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

few other articles Of value, and arming
myself with stout ebony stick, 1 told
them / was ready.
The large, uauntless eyes OF the
young girl now flashed aud benmed
f. she half drew large, clumsy look.
vng horse-pistol from the bell shaped
sleeve OF her gown aud, accompanied
by her maid, led the way into the
darkness. The night was favorable
Tor our escape, being pitchy dark, and
the snow was becoming deep upon the
gronnd,so that our footsteps were not
heard as we passed down the path
through the courtyard, which was de-
serted, for my cowardly servants had
already fled, without even waiting to
warn me.
A dingy lamp was burning outside
the lodge gate, which was wide open,
for the old watchman Ind evidently
abandoned his post after showing my
rescuer the whereabouts Of my room.
The uproar was now quite bewilder-
ing and seemed to proceed from every
quarter of the town, though this was
no doubt due to the adjacent cliffs of
''N Nui'h EuNu bN'N "
multiplicity Of echoes Cries, yells
and shots seemed to head us of at
each corner as my guides led the way
through nm intricate maze Of back
streets aud narrow, tortuous nlleywnys
where NANCY dogs darted out from
dark corners aud snapped at my legs,
aud several times we collided with
unseen persons.
Wewere cautiously proceeding along
a dimly-lighted but apparently de-
serted lane, when suddenly the amah
gave cry of alarm as n rullim darted
forward. | could see at glance, by
his red target-marked jacket, that he
was a soldier, and Chinese soldiers
are generally the most dangerous
characters, being the rakings and
scrapings of the whole empire.
Out came the old horse-ristol -
which might have sent us all to eternity
if it had been discharged, besides be.
traying us TO tho Philstnes. SO |
yelled out something in Chinese and
then attacked the rascal with my
heavy walking stick, which soon placed
him hors de-combat. Not waiting TO
ascertain whether his skull wns
cracked, we fled on, turning sharp of
to the left. After proceeding some
distance, we passed through n low
archway aud, to my surprise, entered
old Liang All Tou's private residence,
which was very snug and secluded
one. l soon learned that he had gone
south to Shanghai for few days and
that it was his only daughter who had
trampled upon the rigorous customs of
her people and at tho risk of losing
her lie had saved mine.
Nor had she done so moment too
soon, for / afterwards learned that di-
rectly | had left the premises they
were nssailed by party of marauders,
who literally turned my apartments
upside down and generally sacked the
building. The other Europeans who
lived out of town we're much alarmed
aud took to the customs boats; but the
Taotai and his troops attacked the
rebels and succeeded in driving them
back inland, where they committed
awful depredations.
When the old gentleman returned
home and heard the story he was not
II little surprised and shocked, but he
was II broad minded, enlightened man
OF the world and an unseliish father,
and when / explained the circum-
stances of the case and asked for tho
hand of his plucky daughter, he
smiled good-humoredly, gave his con
sent and blessed MS. He did persist,
however, that we should be we'd nc.
cording to the fashion of the country,
so we were married correctly in the
Chinese custom and afterwards in the
English.
Poor old Liang has long since gone
to rest with his honorable forefathers
on the western hills, but his daughter
is with inc still, and never for one
moment have | regretted the event
which made her mine. A more noble,
cheerful and faithful helpmate and
companion could not be found in this
world; at least, so believe, and more
than once since that dark winters
night she has preserved my life by
watching over me and attending me in
dangerous illness, when / was far from
my country and people. World Wide
Magazine.