Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-03

recently flashed out from her heart
with no uncertain radiance she viewed
him as a marvel of wisdom. She had
no thought of winning against him and
she was glad that she could not. Never
theless she did. The great day came
and brought her triumph, and when the
result was announced no hand grasped.
hers with heartier congratu1ation than
did that of Ii Xiii.
She was dazed by her success and by
the realization of what it meant to him.
All the overmastering desire for the
great honor now opened almost tmmedt-
ately to her efforts went out Of her
heart when love finally asserted his
complete dominion there. She would
have resigned her diploma; she would
have confessed her secret; she would
have hidden herself in the uttermost
part of the earth rather than have
crowded Ii Xiii from the place which
she regarded as his by the divine right
| which a woman sees vested In the ruler
of her heart. =,
Fortunately before Sho Mai was led
to carry any Of these desperate resolves
into effect a way opened whereby such
recourse was unnecessary. The In
structors of the college, in view of Ii
Khi's unusual standing there, decided
to hold a special examination within
three months, a course only adopted in
rare cases. That Ii XIII would win in
this second trial was regarded as GER
tainty; and, indeed, with no such rival
as Sho Mai to oppose him he did win
easily.
The rapid narration of these events
may give some idea of the way the
time few by for those principally
concerned in them. When the day
came that both could prepare for
the great journey to Picking they
fairly caught their breath In think
ing of the way the hours had hurried
past. But week must pass before they
cou,. sail and these few days they de-
voted to rest. A way had been devised
in which Ii Yuen Wy could secure
some assistance in his teaching during
their absence, and, indeed, in his pride
at the prowess Of his ''two sons," as he
had come to class them, he did not
shrink from the prospect Of increased
toll for little while.
In these days Sho Mai and Ii Xiii
took many pleasant rambles through
the country, and in one of these they
visited the cave and passed out through
its gloomy corridors, moved by COM
mon impulse to see once more the place
where their eyes had first rested upon
each other. They paused beside the
pool from which the captains body had
long since been taken to better rest
ing place, and Sho Mai could not repress
a tear at the memory of the man who,
though many sins were doubtless upon
him, had yet proven her savior in dire
extremity.
At length they merged upon the shelv-
ing rocks facing the ocean.
cit was here that stood, Tien," said
Ii Xiii, advancing to the edge.
"And had just come from this crevtce
at the left" said Sho Mai. LET US en-
act the scene again just as 1t TRANSFERRED"
So the girl hid herself between the
rocks, while Ii Xiii, folding his arms,
looked down into the sea as he had done
on that memorable morning, and tried
to picture what life would have been
If the waves had swallowed all that came
in the ship and had not spared him a
| friend.
"Well, am ready" said he, atlength.
appear, T1en, and let me greet you
again as one whom the sea has miraou-
lousy spared"
If can't" called Sho Mai, family;
my foot is caught between two great
rocks, can not free myself"
Laughing, Ii Xiii ran to her assist
ance. There she stood in bondage, and
twist or pull as she might she could not
free herself. Ii Xiii bent down, and
taking her foot in his hand pulled with
gentle grip, yet so strongly that the
rocks yielded, and she was free. But,
alasl the sandal came away in his grasp
as he arose. Sho Mai gave faint little
scream and covered her face with her
hands. The young mans eyes sought
her face in bewilderment.
care you hurt?" he cried. "Did I
pull too roughly, Tien?"
She did not answer, and he glanced
hastily down. If thegreat Jewel of the
Emperor's diadem had laid upon the
rock, he could not have been more sur
prised at what he saw. And yet it was
not so uncommon a sight after all; only
woman's footl
Yes, there 1t was, plainly enoughs a
woman's foot neatly bandaged after the
manner of her sex. Ii Xiii fairly
gasped with amazement. He turned
his eyes from the little foot to the san
DIAL he still held, and he gazed at 1t as
if it had been a charm by which the
secrets Of the universe had been re-
vea4ed. So long he stood speechless
that Sho Mai stole a glance from under
her hands, and at the sight of his face
had nearly laughed aloud.
eyes," she said, finding her voice be-
fore he could control his own, "you
have read the heart of my secret.
Listen, and I will tell the little which
, | you do not know"
Then, looking down and speaking
. timidly for one who had done such bold
deeds, she repeated her story, sparing
> nothing.
"Turn your eyes upon me, Sho Mai, u
said Ii Xiii, and the sound of her name
upon his lips was like music to her.
: "Let me look into them once, that
may see and understand what have Sc
often read dimly as an unsolved riddle.
"Let us return" said Sho Mai.
"Only one moment" and Ii XIII
took her hand; "this place which first