The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-08-30

or arrows Sucn as tne ola heroes once
used. Fitting one to the bow, he gave it
a backward pull, when to his dismay it
slipped from his grasp and went whiz-
ring through the rich and painted mado
Gnner sliding walls)
He heard a low cry, followed by the
thud of falling body, and then all was
again silence.
Unhappy wretchv' he cried to him
self. my day of triumph has ended in
murder. l have killed some one with my
ignorant stupidity, and in the morning l
shall be Deheaded."
He blew out the candle and W ont to
bed, where he lay shivering and trem-
bling until the day broke.
Then the sound of the moving servants
came to him, and the GOODNESS of despair
filled his heart, for he knew that the dis
covery of his deed might come with ev-
cry second.
Presently he heard a cry of alarm, and
then indeed did he give himself up for
lost.
Here is a dead manr' exclaimed one
in frightened tones.
"Where is he?" "Who is it?" "Who
killed him?' came mingling of voices
as other servants ran crowding in.
"Why, it is the traitor Gujiwa, who
has thrice attempted to kill our master"
ooh, blessed deed" "What a beautiful
shot The arrow has pierced his left eye
to the skull" at is an ancient arrow
from the dukes chamber"
1.-THE young stranger sleeps there to-
night. He must have sent the deadly
shaft" "Ah! A hole in the mado! He
must have shot through the mado."
"What skill! What wonderful power,
to shoot an enemy without seeing him!'
"Wonderful. He has saved the masters
life."
Yomei, listening to all this, became al
most crazed with delight.
The sudden transition from despair to
hope intoxicated him like strong wine.
He threw his rich kimono (robe) about
him, pushed aside the pierced mado and
strobe toward the servants.
Have you found the traitor Gujiwa,
whom l slew last nightF he asked
haughtily. "Cut off his head and carry
it to your master with my compliments.
suspected that this attempt would be
made and obtained an entrance to the
castle by Disgusting myself as laborer. "
The servants groveled at his feet.
"But, honorable lord" implored one,
an old man who had been in the family
for half century, chow could you take
such aim when the mado was closed?'
Tut" said the young man, with a
gesture of contempt. II do not need
both sight and hearing to take good aim.
l can shoot any portion of the body by
hearing alone. This time l selected the
villains left eye, just as he was winking
it."
Wonderful! Wonderful" they whis-
pered in awestruck tones, and he walked
through their covering ranks with the
air of conqueror.
The gratitude and admiration of the
duke knew no bounds. Indeed so pleased
was he with the beauty, skill and cour.
age of his young protege that he took
measures to formally adopt him. Sc
Yomei was raised from the rank of g
bamboo cutter to that of son and heir tC
one of the most powerful daimio of the
empire.
He led life of ease and luxury and
improved from day to day, SO that hi
fame went abroad to other cities, and hi!
adopted father grew to love him deeply
But no life can be all happiness, an(
so for Yomei there was the thorn, tn,
one dark spot.
This was in the person of his adopted
mother, the dukes wife, who from tn,
first had been his bitter enemy. Having
nc children of her own she was ungener
GUS enough to hate the innocent adopte'
son, who by his very presence reminded
her that she had given no heir to tn
duke. She also suspected that his skill
in staying the robber was not entirel
genuine, and she had learned beyond al
doubt that his antecedents were of tn
humblest. At first she tried in ever
way to turn her husband against him
but finding this impossible she set t
work to find other means of deposin
him.
Soon there came rumor of a band G
robbers who infested hill in the sui
urbs of Toxic and We're SO fierce tina
tven the soldiers dared not attack then
The mikado had offered title and grea
wealth to any one brave enough to al
tempt their capture, but up to this tim
none had been found.
The evil stepmother, without consul
ing her husband, sent letter to tn
court saying that her noble son Yom'
was thirsting for the opportunity to di
play his skill and courage and declare
that he was able to vanquish the ban
single handed.
The mikado, highly pleased with E
much bravery, Immediately dispatche
a royal document to the young man al
cepting his services and ordering him
,, start forth the following morning.
Poor Yomei was again in despair.
"Alas, the end of my dream has come
he mourned to himself. There are
arrows and II robbers, and so j mul
: kill robber with each arrow. Oh, VIII
did l not keep to my bamboo cuttin
{ and leave ambition for the rich"
e His father grieved deeply to see hi
d set forth, but in spite of his sadness WI
o buoyed up by his evident anticipate