The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-12-26

could play well her cards. And he did
not remember until he had left her
that he did not think to tell her he was
married.
She and her maid leisurely took their
departure from the place, with a guilty
look at the joss as they passed, and
I toddled along through the narrow,
blossom lined streets to their home.
She slept that night with her lips on
the dainty sandalwood fan he had
touched. and no premonition Of evil
disturbed her slumbers.
Next day she was happy in the
thought that she was to see him again,
Was ever a day so long? The maid
dressed her hair more gorgeously than
she had ever done before and covered
It with jeweled ornaments. The pretty
lips were dyed a vivid red, the cheeks
were tinted and the eyes blackened.
The long finger nails were manicured
most carefully, and when at last she
was ready more beautiful picture
cannot be imagined.
With loudly beating hearts the two
girls wendell their way to the large
theater. Pushing through the mass Of
Celestlals who were literally packed
into every available niche of the place,
they assembled with hundreds of other
women and children to the balcony
next the roof
They could look down on the stage.
The tomtoms were changing noisily
and the shrill notes of the stringed in
strnments rose high in unison with the
sharp falsettos of the men who were
impersonating women. The air was
heavy with the ever present odor of
opium, but All Leen hardly knew what
was going on about her. She had told
him that she would remain only long
enough to be seen at the theater, so
soon the two girls slipped out unno-
ticed in the crowd and met All Gong
in little dressing room back of the
stage. Passing on, down some narrow
steps, they found themselves winding
through tortuous underground corri-
doris.
All Leen was completely mystified,
but she had no fear of anything except
separation from this wonderful being.
At last they slipped into one of the
small compartments on either side of
the opium scented passageway, and
there, chaperoned by the little maid,
they enjoyed several hours of uninter-
rupted bliss.
Ere they had parted they had agreed
to meet again the next night at the
josshouse. When the young All Gong
stepped out ii;u the pure air. he felt
something pu.->I forcibly into his
hand. A horrible fear stole upon him.
He glanced quickly in every direction,
but could see, no one who looked as If
he had done this thing. The Celestials
toddled along just the same, the almond
blossoms still retained their fragrance
and yet-this man had just received his
death warrant. On the little slip of
red paper in his trembling hand he
read: "You shall die like dog; the
reason. All Leen."
Knowing well that the highbinders
always kept their vows. all hope died
within him.
'TO de-" he groaned, "when she
loves me! must see her! Perhaps we
can escape if we hastenw
All Leen had gone home another
way. He could not warn her.
- will see her tomorrow night Per-
haps we can escape"
Meanwhile All Leen was happy.
Again fell the night All Leen was
first at the rendezvous, and the dutiful
All Suey was eagerly watching
through the chinks of the carved
wood.
"He comes. He comes! He is fairer
than the sun. See! He kneels before
the joss! He burns the incense! He
Just then sudden darkness fell on
the place. They could not understand
They were afraid.
1t lasted only moment. The tapers
Were relighted, and before the trem-
bling All Leen could realize what had
happened she felt her tender little
body seized in the rough grasp of some
one and felt his hot breath on her
pretty face. With a scream Of horror
she looked into the yellow face, and
then all hope died within her, for it
was Gum Ching, the highlander. Fore
ing her upon her tiny feet while All
Suey was made prisoner by one of his
accomplices, he brought her out into
the temple, saying:
you mine now. l never let you go!
You go no more to meet All Gongv'
And then she beheld the brave and
handsome one, the one whose warm
lips bad so lately chung to hers, lying
dead in the shadow Of the joss.
'.i~ ;..------,.--