The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-02-26
THE EMANCIPATION or TOY DVK.
A Striking Chinese Character Study.
BY Marguerite Steb'e-.

/ sTuleul w 10 Tue CurtluRS, Tulbeu ms
hat, and extending his hand took hers
In the American way lie had often seen
people do, but the look that went with
the act was original, and had neither
to be learned nor copied.
This was bold emancipation. Toy
felt the eyes of the world must be
upon her, but was not dlsmayed In
the least; she quite enjoyed 1t. She
even tried to wriggle her poor little
tortured toes to see IL they, too, were
not becoming emancipated 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 her one day was almost over, and
she was bound to make the most Of It,
So she laughed and chatted with HUE
Kee in pretty little Cantonese sing
song, as she had seen the American
girls do, while the "eagle-bird"
screeched loudly over her head.
Then, when his dragonship was lost
to view, the crowds began to move TO.
ward the scene of the bomb-casting,
In an incredibly short time the streets
were cleared, and the open between the
Joss house aud the levee filled with
swarm Of excited contestants.
KEGS eoul was fred with a deter
mnation to catch one OF the bombs,
for that would insure the success Of
his every undertaking during the year.
And poor Kee had dire need of all the
help 1t could give him, for while he had
stood chatting with the emnncipated
Toy, her father, Chew Bang, as is Of
ten the way of fathers, had watched
them from an opposite doorway. Such
conduct on the part Of his carefully
brought.up daughter was almost be-
yond belief, and as he watched her
talking boldly TO a man on the street,
knowing the eyes of the world were
upon her, in Mortified surprise his little
bias.cut eyes grew wicked looking.
Every minute of this scandalous beha-
vior was bringing down Toys selling
price, and Kee, the miserable, low-born
pauper, knew It, Perhaps he was
doing II to make her an unsuitable
chattel, Bang told himself, in order
that he might get her at n bargain.
Yes, that was undoubtedly the reason.
he decided, and Toy, poor, misguided
little fool, had not wit enough to see 1t.
But he was prepared to nip such an
unheard-of Irritation in the bud In an
efrectual wNy, And his teeth met with
a vicious click as ne started off down
the alley on noiseless little trot.
When the bomb-castlng began Kee
took reluctant leave OF Toy, and was
soon lost in the crowd, but Bang fol.
lowed him closely, The bomb is pro.
jected high in the air, while the men
struggle to catch 1t as it comes
down, The squabbllng and yelling
and actual fighting over IT show how
firmly their faith is pinned to this SUI
perstltlop, aud the victor is borne
away with shouts and cheers, while
the less fortunate ones slip away
with black eyes, bleeding noses and
sometimes serious breakages.
Chew Bang bided his time until Kee
entered the lists, then took his place
near him, He held his right arm very
straight, and guarded it from being
jostled by the scurrying crowd.
As the bomb rose In the air and all
eyes were riveted upon It, Bang edged
up to Kee, and when the great scuRle
began Kissed into his ear with an ugly
yellow smile; II have a score to settle
with you. I'll teach you not to insult
my daughter" The bomb had turned.
and was coming down. II Kee got out
of range he knew he would lose his
chance at It. Get awayw he snapped
ut Bang. But the adored Toys father
pulled him by the sleeve toward the
edge Of the mob. "If you touch me
again III kick you out" muttered Kee,
In desperation. But old Bang, with the
agility Of cat, had caught the knife
from his sleeve, and Kee felt his cold.
sharp reioiEder penetrating between
his ribs as he sank to the ground By
the time the bomb had descended and
had been caught, however, Chew Bang
was standing on the other side of the
crowd, an interested spectator.
Meanwhile the beautiful Toy was
still smiling to herself and craning her
neck to follow a certain tall contestant.
When the report of the stabblng was
passed through the crowd, she instant
ly got out of her carriage, and hobbled
and bobbled along the sidewalk until
she reached the spot where poor Kee
layprostrato on the ground. Her conn
trymen were too much excited to do
anything but iabber and jostle one