Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-01-07

II was also quite narural tnst an
Gong should pick up the perfumed fan
and return il Co the fair unknown with
a light pressure OF the hand and a
thrilling glance from his dark eyes.
All Suey might have been deaf dumb
and biiud for aught one could notice to
the contrary Like the well trained
little maid she was. she saw and heard
nothing. The two conversed as readily
as IL they had known each other for
ever. and for time All Leen forgot
that she was promised to old Gum
Ching. She meant no harm. She was
only young thing and human. and
she had a tender. Innocent heart which
had never before been touched. But
tonight she knew as she looked into
the eyes Of this man that life would
never again be the same.
After hearing her sad story be men,
tally registered a vow that she should
never wed the highlander
They must meet again. but how and
where? II was the deaf and dumb All
Suey who spoke at this moment and
suggested the thcater. The theater-
ah. yes. As this was only the first
night of the New Year she would be
allowed her liberty for week. A week
of bliss was before her II only she
could play well her cards. And he dld
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
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 10 see him again.
Was ever day so long? The maid
dressed her hair more gorgeously than
she had ever done before and covered
il with jewoled ornaments. The pretty
lips were dyed a vivid red. the cheeks
were tinted ana the eyes blackened.
The long finger nails were manicured
most carefully. and when NJ last she
was ready a 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
Celestials who were literally packed
into every available niche OF the place,
they assembled with hundreds Of other
women and children 20 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
struments 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 10 be seen at the theater. so
soon the two girls slipped out unno-
uced in the crowd and met All Gong
In a little dressing room back OF the
stage. Passing on. down some narrow
steps. they found themselves winding
through tortuous underground cOrti-
doris
All Leen was completely mystihed.
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
10 meet again the next night at the
josshouse. When the young All Gong
stepped out into the pure air. he felt
annething nuShed forcihlV INFO his