Evening journal., 1907-01-30
By
CHARLES
X.
MOSER

window. The four panes each no wider than hands
BREADTH were grimy with dirt, the accumulatons of
like hyspecks kaolin walls, similar; here and
there little painted face peered out through the iron
bars, smiling sometimes, sad, wistful smile.
But this window was high up; face pressed against
1t could not be seen from the yard below.
The itself was not SO bad, that its hnery
filth
In one corner there was low couch covered with
mats. On the mats lay a little girl She was weeping
softly, her head buried in her
The heavy door swung back on its hinges without
warning creak, and into the room-a fat
old man with mirthful features, upper lip like the
foreshortened of tapir, eyes that gstened like
polished shoe buttons and huge under his chin
He wore breeches OF green satn tightly bound at the
ankles, blouse of wnecoored silk and iron-gray
queue swung from below his conical cap with its red
button, signifyng his rank a mandarin.
art still playing the storm-cloud and splashng US
with RAIN little golden faryf he said noting the girls
tears. Come, come, Miss Bright Eyes, it is high time
for the sun to shine Lift up thy face and let me see
thy smiles"
The trembling figure the girlish tunic of blue made
"Ah listen now, fragrant little jasmine flower. Hear
the words Of who hast much love for thee, and
give thyself over to happiness. Behold, have brought
bracelets of jade for thee and silver bangles tinke
pretty against thine ankles And here golden
butterflies and siar-pins for thy hair which hath the
glory OF the night i'll it already Wilt thou not
cept OF these miserable offerings from thy lord!"
Il would have only my mother Nah Neng most
noble lord" she said between her sobs
Foolish one l am thy father and mother also.
There is other; hast 1t not yet to thee thou
the slave Of Chung Wo and art bound to his will
Loo Puck slipped her knees at his feet:
oh gracious lord, l pray thee let me 90 to Nah
Neng lllustrious one shall die here shall die
here pray thee, It is that l want tie little mother,
Nah Nengl
For answer Chung Wo caught her under the arms
and swung her up to the level OF his breast In
stanty the pleading child turned into inurated little
beast She screamed like tortured kitten and flung
her pointed nails INTO his leering yellow face with all
her furious strength.
Chung Wo hurled her from him to the heap OF
ting, and cody walked to the door His skin smarted
with the sting of her scratches, but he smiling
1t late that night when Chung Wo sat IN the
inner sanctum of the Suey Sing ong, smoking the
pipe of peace with himself. None but his secretary
guarded the antechamber but in the secret gathering
Of hachet wielders played fan-tan within sound
of his voice.
The secretary pushed aside the green baize curtain
and stood in the presence of the mighty one. He kow
towed twice touching his head to the door
Exalted greatness he SAID "a dog OF coolie stands
without the door; he Graves to inject the air thou
breathest with his diseased bones
Chung Wo frowned
What doth he wantf"
'He hath complaint graciousness
"Wen, let him | will feed his eyeballs to
the ravens if he hath not sufficient cause
TIE coolie entered young IN faded overalls,
clogs and a jumper that smelled OF hsh and sea-
water Three times he kowowed before the great one
What wilt thou, base-born?"
"Oh. illustrious one, l am poor man as thou dost
see Alas My father is dead and his bones lie in this
land of the inhdels. My mother weepeth for them by
the waters Of Tes Kiang and Aiel have no money
send them supphcate-- 80 49,
But thy father not Of the Suey Sing?"
NAY heaven-born but"
The secretary entered again and kowtowed;
Another vile cooe with tale Of woe, gracious
nessw