The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-10-17

expectation. The demand soon came from the emperor in threatening terms the restitution of his bride and the surrender of his sons person as well as forfeiture of his territory.
 The city was in state of rigorous defense; Tong Sings army was loyal to man; So at once the crimson flag of rebellion was hoisted, his de flance sent back, and they waited for the beseiging army. Then came the emperor's anathema. the fathers dread full curse upon his only son. his sons wife. vieeregaI city and every subject within it's walls.
 So garrisoned and defiant, we waited the royal armies-waited and watched until the watching grew painful and wearisome- but nothing broke 1t. The flight of time had been unnoticed, no record of passing events had been ta- ken. We awaited the attack of our wronged and angry emperor. The prince occupies himself in his inner pal ace, and seems to heed nothing but the thought that soon his wife and domin- ions would be snatched from him, and he himself taken prisoner to the cap- ital.
 Ten hundred years had passed. An old mandarin entreated me in a low, ex- cited tone to go with him to see the prince. reused myself and followed in his footsteps. In gorgeous outer room in the palace he left me, walking on himself past the guards. who stood at their posts like statues. had time to remark everything about the room, when a dreadful cry from an inner de- partment rent the stifing, heavy air. To me, in spite of its tone of long sup pressed anguish, it was a relief, and I went on at once into the princes pres ence, following the attendants and guards, who all rushed forward in a sudden panic.
 never can describe the scene that was before me Prince Tong -Ko-Lin- Sing, tall, martial looking man in the prime of youth. yet with that same nameless look of age upon his face, was leaning over table, studying a long paper closely covered with writing, still uneffaced and bright, though the date under the impehial seal showed that it had been written more than nine hndred years. On cushion at the princes feet half lay, half knelt, his beautiful young wife, looking up into his face In vague bewilderment. Her dress was just the dress of the present day, for fashions in China do not change. The loose sleeves of her tunic fell over her clasped hands, the swans down, which edged them, not winter than her trembling fingers, and the large jewels in her hair were not less restless than her eager eyes.
 The attendants had lost their listless- ness now, the unmoved faces of the guards had assumed sharp, keen curi- osity, and the old mandarin standing at the princes side was eager enough as he pointed with shaking hand to the date upon the en1peror's letter. As l looked I knew that the full horror oi l their situation had broken upon then | all. They had discovered, with a shock 1 the number of years they had been liv- ] ing under this curse, while he who had uttered 1t had been dead I had brought them the first tidings from the busy, living world without I had opened their eyes to the mystery which had so long enshrouded them.
 | Swiftly, noiselessly, suddenly the change came. The shields and weapons dropped from the walls, falling without sound upon the marble floor The fig ures in their rich, bright dresses crrrn.
 bled into dust as they stood or sat ir