The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-01-28

hands by way OF Salutatloil.
but not removing the closely fitting
skull cap that hid his nicely braided
queue, for Wong WAS too we'll versed
s. In Oriental etiquette to ever lift his
8 hat.
II bling Licnee. q few" continued
Wong, sinking slowly into chair.
'.Miss Ellery like Lichee:" producing
box of selected nuts from the long,
wide Sleeve Of his stitdy quilted gown.
"Since I've learned TO eat them. yes >
4 answered, accepting the gift, and
breaking the thin shell from pulpE.
raisin-line nut.
!. 'Tlow. Wong, before we begin to
study, tell me all about that button
you wear, and what the Chinese papers
say of the press troubles in Shanghai
"No, savey-"
81 told you not to say 'savey.' You
must say understand"
"Miss Ellery understand button?
China boys wear reform button. Bime
by, China alice same as United States" y,
ssYes, I understand that; but what OF
your frisky Queen? No wonder her
head is turned, with almost 40O,OOO,0OO
people bending to her will. If YOU
only were a Servian, or even Russian.
or Turk, China would have been out of
trouble long ago, and the young En-
peror have had chance to uplift the
S empire. Talk of the down-trodden
women of China, our new women
can't hold a candle to the Dowager
Queen"
y ssNo good too much talkee. Some
time Queen die. Everybody die. The
i President die, one time:" came the non
committal reply, while cynical, half
humorous gleam shot from under the
unfringed lids of his almond eyes.
A long pause followed this unexpect-
ed answer Plainly. my Celestial was
In no humor to discuss Chinese re-
form" I waited; still he did not
speak.
wong, what is it? You've got some
thing to tell me-"
+ The red blood dyed his yellow skin
10 swarthy bronze as he answered,
with the embarrassment of man un-
accustomed to the society of women:
aSome time Chinaman want to malley,
alice same Mclean man. Miss Ellcry
sayey:"
t'Wongr' I cried, with feminine de-
light, scenting an Oriental romance.
aBut-how can you marry? Not q
white girl, surely? Yet you don't know
any China woman. There are no
Chinese girls here" Then, more grave
S ", sWong, have you bought a Chinese
girl-paid six or eight hundred dollars
for her:''
g t4No:' thundereG Wong, with more
than Oriental fervor. "Me no buy
Chinese gurl; me loEey she; she lovey
me; all lite! She no lovey me. she so
20, me no want; me no buy wife
MOO" with an expressive gesture OF
his long, slender hands, as if pushing
something abhorrent far from him.
Now, see mere, Wong, you have no
sgo between to take the little shoe
and make a match. Chinese men don't
know Chinese women. If you have
not bought your wife, where did you
find herr"
]. ttHe velly good gurl. Come to San
Flancisco. learn plenty much Clist. He
Plisbytelian mission gurl. Some time
he go Sunday-school; some time joss
house; alice same
'sThat may be all right, Wong. but
where did you find herr" I persisted.
"Some time Chinese women so to joss
house on China New Year. Miss FL
lery savey 'kwun Yam Goddess of
Mercy? Savey 'Tien How Queen Of
Heaven? Chinese womans like 'Tien
How, velly much-aliee same Clist's
mamma. Chinese womens thow ging
bouy, thow bamboo splints. Cling
bouy, fall, him top side up, priest say.
sVelly good fortune; plenty much little
boy, bime by; heap good man, plenty
much money. Min 70 own bisness.'
Miss Ellery. savey:"
Les, NoNS, Sou AedA ) ou 81" ASA
In the temple ladies' day. in San Fran
cisco, having her fortune told. What
next?"
: "Bime by she come see my bluther's
wife, in Butte. She have no papa, no
mamma. I no papa. no mamma. l
mally alice same Melican man. One
week, two week, bime by bling him
savey:' -
II suppose it's all right said I,
somewhat mystifed. ''See here, though.
when she comes you must not take
her to your store; you must bring her
right to me, and I will arrange for the
wedding"
sAllee lite, I bling him. She velly
young, Miss Ellery, make him heap
good gurl."
"All the boys Of our Chinese class.
Mar Henry. and Mar On, can 1 tell
them?" I asked.
'sToo much talkee no good answered
Wong, as he backed out of the door.
The more I thought over the matter,
the more was 1 puzzled. Was she
someone's "friend?" knew that word