The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-27
THE PILGRIMAGE
 OF OTOYA-SAN.
,r.,JeTTEI.D wII,sON.

BY IDA MANSFIELD WlLSoN. E !csgyslsss; isSi; sy Rssls ssSss sSs 2 k $ by one. The shriiling of the crickets. and the plaintive cry or the n ,tlnerans stsn in hand, through the eternal darkness, broke harmoniously upon the vast si- fence of the night. Along the Bund the deserted tindiiishas stood sunny yhep ep'En, Ian. terms glowing bravely, their man. horses crouched against an adjacent emnanK- ment, enjoying their Lillipuuan plpes reluctant kurumai who responds to the shout of a belated traveller:
 Beyond the Bund lay the sea. Like glistening onyx were its waters, parteu here and there by yyrtSnes qSiyssinsf sf na nhadowy ships at anchor. Fishing boats drffted ktre and there. When the bronze legged fisher men cast their nets or the sea. phospAorescent bubbles sparkled irto life, shimmered and glistened In trail of magical silver splendor, then van ished with meteoric swiftness. Back or 1t all the rising moon just touched the edge of the world with rim. of the
 Through tortuous ways down the street of the Temples. across bridges. even nearing the Shrine of the Hundred steps, sped a small. nervous figure disguised Tn the folds of mysterious Mlken nead- i gear. It was O'Toya-san. Her heart pal pitated wildly whenever shadow Tell across her path, or the voices of the night assumed unwonted sound. Not that she feared man or beast! Far from it! It was the terror of the demon 1oxes that blanched her cheek; those gaunt spectres that skulk in dark places and Intercept their victims. that they may take diabolical possession of them. Ev- eryone knows that the demon foxes are almost omnipotent for evil. Yes. ana &tak 1,1ro nA O. struction, and the tsubah trees, which walk about at night. She recalled fearful tale of an attack on one or these goblin trees which dripped blood as US branches were hewn on.
 O'Toyo-san's poor little heart almost burst with fear at the picture conJureu up and she clutched desperately at the prayer amulet in her sleeve.
 saw any ghestly forms of the under world; yet she pushed on, for only at the torii of the Temple shrine could she pierce the veil of the future.
 last before this graceful symbol of the Shinto religion. which stood like huge i Chinese ideograph It's arms stretched heavenward. Along the top of its upper little bullets of crumpled paper thrown | there by other pilgrims, in their quest for | prophetic presages.
 Quickly she drew out from the capa- l ClOuS SlebNc OI HST hiiIOuu oo"C NCASosS sheets of rice paper. which she pro ceeded to chew into pulp. Then, taking careful aim, she threw them one by one, aiming for the top of the horizontal car | as her target She had seven chances of fortune The first one missed: So did l the second. The third time the little round wad landed safely, and OTeya, sans heart gave bound. Success,iul u, and yet again. Only one more throw | remained; there must be three success | full throws out of the seven. with prayer to Benten. the divinity or lovers, | she threw her last paper bullet. It stuck fast and OToya-san's welded bliss was assured
 1 She knew now that a successful mar riage and devoted husband awaited her. Then came the triumphant thought that | she could never belong to Goddess Ben ten knew of her one true love and had | smiled upon it. OToya-sans journey home was made on wings of hope
 As she neared her narent's home, the sound of the tinkling samisen. accom- panying a love song in mans voice | greeted her ears. Go forward, straight forward that way sa to fhe fhe house house tbo fna3 goest thereto, the nearer to her shalt | thou be-
 Tt is Haru," she murmured ecstatic- ally, as she came upon him.
 l "I thought that the song would bring you, my beloved" he said, but l grew
 afraid when the moments passed ana still you came not. You are to go witf
 me, for cannot give you up to the Rice
 Merchant. We will take the ship to-
 morrow morning to the New Country over
 the Seas. Gather what things you re
 quire in a bundle, and we will take then
 down to the Nippon Ushen kaisha
 which sails at daybreak. We will be rlcf
 in the new world, for I am told tha
 artisans are paid even as the retaineri
 of the nobles are in Japan; therefore
 fear nothing, my O'Toya-san."
 Two figures stood upon the. middle
 deck of an outgoing. steamer while the
 day was young. Their faces were turn
 ed toward the rising sun. It had riser
 in their hearts
 H ANKsGIYING," by Stanley Waterloo.