The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-26

lace Oh nature rendering StI1 uOre Co1H
plete the Illusion of spring, richer, more
fowery, more generous in all respects
than the real springtime.
land what a delicious perfumer
cried the happy little princess, every
instant thrusting her prett. little head
out of the chariot to see the better.
"What q delicious perfume floats in the
air from all these fiowers!'
Delicious indeed! The dainio him
self smelled it scent fountains and
atomizers, in fact, hidden in the harness
ing of the beeves, the spray from which
mingled itself with the breath of the
animals.
Ever and ever SO far they went into
the country. Wild with delight, Fiaki
could not abri9ge her happiness. Then
she wanted to return by another road
was it possible?
A little uneasy, the prince regarded
his impossible minister.
''Does the princess desire" demanded
he, ''to return by the hills or the orch
ards?"
1.-THE orchards, by all means" the
young girl responded; lit is further and
more beautiful"
And by the orchards they returned; as
Fiaki had said, more beautiful than all
they had seen. Soon the pink blossoms
of plum tree caught the princess at
tention.
Il must have it, she cried, ga branch
of that plum tree to carry with me as a
souvenir Of this wonderful spectacle"
"The game is up!" moaned the prince
to himself, throwing an appealing glance
upon his minister
But the minister had neither paled nor
trembled.
81 will do myself the honor of pluck
ing it for you," said he. putting spurs to
his horse and returning moment later
with superbly Powered branch.
No sooner done than the maids Of
honor wanted piece, and then all the
noble DANES, seeing that they were really
permitted to pluck the blossoms, leaped
from their cars and demanded fragrant
souvenirs on their own account.
Really this was too much. The prince
paled with anger and was going to order
them to move on, but the minister Teas-
sured him with an i1nperceptible shrug;
he knew women well-he had foreseen
this also, and at sign TO an assistant
cart drove up loaded to the top with
dewy blossoms, and all were provided
with that which they demanded.
Nai-Dai-Tsin had unhesitatingly pill
he of @l,o
aces and had men mingling with the
crowd with bags full of flowers till the
word was given. The prince, who had
not OWNED this very simple device, was
speeches. with amazement.
Thou art truly wonderful man"
he murmured in the minister's ear, as
they re-entered the palace, land thou
hast done far more than | could possibly
have hoped; but even in the delight of
this wonderful fete, there has been in
me dull disquiet-how shall we ever
be able to surpass this spectacle for the
coming year,"
Meanwhile as the daimio tarried to
speak TO his minister, Fiaki descended
from her chariot; at the same time the
son of the prince of Satsouma, who had
far to come and who had just arrived at
the palace with brilliant escort, ad-
vanced to salute her.
A very handsome young man, too, and
so brave shat in spite of his youth he was
already much talked about. Deeply
moved at so much beauty, he stood be-
fore Fiaki, and she, no less blushing and
confused, buried her face in the fragrant
blossoms in her hand and could say not
a word.
Vandalism, who seemed to see
everything, called the princes attention
to them, and to the mutual mental dis
turbance that seemed to leave them
both tongue tied.
when the seventeenth year Of your
daughter arrives for her, my lord" said
he, "give her for husband that hand
some prince there, and she will love him
more than today she loves the spring"
The daimios face broadened into
delighted smile and he hurriedly thrust
a gold and bronze trinket into the prime
minister's hand.
1.-THE key of my treasure box, Mai
Dai-Tsin," said he; take it, use what
you will, and heed my advice-be not
too modesto -Translated from the
French of Judith Gautier by E. G. Wag-
gener for Short Stories.