Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-21
TlG Adventure Of TSG-I-La.

Far inland, to the north of Tonkin,
stretches the broad province of Kouang-
Ii.
In this region, whose inhabitants still
retain much of their Tartar origin, the
more recent doctrine of Lao-Tsen has not
Yet been able to exterminate the general
belief in the Poussahi, the popular genii
Of olden times. Thanks to the fanaticism
Of the country BONES priests) this form
Of superstition still fourishes, its vigor
increasing relatively with the distance
from Pei-Tsin, or as we call it, Pexin.
One of its leading features is firm
belief In the direct intervention by its
gods in all matters of state and public
welfare. A recent viceroy of this i'm
mense imperial dependence was the gov
ernor Tche- Tang who succeeded in
earning for himself the reputation of a
cunning, greedy and most cruel despot.
How he succeeded in escaping the ven
geance of thousand deadly foes and,
though imperilled by the universal hatred
of his subjects, in closing his term of
rule in comparative peace this tale will
show.
One day, some ten years before his
death, Tche-Tang gave audience in the
Hall of Honor of his palace. He was
Seated on a throne of ebony marvelously
inlaid with mother r-of-pearl and gold, his
chin resting on his hands, his sceptre
lying across his knees. Behind and
oVershadowing his throne rose colossal
statue of Fo, the god "not to be ex-
pressed" Upon the steps in front of the
throne stood his body-guard, clothed in
their uniform of black skin and coat of
mail, and armed with lance OF bow or
glittering axe. AT his right hand stood
his favorite executioner, a grim and
herculoan figure.
Tche-Tang's cruel looks wandered
about the crowd which stood around
him. mandarins, princes of his own
family, and high officials of his court.
Their faces were eXpressionless and
blank. The viceroy, fully conscious that
he was hated by all and surrounded by
possible assassins, looked suspiciously
upon each group whose members talked
together with hushed voices. Uncertain
as to whom it would be most advisable to
make an example of, perpetually aston
ished in himself to find that he still
lived, he still sat dreaming, taciturn and
threatening.
A curtain was suddenly thrust aside
and an officer, dragging young man
after him, entered the hall. The youth
who was of striking beauty, was clad in
simple robe of silk, girdled at the waist
with silver belt. When before Tche-
Tang he humbly prostrated himself at
his feet.
''Son of Heaven" said the officer at a
sign from the viceroy, "this young man,
by his own statement, is but an obscure
citizen, called Tse-i-la, and yet, needless
of the Slow Death, he boldly asserts that
he has been sent upon a mission to youI
Highness by the immortal Poussahs.n
"Speak, said Tche-Tang.
Tse-i-la rose to his feet
"Mightiness," he said in a calm and
even voice, 81 am fully aware of the fate
which awaits me, if l cannot prove my
words. Last night, by means of vision
the Poussahs singled me out for thei
especial favor, and entrusted me will
secret almost beyond the conception o
mortal mind. If your Highness will
deign to listen to it, you will at once re
cognize its divine source for the knowl
edge of it will awake in your being
new sense. BY its virtue you will a
once acquire the marvellous gift of read
ing-with closed eyes, and in the spac,
which separates the eye-ball from its lid
the very names written in letters of bloot
OF all those who may be plotting agains
your throne or life at the exact moment
too, when the infamy first enters theil
mind. So then you will be forever pro
tected against surprise and live on il
peace and full security. I-Tse-i-la-
swear in the name of Fo, whose image
overshadows US, that the magic attribute
Of this secret is exactly as l have des-
cribed.n
At the close of this extraordinary
statement a stir ran through the whole
assemblage and then deep silence fol-
lowed. For once the usually impassive
faces were moved by vague suspicion
Each man looked intently at the young
stranger who could thus, without a sign
OF fear or faltering, claim the possession
OF divine secret, Several tried to smile
and assume an air of contemptuous dis
dain, but the effort was beyond them
and, instead, they grew pale and trem-
bled. All this Tche-Tang was quick to
notice.
At last one of the princes, doubtless to
conceal his own uneasiness, cried out:
"We are listening to fool who is
drunk with opium !"
Then the mandarins spoke, in an effort
to reassure themselves
The Poussahs grant their inspiration
only to the most aged and wisest of the
bonzesn
And one Of the ministers:
1t Is Tor us to decide, and at once,
whether the secret, of which this Young
man claims he is possessed, is worthy Of
being submitted to our ruler.n
To which an officer, in his anger.
added: ""s'f'
"In all likelihood this fellow has hi,
dagger ready to strike our Master at tn,
moment when his eyes -"
His words were interrupted by gene
raj shout of 'Tet him be arrested r'
Tche-Tang stretched towards Tse-i-l
his jeweled sceptre, and said, impass
lively: Continue.
Quite unconcernedly, and moving, a
he spoke, his little fan of ebony, Tse-i-l
went on:
''If any torture could induce Tse-i-la
betray this secret by revealing it to an
other than his Sovereign, / will attirl
that the Poussahs who, though invisible
hear our every word, have ill-chose
their interpreter. No, Princes, am nc
drunk with opium, my looks surely den
that l am mad, and have no weapo