Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-08-28
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 tlourishes, its vigor
increasing relatively with the distance
from Pei-Tsin, or as we call it, Pekin.
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 Tehe-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 throne of ebony maryelously
inlaid with mother-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 or bow or
glittering axe. AT his right hand stood
his favorite executioner, grim and
herculean figure.
TcheTangs 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 I
ished in himself to find that he still (
lived, he still sat dreaming, taciturn and 4
threatening.
A curtain was suddenly thrust aside
and an officer, dragging a 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 a silver belt. When before Tche-
Tang he humbly Frustrated himself at
his feet
"Son Of Heaven" said the officer at a
sign from the yiceroy, "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 your
Highness by the immortal Poussahs."
"Speak, said Tche-Tang.
Tse-i-la rose to his feet.
"Mightiness, he said in a calm and
even voice. IL am fully aware of the fate
which awaits me, if cannot prove my
words. Last night, by means of vision,
the Poussahs singled me out for their
especial favor, and entrusted me with
q secret almost beyond the conception of
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 at
once acquire the marvellous gift of read
inR-with closed eyes, and in the space
which separates the eye-ball from its lid
the very names written in letters of blood
of all those who may be plotting against
your throne or life at the exact moment, !
too, when the infamy first enters their
mind. So then you will be forever pro- i
tected against surprise and live on in !
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."
At the close of this extraordinary I
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 I
stranger who could thus, without sign |
Of fear OF faltering, claim the possession
Of divine secret. Several tried to smile 5
and assume an air of contemptuous dis !
dain, but the effort was beyond them q
and, instead, they grew pale and trem- q
bled. All this Tche-Tang was quick to q
notice.
AT last one Of the princes, doubtless to $
conceal his own uneasiness, cried out: '
eve are listening to fool who is q
drunk with opium.n
Then the mandarins spoke, in an effort '
10 reassure themselves:
''The Poussahs grant their inspiration b
only to the most aged and wisest of the i
BONES - +
And one Of the ministers:
'It is for US to decide, and at once. I
whether the secret, of which this young 4
man claims he is possessed, is worthy Of t
being submitted to our ruler.n h
To which an officer, in his anger, q
added: y
'1n all likelihood this fellow has his !