The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-11-20

rice fields laid strong hold upon him.
and he could rot arise from his couch,
and his fellOw-laborers thought him des-
tined to die. There was no one to wait
upon him, no one to care for his needs,
inasmuch as slaves and servants were
wholly busted with the duties of the
or the labor of the fields, all
departing to toll st sunrise. and return
ing weary only after the shutdown.
Now while the sick youth slumbered
the fitful slumber of exhaustion one sui
try noon, he dreamed that strange and
beautiful woman stood by him, and bent
above him and touched his forehead
with the long fine fingers of her shapely
hand And at her cool touch a weird
sweet shock passed through him. and all
his veins tinglcd as if thrilled by new
life. = Opening his eyes in won
der. he saw verify bending over him the
charming being of whom he had
and he knew that her live hand
really caressed his thrObbing forehead.
But the flame of the fever was gone, q
delicious GOODNESS now penetrated every
fibre of his body. and the thrill of which
he had dreamed still tingied in his blood
like a great joy. Even at the same mo-
ment the eyes of the gentle visitor met
his own. and he saw they were singu-
larry beautiful, and shone like splendid
black jewels under brows curved like
the wings of a swallow. Yet their calm
gaze seemed 20 pass through him IS
light through a crystal: and vague
awe came upon him, SO that the ques-
ton which had risen to his lips found no
utterance. Then she, still caressing
him. smiled and said: Il have come to
restore thy strength, and to be thy wife.
Arise and worship with me-"
Her clear voice had tones melodious
as birds song, but in her gaze there
was an imperious power which Tong
felt he dare not resist. Rising from his
couch. he was astounded to find his
strength wholly restored; but the cool
slender hand which held his own led
him away so swiftly that he had little
time for amazement. He would have
given years of existence for courage to
speak of his misery. to declare his utter
inability to maintain wife: but some
thing irresistible in the long dark eyes of
his companion forbade him to speak.
and, as though his Utmost thought had
been discerned by that wondrous gaze,
she said to him, in the same clear voice:
Il will provide" Then shame made
him blush at the thought of his wretched
aspect and tattered apparel; but he OBJ
served that she also was poorly attired,
like a woman of the people, wearing no
ornament of any sort, nor even shoes
upon her feet. And before he had vet
spoken to her they came before the an
cestral tablets, and there she knelt with
him and prayed. and pledged him in a
cup of wine-brought he knew not from
whence-and together they worshipped
heaven and earth. Thus she became his
wife.
A strange marriage, it seemed: for
neither on that day nor at any future
time could Tong venture to ask his wife
the name of her family, or of the place
whence she came. and he could not an
swer any of the curious questions which
his fel!Ow-laborers put to him concern
ing her; and she. moreover. never utter
ed q word about herself, except to say
that her name was Tchi. But although
Tong had such awe of her that while her
ewes were upon him he was as one having
no will of his own, he loved her unspeak-
ably. and the thought of his serfdom
ceased to weigh upon him from the hour
of his marriage. As though magic the
little dwelling had become transformed:
its misery was masked with charming
paper devices, with dainty decorations
created out of nothing by that pretty
jugglery of which woman only knows
the secret.
Each morning at dawn the young bus
band found 4 well-prepared and ample
repast awaiting him. and each evening
also upon his return; but the wife all day
sat at her loom, weaving silk after
8 fashion unlike anything which had
ever been seen before in that province
For as she wove. the silk flowed from
the loom like a slow curren, of glossy
gold. bearing upon its undulationS
strange forms of violet and crimson and
jewel green. shapes OF ghostiy horsemen
riding upon horses. and of phantom
chariots dragon-drawn. and of Standard
of trailing cloud. Inevery dragon beard
glimmered the mystic pearl: in every
riders helmet sparkied the gem of
rank. And each day Tchi would weave
great piece of such figured silk, and
the fame of her weaving spread abroad
From far and near people thronged tc
see the marvellous work. and the sill
merchants of great cities heard of it. and
they sent messengers to Tchi, asking heI
that she should weave for them ana
teach them her secret. Then she wOvt
for them. as they desired. in return fol
, the silver cubes which they brought her
but when they prayed her to teach them
she laughed and said: '.Assuredly
coulu never teach you. for no one among
you has fingers like mine" And indeed
no man could discern her fingers wher
she wOve, any more than he might be
hold the wings of 3 bee vibrating IL
swift flight.
The seasons passed. and Tong never
knew want. so we'll did his beautiful
wife fulfill her promise, II ,citl pro
ride" and the cubes of bright silver
brought by the silk merchants were
piled up higher and higher in the grea
carven chest which Tchi had bought fol
the storage of the household goods.
One morning. at last, when Tong
having finished his repast, was about tt
depart to the fields, Tchi Unexpectedly
babe him remain, and opening the grea
chest. she took out of it and gave him .
document written in the official charac
tiers called h-chx. And Tong. looking
at it. cried out and lesped in his JOY, fol
| it was the certificate of his manumis
sion. Tchi had secretly purchased he
husbands freedom with the price of he
wondrous silks.
Thou shalt labor no more for AM
master.'' she said. .'but for thy owl