Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-02-11
A Chinese Romance.

law with favor, but there was the mar
riage contract, which he himself had
drawn up with the elder Ding. How
was he going to get around it without
Ding Dong's consent? He saw no way
Of going back on his bond at that time
r forcing Ding Dong to withdraw from
.2e alliance; but, like the willy rascal
lat he was, he determined to bide his
time and watched for an opportunity
to gracefully give Dong the go by.
The opportunity came when Dong
went to him to ask for a loan for the
purpose of paying his debts, when the
following conversation took place,
which we will translate for the reader S
benefit:
'Honored sir"-thus Ding Dong be-
gam have come humbly to solicit
the loan of 100 taels, which your we'll
filled Golfers will hardly miss, that |
may go to Canton and take part in the
coming examination. | felt some del
icacy in asking this of you on account
Of our future relationship, but my ur-
gent necessity has banished all hesita-
! ton"
Young man." replied Ju Dun, what
do you take me fora gold mine?
People. don't know how poor | am
! when they tell ridiculous stories about
my wealth. Wealth, indeed! | wish |
! had only One-tenth Of what they say
l am worth. [ dose money every day.
himself to escape the payment of mon
eys rightfully due to me-
Il am sorry, worthy sir" returned
! Dong, 'but l am not at all likely to
follow that mans example. | have my
school, you know, and l propose to pay
the tuition fees to you until I shall
| have wiped out the debt And, al
! though you may not have the required
100 taels on hand, you can easily raise
| it. [ trust that you will permit your
| benevolent disposition to do it's work
| in my case"
Dong knew he was administering a
rather strong dose OF taffy.
The miser seemed to relent a little,
! saying:
But | never lend without good Sc
curity. What security can you offer?"
None, my good sir, except an order
to my pupils to pay you their tuition
fees-excepting the little that | shall
! require to live and-and the word Of
an honest man"
he last L do not want said Ju
Dun. ct is not negotiable in the
money market. But the other security
will do SO far as the interest is con-
cerned. But how about the principal -
Il expect sir, to earn enough to pay
it off by the end of this year"
A look of cunning stole into Ju Dun
eyes as he asked:
IF not, what them
Il do not apprehend such a contin-
gency," answered Dong.
well, l do said Ju Dun. II have
mind not to lend you the money.
Still, [ will risk a little for the friend
ship [ bore your father But you I'M
derStand, most talented sir, that in case
you cannot pay me the principal before
new years day our intimate relations
must cease, for I will not and cannot
marry my only child to a bankrupt and
diShOnOred man"
The blood rushed over Dong's cheeks
and mounted his temple at the bare
possibility of dishonor coming to him.
He was an honorable young man, was
Dong, chock full of fine feeling. 1t was
his misfortune to have had such a IA
Their. If he had had his say about it
instead of the God who presided over
the wheel of transmigration, he would
have preferred a more prudent man to
be his father He was no chip off the
old block by a great deal.
He felt Inundated, but nevertheless
answered spiritedly, Excellent sir, if
I fail to pay you, l will gladly release
you from performing your part Of the
! marriage contract"
You need not get so huffy over it,"
rejoined the old man. Besides bust
ness is business, and it is no harm to
let you understand the conditions. Sit
| down here and write a promisSory note
with an express condition to the effect
that in case you fail to pay up interest
and principal in full for value received
before the next new years day you will
renounce all claims to my daughters
hand, and I will try to raise the money
for you"
! Dong drew his chair up to the table
and wrote the note, while the old miser
! went into the garden to raise the 100
taels Making sure that no one was
! looking, he moved large vase from
! it's position, then unlocked a trapdoor
which covered a sort of stairway that
led to vault, This vault held an
iron chest, in which all his valuables
We're deposited. 1t took but few min
Utes to descend, open the box, secure
the money anI put everything back as
it was before.
The note and the money soon
changed hands, and Dong went away
rejoicing, leaving Ju Dun equally
pleased with his bargain, for he had
no idea Dong could pay it.
Dong went to Canton and was sue
nessful as has been related. But he
found it no easy matter to earn money
even after his splendid achievement in
the literary arena. He tried hard to
get more pupils, but they didn't mater
ialize to any great extent. He tried his
hand at fan writing, but fans which
were inscribed over with moral and
| CON v,a,o he