The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-03-26
we'll and holding ibis court then at

1nere ran an exclamation through
the crowd. Where was Pekin? Who
was T-aon Kwsng?'
"'Our Emperor, of course said,
and Pekin our capital and looked
round, feeling that q great city such
as this-a royal city, evidently-couId
not possibly be in such ignorance Of
such ,tional facts and wondering
how i. could seem to be 80.
"'Where then. was the Emperor
-, and his capital Oh?
81 began involuBtarily to laugh as
] recollected that the Emperor's
name belonged to a time about one
thousand years before, and that capi-
tai WIS never even heard OF now.
But the laugh died suddenly, for it
sounded most strangely out of place
amid this ODD assembly, whose laugh.
ter seemed to nave been pushed for
ever by some great stiffness that hung
above them; snd answered as ] an
swered before. They only echoed
those two words, 'Pekin!' 'T-aon
Kwangp The incredulous exclama-
ton grew to lear, then to horror. The
white faces turned winter; the eager
surprise upon them grew to terrible
enlightenment The cluster of lis ten
ing figures were silent and motionIess
now. as If breath had struck them
into stone, and there was no move
ment until the old mandarin, who
had first addressed me, sat down and
hid his face. Then they all followed
his example. ore after another, with
oeWilderment. Impatient at last, |
asked to DE taken from toe guard
house, ard then the old man ad.
dressed me again, IN troubled,
rembling voice.
Stranger, is all that you have just
told US true? After [ had assured
him tina. undoubtedly it was go, he
signed to the people With bis hand
aud they wen. out and Lett US two
alone in the guard house.
before We lead You to the pal.
ace," ne said, 81 have a story to tell
you of our clsy. Listen, stranger.
| will make il short, fer it is horrible
for all of US.
"While the great Emperor oil
whom We inquire OF you vas holdiup
his court In his winter palace at Yen.
gan-io, ne met the Tartar maiden
Longing, and struck by her won
drous beauty determined to make her
his wife. The day for the imperial
marriage wss fixed upon and all the
grsndees OF the empire were sum
moned to court; among them, o
course, our master, Ton-ko-lin. sing
viceroy OF the province and the EN-
psror's only son. He repaired q
once to the capital where was moth
ing but fesstiDg and rejoicing. II
the very first hour of his arrival b.
saw a fair and beautiful maiden sittinj
alone under the magnolia tree in tht
palace garden. So lovely she was
as we'll as so solitary and so detected
that his heart went out ID meet be
and to cheer her, and only few
minutes had they loisered together il
fragrant shade when he felt that b,
loved her, and that before his return
to his province ne must win her 70
his bride.
But, al! this was the Tarta
maiden Longing, VINO was betIotber
90 tie Emperor, and Ton-ko-lin SIM
little guessed what be was doing unit
it Mas too late to stop; until he Loves
her so passionately that neither hi
fear nor affection tor his father coult
stop him. They had many stolel
interviews, in which their vows @
love wero repeated, and many seere
meetings, in which their plans 10
escaping were perfected; and Whel
the day fixed for the royal weddinl
daWned, they two were missing from
the court-they two, the most import
ant OF the assembled guests; the onl,
two the poor old King loved.
travelling rapidly, Ton-ko-lin
sing brought his beautiful youn
brice at once to this his own city, al,
married her with almost as mucl
state as his imperial father wou!
have done. But no foreign guest
collected 10 celebrate the festival
The city gates were closed and tn
ramparts manned. We knew ho'
keen and fierce the Emperor's wra,
could be. We knew how he would hui
itover his sons dominions. We kne'
what restitution be would demand
and what vengeance he would pul
sue, and within the barriers "
waited in dreaded expectation. Th
demand soon came from the EN-
peror in threatening terms-tha rel
titution of his bride and the surrende
OF mis- sons person, as well as ID
forfeiture o. his territories.
THE city was in state OF rigcrou
defence. Ton ko-lin-sing's army VS.
loyal to q man; and be ct snce heiste
the crimson flag OF rebellion. sci
back his defiance and waited for til
besieging army. Then came Il
Emperor's snsthema-the father
dreadful curse upon his only son, b
sons wife. the viceregal city, an
every subject within its walls; curi
sworn by the names We hold mo
powerful.
so garrisoned and defiant. "
awaited the royal armies, waited an
watched until the watching gre
painful and Wsarisome; but uothiu
broke it until your summons AT on