The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-19
BY Col. CHARLTON Il. WAY, Ex-CoYsUI
GENERAL TO RUSSIA.

about China"
Blowing a cloud o. smoke from a Singa-
pore cigarette strong enough, one would
think, to raise the roof Of the house and
pointing to the constellation in the zenith
known as "Job's Conia, situated just on
the outer edge of the milky way he began:
"Tel you ChinaF Thu good old king
'Loosseen-wong' reignei in China some
two or three hundred thousand years ago.
He was very kind TO his people, for his
heart was tender. Any shepherd could sp-
proach him with his petition, but woe Co
the man who tried to deceive him. Now
Loo-seen-wong"-like many another old
man-imsgined he would be happier could
be take to himself a young wife, so one
day proclamation was issued TO every
viceroy in the empire to send 70 the i'm
perial palace at Pekin the most beautiful
girl within his domain
On q given day this bevy Of lovely girls
with the very tiniest feet, assembled in the
golden saloon of the palace, and the old
Queen-mother, with her sharp, shrewd
eyes, went from one to the other, ending
her examination by the selection of the
charming ''An-yee- wong" or Queen of
For a year or more she was an amiable
loving wife, but as the old king grew more
and more feeble she began to exercise rights
and privileges outside of her station and
was finally discovered Ia plot TO poison
her husband and seize the throne of China
for her family.
She had been highly educated and was
very intelligent because in those days girls
and boys enjoyed equal advantages at
school. but these qualifications proved the
ruin OF her sex in China. The old king, be-
Lieving that her training had sug kesred her
plotting, locked her up in prison aud issued
decree that from that time no girl should
attend school nor receive any education be-
yond that which her mother could give
her. 1t followed as a matter OF course
shat an uneducated mother could teach her
daughter very little beyond her household
duties.
Now, about this time there dwelt in the
village of "Wu-sungn an old mandarin
named "Lo-ta-yung." He and his wife
wore growing old and were chlldless, but
one bright New Years morn TUX wong
God sent to them a beautiful little girl Co
comfort their declining days. They called
her 'Kee-tsi." The child grew apace and
In addition TO her loneliness she exhibited a
remarkable degree of intelligence. Her
face was like the full moon when Il shines
unolouded on the yellow sea. Her coal
black eyes, like the perfect almonds grow
ing on the foothills OF che Altaic mountain
range and her feet gave promise of being
the smallest in China, but above ali her
desire for knowledge. the ease with which
she learned every lesson, hsr love for her
books and her easy acquisition of all her
parents could teach her sstonished old 10
ta-yung.n
"Alas,n said he one day TO his old wife
''it we could only send her TO school ami
IaA hara FaaH aFu h.
she would be the most brilliant woman in
China"
'Why not tell her of the emperor's de-
cree, replied his wife" array her in boys
clothes and enter her in some distant school
Tor boys. She is prudent and would never
disclose her sex. 1t can be said that she has
gone into the country TO be reared as her
health is delicate. and when she RETURNS she
can resume her name and position, no one
being the wiser for what we have done
Long they planned and pondered over it until
one night old 'Lo-ta-yung' took 'Kee-tsi'
now dressed in boy clothes and transformed
into his son, 'kay-long,' TO a distant city
where she was placed at school, She had
her own room aud no one suspected that
under the blouse of 'Ksy-long' was CON
csaled the form Of the lovely 'Kee-tsi'
Now at this school there was a young lad
receiving his education named Nee X way. y
A warm friendship existed between him
and the so-called "Kay-long.n They helped
each other In their studies-they walked
and played and romped together. He was a
good boy, affectlonate, truthful and manly.
Many a battle did he have with the big
boys who tried to impose upon the delicate
looking boy "KaY-long" il could end but
In one way. As the girl grew up she began
60 feel great love for her playmate, out
dared not show 10 by word or whisper
Finally their education completed they were
90 separate and return to their homes
May not come and see you, my dear
Kay-long, after your return homer said
Nee-Kway.
you must come 20 the village Of Wu-Sunp
and ask for the house OF my old father, Lo-
Sa-yung. shall be so glad to see you, but
ask you to wait one year so that / may see
II my friendship for you undergoes any
change"
Punctuslly at the end Of the year young
Nee-Kway walked up the main street of
the little village. To each one he met he
propounded the question: Can you tell
me where can find Kay-long, the son of
Lo-ta-ynngp
Every one willingly pointed out the home
of the mandarin "Lo-ta-yung," bat each
one added: HE has no son. He has a
lovely daughter, 'Kse-tsi,' who has Just
returned after a long absence in the
country. be never had son."
Thinking it very strange, he wandered
up the hill to the house pointed out to him
and knocked. "Keet-tsi'' was expecting
him aud had instructed the servant to ad-
NIT him no matter whom be wished to see.
Does 'Ksy-long,' the son of Lo-ta-
yung,' dwell hereln asked he.
Enter. Be seated, and you shall see.n
In few moments young "Kay-long, nnow
transformed into the lovely "Kes-tsi." en-
tered the room, clothed in the most beauti-
full robes OF silk and satin, embroidered with
lilies, roses, birds aud butterflies. In her
hair she had twisted strand Of pearls.
while her neck aud arms sparkled with en-
eralds, rubies and diamonds. For a moment
poor ''Nee-Kway" was dazed Then the
reality Of all came swiftly to him.
~, my dear 'Kay-long,' didu't my heart
tell me that there was some mystery con-
nected VITA you? Why did my soul 20 ont
60 you while imagined you v ere a Fellow
playmate! Why did my whole frame thrill
with emotion whenever | touched your
handl see IL all now. l recognize that
law Of nature which p'erces all DISCUSSES.
loved you then, and love you now. Tnanks
he to 'Tuk-woER.' You cannot love any
one more than you do your old class mate
and you can become my wife,
lyon speak truthfully my owa Nee
kway.' said she sorro wfully,"I can never
love any one as l do you, but alas, when /
Yves little child my father aud mother be.
trothei me 70 the young mandarin 'Yung-