Analy High School - Azalea Yearbook (Sebastopol, CA)

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0 () 0 CLlti ' HJabc King By MARTHA HANEGRESS, ’24 (FIRST AWARD) 0 5 ? $ ING TI POO possessed the jade ring. In appearance it was only a plain ring of beaten gold, with a clear green jade setting. But the magical power of the ring was marvelous. It had a force that attracted happiness and joy for its owner and expelled all sorrow and grief. How Sang, an ancestor of Ling Ti Foo, had found this ring thousands of years ago, lying in the soft mud on the banks of Hoang Ho. It had been made by the Spirit of Love and given to his bride, the Goddess of Beauty. But the Fiend of Jealousy had stolen it from the Goddess’ slender finger and cast it far on this earth where she could never find it again. For the Fiend of Jealousy had always been a hateful enemy of the Spirit of Love, often destroying his best achievements. Thus the ring had been flung into the Hoang Ho and picked up by a mortal. How Sang carried the ling home, concealing it from anyone he chanced to meet. He decided to keep his treasure a secret, for he feared it would be stolen from him. But, alas! Hop Li had been following How Sang and listening to his mutterings until he learned of the magic that the ring possessed. He instantly determined to steal the ring, even if it was necessary to murder How Sang. Hop Li told his sons of How Sang’s treasure, and made them promise to steal the ring if he failed. And fail he did, for Hop Li’s dead body was thrown into the Hoang Ho the following morning. How Sang guarded the ring so cleverly that any attempts made by the sons of Hop Li to obtain it were in vain. It was. passed down from one generation to the next, until now Ling Ti Foo Was guarding it in a teakwoocl casket, inlaid with mother of pearl. Ling Ti Foo had been cautioned when he inherited the ring, as his ancestors had been cau¬ tioned, to keep the ring a secret and to beware of any descendent of

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Hop Li. For, while the ring was passed from one of How Sang’s de¬ scendants to another, the story of the value of the ring, and of Hop Li’s request to secure it, was told to the descendent’s of Hop Li. Wang, the young daughter of Ling Ti Foo, listened with delight when the old tradition was told to her. “Oh, father!” she exclaimed. “Is it not wonderful that you should own the ring which the Spirit of Love had given to his bride! And, truly, the power of the ring had been proved, for were not all of our ancestors happy, even as we are! Alii the ring is blessed indeed, for it also brings us good fortune. You are richer and have more trade than any other merchant in this city.” “Yes,” said Ling r li Foo, “the ring possesses magic power and we are very fortunate that our ancestor, now Sang, found it. But be careful and tell no one of our treasure. You must promise that you will always shun a descendant of Hop Li, for they are our most dreaded enemies.” “Yes,” answered Wang. “But I think it is sad that such hate and fear should go with a ring made by the Spirit of Love.” Not far away, in an opium den, two men and a youth, named Chong Lee, were also talking about the jade ring. The two men were old, and their wrinkled visages and glittering eyes contrasted with the smooth skin and handsome face of the youth. The three were descendants of Hop Li, and they were planning to steal the ring that had been the de¬ sire of all their ancestors. It was early morning before they had com¬ pleted their evil plot. At the break of day, however, they departed to sharpen their weapons and to await darkness again before carrying out their plans. It was midnight and the moon was high in the star-pierced heavens when three figures crept noislessly up to Ling To Foo’s dwelling. Chong Lee remained behind, concealed in a shadow, while the two elder men forced their way through a small, round hole that served as a window. If fighting began within, he was to enter quietly and attack Ling Ti Foo. As Ling Ti Foo would certainly not be expecting this, he would be easily overpowered and killed. • After his two companions had safely entered, Chong Lee listened attentively for any sound of a struggle. The moon looked down and smiled wisely, as if he knew that the Spirit of Love had decided to etui this hate and enmity that had existed for centuries between the two families, and replace it with a sweet and everlasting love. From within came the sound of a muffled oath, and then the voice of Ling Ti Foo. Chong Lee scramlhed quickly through the window PAGE 11