New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-09
MIR. WRONG"
A CHINA COAST TALE.
CHAPTER /.

;otiao
mistake that occurs. despite all the proprieues'
very often in this generation.
And when Il came to excuses .here "e,e p'v vary
pretty and had been brought up TO count her
face as her fortune. Then she was governess 10
children generally reputed TO he the naushtes'
Ga The most objectionable. not only in New
Chwang but in all the treaty ports. And, thirdiy'
she had seen so much OF him. ,,,
don't think he meant IL in the FEAST d! which
sit" be It understood design to destroy her
peace OF mind merely for want OF something pet
ter to do hut he certainly went out OF ms wa! 10
pay her little attentions when attentions ne
would have been wiser not 10 have palu' i>ut
breathes there a man-fathers always excepted
who can stand by and see a pretty young slll
bullied and brought to the verge OF tears by three
or four spoiled monkeys. without hndlhs ms
hands in the collars OF their astonished owners
and causing a universal shreking stampede on
the part of the young tormentors! ana tneh'
the field clear and poor pretty, helpless Eva
Joyce in agony lest she should now get INTO
trouble with her employers. what man could
have helped comforting her a little, always WITH
out meaning anything serious?
Eva Joyce had plenty of diplomas certincates
and credentials. She had passed through the
regular course OF higher education. ana couid
command a high salary But she was quite alone
in the world. And the path of right living anu
a-following is very slippery and dangerously
discouraging to the girl who has no home people
to care for her
And so Archie Urquhart kind to her. for
which Eva was grateful. That was the very be
ginning of the trouble Then. as is the fashion In
for Eya's employer his official chier-and
there he saw Eva rudey, almost insultingy'
treated by his host and overworked or thought-
lessly left out In the cold. by his perfectly good
natured but altogether n-maternlty
hostess Naturally. being gentleman he sided
with the oppressed governess. and even on one oc.
CASTOR nearly came 10 loggerheads with his chief
about her. Eva certainly contrived 10 strength
en- him In his opinion that she was ill-used by
means Of a peculiar Observation-Disclosures In
some women--which seemed to bring out all the
brute there was in Mr. Lloyd. all the selhshness
in Mrs Lloyd. just when Archie Urquhart was
there But though that QuiXotic youth risked
his prospects in life and narrowly escaped en-
broiling himself for Eva Joyces sake, he never
for moment came near falling in love with her.
And why?
For the very best Of reasons that he was al
ready in love with another girl.
Not that any one knew IT, the girl herself In
cuded. Archie Urquhart had not been born north
OF the Tweed for naught And his love could not
hold candle to Eva Joyce in looks or accom-
plishments, or great many other thlhes
Arches people would have considered essential
In girl who would certainly day be lady,
and might possibly. failing five or six cousins, be
q peeres. poor little missionary girl who act
ed up 10 her very dim lights. bore patiently the
,nbraidings and revilngs of the cantankerous
old maid with whom she was appointed to dwell;
a girl who was shockingly badly dressed, who
never dreamt of love MARRIAGE an enthusiast
If you will, maniac-but, at any rate, Archie
Crquharts ideal woman.
So Eva Joyce played his accomplishments in
vain-ArChe labored under the painful delusion
that he possessed a voice-dreamt of him in van
took the children for walks past his house In
vain. After nine months Archie urquhart was
no nearer the scratch than he had been at the
beginning.
Then Eva began to cast about her for the
Why and, falling TO find it, set to work to plan
out the How
For she was bound by three years engage
ment TO the Lloyd family, of which time barely a
year had gone. Two years more of this drudgery!
Impossible. impossible. And, besides. she genu-
finely loved Archie
When girl loves, and is not loved In return
one Of two things happens. Either she Sinks
into a sentimental softness and general com
passion for all mankind. Of which she deems
herself the scapegoat and most miserable mem
Der; or her love curdles into a deep resentment
toward all who are more fortunate than her
self From which resentment springs not only
envy. hatred, malice. etc, but resolve to do
unto others so far as in her lies what has been
done to her She is miserable 1t is but fair
that others should be miserable. too.
They very small circle in that out-of-
the way outport in China, small to an embar-
RAISING degree in winter. when the river was
icebound for three months and more at time,
and no fresh arrivals with. If not fresh Ideas.
at least fresh Cup" were possible There was
the Consul. engaged in constant warfare with
the Commissioner Of Customs. Mr.. Lloyd. Then
there were Archie Urquhart and Mr.. Frederick
Freke. Mr. Freke was the senior assistant, but
one in the community ever dreamt of put
ting him before, even of braCketing him equal
with, his Junior Archie. Gray hair and middle
age had stolen upon Frederick Freke without
his noticing them, or rather without any one
of the tide Of youth had never raced ponies in
Picking never danced in dance. never Joined IN
a jamboree He had but one enthusiasm-if
you would call that an enthusiasm which was
so very sober and middle-ag ed-and that was
Chinese. But the world was none the richer
for his knowledge; indeed there were those
who declared he had nothing TO impart to 1t.
BE this as II may he was known to conscien-
tiously spend certain number Of hours every
day in looking at sundry pages OF Chinese; and
II was perfectly positive that he had laid by a
large amount OF dollars.
After the Consular folk and the Customs.
there were only the missionaries. Even the doc
tor a missionary doctor. with reputed
American degree. obtained after some six
months apprenticeship in the States. Luckily.
the port healthy one and the doctor had
commendable way of experimenting with his
drugs the vile bodies Of the natives Most OF
the missionaries were American, too. but Mrs
Lloyd was very friendly with them. and discount
tenanced all games in which her children and
the missionaries youngsters tried to introduce
the Battle of Bunker's Hill. Mrs. Lloyd a
peace-loving woman, in mortal dread of her
husband and children. Even Eva Joyce inspired
her with an uncomfortable feeling of inferiOrty
thanks to those unlucky diplomas and Ger
tifcates She only felt herself at her best. and
all her rejected maternal and wifely feelings
gratefully appreciated with Archie Crquhart S
ideal woman, Lira Allen.
And so it came TO pass that she invited Lima
constantly TO spend some hours with her. while
Eva was dreaming. over endless scales, OF the
days to come when she should never touch the
piano And so ii also came to pass that Archie
Crquhart, who hated nothing more than his own
company. constantly Joined the two women after
Office hours. TO the great perturbation of his
we-ordcred mind and his strong, wholesome
body
Archie Urquhart had his own peculiar I'M
conventional way of turning into the Commits
sioners gate straight from the office. with inky
fingers soiled coat and that business which
every well-conducted male brushes off before
appearing in the presence Of ladies' He was so
Jolly so hearty full OF spirits that women
pardoned him these, his little trespasses Mr..
Freke. on the other hand. never dreamt OF put
ting In an appearance Till Eva and the tea-t
,rare due Then ne came summer and win
ter in the same buttoned-up collarless coat
Il was really an alpaca coat in summer and a
serge one In winter. but the two coats looked
exactIv alke-refused to drink any tea, but SAT
bu smiling In a nervous way, While Eva chaIIeu