The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-05-03

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them. The young couple went on on /
donkey hack. travelling IN this way for
several days, till they reached large
river. where they took hOuse-b ut:
Now the new Mandarin had q chance
70 sit at leisure, and take in his new sit /
uation. And the devil for the devil
can speak Chinese EVENT. other !oreign-
ers anti found some mischief still. z
He set him thinking about his high
position; and gradually he came to
think how It would sound TO introduce
his father-in-law rs the King Of Beg
gars. His wife, too; she was beautiful,
true; but then. she was the daughter Of
the King Of Beggars. That was too
shameful So he forgot how nu h he
owed to both Of these, who loved him
SO much, aud thought only Of contTiv-
ing some way to get rid Of them.
One night, when all on board were
fast in drunken sleep, the Mandarin
walked the deck alone in the moon
light. All at once the solution present.
ed itself to him, He went down TO his
wife.
ssCome upr' he said. sThe moon
light is too beautiful TO be wasted. I
He led her to the dark side Of the
boat.
There, he said. ''iust lean over and
see the reflection Of the stars in the wa
ter =
She leaned far over the edge Of the
boat. He did it almost before he had
time TO think. There was splash; but
no one woke. The river was deep.
There r. sal he. That is the last
of the daughter Of the King of Beg
gars.
Then he drew a sigh of relief. and
went and called the sailors from their
| drunken slee }. de was anxious to get
away from spot.
'Get up, quick p he said '.Pull up
an anchor and hoi t So Where you
/ haze moored the BOAT here the water is
4 all full Of water demons. l heard them
on all sides CT the boat just now. We
must be gonel''
The sailors rubbed their eyes, and did
not hear anything in the water, and felt
inclined to doubt the word Of their mas
ter. But he was Mandarin. and bis
word was law. So they were of. The
Mandarin sat on deck, watching them.
I At davbreak they were many miles
beyond the fatal spot Then for the
first time he went into his cabin. A
moment after, he came rushing out,
grief and CONSERVATION on his face.
"Ohl my wife!n he cried. '.Thoss
water-kelp .es have carried her awayl Il
must have been the time heard them
outside the boat. =
So he gave immediate directions to
some Of his men to 60 back and search.
II they could not find the body they
4 ff,sa CTS th<,Is
month searching. He waited some
time, but at last could wat no longer
4 So he lift directions about what was &c
be done if the bo0y was found, spent
much mony burning paper furniture fol
the use of her soul, and went on to as.
sumo the duties Of his Office.
He had not been living in the yamen
IMAndarin's palace) very long, wher
the King Of Beggars came, bundles ans
bedding, to take up his quarters there
The Mandarin broke it to him gently
then limited, as his daughter was no
alive, the King Of Beggars had bettel
return home, and. furn shlng him road
money, said he had no further claim OF
him.
The emotions of the King of Beg
! gars were as much suspicion as sorrow
J But since the fellow was mandarin,
{ he dared say nothing; but took himself
off, leav ng the money lying.
MEANWHILE where was the young
) wifep
! Fortunately, in her fall she had besi
caught by the branch of tree, which
r was floating on the water; so that
: though she sank, she soon rose, ans
was carried along S ON a boat, by tn,
| swift current Of the river. She wa
stunned by the fall, and knew nothing
: not even when her strange raft dashe'
her up against the side of a great Man
. darif's boat. Some of tia servants 81
l the boat, however. saw it and told thei
1 master. He commanded them to fisl
+ her up; and. seeing It was a woman
gave her over into the care OF his wifi
1 ami the woman servants
8 When she came 10 herself she fOun
5 the old Mandarin and his wife bending
o over her, and Of course was perplexed
q They babe her be quiet then; but afte
a she was better, inquired into the matter
O At first she would not tell. but woul
only cry and weep. But by little an
: little their love and Kindness won he
/ confidence and she told them all, eve
| ! TO the name OF her husband. The ol
a couple told her not to fear. that the
+ would adopt her as their daughter
On arriving at his yaman the ol
Is Mandarin made feast, to which q
|. the lesser Mandarins of the PROVING
IS under his control were expected to com
}. to pay their respects to him. Among tf
q rest came the new Mandarin for be WI
under the control Of the older one. 4
|. brought VITA him his credentials, *
d this was the first time he had paid h
J. respects. As the old Mandarin handle
d them back be said:
d 'sThese are all CORE t. You ms
n stop after the others have retired
e When all were gone the Mandarin too
d him aside and asked him whether
< had a wife.
t. mo" said the younger "My faith
g and mother died before they had q
d ranged betrothal for me.
VI very well, then. said the senio
to THAT Is all right. Now have pr
posal to make TO you. have an adoF
Sc ed daughter for whom am anxious
lie secure Just such likely young man
u yours IT. II you would like to ente
4 Ill