The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-10-18

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
BONES"
And one of the ministers:
1T is for Us to decide, and at once.
whether the secret, of which this young
man claims he i, possessed, is worthy of
being submitted to our ruler"
| To which an officer, in his anger,
added:
''In all likelihood this fellow has his
dagger ready to strike our Master at the
moment when his eyes -"
His words were interrupted by gene
raj shout of ''Let him be arrested
Tche-Tang stretched towards Tse-i-la
his jewelled sceptre, and said, impass-
lively: Continue.
Quite unconcernedly, and moving, as
he spoke, his little fan of ebony, Tse-i-la
went on:
''If any torture could induce Tse-i-la to
betray this secret by revealing it to any
other than his Sovereign, l will affirm
that the Poussahs who, though invisible,
hear our every word, have ill-chosen
their interpreter. No, Princes. l am not
drunk with opium, my looks surely deny
that l am mad. and l have no weapon
about me. This. only, will add. If /
am content to run the risk of the Slow
Death it is because am convinced that
such a secret will gain the reward of
which it is worthy. You alone, Oh
Highness, shall decide whether | deserve
the price ask. The gods having made
me noble by their inspiration you shall
grant me your daughter, the beautiful
Li-tien-Se, the insignia of a prince of
mandarins, and fifty thousand hangs of
gold"
As he pronounced the words ''liangs of !
gold, an almost imperceptiblc flush rose
to Tse-i-la's cheek, which he concealed by
a movement of his fan.
The eXorbitance of the demand pro-
voked much laughter among the courtlers
and arouseu the wrath of the viceroy,
whose pride and avarice rose up in sudden
revolt. A cruel smile passed over his lips
as he gazed at lie ,ouny man, who
boldly continued:
II await from you. Lord. your royal
oath, i'll the name of Fo, the avenger of
perjury, that. according as you may find
my secret !; subst. initial truth or chimer-
.al idea, you will grant me either the re-
ward ] ash or such form of death as may
seem good in your eyes
Tchc- Tang arose.
The oath is given," he said "follow
nc"
Some moments later, in a gloomy vault >
lighted by t.le dim rays Of single lamp.
Tsc-i-la, securely bound to a stake, was
ace to face with'Tche-T Tang, who stood ;
ONE PAGES from him. The viceroy was
lone, his back towards heavy iron door,
us right hand resting on a carved dra- {
'on's bead which projected from the I
vail, and whose single eye seemed to be ,
vat hing Tse-i-la. The bright green of &
che Tangs rote came out in strong r
ellef against the dark background: the \
ght, though Gin, was reflected thou |
and times from his collar of precious a
tones, but his face, catching the shadow a
the lamp, was almost invisible. In il
MS vault Ear underground, they were Sc b
ure from listening ears. V
''Spepk on" sold Tchc-Tang. s.
"Sire, an disciple of the famous a
oct Li-tai-pe. AS the gods have gifted II
OIL with power, so have they bestowed V
enius upon me; true, they have in nv t;
'sc added poverty but only as a means of d
lic' -cning my intellect. have thanked il
lem daily Tor so many favors, and have s;
we'd peaceful and contented life. until W
ie evening, through the silvery moon St
| lnf |
this palace, your daughter. Li-tien-Se. fe
nee that night my studies have been st
elected. and as for her, 1 have an SC
ward feeling that she too has felt the I'll
.wninS of passion. Wearicd with to
nging, preferring rather the most fright al
death to the torment of living without
r, l determined by some heroic act.
ii with a subtlety which is almost pt
vine, to raise myself, o, Majesty, to the IN
'cl of your daughter, Li-tien Sen sh
Tche-Tang, doubtless by some sudden ad
ovement of impotence, pressed his hand la
avily upon the dragons eye. A double sc
or, facing Tse-i-la, parted and rolled We
emily back, exposing to his sight the w
.erlor OF another dungeon. Three men,
'thed in skins. stood mOtionless around tn
brasier in which were heating the i'm tn
'ments of torture. From the roof a 20
lex si!ken cord hung down, and below
glistcned small and round steel cage. hi
tn single circular opening. VT
Tsc-i-ia, us he we'll knew, was looking
on the awful machinery of the Terrible tri
'ath. tn
After being exposed to excruciating
,ture b. fire, the victim, with one "l
ist tied by the silken cord, was sus- dc
1ded in the air, the other hand, extern 70
behind his back, was bound to the gil
Il of the ODnOSite leo Tho c.co MN. | il