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TUEN, SLAVE AND EMPRESS

by

KATHLEEN GRAY NELSON

Illustrations by William M. Cary


[Illustration: TUEN AT WORK ON THE TUNIC.--_Page 65_]






New York
Copyright by
E. P. Dutton & Company
31 West Twenty-Third Street
1898


[Illustration: _Frontispiece._ THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT. Page 190.]




PREFACE.


This story is founded upon facts in the life of the Empress-dowager of
China, the mother of the present Emperor.

She was sold as a slave by her father to a renowned government
official, who after a few years adopted her as his daughter, and
afterwards presented her to the Emperor.

The Emperor was altogether charmed with the gift. In a few years the
slave girl became the wife of the Emperor, second in rank only to the
Empress. From this time she was a power at the Imperial Court. Her
administrative ability in governmental affairs became invaluable to the
Emperor.

After the death of the Empress, and the death of the