Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-04-05
THE BRIDE OF AsAKUsA.
Deserted by Five Husbands; But FL
nalIy Found a Man.

nalIy Found a Man.
Once there lived wealthy merchant
in the country town Of Asakusa. He
had a daughter famous for her beauty
and graceful manners.
AS she was Of age the merchant
busted himself selecting a good hus-
band for her. At last he thought he
had found a suitable man, and pre-
parations were made for the wedding
ceremony.
Many a barrel of sake was consumed
in celebration of the happy union
and the customary cheer of Thousand
years and eight thousand years more"
resounded from the lips Of one guest
to another. But. strange to say, the
young bridegroom, who was supposed
to be the happiest Of all, was on his
knees before his parents-in-law on the
very next morning, earnestly beseech-
ing for that hateful thing-the divorce.
What can be done when a young
couple do not agree? After much hes
itation, his petition was granted and
the beautiful daughter was again sin
gle. But she must marry, for does
not our loyalty to our ancestors de-
mand that every Japanese shall con-
tinue the family succession?
AS good luck would have it, a young
gentleman Of respectable family In
neighboring village consented to
marry her. The exchange Of presents
and other ceremonies were duly per-
formed. The marriage bond was again
tied.
But alas! He also would not stay.
He actually fled 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 announcement
that anybody who would marry his
daughter and stay with her at his
home would inherit the whole estate
of the family without a condition.
Poor old mani He was almost crazy,
despite the immense fortune that he
possessed.
One day a ronin Ga Samurai without
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 man was only too glad to
accept him, for despite his poverty the
ronin was a man of noble birth. At
ter 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 the bell in a distant temple told
that it was the dead of night.
| Suddenly the bridegroom awoke from
his sleep and saw a white figure
standing before the dim light Of the
chamber lantern. It was his bride.
He watched her eagerly, although pre-
tending 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 a woman,
but a ghost!- !-glided softly out Of the
room toward the garden.
He 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 to 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 a shadow.
Her course was toward the town
graveyard, the abiding place of ghosts
and demons. A thin cloud came over
the moon, and she disappeared among
the tombstones.
The young warrior climbed up, sat
on a high tombstone, crossed his arms
firmly on his breast, and looked ca
gerly around the graves. The moon,
shining through rift in the cloud,
showed him a CHASTITY sight.
The girl had opened a 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 a bone high in the air and ut
tered a Shrek that might have fright
ened even the ghosts and the devils
lowering around.
But it did not frighten the young
Samurai. He drew his long sword
the inspiration Of the Japanese soldier
and jumped down from his seat.
The girl turned around and rushed to-
ward him.
who are you-woman or devil?'
demanded the brave soldier.
She thrust a broken bone. already
partly eaten in front of his face, and
said:
Eat this and will tell you who l
am"
He hesitated a moment. but she re-
lieved him from his wonder by ex-
claiming: