The Cairo bulletin., 1907-02-09
THE LITTLE
MANDARIN
Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles)
By ArfITY POINT

ndu SOil u lSIiOW. ne Hdu never
been intended for business: he
had been too highly educated, and at
his fathers death he found himself
in the position Of a welleducated pol
ished and wealthy individual with
nothing in which he could exercise
the inherited family shrewdness
One particular day, Jermayne came
TO the stupendous conclusion that he
was In love. This conclusion was ar
| rived at with all the deliberate care
tated; it was final with him, and II
unrequlted would involve a solitary
existence for the rest of his days.
| The favored lady was not beautiful In
| form or feature, neither was she tai.
ented or particularly clever and she
was decidedly poor in the worlds
! goods; but she was a general fayorite,
being gifted with a sweetness of man.
ner and an amiabilty altogether
charming particularly SO to Jer-
mayne
II was he analysed, so obviously to
| her advantage to accept him, yet he
did not desire her TO marry him for
such comforts as he, with his wealth,
could give her; what he wanted was
proof that she was absolutely disinter-
csted; that it would be for love, and
love only, that she would accept him.
Late ono winter afternoon Jcr-
mayne was dressing preparatory to
going ont for the evening In the
course Of that evening he fully
intended to place his future at
for a certain annual charity festival,
and in the course OF an hour of two
he would meet her there.
Jermayne was a man whose tastes
were unusual; he was fond Of the
quaint and bizarre in art, and his
rooms abounded in ornaments of curl.
Gus origin and strange workmanship,
Among these was a small figure OF
Chinese make. the figure Of a man
DARN with a nodding head; fantas-
tic image with a solemn face and high
bald head that moved when touched
and kept moving for some minutes
afterwards
Exactly what the figure had to do
with after events Jermayne never
knew: it was a strange circumstance
however, that as he held it in his
hand he expressed the wish which
was so amply granted
If" he said Il could read past
lives and present thoughts but for one
day / should know whom / could trust
and whom TO avoid"
He placed the little image back on
the shelf, and the figure commenced
nodding at him He had placed
| the mandarin in front of the
iady's photograph. and her face
seemed 10 smile at him; one of those
beWiichin2 smiles which had sealed
Iermaynes affections Then a haze
seemed to spread throughout the room.
My nerves must be out Of order"
hes said 70 himself as he proceeded
with his toilet, He paused before
The mirror to put a finishing adjust
ment to his tic, when suddenly. with a
gasp, he sank into chair, and II
came TO him that his wish had been
granted Just as in dream incidents
flash past one. which In waking hours
would take days to accomplish, SO he.
in that brief moment had seen the
mean actions Of his past life; the
childish deceits of his youth, followed
by a panorama of petty meannesses.
He became at once disenchanted with
himself as he sat in his chair all his
little conceits gone from him
With an effort he recovered himself
and finished dressing, keeping away
from tho accusing mirror
He pulled himself together took
sip Of brandy, and went ont into the
streat
A. the second lamp he passed
man a personal friend. and good
fellow. well known for his charitable
and benevolent nature. Jcrmayne
avoided him ever afterwards He
moved ON rapidly with a sickening
SENSE of what was TO come.
he came ext TO a house where a I
ball was being held A lady was leav. |
ing her carriage AS he paused for /
Her to pass him She raised her eyes /
10 his. and Ire knew her to be a lady /
Of mote bun, alas he recoiled again 1
at what was revealed TO him.
Jermague paused, turned round. and T.
hurried home. looking neither TO right 4
not 10 left or him. avoiding the gaze
VI an pa5scrs lie fastened 10 his
rooms and flung himself on a couch
he dared not face his sweetheart that
night The houseEeeper heard him.
looked in and then went out and called
a doctor The doctor was Young
man with future before him. he was
u friend of lcrmavnc.s. and came
round ~ once
Hello. Jcrmayuo, what's tho mat
er7 Lets have loot at Won"
tlc for his PATIENTS pulse and
passed his hand over his forehead.
icrmayno keeping his eyes closed aB
he time
You seem 10 have had shock Of
5ome kind What is b.? Come. yoa
nay as well tell me-"
Iermayue in dislointed sentence
Old his story