Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-02-08
MONTPELIER, FEB, g, 1s41.


all the propositions that were made to her. She
protested that she would remain widow and
thereby honor the memory OF her beloved hus-
band. Lin the Pearl, her other brother-in- law,
confirmed her in this resolution. Thus all the ar
tifices that could be employed proved unsuccess-
inl. And rs it entered time after time into her
nina, that it was by no mems certain whether her
husband was dead she resolved OF that point to
inform herself Il was this that determined her
to entreat Lin the Pearl to beake himself into the
province of Chang-si to ascertain il indeed she
had the misfortune to lose her husband, and, in
that case, to fetch her his precious remains.
Lin the Treasure, on the departure OF his youn-
ger brother, became more ardent in mis- pursuit.
tic was in rage for gambling during several days,
and in this had been unlucky that he knew not
where to find the money to have his revenge In
the embarrassment in which he found himself, he
accidentally encountered merchant of Kiang-si
who had lost lis wife, and was in search Of an
other. Lin the Treasure embraced the occasion
aud promised him his ssier-inaw. The mer-
chant accepted the proposition, after having tn
ken the p,ecauon to uniform himself secretly
whether the person proposed to him were young
and handsome. When thus assured he produced
thirty taels* TO conclude the bargain.
Lin the Treasure having received this sum, said
10 the merchant, ought 10 apprisc you that my
Isister-n-law is proud, distaiuiul, and extremely
,sidiOns. She will make many obstacles when
she comes to quit the house, and you will have
much trouble i'll prevailing with her. Observe,
then, " hat yOn ought TO do. This evening, at
nghtalI, have u couch adorned according TO GUS
tom, and some good bearers come noiselessy,
and present youuselt nj our door. The lady who
will appear with head-drrss of mourning, is my
siser-ln-law speak not II word to her, and listen
not to what she would say 10 you; hut seize on
her al once cast her into the couch, conduct her
OH board your bark and make SAIL. This expe-
jdient pleased the merchant very much, and the
execution nppedrUu to him easy,
Lin the Treasure, having returned 10 the house,
dissenbled himself in presence Of his siser-in.
law, III order tint she might suspect nothing of
the project he had formed but soon us she had
withdrawn, he impaired it in confidence TO his
wife; and indicating the lovely Ouang by spite
iul jest, " 1t must be-" said he, :" that this two
footed merchandise go forth, this night, of our
house. As to that, trouble niyself little. | wish
not, however, to find myself present at that scene
and shall 20 abroad for some moments Toward
nighlfall, some people, well accompanied, will
come to our gate, and carry her off in well clos
cd couch'-
He would have proceeded, when he was all at
once arrested by the noise he heard. 1t was his
sister in law, who passing near the chamber
window. Lin the Treasure thereupon hurried
ont by another door and the precipitation of his
retreat permitted him not to add all the circum-
stances Of the abduction and especially the mark
of the head-dreSs Of mourning, by which the Lady
Ouang to have been distinguished. This
happened, without doubt, by especial prov-
dcnce from Heaven.
Ouang easily perceived that the noise which
she had made nigh to the window, had obliged
Lin the Treasure abruptly to break off the con-
versalion: bur she had heard enough of it to he
unable TO doubt concerning the EVIL intentions of
) her brother-in-law. She entered the chamber
and approaching Yang sang, to her declared her
apprehensions. My dear sister, said she to her,
you behold an unhappy widow, who is knit to
| Inv fllp of n frip de WAS
ever most sincere. 1t is by this friendship TINT |
, implore you to avow to me frankly ifmy brother
in law still persists in wishing 10 force the to u
marriage which will tend TO my confiisonr'
At this demand, Yang at first appeared dscon-
certed, and blushed but speedily assuming u
countenance more assured, What think you of,
lTny sister," said she " and what imagEatiors
do you put into your mind If it were PROPOSED
to re-marry you, do you believe we should be We
ny much embarrassed by it? Eth What good to
throw ones self into the water, before the vessel
is threatened with shipwreck ?"
AS soon as the Lady Ouang heard this proverb
dralon ON the patteH she better cOmpreherded
the meaning of the secret discourse of her broth
erin law. She broke out into lamentations and
signs, and abandoning herself to grief, shut her
self up in her chamber, where she wept, groaned,
and bewniied herself. "Oh | am most wretch
y ed,' cried she " know not who may become my
husband. Lin the Pearl, my brother in-law aud
n my friend, OH whom could lave depended is on
journey my fulher my moiher my parents, are
= far distant from this place; it this affair be pre-
cpitated, how shall be able to apprse them?
have no aid to expect from neiglbors; Lin
The Treasure is terror to the whole district, and
they know that he is capable of the greatest VII
Z lauies. Unfortunate being that AM, shall new
er escape his snares. II fall not into them 10
day, shall Tomorrow, or within very short
1 time. Every thing well considered let me close
this painful existence; let me die in good time -
l,I.. a..
deaths; aud what is my lie if not one continual
death p
@ The tribuldtions Of this unhappy lady lasted ill
night and after much reflection, she confirmed
:, herself in the determination die, rather Than fall
into the hands Of her rayishers. As soon rs the
sun Disappeared from the horizon ana the OlIscu-
rity Of night supplied his place. she shut herself
up, without light, in her chamber, nni cried, "Al-
: mighty Tien aveuge me, protect ne" Her dis
tresses and desolatioiIs were so great, that she
threw off her head dress, tore her hair, and vel
ding to the widest grief, she fell very faint and
= exhausted, rudely on the floor The noise Of this
= disaster caused Dame Yang TO rush toward q
spot, and finding the door secured, she forced il
D with bar As she was without light, IN entering
the chamber she entangled her feet in the dress OF
S the Lady Ouang, and tumbled backward This
= mishap threw her head dress to a considerab Q
distance, and the fright with which she seiZ-
/. ed rendered her several moments insensibe. As
e soon us she had regained her consciousness, she
y raised herself, Went in search Of light aud re-
turned to thu chamber, where she found the Lady
: Ounug still extended innovcaby on the ground.
: Aftl,e instant when she would have procured
= assistance she heard some strike softly on the
9 door of the house. She doubted not that it was
: the merchant of Kiang-si, who was coming in
r search of The wife he had purchased. She wish
e ell TO hasten to his reception, and init oduce him
r into the chamber of her sister in-nw. Her ca
n gerness, aud the scruple which she had against
!. showing herself without head dress caused her
: to pick up the mourning one of the Lady Ouang,
r which she found at hand.
II II was truly the merchant of Kiang-s who had
come to carry off the lady promised him. lie hud
n brought wedding litter, decorated with sken