The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-12-25
The Goddess Heafben



she had gone TO bed he lit his pip
; afresh and went out and told II {
the stars. and whispered il TO tn
! stolid old gums until the very al
! seemed full OF the grand sweet new,
And then she grew weaker. and a
the Boss had 10 make his period
journeyings for the purpose OF buy
ing and selling. he always bestowel
the following Injunction on the al
tentive Celestial before setting out
Look after the Missis. Quong
anything happens 10 her I'll belt thu
life out OF YOU" And Quong. grinninl
In his silly Chinese manner. as invar
iably answered. My make 'em all Ii
/ Boss. He was not a man OF many
words. this imperturable Quong, bu
the Boss seemed satisfied with hi:
modest assurance.
And then the great event happened
Quong was sitting up that night be
cause the Boss was restless. He
watched him pass in and out OF the
door dozen times: look up at the
stars. NIL his pipe light il, walk up
and down with hasty strides. and
generally behave in a manner incon-
ceivable in one of his weight and
inches The doctor man from Wan
garatta was inside. also the wife OF a
distant neighbor. Quong wondered
why they should make such a fuss
over a common happening
Yes. OF course, IL was a boy-it
couldn't well be anything else 10 a
man like the BOss-and from that
moment QuOng's allegiance alternated
between father and son. Jess was
weak for a long time after, and the
farmers wife had her own affairs 10
mind. but Quong stepped into the
breach. and added nurse TO that OF
his other duties. II. hitherto he had
revered the father. he now adored the
son. Dick swOre the fellow had been
a woman in another life. and truly
no woman could have played her part
with greater care and assiduity.
And so twelve months passed on.
and the child grew and prospered. and
with II prospered the little household.
Dick junior was now a lusty young
rogue, tumbling about and suffering
few words in pidgin English. which
shocked his mother inconceivably.
but made his father roar with laugh
N~t+ A~AANAN btNHdl he Sdlu. lie
as bad as old Quong." And then he
would lecture him on the iniquities
OF the yellow man. 10 all OF which
the child would listen with wide. won
dering eyes-those eyes which seem
ed 10 draw the soul out OF the father.
And he could touch him now without
fear Of breaking the little bones. and
toss him about as though he were a
ball. all OF which the child bore with
never a whimper
The day came round for Dicks ac-
customed journey 10 the town. but
this was TO be a journey which would
BE- marked with a red letter in the
history OF their lives: for things had
with them. and he was 90
ing into the town 20 complete the
purchase OF a larger tract of land. and
he intended 10 mark the occasion by
returning with presents for his be-
loved ones. The parting injunction
had an addition now. but ii always
came in exactly the same way. Look ]
after the Miss and the kiddy. Quong. I
4 anything happens to them I'll belt |
ne lie out OF you" And Qucng |
Dlinked his invariable reply. Me |
make EN- all Ii, Boss" The promised |
lelting never gave offense He never /
hought II necessary, but on the whole |
he liked IT, II showed that the Boss
ook an intelligent interest in him.
Dick went away early as usual. and |
luong, who had some work down BY |
he creek, returned-to II after dinner. |
having seen the Missis stow the
foung Boss away in his little crib for
he afternoon sleep. His work was
'nly a quarter OF a mile or so away
I he mounted the little hill behind
he trees he could see the house
quite plainly
he had worked for perhaps a full
Jour when he scrambled out of the
lole he was digging TO take few
'uns at his pipe. but just as he was
n the act Of lighting up he happened
o look round and saw woman an
lroaching him from lower down the
reek. At first he did not quite
ealize who 1t was. nor did he under
tand her wild gesticulations or her
ries But as she came nearer he
new II TO be the Missis. and in his
told way he stood blinking at her
III she approached. Then he saw that
~ AaNF was htdAhAg While. nRT ewes /
tarting from her head and that she
eeled in her steps like one about to
all Indeed. he knew that nothing
mt supreme effort Of will prevented
physical collapse.
What's up. Mlssis?" he asked.
Quong's blood flowed coldly: his
manner reflected the cold blood. She
ried to speak, yet nothing but an
gibbering passed her
ps. Her mind. however, was work
ng clearly enough. and selling him
y the arm she swung him round and
ointed to a column OF smoke which
ose above the trees. He started. and
he wooden face suddenly grew ami.
lated Fear and intelligence wild
ned the oblique eyes
The piece kid" she shouted.
"Yes-yes." The words came from
er lips in fierce gasp Of agony.
My clil"
Kicking of his old shoes he flung
rom her like fash OF lightning. She
lied TO follow him. She called on
eaven. on her indomitable nature.
ut In vain. The earth sprang IN 10
leet her. Once IL struck her violent
in the face. She scrambled to her
set and staggered UPWARDS. but the