Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-10-10
THE SILK CORD.

tho tea plant nllct hls gardens; hlS silk cOCoons were never richer; he was the lucky poSseSsOr of an autograph letter from the emperor, in which could be secn the word chaon, credential of long l;fc. and. lastly, he had seen divided in 10, GOO pieces the body of his enemy Pe-Kong, who had aTronted him by cut ting of his pigtail.
 Why, then, had OUT noble Chinese or dered the image ot To to be belabored with sticks, leaving q I.iere wreck of that deity standing amid fragments of his former porcelain and imposing fig urc? And that evening at supper why had he disputed with his ancient cook the excellence of n magnificent dish of roast dog that all the guests had pro- nounced exquisite, disdained n cup of the finest kyson tea ard paid no atten- tiOn to his pet monkey. ill spite of all his playful carGsScS:
 Respected kinsmen," said Chao Sc gravcly, after the meal had ended, to the three venerable Chinamen squatting at his side. ''you all know that 1 had intended presenting Ely son at the court of our Celestial King,l0m."
 The speaker and his hearers inclined their heads until their pigtails swept the floor, and it became necessary to remove the monkey. who initiated the action of these grave pCrSonages. Chao-Se contin- ned:
 My son. Te-ku. has not regarded my teachings He does not know how to bend the body gracefully Is times in making our court bow. nor is he familiar with the unaltCrablc forms of our Celes- tial etiquette. He has rejected my old friend Ling's virtuous daughter, whose tiny feet could bc incaSed in nutshells, and. let this aStOnish you, dear friends, dCfi,d by Chung. whose hOnored body now rcpCScS i'll the tomb. he refused to dis, Inbow.I himself, while his adversary expired triumphant with his abdomen ripped OT+1I i'll the most approved fash ion. In this disgrace have called you together, bting resolved to follow your advice as to the best means of saving the family honor"
 ''You should. above all, disinherit Tc-ku. said the eldest of the council
 ''-lnd divide your possessions among us, '' added the second.
 And :S the family honor is tarnished a sacrifice is necessary, = said the third. "YCu should strIugle yourself in order that the reputation of our house may not perish ''
 Such was the decision: of the council ChaO-Se now, too late, regretted having convOkci it.
 What present is this you are bring ing nc:' asked the wife of Chao-Sc that same night, noticing that her husband had placed a small ivory box upon the table of her room.
 Beautiful and dearly beloved Tian, have a surprise for yOu," replied the noble Chinese gallantly.
 Tian gathered herself up on her couch, exposing to view pair of tiny feet some two or three inches i'll length. ''IOu have been good wife, " con tinurd Chao-Se kindly, and I desire that you should figure i'll history as a model of virtue. Well, then, the family council has decided that I must sacrifice myself to restore our lost reputation, l but as 1 have q certificate of long life ! from my sovereign it would be an act of ingratitude on my part to cut short ! my own existence I have therefore se- | lected you, dear Tian, as my substitute, that You may save our honor with the silk cord you will find in that box. am sure yOn will be grateful to me for this mark of distinction and proof of my derp affection.
 ''s;ir, exclaimed Tian terrified, "I dare not kill myself. I am as timid as a chicken"
 Calm yourself. my dear. If you can- not do it alone, being as timid as q ! -1,T,.l-aY, TF1l D-Ol- rN I,a1,N ' and the noble Chao-Se embraced his wife tenderly and withdrew from the apartment.
 Tian appeared calm. Kin, the cook, was uneasy.
 ''Kin,'' said she, thou needest re pose"
 ''I sleep little, my lady. " replied Kin rubbing his eyes
 Thou shouldst have desires of enjoy ing in the next world the pleasures tha have been reserved for thee
 ''I am ignorant of what the grea Buddha may have in store for me there. ,
 "Dost thou wish to fly with me?' asked Tian, gazing lovingly at the poo cook
 My ladyr' exclaimed he. trembling ''TO fly from house where they d, not appreciate thy roasts, to unite thy self to me and become master of m. magnificent jewels. Kin kissed the floor to express hi gratitude.
 Avoiding the vengeance of Chao . Se''-
 ''Oh. yesl' faltered the trembling cook
 ''There is way to accomplish al ! this Thy master. Chao-Se, protected b. g the emperor decree, will yet live man, l years, during which time We shall b ' able to leave this earth and lose our selves i'll space
 ''I don't understand.
 ''It is very simple. Iwish thee to ac company me in this last journey. Tax this cord and hang myself outside tn door while gather up my jewels an prepare to follow thee
 Kin opened his oblique eyes in hol "A :. TOT. Tian gave him languisbing glance ''Goodby," she said. Do not fai me-" and pushed him gently towar the door. slipping around his neck tn soft, silken cord
 As Kin left the apartment he heard = noise in an adjoining room. ''It mus be the monkey, |" he said to himself, ap then continued meditatively: ''For tw reasons had better not kill myself. . the first place, because I have no eel o tainty of reviving in the other world and, secondly, because if do come life again the mighty Flo will be able | ,. take vengeance upon me for the beatin = have given his image" Again the noise was heard. It Vt !. not the monkey, but Te-Ku who mad
 it, robbing the treasure chest of his f: