The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-07-12
my MYSTERIOUS PROTECTOR.
a STORY of Real Life.
BY CHARLES J. II. HALCOMBE.
by CHARLES J. II. HALooMBE

| enclosure, were the servants offices
and to the right small library, where
/ spent much of my leisure.
While | was in Chefoo the surround
! ing country was in very disturbed
state, aud missionaries coming in from
the interior complained Of having been
robbed aud i'll treated by bands of des-
peradoes. Not only that, but the sol
diers in the neighboring forts became
very dissatisfied and unruly through
being kept for n considerable time in
arrears of wages, and one bleak winters
day the news was brought into the
town that they had muiinied, MUIR
dered their officers and joined n party
of rebels which was approaching the
port.
Az those disturbances are common
in China, and invariably exaggerated,
little was thought of the matter by tho
| foreign residents, who half discredited
the rumor. But the Chinese showed
symptoms Of fear, especially some of
the Leading shopkeepers, who closed
their houses forthwith. However, the
day passed quietly and uneventfully,
and night set in dark and cold.
Being at that time regular CORE.
| spondsnt TO the Shanghai Mercury, | sat
in the library during the evening writ
| ingau account of the distressed aud agi-
| tated state of the Shantung province,
owing to n recent inundation of the
Yellow river, which had destroyed the
crops and sent thousands of homeless
and starving refugees into our midst,
some of the poor creatures actually
dying at our very doors.
IL must have been 10 or II o'clock
when / crossed from the library to my
sleeping apartment, and the weather
was then bitterly cold. Snow was be-
ginning to fall in large flakes. An OPP
pressive stiffness hung over the town
rs if IL were breathlessly waiting for
mn Impending storm to b.eak. 49,.
Not long after getting into bed, how
ever, / was awakened from my first
sleep by the distant firing of crackers,
as I thought, accompanied by the
beating of tomtoms. Thinking il was
some 'joss-pidgin' or procession, |
took no notice, for, during the Chinese
New Year festival which is celebrated
for several weeks, being tho one great
national holidny-marriage aud reli-
gious ceremonies become common, es-
| pecially in the northern regions; and
Mt night one is not unfreJuently dis
turbed by the clnshing ofgongs ana the
| playing of flutes and other instruments
calculated to cheer the heart OF n true
"Son of Han" and drivd an ordinarily
constituted barbarian" out of his
seven senses; though, of course, in
! time his ears become as reconciled
and accustomed to these strange noises
as his nose does to the peculiar odors
which assail it.
The noise grew louder, however, and
seemed to approach nearer and nearer.
Lying half awake, wondered at the
somewhat unusual medley of sounds,
though L did not imagine that any
thing was wrong. Dogs began yelping
and barking, and. presently ] heard
shouts, while the cracker firing grew
more like the irregular discharge OF
musketry. Suddenly / heard the lodge
gate opened, for it was large iron
one with creaky hinges, and then ( OF
steps hurriedly passed my window, and
tiit lIOnb uOOI was hb
lamp in my room was burning low, SO.
jumping out of bed, L put on my
dressing gown, and had just done so
when i heard voices in the passage,
and some one knocked sharply upon
the door.
Wondering who il could be at that
unearthly hour of the night and fear
ing, from the increasing clamor out
side, that something was amiss, / un-
locked and opened the door. Imagine,
if you can, my blank amazement at
beholding my mysterious heroine Of
the sedan chair, accompanied by her
amah Seeing that they looked in
tensely excited, ] asked them in; and
as they advanced the attendant, who
seemed far moro alarmed than her
companion, produced bundle and
with trembling hands opened it, re-
vealing complete outfit of China
mans clothing, which she told me, in
'pidgin- English, " to put on at once,
rs the rebels were close ut hand and
her mistress had come to save my
life. The young lady herself could
not speak English, but, although much
embarrassed, she made signs for me
to hurry, as there was not moment
to lose, the urgency being interpreted
by pointing to the minute hand of my
clock.
The awful din of firing and yelling
was beginning to grow so alarmingly
audible that felt convinced of the
danger and awkwardness of the situa-
tion; but / could not help admiring
the unselfish courage and presence OF
mind of this noble young girl who, at
the risk OF her good name and life, had
come out through the darkness and
snow to save the life of an unknown
barbarian.
Naturally, l felt more puzzled and
more anxious than ever to know who
she was, for felt certain that she was
OF gentle birth. However, just then
was no time for indulging in idle con-
iectures or inuuisitiye questions. and