Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/321

Rh screen. What was his surprise to read in them the "Morning-glory Song" which, in the previous year, he had composed for Miyuki on the Uji River! Who and what, he asked himself in wonder, had caused this song to be written on a screen in a public inn? Then all at once came back into his mind the blissful hours he had spent on the Uji River, his regretful parting with Miyuki, and that moonlight night in the harbour of Akashi. A thousand thoughts of his sweetheart rushed upon his mind.

At this moment the landlord stole into the room and told to Jirōzayémon in whispers, the story of the poison and the laughing-medicine. In all good-will he advised him to stand ever on his guard in future. After thanking the old man heartily, Jirōzayémon asked him to clear up the mystery of the presence of the "Morning-glory Song" on the screen.

"That, sir," Tokuyémon answered, "is a song that is sung by a beautiful blind girl. The story that they tell about her is very touching. It is said that she is a daughter of a good samurai family, probably of Aki Province. For some reason that nobody can explain she ran away from