St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-03-05
WING SHEE.
THE SUICIDE:
y WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE
Copyright. lsas. BY Daily story Pub. co.,

h
n happy; little Wing Shee, OF the
2O-odd years-all his life until now. To
be sure, there had been no reason why he
should not be happy. For ever since
the time when he had left the Street of
the Seven Waxen Fuchias, he had been
successful, as the world goes. He had
been good; he had prayed to all his gods
with his little spit-ball prayers with all
his might. Especially had he shown his
intense devotion to that great American
god, the Dollar. So he had prospered.
But he had prospered, to this time, alone
he and his collars and cuffs and his
nat irons, and his sign that had Wing
Shee, Laundry, on it, and swung fitfully
with the passing breeze.
But, now, the great god of Unrest was
at him, night and day. And no wonder.
For the diminutive Yo King had ar
rived. When CT how he knew not. But
there she was, Yo King, laughing and
nodding at him with sheer good nature
from window just across the way.
Wing Shee, it is true, had never seen Yo
King before; nor had she seen him-but
Wing Shee knew that his time had come.
He had seen many beautiful women,
both in the old Street of the Seven
Waxen Fuchias, and upon the thorough
fare of the marvellous Broad Way, but
never had he seen aught like Yo King.
He smiled at her and waved his hand
and showed his teeth.
''Yeh, yeh," he exclaimed, riotously,
though, of course, she was too far away
to hear him. He picked up bit Of silk
ribbon and stuck it in his blouse, Amer
lean fashion. She laughed and placed
flower in her hair. Then Wing Shee bent
to his work and ironed furiously away,
singing a quavering little love song all
the while. This was the beginning of
It all. This was the time that the great
god of Unrest laughed In his ample
sleeve.
It was love at first sight; Wing Shee
knew it; and so did 70 King. They met
and gabbled, each in coy, embarrassed
way-and then they had made their lit
tie vows, and had told each other that
the world was as bright as though IL
great suns were shining all at once.
They little knew.
Driving Shee was not the only one Of
his kind who had seen the little Yo King
and caught the glamour of her eye. II
Yo King had had her own way there
would have been no glamour in her eye,
save when Wing Shee looked on; but
the gods had made her beautiful and
there were other Of her countrymen
who recognized that fact.
One of these was big Fang Ho, he of
the tea store and the big yellow teeth.
He was rich and powerful-he was q
bachelor. He took Yo Kings old guar
dian out to the Chinese chop-house and
flied him up with good things to eat,
and with rice wine to drink, and told
him, that he, Fang Ho, must marry 70
King. 70 Kings uncle. kindly, but
weak old man. nodded his head and
blinked his eyes and agreed that 1t must
be So
But Yo King would not have 1t 50. In
a moment when the gods had ceased to
favor her she told the reason why-she
loved Wing Shee. Fang Ho heard Of
this, and nodded darkly. He had a way
to fix all that.
Behind Fang Ho was the Big Six
Tong. It was the Big Six Tong that
served on Wing Shee. one morning, It's
terrible SUMMONS summons that |
must be obeyed. This summons held
this message:
go to San Francisco, to the council !
-. 4ho TONG mr. 20 hack tn China Or |
lie. This do, at once"
Wing Shee knew too well what it all |
meant. He groaned aloud. Then he be-
gan to plan. He wondered If he could
get the little 70 King and steal away
with her in the darkness. He dared not
20 near her in the light. He tried to !
make some sign. But 1t was no use. He
must fee until 1t was safe to come back.
He went.
He crept aboard ferry boat; once
mon it he watched an who came aboard.
He was sure he was safe. The boat
pulled out and as it reached the middle
If the stream two dark figures sprang up
from a corner-it was highland APP
Wing Shee. Wing trembled.
He knew who these were-Fang Ho and
You Sing, another member OF the Tong
.sWhere bound for?" asked Fang Ho.
"San Francisco" answered Wing
3hee.
no" said Fang Ho, you lie"
"Yeh," responded Wing shee, ITO
china"