The Portland daily press., 1892-01-16

II is CSTtulu, SAIL u0 W Allh0SA'
"certain that spring, and spring only
is all that Fiaki desires"
And he stopped to lend an ear to tho
sharp wind blowing against the palace
walls.
Already the twilight was far adj
vanced, the gray dawn waiting to take
the gAsy evenings place.
YES. spring, spring only" MUIR
INJURED the unhappy daimio, dejectedly
resuming the seat that he had quilted
while ago.
Suddenly his sorrow changed to anger,
and he summoned his prime minister.
Nai-Dai-Tsin ran. bending low his back
and auguring nothing good for himself
or others from the gloomy face OF his
master. The daimio was silent mo-
ment, as if hesitating to give an order
SO extraordinary; but soon, with an irrl-
tated shrug of the shoulders, he spoke:
Tomorrow, Nai-Dai-Tsin,' said he.
Twill be my daughters birthday. de-
sire-do you hear mel desire, l say,
that dawn shall break ON the trees and
bushes of the park and all the country
round about the palace covered with
flowers, as in the first months of spring.
Co..
"You shall be obeyed, MASTER" re-
piled the prime minister, bowling him.
self out backward.
But once outside CONSERVATION seized
him. and he let his arms fall helplessly
in the long sleeves of his gown.
cit is exile, it is DEATH" murmured
he; Eyes, death! For | have not the
time to fly sufficiently far away, and
thunder has fallen upon me from the
clear sky of full prosperity"
His legs bent under him; he caught at
the walls to keep from sinking.
ssWhat could he do to avoid disgrace?
Nothing. nothing" he told himself,
after he had thought over the matter
carefully. For the pleasure of his child
his royal master had seriously COM
manded spring! For q long while he
stood without thought, his head hanging
like a ball of lead on his miserable
breast; then he cast lethargy from him
and turned with a resolute air.
"Come, courage, Nai-Dai-Tsin, . said
he. ga Japanese does not tremble be-
fore death. Quick, the saber first, the
stroke in the stomach; the poinard for
the throat!"
He drew out the weapon and prepared
for the stroke, but paused refectively.
Was it really impossible to simulate
spring, and thereby, instead of ruin and
suicide, conquer eternal fortune? No
use to despair too quickly; there was al
ways time to die.
But he could not repress start of ter
ror on seeing how deep the shadow had
grown beyond the palace and how rap
idly the lights were springing up, like
frehies in the darkness.
'.All the park and all the country
round about, murmured he; "and only
one night!'
Then, on the run, he regained his
dwelling, called the council together
and, without giving them time even to
seat themselves, impaired to them the
extraordinary order transmitted to him
by the prince.
can order to be executed under pen
atty of death before the dawn Of the
day." said he, recklessly Indifferent to
the terrified faces of those surrounding
him. .sThe princes humor is not to be
trifed with; he will hear to no reason.
But listen and fully take in the idea that
has come to me, which may be the sal
walton of all. Go from here and set to
work at once in all the country round
about-men, women, children, mobiles,
laborers, merchants and peasants, with
silk, cloth, satin, velvet, paper or gauze
to work at once, say, manufacture
ing artificial flowers. II stuff be lack
ing let them cut up their clothes, their
hangings, their screens, their rugs for
the hoor-briehy, all that may seem to
them necessary or good. Then all these
flowers, before daybreak, too, must be
tied, nailed, glued or sewed upon the
trees, plants and bushes, the smallest
along the edges of the roads, the tallest
farthest away in the fields, all the artists
and painters in the neighborhood follow
ing upon their steps to direct the decora-
ton and give finishing touches of the
brush wherever needful, l, in person,
will watch over and foresee everything;
our safety depends upon it,"
Less than an hour later there was not
palace, a house in the city or hut in
the country where they were not fever
ishly occupied manufacturing flowers,
and whoever had looked from the tower
Of the Kanga palace, shortly after the
turn Of the night, into the park and
neighborhood would have believed him
self in sea Of lanterns, which surged
and leaped from tree to thicket-an army
of firefies chased by foxes.
But at this hour the illustrious daimio
snored peacefully behind his screen of
gold incrusted ironwood; and the In
comparable princess, in the softened
rays of light sitting through the frail
pearl leaves of swinging la1npadaire,
reclined upon cushions and sought tc
compose in her dreams fitting poem on
spring.
Her women had just finished dressing
her next morning when the Princess
Fiaki heard under her window the notes
of an orchestra and the chant of many
voices.
"Ah!" said she, with wearied ges-