Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-15

pressure of his trembling lips and
the bright tears in his sparkling eyes
repaid me fully for the little kindness
/ had shown him.
ssFor an hour after | returned to nv
hammock lay musing over my adj
venture, then WEAKNESS overcame me,
and beneath the balmy air of the
tropics slept.
'sThe first golden CLEAN of coming
day was gliding the eastern sky as [
awoke, and the breath of the morn
ing, fresh and pure, swept gently over
the ocean and famed my brow.
LAS L looked about upon the ship
ping that filed the bay discerned not
far distant native vessel, elegantly
fitted which l knew at once must be-
long to some high government olncIal.
And even while | speculated upon it
saw boat leave its side and approach
our own ship.
fsTen minutes later Chinese officer,
in gorgeous trappings came on board,
and our first officer was aroused from
his morning dreams to receive him.
81 paid little attention to the visit
until | heard voices from the after
cabin, and all at once Lieut.. Swing
appeared at the door and called to me.
Springing from the hammock, hast
ened toward him.
"'Doctor," said the lieutenant, this
is the governor of the province of
Fokien. He is making a pleasure tour
of the coast in his yacht yonder, and
last night one of his wives-a new one,
I Il - Il L. 1t
thinks she swan off, and he is search
ing for her-bowstring, [ suppose, if
he catches her. You were on deck all
night; did you see any strange fish
pass?
From the lieutenant's inquiry put
as it was, [ at once concluded two
things-first that the Chinese emperor
could not understand English; and
second, that if | did know anything
of the poor runaway wife | would for
get it and save her neck. | took my
cue accordingly.
"'Tell his Oriental majesty that /
have not seen woman to my knOwl-
edge since we left the docks at San
Francisco except the ladies now in the
stateroom of this steamer
"My friend turned to the stolid-faced
Oriental and gave my answer in good
Chinese.
''The governor bowed, and jabbered
a little; then, with an order to his chief
of guard, went down the steamers side
to his boat.
"Watching, I saw him lay his course
toward a little English clipper which
lay little astern of us. When he had
gone, turned to the lieutenant.
"'Last night [ rescued a China boy
who was drowning alongside. He is
asleep now in my cabin. VIII you
come with me and have look at him?
''My friends eyes opened to the wild
est extent and a sudden intelligence
shot across his face, mingled with ap-
prehension, but he only bowed and
followed me.
Together we paused at my cabin
door, and | opened the little transom
above it, so that we might look in
without disturbing the sleeper.
The morning light was strong now,
and we could plainly see the face that
lay on the pillow. 1t was a beautiful
face, framed with black wavy hair,
long eyelashes rested on cheeks tinted
like the rose. and through the sweet
est and ripest of red lips cleaned
pearl-like teeth. 1t was the face of o
woman.
"My companion turned to me quickly.
"'Do you know he whispered in
tensely, that you are risking your life
all our lives in fact-by giving
shelter to herP She is the runaway
wife of the governor
My stubbornness was up in arms in
a moment.
Lieutenant, | don't care if she's
the runaway wife of the emperor, ]
shall not give her up! Last night ]
pulled her out of the water. which
would have been her grave in mo.
ment more, and until this instant had
no more idea she was not the boy she
pretended to be than you have. She
must be saved and you must help me.
''Swing was true American and 3
bachelor as well, and one glance at the
soft, sweet beauty of that placid face
decided him. He took my arm and
led me away.
"'We will save her doctor, if it's in
the pins, but there's only one way.
We must get her on shore and 90 into
hiding at once. Wake her and have
her dress in some of your old clothes.
Then L will get out boat and we will
go ashore. Between us we can find
some hole to store her in until her
friends can come and carry her off,
By Jover' he continued, as he re-
membered the vision he had seen, If
she hasn't got any friends I'd marry
ha1 tn boY.
string."
He left me to perform my part of
the plot.
Il went to N.Y. cabin closed the tran
som, and then raped on the door. I
heard a stir, faint sigh, and then
low, sweet voice.
81 told in few words what must be
done and why. and with wonderful
acuteness she unprecedented me and
promised to obey.
''Ten minutes later handsome
young person, dressed in the uniform
of surgeon in the navy, for such was
my uniform-emerged from the state
room, and hurriedly told of the plan
of escape.
''She looked into my face with
frightened eyes.
Mclean man no save me. Zen
glovenor kill mel
Il strove to explain to the frightened
beauty that it was impossible TO keep
her on board the steamer, but that we
would see her safely hidden in Hong.
Kong for the present, and then man.
age for her future salty afterward.
''As [ saw the rich color come and
90 In her cheeks. and the hrirnt ewes