Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-26
The Empress
of lin Gou
A LEGEND OF OLD JAPAN

T was evening. The guards stood
stiff1y at the doors Of the imperial pal
ace, where all was quiet and asleep.
Silently, secretly, man scaled the
garden walls, stole softly through the
blossoming flowers and hedges, and,
making his way into the palace, abrupt
ly entered the room of the sleeping en-
press.
The man advanced unhesitatingly in
to the beautiful chamber, dimly lighted
by lamps that burned beneath silken
shades. Startled by the sound of foot
steps, the empress awoke, but she did
not cry out
She looked at the man, recognizins
him. 1t was the brave Gen. Take Outsi-
No-Sonkoune. 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 happened? De-
feat?"
Take-Outsi bowed low.
mo. worshipful empress" he said.
worse than that
What What?"
1.-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
Korean arrow smote him. He has re-
turned to the celestial regions"
"Ah!' walled the empress, wringing
her long, thick hair. Did not foresee
1t? 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 is no more! 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 Take-Outsi, still kneel-
ing.
The victory is suspended only. re-.
ceived the body Of the mikado in my I'M
worthy arms, laid him in his tent, say
ing 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 pathway 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 devo.
ton.
A 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, illustrious chief she said
to ke-Outsi, you have done we'll. The
mikado still lives; he is only wounded.
Tomorrow we will set forth on our Jour-
ney to join him in the camp It is who
will take his place. We will march to
victory. And to you. Take Outsi, / give
the title of Nai-dai-Tsin."
For many days the illustrious EN-
press Zin-Gou had been on her way
Take-Outsi accompanied her and new
regiment, which she had raised to reen.
force the army, followed her.
The lancers marched first, armed and
wearing visored helmets, from which
foated tiny flag behind the left ear
Then came the archers, their brows
bound with 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, lac
quered bows. A second body of archers
followed these, bearing a sling of curl.
GUS shape with which they threw stones
to great distance.
The empress, mounted on a beautiful
horse, whose curly name formed a noble
crest, rode at the head of her army; anC
thus they came to the banks of river
called Matsoura-Gawa.
Then the beautiful Zin-Gou ordered 8
halt. She was woman before every.
thing, and singular idea had come &c
her; she wished to fish in the river.
Standing upon little knoll, she threw
her line into the water, crying aloud:
III am to succeed in my enterprise
4 fish will nibble at my bait; if not. i,
will remain untouched"
a solemn silence reigned and every
ODE TO THE REPORTER.