The Press., 1901-02-28


thing 30 heavy as a sword?" asked Ku
Yum. examining weapon made Of
Chinese cash strung together which
hung over a couch In corner OF the
room. charm to ward away evil spir-
It's.
81 said that 1t was spirit sword"
replied the nurse rather Grossly. She
did not like to be interrupted.
Some one knocked at the door. 1t
was the tailor's wife from across the
street. Her baby boy. who the day be-
fore had completed the moon" which
means attained to the age Of one
month, had. according to established
Chinese custom. been shaved then for
the first time. The result was violent
cold, and the mother was anxious that
Woo Ma. who was skilled In nursing
sick children. should accompany her
back to the house. So away went Woo
Ma, leaving Ku Yum alone.
Now there were dreams in Ku Yum q
eyes and longings in her heart. and i've
minutes after the departure Of Woo
Ma saw the little girl slipping quietly
down the s..nement's steep stairs. Up
on reaching the street she looked
around wonderingly and perceiving Q
child Of about her own age greeted her
But the child frowned and dung on,
her arm as II to strike, and Ku Yum
walked on, saying to herself, That IL
not my little sister"
Two little girls carrying basket be-
tween them smiled Mt her as they pass
ed. Ku Yum smiled back, but did not
speak. for she thought, They are two,
and my sister will be one"
She cast wistful glances into the
doorways Of houses where children
were playing. but nobody in particular
seemed to wish for her company. In
deco, some girls ruocked at her, and
one boy pulled the silk cord out Of her
braid.
Wandering on, she finally found her
self outside the precincts Of China
town. She had never been no far away
from home without Woo Ma, but she
was not afraid, and the shop windows
were wonderful. She had paused to
admire some colored glass balls in a
showcase, when she felt timid touch
on her shoulder and saw little Amer
lean girl standing beside her. Could a
little American girl be her sister? She
stretched ont her hand and touched the
child's face lovingly, and the tiny white
maiden moved closer and kissed Ku
Yum on the.cheek.
II have been looking for you" began
Ku Yum, and then woman rushed up
and dragged the little American girl
away.
Ku Yum felt discouraged. 1t was
getting dark. and she had lost her way.
Passersby stared curiously at her.
Some paused as If to speak. but seeing
that It was a little Chinese girl who
could not understand them proceeded
on their way
Suddenly Ku Yum felt something
sharp strike her cheek. 1t was a peb-
BILE. Ku Yum bounded from her corner
like a little kitten. and the boy who
had thrown the pebble. Joined by 9th
ers Of his kind. pursued. The appear
ance of a policeman, however. put a
stop to the chase, and while the officer
was shaking his baton at the boys Ku
Yum ran pantingly up hill and sank
down exhausted outside fenced gar
den, where she lay sobbing and SILVER
ing in the cold and dark. 1t was hard
indeed to find a little sister.
Half an hour later a gentleman stum-
bled over q little heap outside his gar
den gate.
Hello" he exclaimed when the light
Of a match revealed Ku Yum, Its a
tiny Chinese girlv' Whereupon Ku
Yum, who had been sleeping just as
soundly as though she were at home,
rubbed her eyes. opened them and be-
gan to cry.
"Have l hurt you, midgetr' asked
the gentleman in Chinese. He had liv-
ed in China for number Of years.
Ku Yum shook her head. but contin-
ued crying and the gentleman took her
by the hand and led her into the house.
"Why, Edward. who is this?" asked
lady, coming forward to meet them.
THAT IL for you to find out, my
DEAR" replied the gentleman.
Then the lady, who could also speak
Ku Yum's language, drew the little
girl to her side and gave her hot cup
Of cocoa. And Ku Yum ceased crying
and answered the kind questions that
were put to her. telling also Of her big
longing for little sister.
Tears filed the lady's eyes. poor
little human" said she. "She has be-
gun to seek a sister soul" And she
took Ku Yum in her arms and comfort.
ed and petted her as Ku Yum had not
been comforted and petted since her
mother died two years before.
The next morning the lady took Ku
Yum home. The little girl was very
quiet while her father talked with her
new friend, but when Woo Ma appear
ed she ran to the old woman's side and,
pointing to the lady, cried brilliantly,