The National tribune., 1891-08-27

tions before the image Of Buddha, which. sur
rounded by flowers, chaste napcry, and gilded
eandlcsticks, looked down upon her dcyotions.
Now Tita, like many another belle of Japan,
had placed her affections, not uuwoTthily but
very unhappiy, upon Oscema EUritomo. n
youth Of fine figure, handsome iaCs and
E0nost heart. Osccma was the hardest Of
fishermen, and from early dawn TO tho
closing evening pursued his occupation with
profit in the bay aud the sea beyond NagaEaki.
I!tas father, being a man Of wealth and q
seller OF old aud choice china, wonderful iu-
laid cabinets, gorgeous draperies, and respleu-
dent screens, looked with disfayOr upon Oscema
and his lucrative but to him vulgar calling.
lie constantly sought opportunities 10 thWaTt
the attachment Of the lovely Iita aud tho
manly Dsecma.
True love in Japan. like the same engrossing
affection elsewhere is always happy ia czpe-
diunts and O5Ccma aud Iita were seldom Lack
Ing in plans for meeting either by tho curling
waves Of the shore, In the ombTaZuTcd shade OF
the Buddhist temple, or upon the lanteTn-lit
walks Of the town, and even, by CgHnIVancc
with her maid, beneath the pleasing abode Of
Tia itself
When with early dawn Osoorna was away
upon the sea, his drab sail pink tinted with
the sunlight, Tita i'm her b0Gd0ir or garden
waited for the evening 10 bring them together.
As the afternoon waned she busted herself
during the day with the costly trihes of her
toilet. boxes, carved cabinets. and Oddly-shapcd
vases, extracted c0loTs, powders or gliding and
costly perfumes wheTewith TO render herself
more bewItehing than the grace Of Dame Ma
ture had made her.
From such alluring occupation she would
turn TO her handma.ds and ACCOMPANIED by
them, or herself striking the silver wires Of
her mandolin in languishing, long sounding
notes. sing her devotion TO her absent fisher
man.
The meetings Of Tho devoted pair had Of late
been rather iulICquent. as the Jealous care Of
Tita's father prevented their trysts As might
be expected, O5cema was not without rivals.
In the person Of Lu Nina. a prosperous mer-
chant OF Aagasaki, Oscema believed that one
existed, and knew well enough that although
old aud unpleasing Of aspect, he possessed in
money aud estates enough Of talisman 10
open the heart Of Titas father 10 his aspira-
lions for the hand Of his daughter.
Indeed, IL was IN consequence OF this Lu
NIna's attentions that strictcr watch had been
| SET upon llta. Evening after evening as Osce-
ma lay OF The port, preparatory 70 leaving for
/ his fishing grounds, he bad endeayUrcd by
/ many doyiccs 20 attract the attention Of Tita
! but without success. No waving OF banners or
! cleaning Of lantern from his little Junk met
with response from the guarded habitation. No
message as heretofore conveyed in the fur Of
/ the great mOon-eysd cat, O0ala, reached him.
! Although Oolala WAS very partial 10 tho funny
| tribe caught 10y Oscema, he had for long been
/ prevented from his accustomed feast and fallen
! into foul suspicion, had been confined ia a wire
! cage.
What 20 DO Il seemed impossible 70 think
| At last Oscema bcthought him Of 1itais old
/ nurse, the faithful Maramo, who dWelt not far
4 from Iita's home beside tho willows that
| afforded her the material for making tho chaste
aud beautiful baskets that charmed tho fancy
Of great and little japanese.
ON his way tnither he had 10 pass the house
] Of la Nina aud 10 his surprise on approaching
/ its highly-iuishei aud decorated entrance, its
1 opening hung with rich silkon fabrics metal
! lGmps aud nauy-hued lanterns, he was re-
ceiFod by Lu with obeisances aud prostrations,
better behtting the reception Of one more
wealthy and honored than Oscema. But being
Of gentle and guileless nature, he greeted Lu
! Nina with kindness aud favor
/ Upon tho elder mans invitation 10 enter he
] did 50, aud accepted the old and luscious saki
presented 10 him, aud willingly Joined in a
smoke from the costly pipe THAI was offered in
apparent amity. This pipe, richly chased in
gold, was valued not only from being studded
with gems OF rarity and size. but also from
| having been tho envy aud admiration Of all
the Japaneso sGOkers among LUIS friends.
With the utmost appearance Of good fellow
ship In continued 20 press upon Oscema the
fragrant saki, tho preserved fruits and the tiny
bowls Of rice and constantly refilled for him
tie beieweled pipe.
IL WAS not long before the fisherman, seem
ingly overpOwered by the effects Of the rich
food, the saki and the narcotic slowly sank
back into the soft cushions Of his couch.
Famed by the gentle breeze from the Odoroul
garden full Of twittering birds, darting fish
icOntemPlatiVe turtles and hinges Of Buddha.