The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-01-16
THE EMANCIPATION OF TOY DUK.
A Striking Chinese Character Study.
By Marguerite StCber.


u Duk's little crippled feet, but In
this country, where everything rs pos
sible. he promptly fell in love with her
On the approved American plan. He
haunted the street in which she lived,
and watched her latticed balcony with
his eyes turned up at the corners In
very Western way, for he was the un-
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 Orlen-
tai custom as 10 return his glances
from behind her shutters. To be sure
the Stats were scarcely turned, and
she peeped through her sleeve, but to
her il was a mad Irritation, and she
trembled at her audacity. The doughty
Chew Bang her father, not only kept
bis balcony lattced more securely than
those OF his nelghbors, but the lattice
work was OF iron bars, which made the
little balcony strikngly like n prison.
And now, after 365 long, monoton0us,
colorless 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
tlre great dragon parade.
On this eventful day the Chinese
women are driven up and down long
streets. Toy Duk sat rlgidly upright
in carriage as she endeavorcd 10 bal
ance a two-story headdress 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 beautiful
little yellow lady. whose slippers were
scarcely larger than an oyster shell,
and, alas! almost IA shapeless, who
hobbled about gracefully with the help
Of an attendant, or squatted on mat,
n marvel OF elegance and dignity. And
Ms she sat In her gayly bediZened car
riage, her little almond eyes dancing
with mcrriment, many foreign eyes
were turned admirlngly I'm her dlrec-
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
diers. the glitterng dragon was finally
induced to 60 under the low doorway
that led to oblivion till the next par
ade, Toy was conscious OF nothing but
the wonder and splendor that filled
her eyes on all sides.
At last, however. II was all over, and
Toy Duk's holiday was drawing TO n
close. too. for she was kept almost as
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 "littlefoot" WON
an. anyway. Old Bangs iron grating,
notwithstanding all his precauton. was
not high enough or strong enough to
keep out the microbes OF discomfort
that fill the air. Sorrowfully 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, as on
this occasion. BY and by some one
would buy her, then there would be n
change of homes, and she hoped. de-
voutly, the new balcony might not be
so high, but 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 whole lifetime 80
her, for just 10 be out in the sunlight.
to 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 mused as her carriage slow
1y moved along. Then she raised her
eyes in response to steady look fixed
upon her from the opposite side of the
street, and through mist OF rebellious
tears saw Kee. In an instant the
clouds of discomfort were cleared
away, and in defiance OF the stupid Gus
tom that had hedged her SO closely
about all her life, she frankly returned
his look. moment later she deliber-
ately went him one better and smiled
with a sudden burst of mischief that
seemed TO well up from the depth of
a merry little heart. sparkle in her
eyes till il bubbled over and dimpled
down her cheeks and lost itself around
the corners OF her mouth. At this sign
OF encouragement Mr.. Kee walked
straight up TO the carriage. raised his
hat, and extending his hand took hers
In the American way he had often seen
people do. but the look that went with
the act was original. and had neither
20 be learned nor copied
This was bold emancipation. Toy
felt the eyes OF the world must be
upon her. but was not dismayed in
the least: she quite enjoyed IL. She
even tried to wriggle her poor little
tortured toes to see IL they. too, were
not becoming emaneipated from their
stupid Imprisonment. The other occu-
pants OF the carriage looked at her in
horror. but she was now across the Ru
bicon. and flung defiance at everything
on the thither side. She didn't even
care what the consequences might be-
for hersone day was almost over. and