Lowell High School - Red and White Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

Page 19 text:

for June 1922 Tagal9 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 Tising 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 weepingg 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 5 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 Hash of lightning, a peal of thunder-the rain came down in torrents. Everyone stood aghast at this un- expected happening. A second Hash 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

Page 18 text:

Tageis Th6LOWELL 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 hislgarden, gradually nearing the room in which he sat, the Mandarin would not have been smoking his pipe so peacefully with the cruel 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 F ug 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 Hash of steel, a loud piercing cry-Chang Chow Fu, the great and powerful Man- darin, fell to the ground. Pui Kwangls 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 prisong accused of having murdered Chang Chow Fu and sentenced to be put to death upon the first day of the Feast of the Lanternsg 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 Tising 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 overiiowing. 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 Cheeg 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 Mandarinis death. The Gods had not willed that the

Page 20 text:

Tegew 'I'lzeLOWELL hour they had reached the summit g there the men left them. Ling Chee and T'sing Tising were very happy. They did not mind the rain that soaked them through and through, they did not mind the peals of thunder, nor were they startled by the lightning. As they started slowly down the other side of the hill toward their future, T'sing T'sing sighed with happiness, for the Gods had answered her prayer. -Aileen Bauer. T fze Qure Q' Ike Sea Oh, for a home by the boundless sea, Whose tides creep up o'er the sands so free, Where I'd list to the roar of the hungry waves That foam and rage in ocean cavesg While to the song of the flying spray I'd View the ships of far Cathay And lie and dream of ocean lore, Of palm trees on an islet shore, And the mysteries of the seven seas, And richly laden argosies Tossed high upon the bil1ow's crest Of Father Neptune's heaving breast. Where the sea winds do forever blow, Where the briny weeds and fishes grow 3 And the breakers throw their chalky crest Upon the sea-shore's weary breast- VVhere the white gulls Hap their wings on high, And glide and hover in the skyg A VV here the strong winds swing so strong and free Above the restless, roaring sea. The Waves-the gulls-the brine-the foam- By these I'd have my cottage home. -Raymond Pucciuelli.