The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-04-29
uRAsA,MA.
japanese Fairy Taie-ey Annette
Won Vivenot.
aconyr,ght. 1set. by w. r. uearstl

Won Vivenot.
( yCopyright, 1904, by w. r. Hearst.)
1T was a clear morning In the early
Ispring. The first rays OF the rising sun
played on the roofs of the cottages in
the little fishing village by the sea and
kissed the dewdrops on the blossoms OF
the blooming cherry trees. AT every 1T
tie puff of ehc morning bree2es the white
petals fell to the ground like snow. In
the background the mighty cone OF the
snow covered l'uji was plainly visible.
Slitterins as II incrusted with diamonds.
A little boat was moored near the shore,
peacef3ily rocking on the crest OF the
waves Light, downy clouds looked down
upon the calm seq. In the village there
Were already signs of life; brawny, dusky,
muscular men emerged from the cottages
and walked toward the shore to begin
their days work. Now came also Crus-
lima, the fisher boy. carrying his net,
which he threw down into his boat, and
ketzing the oars the light skiff was soon
kpeeding sea ward. He hoisted his sail
And sat dreaming as the WING carried him
away from the shore.
Some distance out he threw out his net
pnd sat waiting patiently, but the sun had
already reached zenith and not one hsh
3ad ne caught. Evidently he had no luck
to-day. Before turning his boat toward the
shore he made one more attempt. and 10!
when he again pulled in his net 1t was so
heavy that Ii took all the strength OF his
muscular arms to get 1t abourd. but when
NE looked he bad caught only a large
turtle, n creature which he dared not
keep, rs 1T was consecrated to the God
of the Sea.
Carefully liherating 1t from the meshes
of the net he threw i. back into the sea.
and In the same moment the head OF a
beautiful girl with long black hair APP
peared near his boat. With an expression
of terror Urushima looked at her. but she
spoke to him in a friendly voice.
"Do not be afraid. You have spared the
life of the holy turtle and the God of the
Sea viii reward you. Follow me"
And before Crush.na knew 1t his boat
rushed across the waves with the speed
OF an arrow. A storm arose and his sail
was torn into shreds. AT last he landed
on Il small. rocky island which he had
never seen before.
a large cave was in front of him, and
this me entered without fear. 1t was dark
as night within, but soon rays of green
and blue light broke through the dark
ness, and at last it was bright as day.
He stood before a magnificent palace
on the bottom of the sea. Strange fishes
of wonderful colors stood guard before a
portal made from beautiful corals and sea
shells, and Il young girl in whom he rec
ognized the mermaid who had appeared
to him before come out to met him. She
Wore a kimono bright as the purest gold,
and her long, black hair fell as a mantle
almost to her knees.
II am the Sea Gods daughter" she said
In her soft, melodious voice. "Will you
be my husband and stay with me?'
He nodded assent and she took him by
the hand and led him into the palace.
And now began a life full of joy for the
young couple, undarkened by any sorrows;
but after three years Urushima began to
l tntnr fnv Ia Z ,n 80, u.t,l - ,c l, nurfn or
old and whom he would like to see once
more. For many months he bore his suf-
ferings in silence, but at last he could
Keep his secret no Longer and told his
wife. who. after many tears, permitted
him to return to his home once more.
! When they parted she gave him a black
Shrine. saying: Promise me never to
you have seen your parents. If YOU open
1t you can never return to me again"
Irushima kissed her with a heavy heart
and promised to obey her. and in the
same moment a storm arose and a gi-
gantic wave threw him ashore at his old
home.
How well he remembered the village and
the snowclad peak of E'uji! But the peo-
pie We're all strangers to him who had
known every child in the village.
Filled with a strange fear, he asked an
old woman about his parents. She looked
u fl4ul III dSloTlSNIflenC ana answered..
Those for whom you ask rest in their
graves in the graveyard. But who are
you who ask about people who died 400
years ago."
Urushima gave her no answer, but hur-
cied to the graveyard and soon found the
sombstones of his parents and next to
,heirs one with his own name saying that
ne had been drowned while fishing.
Hot tears streamed down his face, but
then he thought OF the shrine. Maybe II
he opened it the bad dream would disap-
pear. With trembling hand he forced 1T
open and he heard a sound as of a woman
crying.
The shrine was empty, only a blue vapor
arose from 1T into the air. Then he re-
membered his promise and tried to catch
She vapor, but 1t rose higher and higher,
drifting away into the air.
In the same moment his hair turned
white, his knees bent under the weight of
400 years and sank dead to the ground on
his own grave.