Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/397

Rh "How pleased I am to hear that, my lord"; he paused, and then continued with fast-falling tears: "I am overcome with grief to have to tell you that Hatsuhana has met a cruel death at the hands of Gōsuké."

When they heard this, Sawarabi and Katsugorō were struck with wonder and sorrow.

"How can that be?" said Katsugorō. "She was here only a moment ago. But strange to say, her figure suddenly vanished when her prayers were answered and I rose to my feet."

Then Fudesuké told how Hatsuhana had attempted Gōsuké's life. The villain had become mad with anger and disappointment, and killed her in a most cruel manner. Fudesuké had actually seen her dead body. Her mother was overcome and fell to the ground in a swoon.

"Then did we see only her ghost?" exclaimed Katsugorō, bursting into tears. "How grateful I am, dearest wife, to think that even after your death, you came here as a ghost, and prayed in the waterfall for my sake! My thanks are too deep for expression, Hatsuhana!"

Katsugorō and Sawarabi somewhat recovered their spirits, when Fudesuké told the glad news