Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-25

Your Majesty" he said, may not be insensl-
bic to the changes forced and hastened in your
country by the advent Of the foreigner. ] have
been lighting feudasm, the baIeufu, and the
shogunate with the civilization and weapons Of
the foreigners. Through them we have conquered
and prevailed. Since we owe our supremacy to
their rifle and cannon, conviction has forced
itself upon me. Your Majesty no longer lives
behind screen, seen by few eyes only. Your
Majesty is world power, and must have rela-
tons with other nations. We must asslnlllate
foreign civilization, il only TO combat the for
eiguer"
Thus Mori came to the spirit of New JAPAN
speaking almost the identical words uttered by
Iyesada long ago
Having accomplished his share Of the estab
lishment of the new government, Mori felt that
he could row turn his attention to the welfare
of his faithful followers
He set day for final interview with them,
Wien he should bestow such rewards as were
now in his power, as chief adviser to his SOW
ereign, give.
For himself, an important cabinet portfolio
had been offered, but he had come to no decision.
He felt that his work was done. He desired only
peace He was not ready to think further.
Realizing that the lost Jiro, if alive, must be
IN some portion of the palace, Mort caused him
TO he sought for.
On the evening prior TO his final meeting with
his officers, Jiro came to him az he sat alone in
his chamber. The sight of the lad affected the
Choshui Prince peculiarly He realized in a
ment of self-revelation that the feeling of !oneii
ress and isolation among his officers had first
manifested itself just after the departure Of
Jiro While his relations with the youth had
not been of an intimate natSre, still Mort felt
that he had ever sought and found tacitly ST
lert, unspollen understanding and support of his
purposes from him He felt drawn towards the
boy as one great soul seeks the penetrating sym
pathy of another longing, throbbing into
usefulness, pervaded him. Yearly, yet patient
~, he regarded the youth.
Giro, my boy, why have you left me so long,"
he said.
The boy flushed slightly as an eager delight be-
trayed for a moment his pleasure in Morris
words.
"IIave YOU, then, missed me?" he began, in
warm voice, to break off abruptly as forced
coldness took possession of him. ri have pccn
much engaged, nv lord" he said, without cnthu'
siasm.
"Ahl" said Nfori, quietly noting his flushing
face; "and 1 am ready to wager it was with
maiden
at was, my lord"
"Ah'-thou, too, Jiro," said Mort, sadly. "a
youth, thou hast come to the gates of love, to
enter paradise"
at was not an affair of love, my lord"
"NoY'
81 have been endeavoring to right the WRONGS
of a woman-a very near kinswoman. But | End
that / am without power to proceed further
NAY, tell me, Jiro, thy troubles, and those
of thy kinswoman. | am not without power
now, and may assist thee
Mort smiled pitifully at thought of his power
and the poor satisfaction it held, now that its
great consummaton had been crowned.
slight nervousness fell upon Jiro While his
hands tremblingy fingered his obi, there came
into his eyes and his voice a suggestion of some
thing Interior, something beyond.
my lord, my kinswoman loved man and he
loved her." he said pausing.
"Sad," murmured Mort, with the cynicis,n of
his broken mood.
Without noticing the Princes comment, ,Tiro
continued:
my lord has not parent the right to ex-
act obedience from his child, even though that
obedience lead her to utmost misery"
"Such is the japanese idea" returned Mort.
Chen my lord, the parent of my kinswoman
exacted task from her. He forced her TO be-
tray her lover, though she, ignorant that he
was the person implicated, yet sought to warn
HIM of the danger to himself and the unknown
Morris eyebrows contracted darby. He half
rose from his seat. Then with forced calm he
dropped back into his place.
Jiro's face was now flushed deep scarlet. BE
seemed to be using all his strength in effort
to control his emotions
'My lord' he added, "my kinswoman wac
not only forced to betray her lover by her father,
but she was driven further-into marrying, and,
consequently, degrading him, because only in
that way could she save his life from the hands
of the public exeoutioner."
Mort was white to the lips with his anger.
But he controlled himself strongly. Jiro had
claims upon his gratitude.
''You have failed to tell me-" he said coldly,
gin what way can serve you-and your kins-
woman"
''My lord, the lover put away my linswoman,
being in ignorance of the treachery of her par
ent Y et so grievously is he wounded that he
could not be approached by one so slight as I.
He would not listen to truth"
Impenetrabity masked the face of Mort. His
thoughts were yelled behind set countenauce.
Half abashed, and fully shaken in his late con-
fdence, Jiro spoke trembling words
600 you, my lord, speak to this lover-tcll him
that it was the fault of their fathers, and that
his lady, indeed, loves him and has always loved
him.
Still silent and motionless remained Mort.
Jiro faltered. II have served thee he said,
a. he went step closer to Mori; do thou this
now for me-"
Mort spoke.
'Sro.morrow," he said, 'T take farewell of my
officers. My worldly tasks are then finished
Then will endeavor to serve you, Jiro-tomor-
row."
"But. my lord, thou speakest of thy worldly
tasks Wilt thou, them?
'Nay, Jiro, will not take my life, promise
thee. before have seen thee Tomorrow"
Tomorrow" repeated Jiro, and was gone.
Near the iris field, in the Emperors garden,
there is slight hill, set upon whose sides are a
number of fancifu shelters. Under one of these
upon a bench that night long sat Prince Mort
Keiki. Above him the bare trees supporting the
structure twined their naked boughs together
into what in the leaftime was a natural roof.
This night bare of leaf. they were as open to
the cold as the structures side, yet Mort seemed
unaware of the season. There was no chill upon
A st.onra avoiIa Hittad aeroee 4be