Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-05-08
THE LOVE OF
WAH SCUM G
BY a. n. Martin

AS the sturdy figure paused under
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 f1owery land throbbed
rapturously. So she peeped slyly
from behind the sheltering expanse
of her fan and returned the smile
with pretty lips.
Suddenly Wah Soung with difficulty
suppressed a tiny scream. The tall
blonde stranger had laid hold of q
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 it is a brave man that ventures
into the clutch of the dragon when
the moon wells her face behind the
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 tmid 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 Ian.
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
and struck her furiously in the face.
"Wretched one" she Kissed, with
flashing eyes, vile spawn of a snake.
LIS 1t for this that you were brought
from the land of flowers? Know We
not that We are destined for the hon.
orable Ling Wong of many treasures
And ye waste smiles on a son Of the
thrice accursed white pigs. For this
your shoulders shall smart and the
race OF thy honorable mother will be
dark against thee for many days. And
If the great Ling learns of this, then,
indeed, were it 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.
The moon shone brightly from her
throne in the darkling sky and the
waves Tapped gently against the sides
Of the wharves. From her window
Wah 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
clinging length of the friendly creeper.
Suddenly her small body Strengthened
and her gaze became fixed.
On the other side of the narrow
street strolled a man and a woman.
Their laughter foated up to the win.
dow, borne on the unfeeling wings
OF the night wind. And she saw the
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 scornful
laughter fell upon her ears.
Wah Soung rubbed her bare Shout.
ders where the strokes of the whip
glared redly. and bowling her head in
her aching arms, wept.