The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-03-11

SdllcIN anu lednb liUul the JdlueeiauS- Ouo
then, what a cry of surprise and joy
What was all this she saw before her?
Was it possible? Flowers, flowers every
where The spring, then, had come
"What !" said she, turning from side to
side and running from end to end of the
gallery, 'salmond-trees red and white, peach
blooms, lilies, apple blossoms What a
miracle''
Moreover, through all these spring roads
and pathways gayly dressed throngs were
hurrying to pay their respects 10 their
princes daughter; the great seigneurs on
horseback, the noble danes in bullock cars
or the regular nourimanos.
Fiaki hastened to descend; the Daimio
met her upon the terrace steps and she
threw herself into his arms with a cry of
"Father father thou art in truth a god J"
Then they strolled the park and gardens
to admire this magic spring. Fiaki laughed
and danced and clapped her hands like a
child, and Immediately great chariot
shaped like pavilion, all aglow with gold
stars and drawn by white bullocks, drew
up at the terrace steps for the princess and
her maids of honor to take ride through
the country Then the visitors entered
their cars and fell in line, and it was one
long, joyous, brilliant, and interminable
procession.
The prince led the way, the prime min
lister beside him, grave and impossible in
his triumph The scene Of. enchantment
was the same along all the roads, the
warmth of the sun and the light golden fog
that family veiled the face of nature rem
dering still more complete the illusion Of
spring, richer, more Aowery, more generous
in all respects than the real spring-time.
"And what delicious perfume !" cried
the happy little princess, every instant
thrusting her pretty little head out of the
chariot, to see the better, "what a delicious
perfume floats in the air from all these
flowers |"
Delicious indeed The Daimio himself
smelled it-scent fountains and atomizers,
in fact, hidden in the Harvesting 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 abridge her happiness. Then she wanted
to return by another road-was it posi-
BILE p
A little uneasy, the prince regarded his
impossible minister.
"Does the princess desire" demanded
he, ''to return by the hills or the orchards?"
"The orchards, by all means, the young
girl responded: at is farther 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 a
plum tree caught the princesss attention.
81 must have" she cried, "a branch of
that plum tree to carry with me as a souv-
enir of this wonderful spectacle.
'The game is up p moaped the prince
to himself, throwing an appealing glance
upon his minister.
But the minister had neither paled nor
trembled.
'1 will do myself the honor of plucking
it for you, said he, putting spurs to his
horse and returning a moment later with a
superbly fowered branch.
No sooner done than the maids of honor
wanted piece, and then all the noble
DANES, seeing that they were really per-
mitted 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 reas-
sured him with an imperceptible shrug; he
knew women well-he had foreseen this
also, and at a 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 pillaged
all the conservatorios of the palaces, 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 speechless With amaze-
ment.
i.Fhou art truly a wonderful man, he
murmured in the minister's ear, as they
re-entered the palace, ''and thou hast done
far more than could possibly have
hoped, but even in the delight Of this
wonderful fete, there has been in me a
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, advanced to
salute her.
A very handsome young man, too, and
SO brave that in spite Of his youth he was
already much talked about. Deeply
moved at SO much beauty, he stood before
Fiaki, and she, no less blushing and con-
fused, buried her face in the fragrant
blossoms in her hand and could say not a
word.
Nai-Dai .Tsin, who seemed % see every