New-York tribune., 1912-02-04

VI Shii"ich iol 'ISlT parents anu cruz" -
been a religion, the worship of ancestors
being the cornerstone of Shintoism.
'He was not aware, though the known
edge would have availed him nothing, that
the Daimio's once aesthetic mind had gone
daft. The agonized youth could steel MIN
self but for one course of action: 1t did not
satisfy him, he was not reconciled to IT,
but It appeared to him of several evils the
choice.
THE OLD WoMAN'S LIFE SPARED.
From a rack in the tokonoma he took
down his fathers keen edged sword and
crept into his mothers room. In the burn
ing rushlight her petite form was discern
ible as she lay on the floor, her head on
the wooden makurs, apparently asleep. To
he sure she was not unlike hag in ap-
! pearance. but her very ugliness was to him
supremely more than beauty, for he knew
that her body had become bent and de-
| crppit and her face deeply wrinkled in the
hardest kind Of drudgery for him. with
solid. stoical mien he raised the sword-a
| weapon with a glorious past, by the way
| above his head to strike AS he stood thus
/ his rnotEers wan, drawn lips parted ana
breathed out in the languid stiffness OF the
room the Jingle word 'Tokichi.' His name!
THAT yoice-how sweet and tender 1t
was, She was dreaming Of him. An In
! efable smile ilumined her coarse features
and at that moment they seemed to him as
! lovely as an angels. And then mist as
OF bocd gathered before his eyes. MS
muscles relaxed. the sword fell to the floor.
Weakened by the clatter. the old woman s
startled eyes first looked at her trembling,
crlnging son; then the glittering sword on
| the mat caught her notice-and she under
stood Yes. she now OWNED how 1t was.
- know / am old and ugly. my son,
| she gasped. and have outlived my useful
| ness: but Il / am to die, let 1t be by my
| own hand
lie mentioned their masters inhuman
decree and vowed vchemently that II size
vas 70 die he would die too, as he had al
ready resolved.
Your worthy father she said, bobbing
her almost hairless head from side to side
ard showing her toothless gums as she
talked, died fighting for his lord, and you
my son. must obey the commands Of our
lord but as he did not say how ! should
die YOU need not stain your hands with
my blood. Take me TO the top OF yonder
! mountain, that has furnished us game. fuel
and pure water for generations. and leave
mo there alone
This request inspired new hopes in our
! Tokichi lie clambered up the mountain In
| the midnight gloom, with his old mother on
| his back. she the while giving him excel
! lent advice for the future till at last they
| reached their destination. Here they SAID
] lingering farewell. He returned TO his
! desolate home in the valley, and she re-
mained on the mountain top alone TO die
| pra. ing that 1t might be soon.
"Al the next day the youth thought OF
| his mother away up there on the clouu
| kissed summit of the mountain. An officer
| had come at noon to see that the order
! was obeyed and had gone away apparent
| IL satisfied. Tokichi tried TO work, TO IN
! crease his stock of charcoal, but could not
| All he could do was TO pace nerVously 10
| and fro in front Of the shabby hovel ana
mourn his loss. When night came ne store
IN the mountain for a last look AT his
| mother. She was kneeling where he mao
! left her. praying for him. He could endure
| f. no longer She did not know OF his pres
cnce till two strong arms were clasped
about her and the familiar voice OF her son
smoke words OF love in her ears.