The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-07-12

the province of Shautung and ON the
coast of the Gulf of pechili The ma
tives of the place, chiefly consisting
of few merchants and fisher people,
have built their houses on the Hat,
sandy shore of the beautiful bay, which
Is overlooked aud sheltered on the
east by small promontory, some 900
| feet high, that iuts out beyond the
limits of the town, its summit being
graced by several European resi-
dences; while the coast line makes n
semi circular curve towards the north
and west.
During the latter part of 1888 / left
Shanghai to make n sojourn of some
months in Chefoo, which is desig-
mated the "Brighton of China" be-
cause of its snlubrious climate, tho air
being invigorating, the atmosphere
dry aud the sen bathing excellent.
But the winters are intensely cold and
stormy, and have known the ther-
mometer to fall 10 degrees below
zero. The violent gales are usually
accompanied by heavy snow squalls,
and more than once | awoke in the
morning to find the house surrounded
by rampant of snow ten feet deep,
through which my servants had to dig
n narrow passage before | could get
out.
In the summer | used to be fond of
taking an evening ramble over the
lofty cliffs of the promontory, which
afforded splendid view of the peace
full harbor, with its old-world iunks
dotted here aud there, and the twi-
light scenes were often charmngly
romantic and grand, for you cou d sec
The sun sink in glory of color behind
the distant horizon, its expiring rays
lingering upon the far-off hills, until
they, too, faded in purple haze
while from seaward the lowly fisher
men would come gliding home over
the calm, shadowy waters, with the
golden light Of evening illuming their
amber -colored lateeu sails. .s..
/ did not always go alone, for me
times venerable Chinese gen leman,
named Liaug All Ton, nccp npanied
me. Like myself, he was great adj
mirer of Confucius aud Luo.tsze, and
Mt heart he was n staunch Republican.
His early day had been stirring ones,
Tor during the great TAPPING rebellion
he had served and honorably won dis
tinction in the Chung Wang's guard.
But that was closed chapter of his
life, only revealed to the most init
mate and trusted friends, for, had it
been known, his arrest aud death
would have soon followed.
No one realized tho rottenness of
Machoo-Tartar rule more than he did.
and his bright, ageshrunk eyes would
light up with animation and the old
warlike spirit rskindlo within him
when he spoke of the long gone days
of the past or of those that would
surely come, when the people would
again awake to sense of the injustice
done them, and, shaking off the tight
drawn bonds of tyranny, grasp the
sword of liberty and, il need be, die
for it.
During those pleasant twilight
strolls we often met sedan chair car
lied by two coolies and guarded by an
elderly amah, as the female attendants
are called. But what most attracted
my attention was the young and come
ly little lady who sat inside the con-
veyance. l could never get more
than transitory glance at her through
the small, gauze-coyered windows of
the chair, but that was sufficient to
make me watchful aud expectant when
] passed that way; and in time, if no
chair came, | was disappointed, aud
went home feeling quite sorrowful.
The lady always sat upright and
never seemed to look either to the
right or the lett; but once or twice L
fancied that she was doing her best to
conceal smile or "shame.face, "
but her fan was artfully raised as a
screen, so L merely guessed that she
laughed and blushed behind it. On
these rare occasions / felt very happy,
though never seemed to make any
further progress, and who she was
could not find out.
Whenever old Liang was with me
when the chair passed / would ex-
patiate upon the charms of the strange
young Celestial" "demoiselle; but, al
though politely attentive to what |
said, and although his good -humored
smile betokened amusement, he al
ways remained discreetly silent OF
course, it is not considered etiquette
in Chinese society to mention the
gentler sex, so my conduct must have
appeared somewhat outre in his eyes.
Nevertheless, it by no means tended
to diminish or weaken our friendship,
for, If anything, we grew more init
mate; and after had concluded my
eulogies on the fair daughter of Cathay
he invariably laid his hand on my arm
and in kind, paternal manner nd
vised me not to worry myself
Thcwinter months were very dull
and long, and seldom saw the lad y
in the sedan chair. My house was
far removed from the few other Euro.
pean residences, being situated in the
Chinese town. But it was roomy and
comfortable, being built on the bunga.
low system, and was inclosed in q
| large tree sha aded courtvard ~ con.;d