Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-08-16

tue province Oh ouautlnb anu on lNo
coast of the Gulf of Pechi.i The nl-
tives of the place, chiefly consisting
of few merchants and Hsher-people,
have built their houses OH the Hat,
sandy shore Of the beautiful bay, which
is overlooked and sheltered Oh the
east by small promontory, some 200
feet high, that juts ont beyond The
limits of the town, It's summit being
graced by several European resi-
dences; while the coast line makes
semi-circnlar curve towards the north
and west.
Curing the latter part OF 1883 left
Shanghai to make soiourn of some
months in Chefoo, which is desig-
mated the Brighton of China, be-
cause of its salubriors climate, the air
being inrigotating, the atmosphere
dry and the sea bathing excellent.
But the winters arc intensely cold and
stormy, and have known the ther-
mometer to fall - degrees below
Zero The violent gales are usually
accompanied by heavy snow squalls,
and more than once [ awoke IN the
morning to find tho house surrounded
by rampant of snow ten feet deep,
through which my servants had to dig
narrow passage before could get
out.
In the summer use | to be fond of
taking an evening ramble over the
lo;ty cliffs Of the promontory, which
afforded splendid view OF the peace
ful larbor, with its oll-world junks
dotted here aud there, and the twi-
light scenes were often churmingly
romantic and grand, for you cou d see
the sun sink in glory of color behind
the distant horizon, its expiring rays
lingering upon the far-otf hills, until
they, too, faded ia purple haze;
while from seawarl the lowly fisher
men would come gliding home over
the calm, shadowy waters, with the
golden light of evening illuming their
amber -colored lateen sails.
I Gid not alv '--elaue, for some
times vener1
named Lian
me. Like "
mirer of Coni,.v..-
at heart he was staunch Republican.
His eatly day had been stirfSpg o2es,
for during the great TAPPING rebellion
he hal served and honorably won dis
tinction in the Ching Wang's guard.
But that was closed chapter of his
life, only revealed to the most init
mate and trusted friends, f8r, had it
been known, his arrest and death
would hare soon followed. i
No ono realized the rottenness OF
Machoo- Tartar rule more than he did,
and his bright, age-shrunk eyes would
light up with animation and the old
warlike spirit rekindle 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 sQse of the injustice
done them, and, shaking off the tight
drawn bonds OF tyranny, grasp the
sword of liberty and, ii need be, die
for it
During those pleasant twilight
strolls we often met o sedan chair car
lied by two coolies aad guarded by an
elderly aMah, as the female attendants
arc called. But what most attracted
my attention was the young and come
ly little lady who sat inside the con-
veyance. / coull never get more
than a transitory glance at her through
the small, gauze:coverel windows of
the chair, but that was sufficient 10
make me watchful and cxpectant when,
passed that way; and in time, if no
chair camc, 1 was disappointed, aud
went home feeling quite sorrowful
The lady always sat upright and
never seemed to look either to the
right or the let; but once OF twice I
fancied that she was doing her best to
conceal a smile or "shame face,
but her fan was artfully raised rs
screen, so 1 merely guessed that she
laughed and b.ushed behind it. On
these rare occasions felt very happy,
though never seemed to make any
further progress, and who she was |
could not tiud out.
Whenever old LANG was with me
whea the chair pas2ed 1 would ex-
patiate upon the charms of the strange
young "Celestial" demoiselle; but, al
though politely attentive to what I
said, and although his good-humored
smile bstoke led amusement, he al
ways remained discreetly silent. CT
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 l had concluded my
eulogies on the fair daughter Of Cathay
he invariably laid his hand on my arm
and in kin !, paternal manner adj
vised me not to worry myself.
The winter months were very dull
and long, and L seldom saw the lady
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 bailt on the bunga-
low system, aud was inclosed in a
large, tree-shaded courtyard of consid-
erable antiquity, with one entrance
through lodge gate, where watch
man was stationed. Opposite my
apartments, on tsee other size of the
enclosure, wero the servants Offices
and to the right a small library, where
spent much OF my leisure.
While was in Chesoo the surround
ing country was in very disturbed
state, and missionaries coming in from
the interior complained of having been
robbed and i'll treated by bands of des-
peradoes. Not only that, but the sol
diers in the neighboring forts became
very dissatisfied and unrnly through
being kept for considerable time in