The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-12
CHAPTER XXI.

KOON-SI, THE CARPENTER.
From the advertisement columns OF
newspaper we learned that the steamer
Airlie would leave Sydney for Hong Kong
at a certain date. and. that vessel being
one OF a regular line. we decided to go
by her. believing that the sooner we got
under way with our task the better
chance we might have of successfully
accomplishing It. The date OF sailing
was extremely close at hand. some three
days off. but II gave us ample time TO
make our preparations, which were not
extensive and to reach Sydney az we'll
The night before our departure we
dined with Cecil ana her mother and
though the stalwart cousin. Jack, did
his best to enliven the proceedings 1 fear
II was somewhat lusubrious affair.
Like a dark cloud or curtain our thoughts
hung before us. and no ray Of. light
seemed capable OF piercing II. / admit
that was anything but pleased with the
circumstances. Things might SO easily
have been different. Why had not my
lot been cast In the ordinary groove7
Why had I not been permitted to enjoy
the peaceful, uneventful life of the many7
And then / looked across the table and
saw her who had come TO me In the long
polar winter of my life. and could have
cried with the MussuimHn. God Is
great! But for my flight from death
I should never have met her. Therefore
fate laid me under an obligation, and I
could not quarrel with II, for though II
had treated me so cruelty yet was /
recompensed with the love of this wo-
man. IL was destiny. God is great.
When the wrench came. philosophy
proved but broken reed. We wandered
round and round the garden. sometimes
.t Ill
others voicing with no uncertain tongue
our hopes and fears. And when l pointed
out to her how absolutely necessary II
was for us that the power of Kung
should be curtailsd her wisdom strove
hard with her woman's fears. and event
ually I wrung from her a heartbroken
consent. Sometimes / thought this set
ting out on such an expedition was the
acme OF folly. Why not let things 60
why not seize on happiness when II was
within my grasp and leave the future In
the hands of the gods7 l admit II was a
great temptation and one that sore beset
me- but Jim was by when / wavered.
and reason told me that this apparently
foolish endeavor was in reality the only
right one
I will pass over tho rest OF that scene
and the subsequent train journey TO sgd
ney. where We caught the steamer Airlie
Nor is there anything Of Importance TO
relate during our voyage northward. We
had half q dozen agreeable passengers An
the saloon and some Chinese coolies for
ward. and though on principle we dis
trusted them, their behavior was cir
eumspect I'm the extreme. Nevertheless
] never neglected the least precaution es-
shwtng the deck after nightfall, unless
IN the company of Jim or one OF the
other passengers. and avoiding open
matches and the less frequented parts OF
the vessel And so one day the peak OF
Hongkong opened up, swiftly we ap-
preached the Ly-ee-Moon pass, slipped
through. and presently we were swing
ing at anchor opposite the town.
The sampans crowded with innumersble
yellow folk told US that we were in
China. at last. and II was not without
some little apprehension that surveyed
the shriektng and gesticulating throng.
Mere were yellow men with n vengeance.
and at first / experienced some slight
scrupie In trusting myoelf to them and
their frail sampans, but reaiizing that.
though generally dishonest all these
Deople could not be In the employ Of the
society, we left the ship and went ashore.
We had been recommended TO go TO
the Hongkong hotel. IL being at that
time, whatever IL is now. the only first
class house I'm the place. and thither we
proceeded and we're duly installed In a
room on the second floor Now II was
Cinnamon. Cinnamon everywhere. and
We seemed to realize for the first time
what a task this was which we had set
ourselves 20 accomplish. And yet in the
municipality OF pigtails there was some
assurance OF safety At close quarters
the yellow man was not the terrible
being as pictured in my heated imsgins-
ton.
I must say that my Uncle Jim shared
none Of my scruples or alarm The mo-
uaer< he set foot on Chinese soil he
seemed another man. The lethargy and
indifference which had characterized
him during the voyage to Australia and
the supplementary journey To Honekong
vanished now as n by a stroke OF magic.
II was as though he had said: AT last
I am here Now to work" new
energy took possession OF him His wits
sharpened themselves upon the milestone
of his desires. A determination 10 act
ana act quickly was In everything he said