Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04

think that Foo-chee was pleasant to look
at, and Sin-wan was not.
Foo-ehee was young man of twenty,
and seller of Thibet incense-sticks in the
next street to Ah-lins. And these two
units, among the tens of thousands of
human beings that swarmed and sweltered
around them, felt within them the STRINGS
OF that force which made the world.
Ah-lin had noted the following eye of
Foo-chee often, long before the strange
drilling commenced; and when she found
herself almost next to him in the Sd squad
she had presentiment and tremor 1t
was the doing of the upper gods.
"Ah-lin." said Ah-lin's mother, Nan-lin,
. turn away your eyes from the eyes that
at but Sin-wan is among the honorable
ones in the days that are. A child should
love her father and her mother above her
self, and do all for them"
But 1t was the doing of the upper gods,
what happened. Ah-lin was near to Foo
chez every day in the new drill; and the
drilling Strengthened Foo-chee's back, SO
that his backward slant as he walked was
increased, till a woman would have died for
him.
But Sin-wan, one night, beckoned to Nan
lin from the street, and Nan-lin sent down
Ah-lin, and Sin-wan took Ah-lin by the
hand and said:
"Ah-ln is well formed, both In face and
figure, Therefore /, Sin-wan, will marry
with Ah-lin."
At this directness Ah-lin hung her head
I. was not difficult to perceive the sequence
of cause and effect in this matter--and she
was afraid of Sin-wan.
do you say yes, Ah-lin?" said Sn-wan.
IF you say yes | will take you now to
meal In Hinge hangLi's eating house
with fresh tea to drink
II say yes" replied Ah-lin. But my
father and mother-to whom adj honor-do
not wish me to marry now"
THAT is a lie Ah-lin. Your father and
mother wish you TO marry. And you wish
to marry. too. But you do not wish to
with You wish with
Foo-chee."
-chee?'-she started-"Where did you
hear the name of Foo-chee?"
your mother told me his name Ah-lin.' >
ut is strange. / know no one with such
at is a lie, Ah-lin His name is written
In green and red picture-letters over the
booth where he sells incense-sticks, l have
seen 1t. and / have seen him.
And what do you say is his name?'
"Foo-chee."
well, IL may be, Sin-wan. l know Moth
ing of the matter"
"Foo-chee shall die Ah-lin, If you do not
marry with me-"
''Oh. what for? Whom has Foo-chee
hurt? He sells his incense-sticks, and hurts
no onei'
Now have made you say that you wish
TO marry with him. For you do not wish
me to kill him, Ah-lin.
XIII him. If you wish
az win kill him.
But why so?
al did not say / will not marry with yod'
Sn-wan
Then YOU WIZ?
II must
when, Ah-lin?"
when the new drilling is no more"
ooh. that may be never. No. 1t shall be
while this moon is big
II cannot. Sin-wan--1 cannot.
why not, Ah-lin?'
1T is my father and mother-to whom
1T is that dogs gan. Foo-cfeei Foo-chee
''oh. me! / am not feeling happy, Sin
want"
that 1t shall be this moon. Nor shall Foo
chee feel happy. when my knife is rank
ling in his liver, Say 1t. Ah-lin?'
II say 1t. Sin-wan."
while the moon is big!
Yes Sin-wan .
.eTheu / will GO And I VIII come again
tomorrow night at this hour
did yon not say that yon would take
me to the clearinghouse OF Hing-Chang-Li
| for a meal, with fresh tea?
81 cannot tonight, for / have no time.
since l must return now to me Imperial IA
| night after-you shall feed at the eating
| house OF Hing-Chang-il
| So Sin-wan turned on his heels and
! walked away on them. And when he ar
rived at the portals OF the imperial city
| he was already late, and his bulging neck
WIS In danger.
| The imperial prisons stood in great
| quadrangle of marble. fringed with stu
| penious avenues of long-haired trees OF
| the banyan genus. being surrounded by a
| noat bridged by number or marble
| bridges. The building itself Is of marble,
/ and of very great size. A stones throw TO
1 the south stood the palace OF the Austrian
ambassador embedded in bower of folf-
age; TO the north. hundred yards away.