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

Far inland, to the north Of Tonkin
stretches the broad province of Kouano
Ii.
In this region, whose inhabitants still
retain much of their Tartar origin. tn
more recent doctrine of Lao Tsen has no
yet been able to exterminatc the genera
belief in the Poussahi, the popular gent
OF olden times. Thanks to the fanatici.u
OF the country BONES (priests) this form
OF superstition still fourishes, its .vigo
Increasing relatively with the distanc,
from Pei-Tsin, or as we cal. it. Pekin
One of its leading features is a firm
belief in the direct intervention bv it.
gods in all matters of stat. and public
welfare. A recent vice-oy of this i'm
mense imperial dependence was the gov
ernor TC.,c-Tang, who succce led in
earning for himself the reputation of a
cunning, greedy and most cruel despot.
How he succeeded in escapir~ the ven
geancs of thousand deadly foes and.
thorys imperillcd by the universal hatred
of his subjects, in closing his term, ef
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 as
seated en- throne of ebony marvelously
inlald with mother-of-pcarl and gold, his
chin resting on his hand, his sceptrc
lying across his knees. Behind and
overshadow'ng hi" throne rose colossal
statue of Fo, the god mot to be cx-
presseo.' Upon the steps in front of the
throne stood his body guard, clothed in
their uniform cf black skin and coat of
mail, and arfaed with lsncc or bow or
gilittering axe. At his right hand stood
his favorite executioncr, a grim and
hertulcan figure.
Tche-Tany's cruel looks wandered
about tie crowd which stood around
Mn. mandarins, princes of his own
family, and high officials of his court.
Their faces were exprcssionless and
blank. TIE v:ceroy, fully conscious that
he was hated by all and surrounded by
possible assassins, looked suspiciously
upon each group whose members talked
togcthc" ~ith flushed voices. Uncertain
as to wbcm it 'voul / be most advisable to
make an example of. perpctually aston
iSacd III himself to find that he still
!ivtd, ie still sat dreaming, taciturn and |
threatening
A curtain was suddenly thrust aside
and IN officer. dragging a young man
after him, entered the hall. The youth.
who va, or striking beauty, was clad in
a simple robe Of silk, girdleG at the waist
with SILVER belt. When before Tche-
Tang he hSmbly Frustrated himself at
his feet.
''Son of Heoven." said the officer at a
sign from TIE viceroy, "this Young man.
by ms own statement, il but an obscure
rilizen. called Tse-i-la. and yet, needless
Of the Slow Death, he boldly asserts that
lac has been sent upon mission to YOUR
liighness by the immortal Pous,ahs."
Speak, said Tee. Tang.
T."-i-la rose to his feet.
Mightincss." he said III calm and
wen voice, Il am fully aware of the fate
rhiCn awaits me. If cannot prove nv
words. Last night, by means of vision.
he Poussahs singled me out for their
special favor, and entrusted me with
! secret almost beyond the conception of
Mortal mind. If your Highness will
ieign to listen to it, YOU will at once re-
'ognize its divine source for the knowl
'dSe of 1t will awake in your being a
lew sense. BY its virtue you will at
'nce acquire the marvellous gift of read
ng-with closed eyes, and in the space
which separates the eyo-ball from its lid
he very names written in letters of blood ,
u all those who may bc plotting against ,
our throne or life at the exact moment, $
90, when the infamy first enters their ,
mind. So then you will be forever pro-
ected agains'. surprise and live on in ,
'eace and FULL security I-Tse-i- lila |
wear in the name of 70, whose image ,
US, that the magic attribute , ,
# this secret is exactly as 1 have des-
ribed.n
At the close of this extraordinary :
tatement stir ran through the whole !
and then deep silence fol- s
owed. For once the usually impassive
aces were moved by vague suspicion.
,ach man looked intently at the young
tranger who could thus, without a sign r
I fear or faltering, claim the possession I
I divine secret. Several tried to smile |
nd assume an air of contemptuous dis r
ain, hut the effort was beyond them I
nd. instead, they grew pale and trem- Y
led. All this Tang was quick to I
office. /
At last one Of The princes, doubtless to j
onceal his Own uaeaslness, cried out: t