Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-06-15

The old merchant had evidently had
notice OF our coming, for his money
scales were ready, and in the room
behind the ship we could hear the soft
voices and the swish of calico. As
might be expected, my companion had
for nowhere but the door into that
apartment, and the old man and his
cashier had the weighing pretty much
to themselves. / nudged Wan once
and askd if he oughten't to check the
weights, but his only answer was, Lung
lSeln, honorable merchant, if watchee
him take away his face namely, make
him blush, which l knew to be a grave
breach of Chinese etfquette). | must
own l stared a little at VANS illtimed
pOliteness. I've been in love few times
myself, and I know how soft it makes
Il man, but it struck me if it could
blind poor Wan to the character of the
vlllalnOus old chandler opposite us, he
must have it badly; but it was no
!affair of mine, ! had done my duty by
warning him. So when Lung Sien had
brought over the receipt signed and
countersigned by himself and his cash
Iier and also the balance, for the bars
weighed a few Dunes over the 500.
which he handed to Wan Lee in long
strings Of cash, for / can tell you 4
dollar in Chinese currency makes quite
a respectable show
The next thing to settle was the
marriage, and Lung Sien intimated that
'hnnnrsl +aJ
place as soon as the astrologers had
picked out a lucky day, but this didn't
suit the lover; he very soon informed
the old gentleman that being on the
books of the Delaware he was alice
same Mclean man. and that he meant
to be married at the American con-
sulate that day, whatever might be the
luck The uncle demonstrated pretty
vigorously, and threatend to return the
silver and break off the match rather
than submit to the indignity, but Wan
was firm, and it ended in the matter
being left to Sing Ooh's decision, end
that young lady was brought out from
the back shop to give it. She was not
long in making up her mind; her re-
marks to the old gentleman, / was not
scholar enough to understand, but from
the stamp of the small foot and the
expression of the little mouth it seemed
somthing decisive, and from the way
her lover and the coolies laughed I
think it must have been slightly sarcas-
tic. In fact, I fancy that the idea
that had passed through my mind that
If Lung was left with the money in
his hands a lucky day might be some
time in coming had also presented itself
TO her, and she spoke as q young
woman would be apt to under such
circumstances. Anyhow, she settled
the question for a jinlickshaw was
fetched and the poor little maid packed
in it and trOtted off to the consulate.
Neither her uncle nor any of his family
accompanied her, for he had evidently
washed his hands of her Her belong
iingS were bundled out. one little bam-
boo box held all, and that was carried
on the head of a cOolie, who Gid not
need to Shirk his turn at the rickshaW
in consequence.
when we got to the consulate the
poor girl was helped out and up stairs.
gone, as ladies, white or yellow. will
do when they've got their own way and
are not quite sure what's coming of it.
and any one who knows the amount
of fuss and ceremony attending a
Chinese marriage, even of the lowest
class, can understand her feelings in
such a position
With no glad bells. no marriage feast.
No joyous home returning
But pale and trembling as she was.
there was no backout to her. and by
the aid of ami Interpreter the happy pair
were made one in a few minutes. Then
my worry began, for | was afraid that
Wan Lee would make some excuse for
not going back to the ship. and if he
dld l should be at my wits end to
find out Low to fulfill my promise to
Capt. Roberts
IF Hong Kong had been under native
rule it would have been easy enough
just take him by the pigtail and
march him down to the boat and let
the captain and the American consul
put 1t right away afterward with the
authorities
But under the despotic rule her
Britannia majesty, where a man
mustn't wallop his own niger. this
would have been risky proceeding
and l should have been stopped before
[ got three streets length by some pug
CARED OppressOr.
! However, my trouble did not last
long, for Wan himself was the first to
propose an immediate return to the
Delaware. So / escorted him and the
'rickshaw to the quay and did not leave
them until | saw them both in the GIG
and the oars splaShing the water. Then
went off for my own private spree
| Well, that has nothing to do with this
tale, so I'll say nothing only that the
next morning [ was just thinking of get
ting up q was staying with an old
friend in the tea trade), and trying to
make sure whether the thing on nv
shoulders was a head or a forge with
the hammers going inside it, when there
came a knock at the door, and one
! of our midshipmites was shown in
! Capt. Roberts wishes you to meet him
at the police office at once, sir: Wan
! Lee has been arrested; the silver he
paid for his wife wasn't silver at all
and you are wanted for a witness
You may guess [ tumbled out sharp
and dressed at a sailors rate and was
soon on my way, the boy giving me
the particulars as we went along
After the first surprise was over I