The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-28

"On tie river where the herons stalk and the wild fowl gather have planted garden for SleES4os of Loy Shan, my betrothed There, too, O Magnih- and Holy One, shall erect a shrine unto thy worship and glory. Flowers and incense shall be- deck it, and the fair hands of Loy Shan shall tend it day by day."
 Again bowed and struck my forehead upon the floor. My senses grew faint and I lay there. my brow against the polished blanks Was 1t then that the goddess spoke again, or that demons tw1t me! For surely there came to once that mysterious sound in the stark stiffness of the place, wailing and then a voice Unto my feverisf fancy 1t was like the sweet voice of my beloved Loy Shan.
 70 Chang Kuang," it said, 70 Chane Kuane. I cannot forget you. It iseven as if I hear your voice sit in darkness alone and dream of you. smell the flowers of the garden my fathers house at Ising Hin hear his sobbing who is bereft of me- I know the pain in the heart of Chang Kuang, who loves me-
 Thus, as in a dream, I heard the voice of Lo1 Shan the far-of music of her sobbing and wailina as lay like dead the floor before the altar of Kuan Yin. Perchance weakness overcame me and despair, for it must have been that I slept awhile or dozed, my face buried in my hands. when woke l heard other voices and footsteps Two were the voices of women, but surely one was the voice of Wing Tai.
 See," said of the female voices. wonder lies before the altar"
 Some penniless vagabond" said Wing Tai ~ygfo makes use of the temple for bed-chamber. He will not disturb us.
 lay still one dead l heard the rattle of keys and door opened at the side of the altar under the throne of the goddess
 Even this place is no longer safe," heard Wing Tai say. NWhen there is reward offered for the maid 1t IS not well to trust the priests"
 Then the door closed softly upon Wing Tai and his two women Yet heard their,voices underfoot, the voice of Wing Tai harsh and stern, and the shri1l voice of his wife and daughter-yea and the frantic tones of my lost Loy Shani
 It was not fever, it not fancy; it was not the voice of the goddess in pity upon mel Loy Shan living underfoot in some cell beneath the altar before | fo fa~4n ard rushed to the side of the shrine, but saw nothing but smooth panels of lacquer wood and gilt I drew forth my sword again and watched in the dimness beside the altar. Then slowly of the pamela swung open partly hiding as stood against the wall The wife of Wing Tai stepped forth then his daughter-lean she-foxes they-and cruel and evil their look Wing Tafs. Theu- o feast of beauty and delight to my starved evesi -came Loy Shan, her face pale as the moon her eyes dark with sorrow and wide with fear I coufd have clasped her she passed; could scarce for bear crying her name, yet forbore. Last appeared Wing Tai, the keys in his hand. He turned and shut the door, then he Dehe1d me as I stood there with naked sword. He uttered cry thinking ma perchance ghost The women, too, turned and shrieked I advanced. Loy Shan was likewise filled with fear; perchance she, too, thought me a ghost until smiled upon her and spoke her name with tenderness and held my hand. Then she tore loose from the and cast herself into my arms, crying upon me to save her, crying upon the love-goddess to whom she had prayed I had prayed.
 Wing Tai, snothered with fury tore down an ar-
  cient sword from the wall and ran toward me loosened myself from Loy Shan's embrace and faced him. Furiously he struck at with the old rusty blade, but with my keen countered the stroke and wounded him in the forearm Scholar though was had I been taught swordmanship by A of the craft? Was not armed in my wrath spurred on by revenge and the presence of Loy Shan?
 The two women shrieled and ran screaming toward the door. filling the air with piercing cries Back and forth circ1ed, Wing Tai and I, hewing nightly at each other Once his blade glanced through my frame and l cried aloud Then he from head to foot, but again met his blade with swift blow from my own and the old weapon sprzng next moment had cut Wing Tai across the shouI- der, and, cursing the wretch fell prostrate. set my foot upon him, the curtains torn aside and throng of people burst into the room and there was a sudden light.
 1amenting the desecration. There were merchants and cooiies from the. street and few white men came officers of tRe law, and the Consul also e
 Wing Tai lifted himself grooming and invoked the
 aThe maid belongs to me. Take her henee.s her from n0f her house m n ne Ha H % & families have decreed Loy Shan to be my wife and
 fo fss ered hsT Wng h9 f with msnq pou m floor T bought her from her father"
 Consul, wise and venerable man with great gold
 Then Loy Shan told how one night she had been reft from home and brought this city t. be sold into slavery. And the Consul nodded and whispered F Tai the he hled e%n upon linen & and S @
 "Another murder has been done tonight Wing your tong, was assassinated in his shop"
 "It is the york of the Ming ri tong" said the
 Nay, your Worship said I, "t1e deed was done Gsash Gga ears ! heard Wing Tai give orders for he and judgment and. held me a witness fhs Christian missionaries took Loy shan with tneHz