The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-04-15

single. But she must marry. for does
not loyalty 10 our ancestors demand
that every Japanese shall continue the
family succession:
As good luck would have it 4
young gentleman OF respectable
family in ncighboring village con-
,cnted to marry her. The exchanges
OF presents and other ceremonies
were duly performed. The marriage
bond was again tied.
But alas! He also would not stay.
He actually fed from his new home.
So. in the same manner, the third, the
fourth and even the fifth husband
could not endure this beautiful daugh-
ter.
Overcome with grief and shame,
the merchant published an announce
ment that anybody who would marry
his daughter and stay with her at
his home would inherit the whole es-
tate of the family without condition.
Poor old man! He was almost crazy,
despite the immense fortune that he
possessed.
One day a ronir Ga Samurai with
out lord who roamed the country
as soldier of fortune) happened to
come to .Asakusa. and heard the
strange story. His curiosity was so
aroused and his love of wealth so
kindled that he offered himself as a
Suitor for the hand OF the beautiful
daughter.
The old MAJ; was only too glad to
accept him. for despite his poverty
the ronin was man OF noble birth.
After the usual preliminaries. the mar
riage was formally made.
The sound OF the dishes in the
kitchen had subsided and the shouts
of the merry guests were heard no
more, the candles in the hall and in
the reception room had burned out,
and the bride and bridegroom had re-
tired to their chamber. The tolling
of a1he bell in a distant temple told
that it was the dead of night.
Suddenly the bridegroom awoke
from his sleep and saw white figure
standing before the dim light of the
chamber laretern. 1t was his bride
He watched her eagerly, although
pretending to sleep, for he felt that
he was about to know the secret Of
her rejection by her FIVE previous hus-
bands.
Her long black hair fell over her
pale face, which, turning toward the
bridegroom smiled a CHASTITY smile.
Then the woman-oh! not woman,
but ghost!-glided softly out of the
room toward the garden.
.Ie heard the wooden sliding door
outside open Was he afraid? Ger
tainly not He was Samurai, the
wearer of two swords, and fear was
impossible for him. He rose from his
couch and followed her.
The night was cold and still. Not
a leaf rustled in the trees. The moon
shone brightly. and the slender figure
OF the woman moved on the white
ground like shadow.
Her course was toward the town
graveyard, the abiding place of ghosts
and demons. 4 thin cloud came over
the moon and she disappeared among
the tombstones.
The young warrior climbed up, sat
on high tombstone. crossed his arms
firmly on his breast, and looked ca
gerly around the graves. The moon,
shining through a rift in the clouds,
showed him a CHASTITY sight.
The girl had opened newly made
grave and was devouring the corpse
ravenously.. Even the cracking of the
bones could be distinctly heard. Fran
tic with her cannibal enjoyment, she
raised bone high in the air and ut
tered shrek that might have fright
ened even the ghosts and the devils
hovering around.
i But it did not frighten the young
Samuria. He drew his long sword