Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-11-25
FIAKI'S BIRTHDAY.

had drawn around the prince the screens
of precious woods In the little hall where
he sat dreaming. his arm upon an elbow
rest richly inlaid with pearl Magnif-
cent robes Of soft, downy silk over
Tapped and crossed their many colored
collars upon the breast Of this daimio,
and on the shoulder and embroidered In
gold on the sleeves was star formed OF
i've balls surrounding q sixth. the well
known coat Of arms Of the illustrious
family Of Kanga. who had no equals In
power In all Japan save the family Of
Hhendai or the family OF Satsouna.
Yet, this prince. who meditated thus
IN the depths Of this palace. was very
powerful. very rich and very renowned.
hts people admired and feared him. his
vsssals were ready to die for him, his
least desire was law TO all surround
ing him: nevertheless, today, he 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 the birthday
OF his only daughter. and had been able
TO imagine none9
Il WAS also true that this princess.
who tomorrow would be sixteen years
OF age possessed all that II was possible
TO possess marvellous birds fantastic
fishes, extravagant dogs. charots.
bullocks, horses. palaces, everything
that one could conceive OF. and even
marvels OF which one did not dream
brought specially for her from distant
countries
The daimio told himself. shaking hts
head. that he had too much indulged
his beloved daughter: that he should
not have indulged her thus till she had
exhausted hardly entered upon
life--all the riches Of the world Now
he nad nothing TO offer his child. TO as-
tonish and charm her
still pondering. still wondering. for a
long long while through the cloudy
transparency of the window. he allowed
hts wearied gaze TO wonder over the
stripped garden, under the gray and
weeping heavens
what did abe really still desireY
Suddenly he spraug 10 his feet
I'VE will see her" said he. see her.
and perhaps be able, without her sus-
pecting anything, TO divine her caprice"
He turned and struck the gong hang
ing by silken cord from the teeth OF a
monster In bronze.
Immediately the panels forming the
walls glided noiselessly apart, separated
90 each side. permitting you 10 see q
long persrective Of room after room
filled by sainonrais of service. pages
guards and household domestics The
samourais-noble vassals wearing two
sworis-bowed profoundly before him,
the pages and servants Frustrated them
selves. brows to the ground.
Il am going 10 visit my daughter. :
said the daimio gravely. Gomez
And Immediately the escort formed
about him. while the guards ran In nd.
vance 10 clear the way.
Fiaki-thai Is to say. Ray Of Sunlight
lin well closed hall Of her own special
palace. was seated. according to custom,
upon broad white mats laid upon sht
floor. the long folds OF her magnificent
trained robes billowing and spreading
about her like the leaves OF a gorgeous
fan. tissues, musiins. silks and aatins
the most abundant of them all sa,
blue gauze figured with spiders webs, IN
which were caught the petals Of rar'
fowers
The face OF this young girl was whit
a. cream. her tiny mouth like q cherr,
cleft In twain. disclosing two rows o
fine little rice grains; her eyebrow
shaved and replaced by two little blacl
spots made with brush and placed higl
mp on her brow, while her long hair. fol
lowing the mode OF royal fashion, wa
unbound and streaming down her bacl
70 lose itself In the folds Of her garments
The maids Of honor formed q hal
circle about their mistress. and In from
Of her. behind light carved baiustrade
Q dancer moved slowly waving her fal
tn time 70 the notes Of the orchestra. In
toning strange. weird chant, with |
gotto. a Diva. three kinds Of flutes,
drum and a tambourine.
AT the princes entrance the symptom,
csassd. and Fiaki quickly concealed be
hind the spiders webs Of her sleeve tn
twin cherries Of her lips. which was
salute 10 her father. tender and chaste.
he smiled with pleasure At the sigh
Of the beauty and grace Of bis idolize'
child she rose 10 greet him. and, lik
Q seA sgitated by "a sudden tempest. th
silk. satin. muslin and brocade Of he
okirss rustlsi and undulated behind hel
Ne, care@ed ner lovingly heaped he
with tender names calling her his In
comparable. his Supernatural Beauty
his Perfume Of Heaven. then he ID
manded OF her IL she were perfectl
happy. there was sught that shs d.
zared2
"Ahl illustrious princel sdored "a
therr Fiaki responded bending bach
ward her supple body In pretty move
ment Of sorrow how can any one
happy when the earth suffers As NOS
and the sky continually drops tear
The gods have been cruel IN creafin
winter. Not sven the purity OF tn
snow can create for me an illusion Q
my vanishing spring
Ths dziinio listened thoughtful,
thsn. In q deepes reverie still. returne
70 his apartment
1T 10 certain" said he % himself
-csrtain that spring. and spring onlj
N all that Fiakf Desires
And be stopped 10 lend an ear TO ii
sharp wind blowing against the palse
wallA
Already the twilight was far ad
vanced. the gray dawn waiting TO tax
Che gray evenings place