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Show j PIAIU'S BIRTHDAY. B As It was winter ami very cold, tliry H hrul tlrnwiinruund tlioprlncotlieirrrom H ( (jf irecfoii wumli in tho littlo 1ml 1 write? H. bu sat droninluK. disarm upon an elbow 1 rout richly inlal.t with ficnrl Mntfnill ' cent rottm of toft, downy itllc ortr H I IdPpcJ nml cnw.vj tliclr tntny colireJ f collrtm upm tlw brtast of tliit lUimtu, an 1 on tbo hlionhlcr an 1 vmtrotJcrM in m tcoM on tho Un mwmh utiir U nnrl of fit brtlU anrroun Unj a ulith, tho well Bl j known ctat of urum of tho iltiutriou !, family tt KsiiRa, who had tiocquilnin jpowt-rin all Jajian aao tho fnmllyuf bhcndiil or tho family of Satftomca. li Yet, thliprlnctr, who mwlltnteil thn 4 Inthoilfptha of thU tialaco,iU very t lMjwerfnl, rery rich on J very rouownvtl, m : jiia people nrimiml nml faml him, hit ! vufwitiiworo riaJy to illo for him, hli , ltxMt dcntro woi ii liw to all imrrounl i'i lntr litmi nevwrthclcu, tolay( Iio found BvJld hlniAelf cirMtltntrlv unhatinv. holnleM. ijHircrty tricken, deplombly )tovcrty Urickm In thouKht and funcyt for had ho not, for many da) a iwt, ouRht fur aouiocnrprt' toccleurato tho birthday of hia only daufchtor, and luul Ixxm ablo to imaRino none? It wiw alto trnd that this princwi, who tomorrow unuld o vlxtcttt )enra of ago, jtOftH-AMKl all that it wua jowtblo to pOMoaa ibarvflooa bird, fnntaatio fllio, extravagant dona, thanots, bullocki, horeet, palarva, rvprjthlnjj that ono ooul 1 conceive of, nml even l lunrveli of which ono did not drrim B t brought rpoclally for hor front distant 14 I conntrif. l' Th diilmiotold hlnwlf, alialtlnjf hit M ? ' head, that ho had too much Indulgcil M L hit tlorHl dauhtcrt Hut ho thonld (1 ( i't ha e Indulged her thua till tho ha 1 '5 e x ham toil hivtard1y entered 0m j , lifo all tho rlcliM of tho worhL Now BS : lmliitd nothing to offer hU child, to m- B.lR tonUh and charm her 1 ' btill iiondcrtnc, atill wo.idcrlng, for a l" lnnjc, lonir while tbrottgh tho cloudy Kl tranpfirtnty of the wndow, ho nllontHl i hu weuriM gate to wonder over the M atripicd jtardtn, under tho gray and l I wttpnig htiivrn. B) "What alia li really itltl denlrtr I , Suddenly hoiprang to hU feet. H i ' "We will aee her," Bald ho, "aeo her, l and purhup lio able, without hersut- Hi ctln(; ati)thlnir, toillvino horraprico," j Ho turutl nud ftrnclc tho i'oti luuig H loj by a alltten cord from tho tooth of a fl j monitor lu broiiza. B1 Immediately tho panebi forming the fljf v.alli ijhded noivlcw.1) niart, eeparated M ' to each aide, permitting w to oo a fl Ion; pcriKM,Uvo of room after room m filled by wimoornU of aervtro, paea, H j,tmrd and hottHhold doiuenttca. Tlte H aamoural noble viuwila wiarlnjf two V Mwordi iMneil profoundly Uforo himi H j tho icea and wr anU prMtratud thum- B j f aelvea, broa to thogruund. M j ( Ml inn going to visit my daughter," V . ald the dalmio gravely, "Comer B hi And immeilatbly the iwort formed ,7 about htm, white thoguardirauinal 1 ' nnce to clear the v. ay, B) 1 lakt-thfit In to nay, Kay of Bunllght i In a will iloed hall of herownnxdil H j a lata, vsaatkuteiUaccordiug to custom, H ujion broad white tn-tU laid ujtun the H lloor, the long folda of her magnificent B' trui tie I robe billowing and Bpreallng B about hor llkothe leaven of n gorgeou B fan tiMum, intnllnti. illki and aatlni, B tho mof abnndunt of thoin all a aky H blue gauze llgured with ipideri welm, in H which wcro caught tho putali of rato B j How em M 'lliu faco of tUI young girl was white H cm en ant, her tin) mouth like cherry B cleft In twain, disclosing two row a of n hne littlo rlco graliu, her ircbrovts B fihavcvl and nplacwl by two littlo bltclc H, ' . apou tuade with nbruih and placed high H, upon her brow, whilo her long hnlr.fol Bj! bwingtho modoor roal fa&hlun, waa HU nnUmnd and streaming down hor back H to Icwettulf lu tho fold of hir garment!. B The tnald of honor formud a half B circle about their mlstrem, und lu front B of hor.Uhlnd u tight canod Imluitrido, B a danur mbved itowly, w ivlng her fan B lu time to the uotta of the orchetru, in H toning u itraiuo, weird ihant, with n H gotto, a bia, three kinds of flute, u H drum und a tambourine. H At tho print o aentritnco tho aymphonj H ctiuiitl, und riakl quitkl) roneialed W- H hind thoFpldura webaof henleee the B twin cherrloi uf her lipi, which waa a B nalute to lit r father, tender and tlntattf. H lie Miillod with pleaiuro ut the light H of the iHstnty nml grace of hU Idolized H child bho roHO to gnet htm, and, like B a feea ugitntnl b) a amldt n tcmjiest, the H t.11 If nit In muMin and brotado of her H iktrtH rurithnl and nndulated behind her B' He Ltrwtd mr lovingl), luatwl her H vttli tinier imiiif tailing her his In B rompitiable, im btiperoatural Ucuuty, B Idn I'irfume of llt.ien, then he do- B tumdcl of lar If rhe veto irfixtly B happy, If there was might thatehedo- B Ahl niuAlriom ptitiLot ndared fv B therl' riiki ripomld bemllng back B Mtrd htr Ktipple body In a prill) movo- P A tmiit of iur row "ho tan any one bo B htiy whfii tho eaith infftn na now B ant the iky continually drops, tears? B (i 'iho gyli lure bem crutl lu croatlair wmun mm tv-u um junty ot ins snow can cresto for me an illusion of uiy vanlshlrg spring The daimlo llstcneil thougbtfullri thru, In a dp ir rovstto still, rcttirnnl to his u part men t 'It Is certain," mM he to Mmvlf 'Certain that spring and spring only Is All that flikt dettroa. I And he stopped to lend an car to the sliirpwlnt blowing H,xaliutthe rl- alli Atrrady the twilight wai far al raiKol the gray dawn waiting to take the 41 ty evening' lace Yes, spring, string only," murmured mur-mured the unhappy dalmto dejectedly resuming the seat that he lad quitted u vlUlenga Suddenly his sorrow chmgedtoangor,. find ho summoned hh prime minister Kal Dal Tsin ran, bending low his back mid auguring nothing good for himself or others from tho glomny faco of his master The dalmht was silent a moment, mo-ment, ns if hesitating to glveononlcr so extraordinary, but soon, with an Irritated Irri-tated shrug ot the shout lers, he ijiokoi "Toiihutow, Ntil DilTaln,1 aald he "will t-o my daughter a birth hy, 1 desire de-sire do)ou hear me? I deslro, I say, that dawn shall break on the trees an I bushes of thopurkanl all tho country round about ttio pulaco coverod with f owcrs, as In tho llrst montlis of spring Oor 'Yon shill lw obeyed, mwler," rallied ra-llied the trimo mitiUtcr. boning Um self out back wan 1. Itut unco outside consternation set red him, and he let his arms fall helplessly In tho long sleeves of his gown. It Is exile, It U death," murmured lie- 'ves, dcathl Tor 1 havo not the time to fly sufficiently far away, and thunder hat fulfil unn me from the clear sky of full pruspt rityl" 1 Us legs bunt nndt r Idmt ho caught ut the walls to kitp from sinking What coul 1 ho do to avoid dUgracn? Nothing, nothing, ho told Mmelf, after ho had thonght oer the mitter c ire fully. For the tileaattro of hl clill 1 his ro)al master had serioiulr com inondcl spring! I'or n long while ho stood without thought, hi heal hanging like ft ball of load on hi mlrabIo breast; thou ho cant lotliargy from him and turned with u n-soluto air. 'Come, courage, Nal Dsl Tsln," said he. 'A Japanese docs not tremhlo bo-furo bo-furo death, gulck, the stlicr lint, tho stroke In tho stomach, tho polnard for tho thruatr lie drew out tho wcipon. nn 1 prewired for tho strokt, but twtiwid relleotlvuly. Wna It really IiuikmIMo to simulato spring, aud thereby, Instead of ruin nml snlcldo, conquer eternal fortune? Ho umi to despair ton quickly; there was al wayrjtlmotudie. Hut he could not rcjtrcM n start of terror ter-ror on seeing how deep tho shvlow had grown teyon 1 the lutaco an I how rapidly rap-idly tho lfghU woro i printing up, like flrLillis lu the darkness, All tho park an I nil tho country round about," murmured he, "aud only oitenlghtr Then, on tho run, ho regained his dwelling, called tho council tngetlur mid, without giving them tlino ounto seat themsclros, liapnrtt-d tn them tho extraordinary order transmitted to him by tho rince. "An order to bo executed under i-wi alty of death Uforo tho daun of tho day," said he, rwckleasly Inllfftrent to tho tcrrlflel fates of those surrounding him, "The rlnco's humor is not to bo trifled with; he will hear to no reown. Hut lUten and rally tako In tho Idea that has coma tome, which may 1 the s-il vationot all. (lofrom hcroanlstt to work at mice In all tho country round aliout men, womrn, children, noblos, laborers, merchants nud ivasanU, with silk, cloth, satin, vehot, iptr or gauzo to work at once, I sa, manufacture Ing artindal flowers. If stuff 1 lack ingktthem cut tip their clothes, tin Ir hauglngi, their screens, their rugs for tho floor briefly, nil that maysetm to Hum iietcasary or good. Tlu n all those Mowers, Iwforo da) break, too, must bo tlctl, nailed, gluM or sowed upon tho trees, (lanta and tmshea, tho smallest along tho edges of tho roads, the tallest farthest nway tn tho llelds, all tho artists and painters tn thoiieighttorhood following follow-ing uiMjn their sti l to direct tho decoration decora-tion aud give finishing touches of tho brush wherever needful, 1, in jvrson, will w atcb over an 1 foresee everything: our safety depend upon it. less than nn hour later thcro was not n pataco, rt house lit tho city or n hut in tho country where they w t re not feverishly fever-ishly occupied manufacturing llovurs, nn 1 w hoc vt r had looked from tho ton or of tho lutnga imlacv, shortly after the turn of tho night, Into tho juirk and iietghboihood would have Wlleicd himself him-self In a sea of lantonw, which surged an 1 IouikhI from tree to thicket an army of llrclllea chased by foxes. Hut at thh hour tho Illustrious daimlo snored j oace fully Uhlnd his screen of gold iucrtutetl irotiwood; and tho In-Lomparahle In-Lomparahle princess, In the soflcnetl rays of light sifting through tho frail pearl leae-iof n swinging lain pad alru, retllnetl upon cuhhlons and sought tc com i ww in hur dro.uus a fitting iHHmou priiw Her women had Juit flulahed dnwlng her next morning when tho Princes 1'iaki hoard unler hor window tho notes of an urthestru aud the thuut uf many okts. "AUrsald she, with ft wearied gesture, ges-ture, "1 roineiuberl My birthday to-dayl to-dayl hy was I born lu winter?' '1 ho in tiits of honor throw wido tho window saihts. "Troo, luittre," returned thty, 'but sec. tho bvuutlful w outhcr 1" lkautlful Indeed, tho sky, for once, as If it hid Uvnucourtitr clothed for the fetoin ft heiuetily bluo, acros which a ri sun rolM of a gold a tritlopalo hutiguldly the princoiu advanced to the outur gallery and leaned from the bilus-trado. bilus-trado. Hut thm, what u cr) of surprlie und jo) t Wlmt was all tlds iho saw U fore her? Was It iHlblu? lluwir How en evcrwhcrol The spring, then had cornel "Wlmtr sail hho, turning from side to ildo and miming from in 1 totnd of the gallery, "almond trees red nud white, uuih blooms, lilies, apple blossoms' hat a mlrucler Moreoter, thrnugh all thro sprlus roads and pMhwijB ga)ly drml throniri - hurrying to pay Uitir xtr ijiccU to their prturVs daughttrt the great seigneurs on hurouUtck, the noblo d tints In bullock tars or the regular uuurim tnos, tiaklhaKttned to lUscend. Tito dai-into dai-into mtt uin tho ttrrato steps and iho, throw htrnlf lutj hli anus with n cry of, "Father! father I thott art In truth godr Then they strolled the park and gardens gar-dens to a linlre thin maglo spring I iakt htighM an I danced anl clapjx-l her hands like a ctdl I. and Immediately a great chariot shaped liken wtvilion, ftll aglow with gold stars and drawn bv white bullocks, drew up at the terrnce steps for tlte print and her niai U of honor to take a tile through tho coun try Then the visitors entered their cars and fell in lino nud It wan tu.e long joyous, I rilliant and interminable pro cesfiiin Tlis prince IM the way, tho prime minister beside hlia. gntve and lmpai bio In his tiluuiiih The srrtte of en chantmontwa tho samoAlon nil the roads, tho warmth of the suit nud the light golden fog that faintly veiled the faco of natnre rendering still tnore com plete Iho illusion of spring, richer, mors Jl wcry, more ksutoo lu all rospeol than the real springtime. And what a dtrilchmt jierfumor cried tho lippy littlo irinooM, tvrv Instant lhrntiiig her pretty little head out of the chariot to seu the 1ttr 'What n delicious perfume floats In the air from nil theae tlowersr DelUhma lndee.lt The daimlo him at If smelled it scent fonntattis and ntuinli' rs, lu fact, hi Men lu tho luimi-w-Ing t the I wove, the spray from whhli mingled ItMlf with tho breath of the oiumaU I.ve r and ever to far thy went Into the country. Wild with d light, Ktaki coul 1 not abridge her liplnr. Then she wantcnl to return by another roal was It possible? A Utile uneasy, tho printo regarded Ms Impassible mtnlster "Dure the j rince desire," demanded lie, "to return by tho hlllsur thourch ar.lsr "Tltn orehanlt, by nil means," the young girl resiion led; "it U further and moro Itvnutiful " And by tho orchard they returned, as Fhkl hail sal 1, moro Inutiful tlian all they had seen Buon the Ink blosaoms of n plum trto caught tho primo attention at-tention 'I mnst have It" ! cried, Mi branch of that Imu trto to carry with me ns n sommlrof this wonderful sjiettarle" 'Tho giuno l npT moanM the prince tn himself, throwing un ajieallug glance upon hli minister. lint the mln liter hod neither palod nor triiuM.-! "1 will do myself the honor of pint k-Ing k-Ing It for )nu." said he. putting Hptint to hia horse nn 1 returning a miii nt laur with u superbly flowerM branch. No sooner done than tho maids cf Lot or w autfrl a piece, anl tlnn all the noble dames, seeing that tlwy were tvolly jermlllrtl to plurk tits blomwms, leaped fruit tliclr ars and demanded fnitp-ant souvenirs on thtr own aermuit IlHlly this was toomnch. Tho prince ruh-il w lilt anger an 1 wa going to ord r th in to tn ivo mi, but the ininiiter run-surctl run-surctl him with an luirn-ptlbo shrugs ho kn-'V women well he had fortwet n this n o, anl at a sltt to itu avUtant a tart drove up loaded to tho top with dewy UofHotns, and nil wire prottdel wllli that which they deinnn led. Nal Oat Tslu had unheslutlngly rHl-liged rHl-liged all the conservatories of tho jml-nres jml-nres and had men liilngltn with the crowd with Um full uf flaw in till the word was gheu Tito prince, who ha 1 tiotdiiuel thU ery ilinjlodorlco, was sitf-ocMe wlUt nmaxement. "llioti art truly a wonlrrful man," ho murmured In the in In I iter's ear, as they re-entered tho palace, "and thou hast done far more than 1 coul 1 toiUy havo Imped) but e m In tho delight of this wonderful foto, there hts bctn in me a dull dlpilet how shall wo oer be ablo to surtu this spcctaclo fur the coming earT Meanwhile as the daimlo tarriM to tptuk to his minister, Tiakl doscendfd from her chariot; at thosamo time the sou of thfl prim oof hstsouma, who had far to ctimo and who hod just nrrhed at tho julato with n brilliant escort, ul-aneed ul-aneed to saluto her. A viry han Uomo young man, too, nml so brat e tn.it lit splto of hi) outh he was alnvtdy much talked aluut. l)eeply iiiotetl at so much beauty, Im stood before be-fore i laki, and she, no less blushing nud cuufiiwd.biinudher faco lit tho fragrant Uofwoms in her liau 1 and could say not a word KalDiITsIu, who seemed to see e er) thing, calletl tho r rlncu attention to them, und to tho mutual iiuutaldli-turUiuee iiuutaldli-turUiuee tint seemed to lcao them lioth biuguo tied "When tho feveutecnthjearof )our daughter arrires for her my lord," said ho, "giro her for husband that haul some prlnco tl t re, and she will loo him morj than today she loves tho spring." Tho daimlo face broulened Into n delighted smile and ho hurricdl) thnut a gold and bronxe trinket Into tho rimo miuUtirshatitt 'Iho key of my treasure tix, Kal Dil-Taln," sal 1 hei "tako It, two what jou will, and hoed my advice bo nut too modest! Translated from the I'rcnch of Judith Uautlcr by 11 C. Wog gener for bhort btorlea. |