Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-07

ION the river where the herons stalk and the wilt
fowl gather have planted garden for the pleasure
of 10y Shan, my betrothed. There, too, o Magnifi.
cent and Holy One, shall erect shrine unto th1
worship and glory. Flowers and incense shall be.
deck it, and the fair hands of 10y Shan shall tend il
day by day."
Again bowed and struck my forehead xpon ths
floor. My grew faint and l lay there, my
brow against the polished planks. Was it then that
the goddess spoke again, that demons came to
twit me- For surely there to me once more
mat mysterious sound in the stark stiffness of the
place wailns and then voice. Unto my feverish
fancy it was like the sweet voice of my beloved
10y Shan
Ohang kuang," it said 20 Chang KuanG
cannot forget you. 1t is even now as if hear your
voice. SIT IN darkness alone and dream Of you.
smell the flowers of the garden at my fathers
hou'e at Using Hin. I hear his sobbing who Is
rcTcit OF me- know the pain in the heart OF
Chan5 huang, who loves me-
Thus, as in dream, | heard the voice Of Low
Shan, the far-otT music OF her sobbiny and wa;no
as lay Iikc ono dead upon the floor before the altar
ot huan Yin Perchance weakness overcame me-
AID despair. for it must lave been that I silent
awhile Or dozcd, my face buried in my hands For
wien woke 7 heard other voices and footsteps.
Two we're The Voices of women bit surely one was
Sec. said of the female voices "yonder lies
a man before lc altar"
s'n'' 2'nri;ess vasabond," said Wing Tai, "who
na"eS uac OF the temple for a bed chamber He
w.. i.o' Il, curb US
Try :iil as ore dad. heard the rattle of keys
"od '!"or was opened at the side of the altar under
the t'ronc OF the goddess.
FL en- this place Is no longer safe" heard Wing
i' -. When there is reward offered for the
ali it u nct we'll to trust even the priests"
Ihen the door closed softly upon Wing Tai and
IT, ~ vo','cn. ct heard their voices underfoot
H." Vosc cf Wing Tai harsh and stern, and the
. j voice Of his wife ard la,ghtc--yea, and the
frantic tones Of my lost 10y Shan!
i was no; lever, il not fancy; it was not the
voice Of t.e goddess in pity upon me. 10y Shan
was lhing underioot in some cell beneath the altar
J. re which / lay. | sprang to my feet and
rushed 70 The side Of the shrine, but saw nothing
but sn'oo:: panels Of lacquer wood and gilt. drew
! rth my sword again and watched in the dimness
beside the altar Then slowly Of the panels
swr"G open, partly hiding as 1 stood against the
vail Tie wife OF Wing Tai stepped forth, then
L., 'e':s' tcr-lcan shc-foxes they-and cruel
and c,; was their look even as Wing Tais. Then
. lost q hcau.! ard delight to my starved eyesi
-car.e 10y Shan, her face pale as the moon her
eyes Iar'; with sorrow and wide with fear. could
Live ciaspci Ter she passed. could scarce for
! 81 cry ing her name, yet iorbo.e. Last appeared
Wing Tai, .hc keys in his hand. He turned and
s.ut The door, then lie bclcld me as stood there
vii naked sword. He uttered cry, thinking me
. '"cc ghost. The women too, turned and
- .:t">t rs l advanced 10y Shan likewise
fixed Win fear; pcrclance she, too thought me
rh"r' rntl smiled upon her and spoke her
r:t'' tenderness and held out my hand. Then she
r loose from the two and cast herself into
49, ;.HiS. CRYING Upon me to save her, crying upon
the } 'rc-"odles to whom she had prayed as had
r. J.
Wins Tai saothcred with fury. tore down an an
crit nd from the wall and toward me.
) '" eng! myself from 10y Shans embrace and faced
: H. tVr;o"sly he struck at with the old rusty
"". ut with my keen one | countered the stroke
-. woruGcl him il the forearm. Scholar though
! ".g, lad l not been taught workmanship by
=. .--, I the craii; Was not armed in my wrath,
-,t": l. on - revenge and the presence of 10y
SIN:
The tvo women s!,rickcd and ran screaming
r'.-l hc door, illing the air with piercing cries.
i..' er! :o:th circled, Wing Tai and l. hewina
s:d-Nise against my arm. The pain went woeiuly
e., WA my frame and | cried aloud. Then he
l:tci Is sword win both hands as TO cIeave me
!'c'i hcaG 70 foot, but again met his blade with
swift h.oW from my own and the old weapon sprang
{tam it, rotten handle ard fcIl to the floor. The
DIR, and cur.;te, the wretch fell PROSTATE. l set
~ foot upon him. even as the h curtains were s torn
dG nna n T9nE Of pfG9 h burst into the room
The wld-cycd priests OF the temple about
anlenting the desccration. There were merchants
ali drawn hther by the cries Of the Then
came officers OF the law and the Consul also.
Wing Tai lifted himself groanng and invoked the
lo'p oI the priests.
The maid belongs to me. Take her hence"
The dog lies said I, "for it he that stole
her from her fathers house in Using Hin: Our
families have decrced 10y Shan to be my wife and
! have come to take her home with me"
she is mine cried Wing Tai, twisting upon the
'or. Il bought her from her father
Let the women tell what has bcfallen" said the
Consul, wise and venerable man with great gold
spcctacles.
Then 10y Shan told how night she had been
reft from home and brought to this city to be sold
into slavery. And the Consul nodded and whispered
70 the white officers. Then stepping up to Wing
Tai, he gazcd down upon him sternly and said
- "Another murder has been done tonight, Wing
Tai. Fong How, the tea-merchant, member Of
your tong. assassnated in his shop"
1T is the work of the Ming. Ii tong" said the
slave dealer, "cur base enemies
May, your Worship" said !, "the deed was done
by Kim Loo, of the Quong I1o Sings. With nina
own ears heard Wing Tai sivs orders for his
death"
They carried forth the bleeding Wins Tai to gaol
and judgment and held as witness. The
Christian missionaries took 10y Shan with them
:r1 ,1,o Ia I.Ax