The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-07
= Mau Cling :
By BESSIE JULIET KNOX.

he had hoped for. She had placed her
hands in his. and allowed them to rest
there just long enough for him to De
conscious of their warmth. He saw only
che thing-a pair of eyes as SOFT ana
pure as a night in the Orient. 1t was so
quiet now for all were wrapped in the
deep oblivion which comes from the
opium pipe So quiet without
and vet from the nearness and warm
touch of this beautiful young thing his
heart was throbbing as if it was pos
sessed of a thousand joys. Her lips, like
a scarlet blossom, were so near his own
the quivering silence had brought two
young hearts together.
Take me- she pleaded II am yours,
o, excellent one; do with me what you
please. / am slave-a slave-take me
away from her.
Their lips were still apart-but now SO
very near. Swiftly he drew her within
his arms, and-kissed her.
1t was the first time her lips had ever
been kissed, What was this wild de-
lirium of joy which filled her being? This
man, whom she had never seen until to-
night suddenly became the whole world
to the innocent little Chinese maiden
She did not even know the name of a
kiss, but she knew it thrilled and throb-
bedzthrough her whole being in an &C.
stacy which she could NOT fathom. What
is it? Tell me!' she cried. 4 shall die
do not understand"
Dear one," he whispered 1T is love
-love-do you understand? L want you
for my own-you must belong to me-to
me. No one else shall have you
With tear-illed eyes she said: eff you
go, no live-I die. 1t is a sin against
the good JOSH
He held her off and looked at her:
What a dainty little thing she was. Be
meath her clumsy silken blouse he could
feel her warm heart throbbing violently.
"No-no-pretty one. The good JoSs
smiles on love. He is glad / love yon.
Do you not know? Tell me your name
little one
my name? Mau Ging-the slave girl.
she whispered
"Mau Cling, you are like the China
lilies; pure as snow, only snow is coll,
and know your heart is warm. Tel
me-have you ever been kissed like
this?''
mo, NO. see no man ever-just ynn
Old Suey has promised me to a high
binder, to be his slave; but he has never
touched me. He try once-I bit his arm.
If you no save me- he gets me-
He shall never have you. When /
think no man has ever touched your red
lips-or clasped you close as have done
Il am happy. 1 will come every night
to smoke in this room. Come to me.
with your sweet young self.
THAT is why old Suey no let any man
see me. She promise highlander she keep
me for him. He no ready yet-he come
next week.
Next week! My Godi What can
do? This pretty little creature to be
owned by the highlander? Her warm
young lips pressed by his? All her sweet,
seductive young self to belong to him?
No-a thousand times no, and yet-what
can 1 do?"
Cqasping her closely to him he whis-
pered, Trust me. will save you. my
little Mau Cling"
He left before the dawn, and Mau
Cling was lying on her hard bamboo
couch feigning slumfer when at last the
old bag awakened. Old All Suey NUT
tered as she looked at her, "She so
pretty; almost sorry to let the old high
binder take her; but no-the yellow gold
the yellow gold. He pay me big price.
I no care and so she dismissed the mat
ter from her mind.
Again came the night, and again the
narrow streets were lined with human
beings of every description, enjoying.
the delights of the China New Year.
Jack, now an eager lover, mingled with
the crowd and having at last reached
the doorway whose portals led to the fair
and mysterious one, he passed un0er the
swaying lantern, and once more assembled
the dark and narrow stairway. He pict-
ured the shy sweetness of her face when
she should creep in his arms and in fancy
he could look Into her brown eyes-child-
ish in their innocence. He had all the
impotence of lover, as he bounded up
the narrow steps muttering, She must
be mine-just my very own. do not know
how I win arrange things yet. / only
know that 1 must possess her-body and
soul" Just then he reached the upper
door, with it's little square lattice, but
Oh! what was this? His brain reeled as
he gazed. 1t was large placard. bearing
these words: CLOSED by the police"
His little bfau Cling in the hands of the
police? He might have stolen her from
the old bag, but from the police--never
When the trial Of old All Suey was over
and the trembling slave girls were led
away to their cells a young man, pale ond
disheveled, was heard to ask: And the
slave girl, Mau Cling what will they do
with herr
"Mau Cling? the pretty little one with
the frightened eyes? oh, she is to be sent
baek.to China with the rest of them, on
the 18th of May
The 18th of God-he had forgot