Lowell High School - Lowellian Yearbook (Lowell, IN)

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' Page 18 ' The Lowell What rich and powerful man has not many enemies? The thought of them did not disturb Chang Chow Fu in the least—he knew that he was more powerful. Had he known that at this very moment a man was stealthily crawling from bush to bush in his garden, gradually nearing the room in which he sat, the Mandarin would not have been smoking his pipe so peacefully with the cniel smile on his lips. The man, who was now beneath the window, was no other than Pui Kwang, and he came only for one thing—to kill. He raised his head slowly and peered in the open window at Chang Chow Fu; Pui Kwang’s almond eyes glittered and his features were distorted with hatred—a long steel dagger glittered in the moon¬ light. He waited a moment, his dagger poised a little above his head, there was a flash of steel, a loud piercing cry—Chang Chow Fu, the great and powerful Man¬ darin, fell to the ground. Pui Kwang’s messenger of death had done its work, and Pui Kwang had disappeared as if by magic. When the servants, who had rushed into the room where the Mandarin had been tranquilly smoking, beheld their dead master, great confusion prevailed. Guards searched in the garden for traces of the murderer while others went down the road. There was a sound of struggling and the guards came toward the house dragging a young boy who was protesting vigorously—Ling Chee. They had found him running down the road. The captive was promptly thrown into prison; accused of having murdered Chang Chow Fu and sentenced to be put to death upon the first day of the Feast of the Lanterns; the execution was to be a public one. Tse Chan, the executioner, would be in his glory. The Feast of the Lanterns was only two days off! T’sing T’sing arose at dawn and dressed. She descended to the little shrine and knelt before the altar, praying to be saved from the dreadful fate her father had decreed for her. She had been there for a long time when her prayers were sud¬ denly interrupted by Hyacinth, her maid, who came to tell her of the murder of Chang Chow Fu and Ling Chee’s arrest. T’sing T’sing rejoiced when she heard of the Mandarin’s death, but on learning that Ling Chee was to be executed, her cup of grief was full to overflowing. She saw it all—Ling Chee in desperation had murdered Chang Chow Fu in order to free her from her terrible fate. She blamed herself. She would rather have married Chang Chow Fu than endangered Ling Chee’s life. She could do nothing to save him. Her father hated Ling Chee; there was no one who would help. On approaching the Mandarin’s residence, Ling Chee saw a figure dart across the road. He hastened his step to overtake the fast disappearing form. A piercing cry startled him. He saw the guards running about the grounds. Very much frightened. Ling Chee turned and fled down the road but was soon overtaken by the guards. No one would listen to his story. He was immediately thrown into prison and sentenced to death. All this had happened so quickly that he was bewildered. Ling Chee looked up at the stars from behind his iron-barred window. He had been greatly amazed when he had learned of the Mandarin’s death. The Gods had not willed that the

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for June 1922 Tageij A Whim of the Gods ' SING T’SING sat at the edge of the little pond in the garden and gazed sadly into the water. All about her was laughter and merri¬ ment; for the Feast of the Lanterns would soon be at hand—her mother and her attendants were decorating the house with flowers, the garden with gayly colored lanterns. The little shrine was filled with flowers, and large sticks of punk burned before the Altar of Buddha. But T’sing T’sing did not hear their merry laughter ringing through the grove, she did not see the gayly colored lanterns swinging gently in the breeze—she was very unhappy. She heaved a little sigh, several tears rolled down her cheeks and slipped unnoticed into the water. In a secluded part of the garden, not far from the little pond, was a small gate hidden beneath a mass of vines. Someone was knocking at the gate. T’sing T’sing cast a furtive glance about her, and after having assured herself that no one was near, she jumped up lightly and running to the gate opened it to admit a young Chinese boy, who entered cautiously. T’sing T’sing, who could control herself no longer, burst into tears and unfolded to him her grief. It appeared that Ho Ling, her father, was under financial obligations to Chang Chow Fu, a very cruel and powerful Mandarin. When the time came for him to pay the money the Mandarin would not accept it, saying that Ho Ling might cancel the debt by giving him his only daughter, T’sing T’sing. Ho Ling promptly agreed, and it was arranged that the marriage should take place after the Feast of the Lanterns. It was useless to plead with her father—the agreement had been made. Ling Chee promised to help her. Fie would arrange for their flight together. In the meantime she must promise to be happy and trust all to him. T’sing T’sing dried her tears and promised. Ling Chee bade her goodbye, slipped out by the little gate and slowly turned his steps toward home. His heart was very heavy. His father, Ma Shue, was very poor and weak. The Mandarin was very rich and powerful—with one move of his little finger he could easily crush Ling Chee and his father. It was useless to pit his strength or match his wits against the mighty Mandarin’s—yet something must be done in order to save the beautiful T’sing T’sing. Ling Chee reached his house, ate his rice in silence, and when he had finished, he told Ma Shue that he was going for a walk. He started down the road in the direction of the palatial residence of Chang Chow Fu. Chang Chow Fu was smoking his pipe contentedly in his luxurious surround¬ ings. A cruel smile curved his lips as he thought of T’sing T’sing the beautiful. He thought of her olive skin, her beautiful brown almond eyes, her coral lips, her raven black hair, with a flower tucked here and there, her slim figure, beautiful hands and her tiny well-shaped feet. He had first seen her in the garden as he had passed Ho Ling’s house in his magnificent palanquin, and had determined that she should belong to him. The marriage would soon be at hand; he was content.

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for June 1922 ‘P“g l 9 beautiful T’sing T ' sing should be his—she would never be his bride, but the Gods had given Ling Chee the honor of dying for her, and he must be content. The first morning of the Feast of the Lanterns found T’sing T’sing in the little shrine kneeling before the altar—for two days she had hardly left the shrine, and had eaten nothing. Her beautiful eyes were swollen from weeping; she had not ceased praying to the Gods to save Ling Chee. Soon Hyacinth, who had not quitted her young mistress, awakened, gently led T’sing T’sing to her room and hastened to dress her in her best regalia. She tucked flowers into the glossy black hair and painted her lips and cheeks. The toilet lasted a long time, for T’sing T’sing was very sad and tears streamed down her cheeks. At last, she was dressed and ready to depart for Ling Chee’s execu¬ tion—the first event of the day. The big procession of the Dragon was to follow. Ho Ling was very angry; he paced to and fro. He had wished his daughter to marry the rich and powerful Mandarin. All the preparations had been made for the marriage, he had spent a great deal of money for the gifts. He could think of no one else suitable for his daughter. After entering their palanquins they joined the procession slowly wending its way toward the place of execution. The day was sultry and dark clouds covered the sky, but no one noticed this. Every one was excited; it was not often that an execu¬ tion was a public one, and then too, all were looking forward to the festivities of the day. T’sing T’sing and her escort finally reached their destination, a large clearing, in the center of which was a stone platform; upon it was placed a wooden block. T’sing T’sing shuddered when she saw the block, and raised her eyes pleadingly to heaven. The place was crowded and Ton Sei, the emperor, was seated with his attend¬ ants upon a throne under a huge canopy. After a few minutes, the emperor sig¬ nalled and immediately two guards came forth leading Ling Chee. There was a sudden hush; the crowd waited breathlessly; Ling Chee glanced around, caught the eye of T’sing T’sing and smiled faintly. The prisoner and his attendants mounted the platform. The final preparations for the execution completed, Ling Chee knelt. Tse Chan unsheathed his shining sword. T’sing T’sing lifted her eyes for a last appeal to the Gods. Suddenly there was a flash of lightning, a peal of thunder—the rain came down in torrents. Everyone stood aghast at this un¬ expected happening. A second flash of lightning struck a wooden building and set it afire. The people were now greatly frightened and it was bruited about that the Gods were angry with them. The terrified onlookers ran in all directions. Ton Sei entered his palanquin and was conducted to the palace. Tse Chan dropped his sword, his sole pride, and fled. Ling Chee took advantage of the confusion and descended from the platform into the crowd. T’sing T’sing, without a moment’s hesitation hastened to him, untied his hands, and together they disappeared. Ling Chee saw an empty palanquin, its bearers too frightened to put it down. T’sing T’sing thrust some coins into the men’s hands and bade them carry them to the hills. Within an