The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-06-12
A VAIN RETREAT.
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Mr.. and Mrs. Walter p. Lawson had
come up to the Peak hotel for a month
at least. They had delightful white
square villa with a deep veranda and
garden full of tropical shrubs and
wavy bamboos down in Hongkong at
the foot of the hill, much nicer in every
way than the bare rooms at the Peak
hotel and the bare rocks surrounding
1t.
Mrs. Lawson shuddered as she con-
trasted the ugly wall paper and regula-
tion clock with a stiff image on each
side that adorned her sitting room at
the hotel with her own pretty drawing
room, and she shivered in the long mat
ted corridors. so straight and guiltless
of anything like comfort. Her husband
was a partner in a firm of American
solicitors in Hongkong and getting on
very well. 1t was not yet hot enough
to migrate to the Peak, only the begin
ming of April, and the morning mists
lay thick and heavy on the towering
cliffs till late in the day. 1t was very
cold there too. Still, they had all bus
tied up-Mr. and Mrs, the boy of 10
and the baby of IS months.
The plague was again claiming its
weekly victims in steady numbers.
The year before had been very bad
one for it. Then during the winter it
died out, only to recommence in March.
Mrs. Lawson had been getting very
nervous. Every day kind friend told
her of new cases in the bazaar. in the
fish market, in all quarters of the city,
but the climax had been reached the
day before, when the bank managers S
cook had died of it in his kitchen. The
bank managers garden Joined the
Lawsons' bamboos.
Let us go to the Peak directly, Wal
ter" said Mrs. Lawson excitedly di-
rectly as her husband came in from the
Office.
IF you really wish 1t, of course, my
dear" said her husband Grossly, "but
it's no earthly good flying away from
the thing. Ann Lung got the infection
from some of his own relatives no
doubt or down by the harbor. He is
not likely to have contracted it here in
Jefferson's house."
How do you know that?' said Mrs
Lawson, nearly crying from fright
You people here in Honkong don't
seem to care how near the plague Is
to you, and yet think what fuss they
make about it if it even comes to the
next country in Europe"
And much good their fright does
them" said Mr.. Lawson, contemptuous'
ly. Fright wont keep it off," Hi:
real reason for objecting to the Peal
hotel lay in leaving his cook, a Chi
nese artist in stews and soups. Th'
cooking at the Peak was very doubt
full. However. he concluded he mus
put up with it and resignedly packed
his portmanteau.
Last summer he had been out il
Hongkong alone and for many year!
before that had managed branch O.
the firm at San Francisco. Mrs. Law
son thought Honkong a poor exchange
for the Golden Gate. Still, up to now 4
had been healthy, and the crisp, colo
weather was even colder than she wal
accustomed to Every day during tn,
winter they had had a huge coal fir,
lighted at o'clock in the drawing room
and dining room, then again in the earl,
morning. She had her own tidy ar
rangements about milk and butter anC
fresh rolls. What a pity to upset al
this and go away to hotel.
Still, it could not be helped. Sh
must get away from this dreadful
plague that was creeping about al
HtT. %, HdNlIlS d Nti.
reluctant consent from her husband tn
very next morning saw all their house
hold goods packed up the servants dis
missed with the exception of the ayal
and Mr.. Lawson's "boy" and the who'll
family setting forth to the station of tn
electric railway up the Peak. Peopl
in the streets looked calm and uncon
cerned as ever.
1o1l i,,tn ta1 q,
all about them," said Mrs Lawson i'm
patiently, when so far as they know
they may be dead of the plague by to
morrow, or II not they themselves, thei
nearest relatives may?"
I'm some cases, my dear" said MI
Lawson philosophically, "a Chinamal
would not count that loss, especial.
If he got some money by the departur
of his relatives. One go, another com
on-he thinks the survival is to the fit
test should the survivor be himself"
Mr.. Lawson really felt deeply injured
as he got himself and his family out o
the train at the top Of the hill at tn
slanting station. The heavy mist wa
wet and penetrating, and there was no
gleam of sun to be seen at o'clock.
Let's go into the hotel at least" h
Sdlu BTuHipHy, anu sldiheu oi III az
vance of the family up the stairs cut Il
the rocks and under the glass awninl
to the hotel. A few wretched gerani
ums shivered in ornamental pots alon
the side of the passage and in the glas
covered veranda outside the hall door
He had wired up for rooms the nigh
before, so they went up to them at ono
"a stiff sitting room on the first foo
with cane furniture, and big bedroom
downstairs, one side of 1t close to tn
rock; in fact, one Of the windows wa
entirely blocked up by the rock not
foot off. But it was well furnished an
even had electric light, which their sit
ting room had not.
The childrens rooms were far o.
down the corridor on the first floor an
fronting the sea toward Kowlotn, wit
a wretched bathroom; cold, cracked
whitewashed walls that looked as IL