Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-03
By
CHARLES
X.
MOSER

window. The four panes, each no wider than hands
breadth, were grny with dirt, the accumuations of
like hyspccks on kaon walls, similar; here and
there little painted face peered through the iron
bars smiling sometimes, sad, wistful smile.
l}u this window high tip a face pressed against
it could not be seen from tho yard below.
he room itself was not bad, save that its hnerv
was fraycd and soicd with the musty odor of aging
filth.
In one there low couch covered with
mats. On the mats lay little girl She weeping
softly, her head buried in her
The heavy door swtng back on its hinges without
warning creak, and into the room-a fat
old man with mrthul features, an upper lip like the
toreshortencd snout OF apr eyes that gstened like
polished shoe buttons and huge under his chin
He wore breeches of green satln tightly bound at the
ankles, blouse of winc-colored silk, and all ron-eray
queuc swung from below his concal cap with its red
button, signliying his rank mandarin.
Art .stl playing the storm,coud and splashing
with rain little golden fairy! he said noting the girls
Como, come, Miss Bright Eyes it is high time
for the sun to shine. Lift UP thy face and let HE see
thy smiles"
The trembling figure in the girsh tunic of blue made
no answer
"Ah, listen now fragrant little jasmine flower Hear
the words of one who hast much love for thee and
give thyself over to happiness Behold, have brought
bracelets OF jade for thee and SILVER bangles to tke
pretty against thine ankles And here golden
glory of the night i'll it already Wilt thou ac-
cept of these miserable offerings from thy lord?"
Il would have only my moher Nah Neng, most
noble lord she said between her sobs
-. Foolish one am thy father and mother also
heTe Is no othcr mast 1t not yet come to thee thou
art the slave OF Chung Wo and art bound to his wl?
Loo Puck slipped OH her knees at his feet
oh, gracious lord, | pray thee let 90 Nah
Neng. lllustrious one. | shall die here, | shall die
here! pray thee, it is that want the little mother.
Nah Neng!
For answer, Chung Wo caught her under the arms
and swung her up to the level of his breast In
stany the pleading child turned into infurated little
beast She screamed like tortured kitten and flung
her pointed nails into his lecring yellow face with ali
her furious strength.
Chung Wo hurled her from him to the heap OF mat
ting, and cody walked the door. His skin smarted
with the sting OF her scratches, but he smiling
1t was late that night when Chung Wo in the
inner sanctum OF the Suey Sing long, smoking the
pipe of peace with himself. None but his secretary
guarded the antechamber, but, in the secret gathering
hail. where the bloodclan met in its grisy councils,
of hatche welders played an-tan within sound
of his voice.
The secretary pushed aside the green baize curtain
and stood in the presence of the mighty He kow
towed twice touching his head to the floor:
Exalted greatness, he said, "a dog of coolie stands
without the door; he Graves to infect the air thou
breathcst with his diseased bones.
Chung Wo frowned.
What doth he want
He hath complaint, graciousness."
WELL let him enter. | will feed his eyeballs to
the ravens if he hath sufficient cause"
clogs and jumper that smeled OF fish and sea-
water Three times he kowtowcd before the great one
of earth. -
see Alas My father is dead and his bones lie in this
land of the infdes My mother weepeth for them by
the waters OF les kiang, and Aie! | have no money
to send them. | suppllcate--
But thy father was not of the Suey Sing
Nay, heaven-born, but
The secretary entered again and kowtowed:
Another vile coolie with tale OF woe gracious
ness!