Page:Strange stories from a Chinese studio.djvu/55
26 STRANGE STORIES FROM
on her mother-in-law with great devotion, and acquired a reputation 'both for virtue and beauty, which was spread round far and near. Some time passed away, and then Mr. K'ung took his doctor's degree, and was appointed Governor of the Gaol in Yen-ngan. He proceeded to his post with his wife only, the journey being too long for his mother, and by-and-by a son was bom. Then he got into trouble by being too honest an official, and threw up his appointment ; but had not the wherewithal to get home again. One day when out hunting he met a handsome young man riding on a nice horse, and seeing that he was staring very hard looked closely at him. It was young Huang-fu. So they drew bridle, and fell to laughing and crying by turns, — the young man then inviting K'ung to go, along with him. They rode on together until they had reached a village thickly shaded with trees, so that the sun and sky were invisible overhead, and entered into a most elaborately-decorated mansion, such as might belong to an old-estabUshed family. K'ung asked after Miss Chiao-no, and heard that she was married ; also that his own mother-in-law was dead, at which tidings he was greatly moved. Next day he went back and returned again with his wife. Chiao-no also joined them, and taking up K'ung's child, played with it, saying, "Your mother played us truant." Mr. K'ung did not forget to thank her for her former kindness to him, to which she replied, " You're a great man now. Though the wound has healed, haven't you forgotten the pain yet ? " Her husband, too, came to pay his respects, returning with her on the following morning. One day the young Huang-fu seemed troubled in spirit, and said to Mr. K'ung, " A great calamity is impending. Can you help us ? " Mr. K'ung did not know what he was alluding to, but readily promised his assistance. The young man then ran out and sum- moned the whole family to worship in the ancestral hall, at which Mr. K'ung was alarmed, and asked what it all meant. " You know," answered the young man, " I am not a man but a fox. To-day we shall be attacked by thunder ; • and if only you will aid us in our trouble, we may still
• The Chinese believe that wicked people axe struck by the God of Thunder, and killed in punishment for some hidden crime. They regard lightning merely as an arrangement with a mirror by which the God is enabled to see his victim.