Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-06-19

|
sHo MAI CROWNED BY THE EMPRESS.
sound of loud voice rising above the
| ordinary noises of the city.
What is this outcry?" asked the
mother.
1T is the hour of noon," said Wong
| Che Foo, land according to the custom
the heralds of the Emperor are an.
nouncing the result of the great compe-
tition. Listen and we shall hear the
Names"
The voice drew nearer. Suddenly
| Sho Mai sprang to her feet, and rushing
to the window struck it open with a
blow that nearly shattered it. One
moment she stood there; then, throwing
back her head, while her eyes shone like
| diamonds, she exclaimed: do you
| hear that name? Ii Xii; he lives. We
shall meet again.
There was commotion at the door,
which was suddenly flung open, and a
young man entered breathless and I'M
announced. 1t was Ii Xiii.
''Sho Mai" he cried, II fall at your
feet. My love and admiration for you
90 hand in hand. The honor is de-
served
What honor is deserved? The honor
of your love? 1 will strive all my life
to make it So
Did you not hear the heralds? They
were shouting"
81 heard only one great voice which
cried: He lives. he lives!"
''But they announced a certain Wong
Tien Pow" said Ii Xii, smiling, las
the victor, the Chuen Yuen. 1t was the
sound of your name-or the name you
chose to bear-which FASTENED my steps
hither. [ had just learned of your IA
theirs presence in the city"
Il did not note what the heralds said, =
returned Sho Mai, except that your
name was called for the second honor
the Pom Yuen."
SIS it possible?' exclaimed the young
man, in amazement; land | heard only
your name. [ did not listen for the rest.
But let US take it as good omen that
each should be the first to tell the other
of the honors Won"
This conversation, despite the pres
ence of the ex-Prefect and Nine
Wong, was spoken with clasped hands
and interspersed with lovers greetings,
to the great amazement of the behold
ers, and at this point the exPrefect de-
manded an explanation. 1t was not hard
to give since he had heard Sho Mails
story. In the presence of the honors
both had won he could not be severe;
and, indeed, he had so athized with
his daughter in her sorrow for her lover
that he shared her Joy in his return. 1t
roo l1u h0 NTo;
to learn the philosophy of the fortunate,
despite her denial of it's usefulness
The exPrefect was called from the
pleasure of bestowing a paternal bless
ing by a thought of the difficulty which
lay before him in makinghi daughters
peace with the Emperor. That a woman
should enter the great competition was
bad enough, but that she should win it
was almost objectionable. Neverthe-
less, the ex-Prefect bestirred himself,
and having some influence at court he
smoothed the difficulty.
The imposing ceremonies of comforting
the degree followed quickly, and the
crown of the Chuen Yuen was placed on
Sho Mails brow by the hands of the En-
press herself, while the robe of many
shoulders. Then Ii Xii received the
decoration he had won, and the winners
of minor honors followed in their turn
There was great banquet, and for
the first time in history there were
ladies at the celebration of the confer
ring of the Chuen Yuen degree.
Speeches were made, and Sho Mai per-
ceived with hearty satisfaction that
more liberal words regarding the higher
education of women were spoken than
had ever been uttered at the court be-
fore
When all was over she returned with
her parents to Paoting, and Ii XIII &C
them. The story of his es-
cape had by this time reached his IA
Their and sister, for on his arrival at
Picking in the vessel which picked him
up he had dispatched a swift messenger
to relieve the anxiety which those al
home must feel if any tidings of the
vessels fate reached them.
The ex-Prefect did not oppose the
of his daughter, but instead he
settled large estates upon Ii Xii, in
Guiding handsome villa in which /
eventually the old philosopher and his j
laughter lived with the happy pair. /
And Ii Kean knew not whether to /
augh or cry when she found that she /
must love Sho Mai as sister instead Of /
With another sort of affection.
Thus ended Sho Mails visit to the free /
world, and, of all the honors she had t
Won, the love of good man seemed to |
Ter the most ennobling.
THE END.
Fate.