The daily tribune., 1908-05-18
THE LOVE OF
WAH SOUN q
sy A. n. Martin

1
the balcony and gazed upon her with
Interested eyes, Wah Soung shivered
with suppressed excitement and hid
her blushing face behind her fan.
This was the third time that the
handsome young American with the
commanding presence and smiling
face had gazed upon her oriental
beauty with more than passing In
terest. and the heart OF the little
daughter Of the fowery land throbbed
rapturously. So she peeped slyly
| from behind the shsltering expanse
OF her fan and returned the smile
with pretty lips,
| Suddenly Wah Soung with difficulty
suppressed tiny scream. The tall
| blonde stranger had laid hold OF a
creeper that twined its graceful
length round the supports of the bal
cony and was climbing up. Even
In that instant Of fear Wah Soung
could not repress a feeling OF admira-
ton for this man who had no fear.
For 1t is brave man that ventures
Into the clutch Of the dragon when
the moon wells her face behind tho
clouds and there is none to see.
For an instant the girl hesitated
whether to fee behind the protecting
walls or await the advance of the bold
| invader. The timid heart beat with
terror, but her curiosity prevailed
over the call Of generations of slav.
cry and fear Of the horror that would
follow detection. And while she still
wavered the man had gained the bal
cony and was at her side
Gently he addressed her In the fam
guage Of her fathers, and she. taking
heart. answered his greetings with
soft words and smiles. And as they
whispered. neither marked the baleful
eyes that glared at them from the
shadow cast by the towering walls.
And their talk flowed on as the mel
ody OF the brook that sings OF love
when the days are long and the sun
smiles on the blushing flowers.
After many minutes the man slipped
cautiously into the embrace of the
creeper and stole from her presence
She had his pledge that he would
return at the same hour on the next
night. and she had promised to be
there.
But as she turned away from the
street her mother seized her roughly
ana struck her furlously In the face.
Wretched one" she hissed, with
nashing eyes. vile spawn OF a snake.
Is 1t for this that you were brought
from the land OF flowers? Know We
not that ye are destined for the hon.
o'able Ling Wong OF many treasuresr
Aud ye waste smiles on a son OF the
Twice accursed white pigs For this
yodr shoulders shall smart and the
face OF thy honorable mother will be
dark against thee for many days. And
II the great Ling learns OF this. then,
indeed. were 1t better for thee to
have remained in the land of your
fathers"
And with many blows she dragged
the weeping Wah Soung into the
house.
throne In the darkling sky and the
waves Tapped gently against tho sides
OF the wharves. From her window
wan Soung watched for the coming
OF her white love. And her heart was
heavy for the angry hand OF her
honorable parent had severed the
clinsing length OF the friendly creeper.
Suddenly her small body sfraightened
and her gaze became fixed
On the other side OF the narrow
street strolled man and woman.
Their laughter fioatsd up to the win.
dow. borne on the unfeeling wings
OF the night wind And she saw tho
man. the man for whom she was
suffering. glance toward the window.
He smiled. said something to his com.
panion, and again they laughed. And
As she gazed. her mothers scornfus
laughter fell upon her ears.
Wsh Soung rubbed her bare shoul.
ders where the strokes of the whip
glared redly. and bowling her head 10
her aching arpu want