The Brookhaven leader., 1884-03-27


ing some way to get rid OF them.
One night, when all on board were
fast in drunken sleep, the Mandarin
light. All at once the solution present.
ed itself to him. He went down to his
wife.
Come upr' he said. THE moon
light is too beautiful 10 be wasted"
He led her to the dark side of the
boat.
"There," be said, "just lean over and
see the reflection of the stars in the wa
tel"
She leaned far over the edge of the
boat He did 1t almost before he had
time 10 think. There was a splash; but
no one woke. The river was deep.
There - said he. That is the last
of the daughter of the King of Beg
gars."
Then he drew q sigh OF relief, and
went and called the sailors from their
drunken s,eeJ. he was anxious to get
away from t spot.
.'Get up, quick ~ he said. "Pull up
an anchor and hoi t sa | Where you
ha, e moored the ooat here the water is
on all sides of the boat just now. We
must be gone"'
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 his
word was law. So they were off The
Mandarin sat on deck, watching them.
At daybreak they were many miles
b'yOnd 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.
"Oh! my wife," he cried. Those
water kelp:es have carried her away! 1t
must have been the time heard them
outside the boat"
so he gave immediate directions to
some of his men to go back and search.
II they could not find the body they
were to dive for it, and stay whole
month searching. He waited some
time, but at last could wat no longer.
So he left directions about what was to
be done if the BODY was found, spent
much mony burning paper furniture for
the use of her soul, and went on to as
sumo the duties of his Office.
He had not been living in the yamen,
(Mandarin'S palace) very long, when
the King of Beggars came, bundles and
bedding, to take up his quarters there.
The Mandarin broke it to him gently,
then hinted, as his daughter was not
alive, the King of Beggars had better
return home, and, furn shIng him road
money, said he had no further claim on
him.
The emotions of the King of Beg
gars were as much suspicion as sorrow.
But since the fellow was a mandarin,
he dared say nothing; but took himself
off, leav NC the money lying.
Meanwhile, where was the young
wife?
Fortunately. in her fall she had been
caught by the branch of a tree, which
was floating on the water; SO thai,
though she sank, she soon rose, and
was carried along rs on boat, by the
swift current of the river. She was
stunned by the fall, and knew nothing.
not even when her strange raft dashed
her up against the side of great Man
darin's boat. Some of tn. servant on
the boat, however. saw it and told their
master. He commanded them to fish
her up; and, seeing it was a woman
gave her over into the care of his wife
and the woman servants.
When she came TO herself she found
the old Mandarin and his wife bending
over her, and of course was perplexe d.
They tade her be quiet then; but after
she was better, inquired into the matter.
At first she would not tell, bat would
only cry and weep. But by little and
little their love and kiE dness Won her
confidence and she told them all, even
to the name OF her husband. The old
couple told her not to fear, that they
would adopt her as their daughter.
On arriving at his yaman the old
Mandarin made feast, to which all
the lesser Mandarins of the province
under his control were expected to come
to pay their respects to him. Among the
rest came the new Mandarin; for he as
under the control of the older one. He
brought with HIM his credentials, for
this was the first time he had paid his
respects. As the old Mandarin handed
them back he said:
"These are all CORE t. You may
stop after the others have retired.
When all were gone the Mandarin took
him aside and asked him whether he
had wife.
NO" said the younger. "My father
and mother died before they had ar
ranged betrothal for me-"
Very well, then," said the senior:
THAT Is all right. Now have a pro-
posal to make to you. L have an adopt
ed daughter for whom am anxious to
secure Just such Il likely young man as
yours-lf If you would like to enter
tain the proposal l will arrange all mat
tiers properly for you.
Then the young one chuckled within
himself that he had done such brilliant
thing on the river. Now not only was
he not tied to the daughter of the King
of Beggars, but he was going to be the
son-in-law of the grand Mandarin ofthe
district. Of course he consented on the
SPIT.
II am getting DID," said the senior,
ssand want this business settled right
! up. Ii would delay too much if you
should journey home. You can stay
here, and / will provide your wedding
outfit"
So he staid, and the old Mandarin
provided everything needful for the
| troxsseau of both. OF course he did
not see the young lady. Bridegrooms
never do till after they are married.
When the old Mandarin told his new
daughter that he had arranged a mar
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