The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-03-11
Selett Storp.
PRINCESS FIAKI'S BIRTHDAY.
BY F.. c. wAGaENER.

B1 u. Z. N3hOENbh'
As it was winter and very cold, they 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 Magnificent robes
of soft, downy silk over-lapped and crossed
their many.colored collars upon the breast
of this Daimio, and on the shoulder and
embroidered in gold on the sleeves was a
star formed of FIVE balls surrounding sixth,
the well-known coat of arms Of the illus
trious family of Kanga, who had no equals
in power in all Japan save the family OF
Shendai or the family of Satsouma.
Yes, this prince, who meditated thus in
the depths of this palace, was very power
full very rich and very renowned; his peo-
pie admired and feared him, his vassals
were ready to die for him, his least desire
was law to all surrounding him; neverthe-
less, today, he found himself exceedingly
unhappy, helpless, poverty-stricken, de-
plorably 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 none?
1t was also true that this princess, who
tomorrow would be sixteen years of age,
possessed all that it was possible to possess
marvellous birds. fantastic fishes, extrav-
agant dogs, chariots, bullocks, horses, pal
aces, everything that one could conceive of,
and even marvels of which one did not
dream brought specially for her from dis
tant counties.
The Daimio told himself, shaking his
head, that he had too much INDUCED his
beloved daughter; that he should not have
indulged her thus till she had exhausted
she, hardly entered upon life-all the riches
of the world Now he had nothing to offer
his child, to astonish and charm her.
Still pondering, still wondering, for a
long, long while through the cloudy trans
parency of the window, he allowed his
wearied gaze to wander over the stripped
garden, under the gray and weeping heav-
ems.
''What did she really still desire p
Suddenly he sprang to his feet.
eve will see her." said he, "see her, and
perhaps be able, without her suspecting
anything, to divine her caprice"
He turned and struck the gong hanging
by silken cord from the teeth of mon
ster in bronze.
Immediately the panels forming the
walls glided noiselessly apart, separated to
each side, permitting you to see long
perspective of room after room filed by
san,onrais Of service, pages, guards, and
household domestics. The sapOwais-
noble vassals wearing two swords-bowed
profoundly before him; the pages and SER
wants prostrated themselves, brows to the
ground.
81 am going to visit my daughter" said
the Daimio, gravely i'Come,
| And Immediately the escort formed abont
him, while the guards ran in advance to
clear the way.
Fiaki-that is to say, Ray of Sunlight
in well,clnsed hall Of her own special pal
ace, was seated, according 10 custom, upon
broad white mats laid upon the floor, the
long folds of her magnificent trained robes
billowing and spreading about her like the
leaves of a gorgeous fan, tissues, muslins,
silks, and satins, the most abundant of them
all sky-bue gauze figured with spiders
webs in which were caught the petals of
rare flowers.
The face of this young girl was white
as cream, her tiny mouth like cherry cleft
in twain, disclosing two rows Of fine little
rice grains; her eyebrows shaved and re-
placed by two little black spots made with
brush and placed high up on her brow;
while her long hair, following the mode of
royal fashion, was unbound and streaming
down her back to lose itself in the folds of
her garments
The maids Of honor formed a half-circle
about their mistress; and in front of her,
behind light carved balustrade, dancer
moved slowly, waving her fan in time to
the notes of the orchestra, intoning a
strange, weird chant, with gotto, a bird,
three kinds of flutes, drum, and tam
BOURNE.
At the princes entrance the symphony
ceased, aud Fiaki quickly concealed behind
the spiders webs of her sleeve the twin
cherries of her lips, which was salute to
her father, tender and chaste.
He smiled with pleasure at sight Of the
beauty and grace of his idolized child She
rose to greet him, and, ike sea agitated
by sudden tempest, the silk, satin, mus
lin, and brocade of her skirts rustled and
undulated behind her. He caressed her
lovingly, heaped her with tender names,
calling her his Incompatible, his Super
natural Beauty, his Perfume Of Heaven;
then be demanded Of her if she were per-
fectly happy, If there was aught that she
desired2
aAh illustrious prince adored father r