
became poverty-stricken and in danger
of starvation; that not hearing from him
or seeing him or meeting him, she had
been obliged to submit to the fate OF
many and many a Japanese maiden and
sell herself, for the sake of her father
and mother, TO the Master OF the Yoshi-
wara.
LOVE FINDS A WAY.
but now" she said, "that | have
seen you again, you, who are so strong
and brave, will help me; do not desert
NE again" The beauty of the girl
filed bis heart once more, and he gave
up everything to visit her daily. But at
the Yoshiwara money must be spent,
and being Ronin without any means,
Gompachi soon came to the bottom OF
his wits and his purse, and was driven al
last to crime by love and poverty COM
bined. For Ko-MurasakIs sake
though she herself did not know it-he
took himself to robbery and murder
His heart grew blacker and blacker 10y
these concealed weaknesses. just as
be had amassed, however, gold enough
by his robberies TO buy 70
Murasaki's liberty, the authorities, who
were aware of his deeds laid hasds
upon him. He was proved guilty OF
murder and plumber and beheaded or
,, the execution-ground. Chobei, the
yyardspoo,, claimed his body and head