The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-19
From the .Jnpdnese.

~ WIZ evening inc guards $1,000
stify at the doors of the Imperial Palace,
where all was quiet and asleep
Silently, secretly. a man scaled the gar
den walls, stole softly through the blossom
ing flowers and hedges. and, making his
way into the palace. abruptly entered the
room OF the sleeping Empress
The man advanced unhesitatingly into
the beautiful chamber. dimly lighted by
lamps that burned beneath silken shades.
Startled by the sound of footsteps. the
Empress awoke. but she did not cry out
She looked at the man, recognizing him.
II was the brave Gen Take-Outsi-No-
Soukoune and his battle dress was soiled
with blood and dust
With quick movement the Empress
tore aside the thin gauze curtains and
sprang to meet her midnight visitor, tall
gracious and beautiful as moonlight in her
white robes
You here" she cried, mot on the field
Of battle? What has happened2 Defeat?"
Take-Outsi bowed low.
mo. worshpful Empress he said
worse than that"
What? What"
The descendant of the gods. the sub
lime Emperor. your glorious husband. Is
dead He was fighting at the head OF his
warriors, Leading them TO victory. A
Corean arrow smote him He has returned
to the celestial regions
All walled the Empress wringing her
long thick hair Did not foresee it?
Was not ghostly advice given me that the
ruler of Japan, the luminous grandson of
the Sun Goddess, must not march in person
against the enemy? Tsoui-Ai-Teno would
not believe me, and now he il no morel
he has left the earth, my heroic lord, the
son Of the prince of warriors"
Then suddenly the Empress grew quiet
and she commanded the General to rise.
"All is then lost?' she said. Victory
has escaped us?'
Nothing is lost. most honorable SOW
ereign, replied TAX Outsi, still kneeling.
The victory is suspended only. re-
ceiyed the body Of the Mikado in my un-
worthy arms, laid him in his tent. saying
that he was merely wounded, that he would
soon recover. Then, intrusting the body
to guards whose silence is the price of
their lives. have come hastily, my path
way strewn with dead horses, to your
feet
The noble warrior lifted his eyes to those
Of the charming Empress. In his gaze
she read heroism, genius and devotion
strange and wholly new emotion awoke
within her. 1t was as if the soul OF her
husband had come TO strengthen her own.
She felt herself ready to brave all dangers.
she. the careless. smiling bride who
trembled at the slightest warning.
Thanks. illustrous chief" she said to
Tax Outsi. you have done well. The
Mikado still lives; he is only wounded.
Tomorrow We will set forth on our journey
to join him in the camp. 1t is | who will
take bis place We will march to victory
And to you, TAX -Outsi, give the title
Of NaidaTsin.
For many days the illustrious Empress
Iin-Gou had been on her way. TakA-Outsi
accompanied her and new regiment.
which she had raised to reinforce the army.
followed her
The lancers marched first. armed and
wearing visored helmets, from which
floated tiny flag behind the left ear. Then
came the archers, their brows bound with
a band Of white cotton, the ends flying in
the breeze, and their backs bristling with
long arrows, while IN their hands they
carried the long, lacquered bows.
second body of archers followed these
bearing sling Of curious shape with which
they threw stones 20 a great distance
The Empies-, mounted on a beautiful
horse. whose curly name formed n noble
crest rode At the head Of her army: and
called Mat-ourH-Gawa.
Then the beautiful Zin-Gou ordered
hat. She was woman before everv-
thing and singular idea had come 10
her; she wished TO fish in the river
standing upon little knoll, she threw