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girl deliberately toed the practice line； twanged her bow； and
with a sudden whiz； sent her well…aimed shaft quivering straight
into the small white centre of the great bearskinthe imperial
target itself！
With a cry of horror and of rage at such sacrilege； the guards
pounced upon the girl archer； and would have dragged her away。
But with the same quick motion that had saved her from the Tartar
robbers； she sprang from their grasp and； standing full before
the royal target； she said commandingly：
〃Hands off； slaves； nor dare to question my right to the bearskin
target。 I am the Empress！〃
It needed but this to cap the climax。 Prince； guards； and slaves
looked at this extraordinary girl in open…mouthed wonder。 But ere
their speechless amazement could change to instant seizure； a
loud laugh rang from the imperial doorway and a hearty voice
exclaimed： 〃Braved； and by a girl！ Who is thy Empress； Prince？
Let me； too； salute the Tsih…tien！〃＇1＇ Then a portly figure； clad
in yellow robes； strode down to the targets； while all within the
archery lists prostrated themselves in homage before one of
China's greatest monarchsthe Emperor Tai…tsung； Wun…woo…ti。＇2＇
＇1＇ 〃The Sovereign Divine〃an imperial title。
＇2＇ 〃Our Exalted Ancestorthe Literary…Martial Emperor。〃
But before even the emperor could reach the girl； the bamboo
screen was swept hurriedly aside； and into the archery lists came
the anxious priest； Thomas the Nestorian。 He had traced his
missing charge even to the imperial palace； and now found her in
the very presence of those he deemed her mortal enemies。
Prostrate at the emperor's feet； he told the young girl's story；
and then pleaded for her life； promising to keep her safe and
secluded in his mission…home at Tung…Chow。
The Emperor Tai laughed a mighty laugh； for the bold front of
this only daughter of his former master and rival； suited his
warlike humor。 But he was a wise and clement monarch withal。
〃Nay； wise O…lo…pun；〃 he said。 〃Such rivals to our throne may not
be at large； even though sheltered in the temples of the
hung…mao。＇1＇ The royal blood of the house of Sui＇2＇ flows safely
only within palace walls。 Let the proper decree be registered；
and let the gifts be exchanged； for to…morrow thy ward； the
Princess Woo； becometh one of our most noble queens。〃
＇1＇ The 〃light…haired ones〃an old Chinese term for the western
Christians。
＇2＇ The name of the former dynasty。
And so at fourteen； even as the records show； this strong…willed
young girl of the Yellow River became one of the wives of the
great Emperor Tai。 She proved a very gracious and acceptable
stepmother to young Prince Kaou； who； as the records also tell
us； grew so fond of the girl queen that； within a year from the
death of his great father； and when he himself had succeeded to
the Yellow Throne； as Emperor Supreme； he recalled the Queen Woo
from her retirement in the mission…house at Tung…Chow and made
her one of his royal wives。 Five years after； in the year 655；
she was declared Empress； and during the reign of her lazy and
indolent husband she was 〃the power behind the throne。〃 And when；
in the year 683； Kaou…tsung died； she boldly assumed the
direction of the government； and； ascending the throne； declared
herself Woo How Tsih…tienWoo the Empress Supreme and Sovereign
Divine。
History records that this Zenobia of China proved equal to the
great task。 She 〃governed the empire with discretion；〃 extended
its borders； and was acknowledged as empress from the shores of
the Pacific to the borders of Persia； of India； and of the
Caspian Sea。
Her reign was one of the longest and most successful in that
period known in history as the Golden Age of China。 Because of
the relentless native prejudice against a successful woman； in a
country where girl babies are ruthlessly drowned； as the quickest
way of ridding the world of useless incumbrances； Chinese
historians have endeavored to blacken her character and
undervalue her services。 But later scholars now see that she was
a powerful and successful queen； who did great good to her native
land； and strove to maintain its power and glory。
She never forgot her good friend and protector； Thomas the
Nestorian。 During her long reign of almost fifty years；
Christianity strengthened in the kingdom； and obtained a footing
that only the great Mahometan conquests of five centuries later
entirely destroyed； and the Empress Woo； so the chronicles
declare； herself 〃offered sacrifices to the great God of all。〃
When； hundreds of years after； the Jesuit missionaries penetrated
into this most exclusive of all the nations of the earth； they
found near the palace at Chang…an the ruins of the Nestorian
mission church； with the cross still standing； and； preserved
through all the changes of dynasties； an abstract in Syriac
characters of the Christian law； and with it the names of
seventy…two attendant priests who had served the church
established by O…lo…pun。
Thus； in a land in which； from the earliest ages； women have been
regarded as little else but slaves； did a self…possessed and wise
young girl triumph over all difficulties； and rule over her many
millions of subjects 〃in a manner becoming a great prince。〃 This；
even her enemies admit。 〃Lessening the miseries of her subjects；〃
so the historians declare； she governed the wide Empire of China
wisely； discreetly； and peacefully； and she displayed upon the
throne all the daring； wit； and wisdom that had marked her
actions when； years before； she was nothing but a sprightly and
determined little Chinese maiden； on the banks of the turbid
Yellow River；
EDITH OF SCOTLAND。：
THE GIRL OF THE NORMAN ABBEY。
＇Afterward known as the 〃Good Queen Maud〃 of England。＇ A。D。 1093。
On a broad and deep window…seat in the old Abbey guest…house at
Gloucester； sat two young girls of thirteen and ten； before them；
brave…looking enough in his old…time costume； stood a manly young
fellow of sixteen。 The three were in earnest conversation； all
unmindful of the noise about themthe romp and riot of a throng
of young folk； attendants； or followers of the knights and barons
of King William's court。
For William Rufus； son of the Conqueror and second Norman king of
England； held his Whitsuntide gemot； or summer council of his
lords and lieges； in the curious old Roman…Saxon…Norman town of
Gloucester； in the fair vale through which flows the noble
Severn。 The city is known to the young folk of to…day as the one
in which good Robert Raikes started the first Sunday…school more
than a hundred years ago。 But the gemot of King William the Red；
which was a far different gathering from good Mr。 Raikes'
Sunday…school； was held in the great chapter…house of the old
Benedictine Abbey； while the court was lodged in the Abbey
guest…houses； in the grim and fortress…like Gloucester Castle；
and in the houses of the quaint old town itself。
The boy was shaking his head rather doubtfully as he stood；
looking down upon the two girls on the broad window…seat。
〃Nay； nay； beausire＇1＇； shake not your head like that；〃 exclaimed
the younger of the girls。 〃We did escape that way； trust me we
did； Edith here can tell you I do speak the truthfor sure； 't
was her device。〃
＇1＇ 〃Fair sir〃： an ancient style of address； used especially
toward those high in rank in Norman times。
Thirteen…year…old Edith laughed merrily enough at her sister's
perplexity； and said gayly as the lad turned questioningly to
her：
〃Sure； then； beausire； 't is plain to see that you are
Southron…born and know not the complexion of a Scottish mist。 Yet
't is even as Mary said。 For； as we have told you； the Maiden's
Castle standeth high…placed on the crag in Edwin's Burgh； and
hath many and devious pathways to the lower gate； So when the Red
Donald's men were swarming up the steep； my uncle； the Atheling；
did guide us； by ways we knew well； and by twists and turnings
that none knew better； straight through Red Donald's array； and
all unseen and unnoted of them； because of the blessed thickness
of the gathering mist。〃
〃And this was YOUR device？〃 asked the boy； admiringly。
〃Ay； but any one might have devised it too；〃 replied young Edith；
modestly。 〃Sure； 't was no great device to use a Scotch mist for
our safety； and 't were wiser to chance it than stay and be
stupidly murdered by Red Donald's men。 And so it was； good
Robert； even as Mary did say； that we came forth unharmed； from
amidst them and fled here to King William's court； where we at
last are safe。〃
〃Safe； say you； safe？〃 exclaimed the lad； impulsively。 〃Ay； as
safe as is a mouse's nest in a cat's earas safe as is a rabbit
in a ferret's hutch。 But that I know you to be a brave and
dauntless maid； I should say to you〃
But； ere Edith could know what he would say； their