The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-02-26

sible, he promptly fell in love with her
on the approved American plan. He
haunted the street In which she lived,
md watched her lattlced balcony with
his eyes turned up at the corners In
very Western way, for he was the UNI
happy resultant OF the two opposing
forces, Chinese birth and American
training.
And Toy, also imbued with the spirit
of American independence, had so far
declared her emancipation from Oren-
tai custom as to return his glances
from behind her shutters. To be sure
the Stats were scarcely turned, and
she peepcd through her sleeve, but to
her It was n mad Irritation, and she
trembled at her audacity. The doughty
Chew Bang, her father not only Kept
his balcony latticed more securely than
those of his nelghbors, but the lattice
work was Of iron bars, which made the
little balcony striklngly like a prison.
And now, after 1876 long, monotonous,
colorlcss days, another Dragon-day had
rolled around-the only day In all the
stupid years worth living. as poor little
Toy thought. The sedate little valley
town was, on this occasion, overrun
with an invading horde Of chattering,
jabbering coolies, for there was scarce
ly an able-bodied Chinaman for twenty
miles around who was not looking at
tile great dragon parade.
p On this eventful day the Chinese
women are driven up and down long
streets. Toy Duk sat rigldly upright
In a carriage as she endeavored to bal
ance a two-story head.dress of fearful
and wonderful construction, while the
layers Of rice powder on her cheeks
fell into cracks as she babbled and
laughed In her enjoyment Of this unu-
sual excitement. She was a beautiful
little yellow lady, whose slippers were
scarcely larger than an oyster shell,
and, alasl almost as shapeless, who
hobbled about gracefully with the help
OF an attendant or squatted on mat,
marvel Of elegance and dignity. And
MS she sat in her gayly bedzened car
riage, her little almond eyes dancing
with meTiment, many foreign eyes
were turned admringly in her dhec-
tion. But from the moment of the
first excited shout announcing the ap-
pearance of the procession, till, after
much coaXing on the part Of the sol
oilers, the gittering dragon was finally
induced to 60 under the low doorway
that led to oblivion till the next par
nd rnNr pn,gptot,g Of tn l,,,t
the wonder and splendor that filled
her eyes on all sides.
At last, however, It was all over, and
Toy Duks holiday was drawing TO a
close, too, for she was kept almost rs
securely packed away as the dragon.
From her latticed balcony she had Of
ten watched the American girls walk
ing about freely at all hours of the day
independent and happy, and had asked
herself what, after all, was the great
advantage Of being "llttle-foot" wom-
an, anyway. Old Bangs iron grating,
Notwithstanding all bis precautlon was
not high enough or strong enough TO
keep out the microbes of discomfort
that gil the air. Sorowfully she saw
the shadows grow longer and watched
the minute hand on the clock tower
catching up with the hour hand, All
her life she had lived in two bare little
rooms and one high walled porch, and
had been out one day each year, ms on
this occasion, By and by some one
would buy her then there would be
change of homes, and she hoped, de-
vouty, the new balcony might not be
so high, hut there would still be only
that one day in all the year worth liv.
ing. If she should live to be an old
woman, say sixty years, that would
make just sixty Worthwhile" days.
Two months Of an American girls year
would represent a whole lifetime to
her, for just to be out in the sunlight,
10 feel free to come and go as she
chose, to know what was around the
corners Of the streets below, was all
her hungry little soul craved.
Thus she unused as her carriage slow
iy moved along. Then she raised her
eyes in response to steady look fixed
upon her from the opposite side of tile
street, and through mist of rebellious
tears saw Kee. In an instant the
clouds of discomfort were cleared
nway, and in defiance Of the stupid Gus
tom that had hedged her so closely
about all her life, she frankly returned
his look. A moment later she dellber-
ntely went him one better, and smiled
with a sudden burst OF mischief that
faemed to we'll up from the depth of
merry little heart, sparkle in her
, eyes till 1t dubbed over and dlmpled
do7sn her Checks and lost itself around
ah. nnunaws 90 ba,, u,a.,tf. 4 AT. -.