Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-10-08

and starched mantilla, while her white.
frizzly hair was adorned with an i'm
mense horn comb. She was such a
dainty old creature, and the courtesy
with which she always favored me
was so like that of a duchess of the
last century that I could never hest
tate to rise and bow with the utmost
gravity, which performance created
the widest hilarity on the part OF the
Srst EDglishman who Witnessed il.
aud I had bad time at the club table
that evening.
She would invariably inquire. in
funny Spanish, If her husband was
doing his work TO my satisfaction, and
I as often assured her that he left
nothing TO be desired, wbere1pon she
would pat his shoulder in approval.
aud they would converse N their own
language. all SIS and ms apparently
One afternoon, toward the end Of
June, there entered the Office az old
Chinese merchant. Quin Leng by
name, who long before had lived IN
the Philippines. but who now resided
a. home in Hongkong. and came
across the troublous China Sea occa-
sionally on business trip.
After the usual long-drawn greet
ings, we proceeded 70 business and
were deeply involved n the prices OF
hemp and sugar when his gisuce hap
pened to fall on Miguel. pensively
laboring a. the punka-cord. and he
stopped arguing with an abrupt
"Wah-pia. the Chinanan' usual ex-
c.amation of surprise.
Then. with On apology 70 nc. be
rose. waddled across the room and
held out his hand to Miguel, saying
Como va,-how goes It, -Senol
Ortiz?'
Miguel took the preferred hant
with a stately bow. and replied. quiet
". "Muy bien, gracias, very well
} thank you, -senor. TRUST it Is vel
with your grace, alsof"
AL this was very much out OF or
der. How came high-class Chino
merchant, and a mandarin OF the blu,
button Gt that, 20 be greeting thu
cor daily az old punks-coolie, infnite
[ IL beneath him IN that social stand
ing which the Chinaman holds s.
; sacred?
: Ny bewilderment was probably Wis
IDLE in my face as Quin Leng resui
? his seat, for he smiled like a yellow
, half-moon. and sail, il his quee
= pidZin-Spsnish:
E That man, Miguel Ortiz. year
] and years ago vas the chief clerk an
; 'msjordomO' of Augustin, Ramon
/ Ca"-a famous Old Spanish house il
: Manila, long since failed and gone
Did you know that?'
: shook my heal, and he went on
E He was discharged for steslin
T money, they said What q pity
= never believed n. All. Miguel aud
were good friends in the oil days
r "How did il happen:" l asked.
I ''I cannot say" he replied. "but ia
D story was that Miguel was left alon
!, in the Office all that afternoon, an
e afterwsrd could not account for tire
}, hundred silver dollars which had bee
7 brought IN II is strange, also"
. added, looking around. This is To
very same Office they had them"
a How long ago was it," 1 asked.
s Let me sect was the third
i June OF the year Is, 1 have reasC
b 80 remember il well, for il was the san
3 day that my godown-warehouse-w
|. sadly damaged by an earthquake, az
e had TO pay eighteen pesos for Il
V three coolies thst were killed IN it. "
Is Our business was soon conclude
n and as Quin Leng went out he laid b
IS iong-nailed hand on Miguel's should
It and said. smiling, Back in the sar
d old nest, old bird. eh?" And Migu
al replied with a quiet, ISL senior"
IS So this was the story Of my que
punkero, l reflected Surely he h.
d been amply punished by all the
At years of poverty and degradation
/ duced from a position of trust. WI
" comparative wealth, to living IN a III
pit hut among the lowest class of nativs
IN How be had managed TO live in {
of meantime never knew; but ii troubl
Id me a good deal during the next Il
ID days TO see the patient old fellow
ut his mechanical, Ill-paid labor-wl
e, that crippled son TO support, too, !
4 fected
he could not pay him raore than 9th
punka-cocliesr received without getti
of all the other business men down
81 me. Although wanted 10 give II
IS some employment more worthy OF
ability, was only the agent of gr'