Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-07-08
The Mandarin'S
DAUGHTER,
BY WONG CHIN FOO

great gwells, came into tho little inlet,
and toe PARTY disembarl1cd upon the
rocks.
TIC say what Sho Mai felt as she stood
once more upon this spot, made memor-
able by her first escape from the oceans
perils, and hallowed by the words of
love which she had heard here, might
be to read the whole lesson of the
human heart. Here the good angel of
her destiny Rad made his power mani
fest in the past; here the God of Love
had shown his face; and here at this
moment the voice of one most dear to
her seemed to echo from the rocks, and
the sound was like the whisper: 'Cour-
age!''
Three men were left to guard the
boat, and the others, with tho Chief,
followed Sho Mai toward the mouth of
the cave. She led them not by the
most direct path, but chose way which
led by the pool and the gorge, but did
not permit of descent to them. Follow
ing this they we're soon deep in the
caves shadows, and to them, as to her,
when she had first been cast into this
place, came the horrible voices of the
waves Tho sailors, though their hearts
were stout enough upon the sea, were
terrified at these sounds, and it required
all tho Chiefs Authority to urge them
forward. The wind drawing in gusts
through the passages of the great cave
beat down the flames of the torches so
that they gave little light. At length
Sho Mai led them to the terrace below
which the twin giants rolled in their
endless course.
''The waves must have driven the
treasure there" said Sho Mai, pointing
downward.
All the sailors pressed forward to the
brink, avarice for moment beating
Town their fears, but when in the gray
CLEAN of the phosphorescence they saw
the dim shapes hurrying to and fro, they
broke into chorus of frightened cries,
and rushed wildly back toward the en-
trance, fiinging away their torches and
shrieking as they fed that the demons
were in pursuit of them.
Sho Mai and the Chief were left alone
by the side of the fearful chasm. The
girl looked at him and saw that the
hand in which he held tho torch trem-
bled with fear, and in the fliclIeriHg
light his face was haggard and drawn
with fear, and as she gazcd at him SaO
Mai thought of his cruel bravadO in tho
presence of the helpless captives he
had numbered; she remembered his
blood thirstiness and his crimes; she re-
called his wicked boasting and con-
trasted it with the cowardice which was
now made manifest. And she loathed
and hated this man with detesta ton
which no other human being had over
awakened in her breast. His wretchcd
life alone now stood between her and
freedom.
"Dost thou believe in the demons of
the cave?" she said, recalling the cruel
question which he had asked of those
who were slain by his command on board
the pirate Junk "Dost thou believe in
the demons of this cave?" she repeated,
bending toward him.
eyes, yes," he faltered, while his
knees knocked together.
"Then go to them she Shricked, and
pushed him from the brink.
He fell in with q wild and terrible cry,
and as he crashed down upon the rocky
floor one of the giants came laundering
along his pathway and crushed tho
wretch in his awful embrace. Filled
with horror at this sight, Sho Mai fed
up the steep stairways of the cave af
frighted; but when she camc under
the clear sky once more, and stood upon
the tall cliff where the free air famed
her face, the great joy of liberty came to
her with so delicious thrill that every
gloomy thought vanished from her
mind.