The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-12-16

Il shall return in the early autumn" said
Akana Soyemon several hundred years age
when bidding good-by to his brother by
adoption, young Hasebe Samon. The time
was spring, and the place was the village of
kato, in the province of Harima. Akana
was an lzumO samurai, and he wanted to
visit his birthplace.
Hasebe said:
Your lzumo-the Country of the Eight
Cloud Rising-is very distant Perhaps it
will therefore be difficult for you to promise
to return here upon any particular day.
But, if we were to know the exact day, we
should feel happier. We could then pre-
pare feast of welcome; and we could watch
at the gateway for your coming"
why, as for that, responded Akana, 81
have been so. much accustomed to travel
that l can usually tell beforehand how long
it will take me TO reach place; and i can
safely promise you to be here upon par
ticular day. Suppose we say the day Of
the festival of Choyo"
That is the ninth day of the ninth
month" said Hasebe; "then the ehrysanthe-
NUNS will be in bloom, and we can go to-
gether to look at them. How pleasant
So you promise to come back on
the ninth day of the ninth month"
ION the ninth day of the ninth MONTH"
repeated Akana, smiling farewell. Then lie
strobe away from the village of Kato, in the
province Of Harima-and Hasebe Samon
and the mother of Hasebe looked after him
with tears in their eyes.
Neither the sun nor the moon" says an
old Japanese proverb, lever halt upon their
journey" Swiftly the months went by; and
the autumn came-the season of chTysanthe
NUNS. And early upon the morning of the
ninth day of the ninth month Hasebe pre-
pared to welcome his adopted brother. He
made ready feast of good things, bought
wine, decorated the guestroom and filled
the vases of the alcove with chrysanthe-
NUNS of two colors. Then his mother,
watching him, said: "The province of
Izumo, my son, is more than 100 ria from
this place; and the journey thence over the
mountains is difficult and weary; and you
cannot be sure that Akana will be able to
come to-day. Would it not be better, before
you take all this trouble, to wait for his
coming?" NAY, mother!" Hasebe made
answer, "Akana promised to be here to-day;
he could not break a promise! And if he
were to see us beginning to make prepare
ton after his arrival he would know that we
had doubted his word; and we should be
put to shame"
The day was beautiful, the sky without
cloud and the air so pure that the world
seemed to be thousand miles wider than
usual. In the morning many travellers
passed through the village-some of them
samurai; and Hasebe, watching each as he
came, more than once imagined that he saw
Akana approaching. But the temple bells
sounded the hour of midday, and Akana
did not appear. Through the afternoon also
Hasebe watched and waited in vain. The
sun set and still there was so sign of Akaaa.
Nevertheless Hasebe remained at the gate,
gazing down the road. Later his mother
went to him and said: "The mind of man,
my son-as our proverb declares-may
change as quickly as the sky of autumn.
But your chrysanthemum flowers will still
be fresh tomorrow. Better now to sleep,
and in the morning you can watch again
for Akana if you wish" crest well, moth
err" returned Hasebe; ''but / still believe
that he will come" Then the mother went
to her own room, and Hasebe fingered at
the gate.
The night was pure as the day had been !;
all TIE sky throbbed with stars; and the
white River of Heaven shimmered with I'M
usual splendor. The village slept; the 81
lence was broken only by the noise of lit
tie brook and by the far-away barking Of
peasants dogs. Hasebe still waited-waited
until he saw the thin moon sink behind the
neighboring hills Then at last he began
to doubt and to fear just as he was about
to reenter the house he perceived in the
distance a tall man approaching very light
ly and quickly; and in the next moment he
recognized Akana.
"Ohl" cried Hasebe, springing to meet
him haya haap xua itino for voit from ha
morning until nowl So you really
did keep your promise after all.
But you must be tired, poor brotherl-come
in; everything is ready for you" He guided
Akana to the place of honor in the guest
room and FASTENED to trim the lights, which
were burning low. Mother" continued
Hasebe, felt little tired this evening, and
she has already gone to bed but shall
awaken her presently" Akana shook his
head and made little gesture of disap
prevail "As you will, brother" said
Hasebe, and he set warm food and wine be
fore the traveller. Akana did not touch the
food or the wine, but remained motionlesI
and silent for a short time. Then, speaking
in whispers if he feared awakening the
mother-he said:
"Now l must tell you how it happened
that came thus late. When 1 returned to
Izumo found that the people had almost
forgotten the kindness of our former ruler
the good Lord Enya, and were seeking the
favor Of the usurper Tsunehisa, who had
possessed himself of the fonda castle. Blu;
l had to visit my cousin, Akana TanI
though he had accepted service under Tsune
hisa, and was living, as a retainer, within
the castle grounds. He persuaded me tc
| present myself before Tsunehisa; yielded
chiefly in order to observe the character Of
the new ruler, whose face had never seen
He is a skilled soldier, and of great cour
age; but he is cunning and cruel. l found
it necessary TO let him know that could
never enter into his service. After | left
his presence he ordered my cousin to detair
me-to keep me confined within the house
l protested that / had promised to return
to Harima upon the ninth day of the ninth
month, but was refused permission tC
60. then hoped to escape from the castle
at night, but was constantly watched; anc
until to-day could find no way to fulfill my
| promise ."
"Until to-day" exclaimed Hasebe, in be
wilderment; "the castle is more than hun
drer ri from herel"
EYES," returned Akana, "and no living
man can travel ON foot a hundred ri in on,
day. But felt that, if did not keep m!
| I'll Ill e