The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-08-18

ChIleI uleu' COH Cdule lleTe W lODDy
for rotten railroad company, who pay
him out of their STOCKHOLDERS money
for doing very dirty work. So much
for that part of his character. For the
other side of it: he married two or
three years ago; broke his wife's heart
is divorced from her-so be pretends.
That may be or not"
He is" Dudleigh said, slowly, who
had received Macdonald's own version
already. Then she turned upon the
secretary. CT really believe you want
me to marry this Mr.. Chez Fo Lee. You
are ready enough to believe everything
that is bad about our countryman
After al, what do you know about this
ChinamanP" and she faced him de-
family.
He is accredited by his government,
which vouches for his responsibility.
He is a scholar and a gentleman. But
as for wanting him to marry you, | do
not. | simply present his case with
a genial smile. It was very difficult to
got up a quarrel with the secretary. He
took Dudleigh's hand and kissed it.
Upon the whole, am opposed to your
marrying anybody. l have yet to see
the man who is good enough for you"
Thi5 compliment, added to what had
gone before, re1uctd Dudleigh to tears.
She hurried away to master her wretch.
edness as best she could. How dread
full to have to listen to such things of
Macdonald from her friend! How was
it possible the secretary could believe
themi But he evidently did.
Mr.. Van Pedigree communicated the
decision of Miss Rhodes to her Mon
golian lover in writing. 1t would have
been diff ,ult to guess, however, from
any alteration in his behavior. that he
had received the intimation. He came
rs usual. He was neither more OF less
attentive to Miss Rhodes. A dinner
party according to Chinese methods had
been planned some time ago, and this
entertainment neared. 1t had been
postponed until certain viands that had
been ordered for the occasion should ar
rive from China. Dldleigh had ex-
pressed desire to taste certain Chinese
delicacies, and Mrs. Van Pedigree had
agreed TO matronize a feast given in
honor of and for the enlightenment Of
this young lady. There had been q
time when Dudleigh had looked forward
| t othis, as to various other events in her
palled upon her. Mac ionald's visits
:e lsed abruptly. She was given to un-
derstand by Mrs. Van Pedigree that her
| doors had been closed to him. bud
leigh instantly wrote to her sister that
| she wished to come home; but for
| family reasons this was not convenient
-possible-for a week or so, during
which Dldleigh must possess her soul
| in patience.
The Chinese dinner party came eff
and was a complete affair. The birds
nest soup had the Srue Pekin flavor
| about it, as indeed>it should have had
since it was direct importation. The
ragout of jelly-fsh was a marvel OF
Orientalism, and of mushiness. But
then everything about the meal was
characteristic. There was an extra
ordinary dish of chicken stewed with
| mushrooms, the chicken having been
first pounded until the bones were of
the consistency of paste. There was
yet another variety of stewed chicken.
At intervals waterme elon seeds were
handed around, it may be as a digester.
1t goes without saying that there were
chop-sticks. Instead of plates there
were odd little bowls, in which the
diluted delicacies of the unfamiliar menu
were eaten. Viands and table furniture
were all as full of wonder and interest
to Dudleigh rs knives and forks and
spoons undoubtedly were to her enter
can dinner. 1t was certainly a relief to
Dudleigh, in spite of her Unborn love of
novelties, however, when the meal
wound up with the time-honored home
delicacy of ice-cream. The legation
were all fond of ice-cream,
Yes, she was undeniably amused, in
spite of her anxious heart. But she
was only half her gay, joyous self, nev.
ertheless. Take it all in all, Mr.. Chez
Fo Lee did not consider his entertain
ment success. He had wanted to
make Dudleigh happy; he had taken a
great deal of trouble to do so, and he
had only half succeeded.
IL was the early spring by that time.
| There were piaZzas at each end of the
| house, which were draped with the
Chinese and American flags, and hung
with brilliant, beautiful lanterns. The
rooms were gay with pictures by Chinese
artists, painted exquisitely on silk, of
gorgeous-hued flowers. Specimens of
bronze work and of porcelain were scat
tered about. The number and the va
riety of fans that adorned the apartment
defied computation. Dudleigh wan
| dered about, accompanied by Mr.. Chez
| Fo Lee and wondered and admired.
There was something in the extreme
gentleness and consideration of his man
ner which soothed and composed Dud-
leigh, Overwrought as she was by her
suspense about Macdonald She had
never liked him so much. Perhaps you
will understand me, some of you, when
tell you that she was so sorry for her.
self Just then that she was sorry for him
out OF that very fellow-feeling which
makes us so wondrOus kind.
A picture stood on an easel in one
corner, before which blue silk curtain
was drawn. Dudleigh stood before it,
and looked at her companion inquir-
| ingly. He drew the curtain aside. 1t
was her own picture, which he had had
enlarged in crayOn from a small photo
graph. 1t was framed in blue and sill
yer. On the frame were some Chinese
characters. Mr.. Chez Fo Lee read them
to her; then, as she shook her head,
translated, 1.-The Star" In our coun-