Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-02-09
FIAKI'S BIRTHDAY.

As II was winter and very cold, they
had drawn around the prince the screen
Of precious woods In the little hall whore
he sat dreaming. his arm upon an elbow
rest richly inlaid with pearl. Magnih.
cent robes Of soft. downy silk over.
Tapped and crossed thor many colored
collars upon the breast Of this dainio,
and ON the shoulder and embroidered in
gold on the sleeves was u star formed Of
Ave balls surrounding n sixth, the well
known coat OF arms Of tho illustrious
family Of Ranga. who had no equals In
power In all Japan save the family Of
Shcndai or tho family Of Satsouma.
Yet, this prince. who moditatcd thus
In the depths Of this palace, was very
powerful. very rich aud very renowned.
mis- people admired and feared him, his
vassals were ready to die for him, his
loast desire was law to all surround
ing him; nevertheless, today, no found
himself exceedingly unhappy. helpless,
poverty stricken, deplorably poverty
stricken In thought and fancy; for had
he not. for many days past, sought for
some surprise to celebrate tho birthday
OF his only daughter. and had boon able
10 imagine noney
II wis also true that this princess,
who tomorrow would he sixteen years
OF ago, possessed all that II was possible
10 possess--marvolous birds, fantastic
fishes. extrayagant dogs charots,
bullocks, horscs, palaces, everything
that ono could conceive Of. and even
marvels Of which one did not dream
brought specially for hor from distant
countries.
The dnimio told himself. shaking his
head, that no had too much INDUCED
his beloved daughter; that he should
not have INDUCED her thus till she had
exhaustod-sho.- hardly entered upon
life-nll tho richee OF tho world. Now
he had nothing TO offer his child. to as
tonish and charm her.
Still pondcring, still wondering, for a
long. long while through the cloudy
transparency OF the window, ho allowed
his wearied gaze 20 wonder over the
stripped garden, under tho gray and
weeping heavens.
"What did she really still desire"
Suddenly no spnng to his feet.
ave will see her" said he, "Eeo her,
and perhaps DO able, without her sus-
pecting anything, to divine hor caprice"
He turned and struck tho gong hang.
ing by silken cord from tho teeth of u
monster In bronze.
Immediately the panels forming tho
walls glided noiselessly apart, separated
10 each side, permitting you 10 sec n
long perspective Of room after room
filed by samourais Of service. pages,
gunrds and household domostics, The
samourais-nobe vassals wearing two
swords bowed profoundly before him;
the pages and servants Frustrated them.
selves, brows TO tho ground.
IL am going to visit my daughter.
said the daimio grayely. "Comol"
And immediately tho escort formed
about him. while tho guards ran in I'D.
vance TO clear the way.
Fiaki-that IL to say, Ray Of Sunlight
i'm well closed hall Of her own special
palace, was seated, according to custom,
upon broad white mats laid upon the
floor. the long folds OF her magnificent
trained robes billowing and spreading
about hor like the leaves ~ gorgeou,
fan. tissues, muslns. silks md satins
the moss abundant Of them all a sky
blue gauzc figured with spiders webs, il
which were caught tho petals Of rar'
flowers.
The face OF this young girl was white
Gs cream, her tiny mouth like cherry
cleft In twain, disclosing two rows O
fine little rico grains; her eyebrows
shaved and replaced by two little blacl
spots made with brush and placed higl
up ON her brow, while her long hair, fol
lowing tho mode OF royal fashion, wa
unbound aud streaming down hcr bacl
70 lose itself In the folds OF her garments
The maids Of honor formed a hal
circle about thoir mistress, and In from
Of her, behind light carved balustrado
dancer moved slowly, waving her fal
In time to the notes OF the orchestra, In
toning u strange. weird chant, with
gotto, Diva, three kinds Of flutes,
drum and u tambourine.
At the princc's entrance tho symphon.
ceased, and Fiali quickly concealed be-
hind the spiders webs OF her sleeve III
twin cherries Of her lips, which was
salute 70 her father. tender and chaste,
lie smiled with pleasure at the sigh
OF the beauty and grace Of his idoli2cl
child She rose TO greet him, and, liz
sea agita,ed by sudden tempest, III
silk, satin, muslin and hrocade Of he
skirts rustlcd and undulntcd behind her
tie caressed ner lovingly, heaped ho
with tender naines, calling hor his In
comparable, his Supernatural Beauty
his Perfume Of Heaven; thon he de
manded Of her II she were perfect
happy, II there was aught that she dc
slrell
"Ah illustrious princel ndored "a
therr Fiaki responded bending bach
ward her supple body in u pretty moy,
Inent Of sorrow, "how can any one
happy when the earth suffers as no'
and the sky continually drops tear,
Tho gods have been cruel in cTeatin