Rock Island Argus., 1908-10-20

disliked her as much as her husband
did.
They had welcomed the change in
Ben's business affairs which required
his removal to California, and as they
boarded the train that was to take
them on the first stage of their journey
Lefty breathed little sigh of relief
81 suppose it's wicked" she said soft
ly, "but / wish we were going to China
or Japan
whats the use:" asked Ben, with
laugh. 'She would follow us out there.
The last thing she said was that if you
grew homesick TO wire ticket and
she would come ont at once"
Lefty sat up very straight in her
seat
"Ben Melville" she warned impress
lively, ''if you ever dare send such
message I'll never speak to you again"
81 won't" he/ promised teasingly,
unless you need punishment"
Thereafter impending quarrels were
checked when Ben irrelevantly inquir-
ed if there was a telegraph blank
handy. The threatened trouble always
ended in a laugh.
The first six months of California life
seemed like Il dream, SO different was
everything from what it had been in
the east. A flower garden that bloom
ed the year round was new to the little
New England girl. and Wah Ling. once
his oriental makeup was mastered, was
like a gift Of the gods After q quick
succession of raw immigrants of all ma
tionalities the Chinaman was a revela-
ton.
Silent footed. competent and scrupu-
lously neat, Wah Ling was great re-
lief to the little housekeeper. and Mel
Vile declared his homie to be para
disc with thirty dollar a month angel
in charge
Then the blow fell. Lefty met her
husband at the door of their little
home with an expression on her face
that filled him with alarm.
"What's wrong, little woman:" he
| asked anXiously. rs is bad, dear?''
at couldn't he worse" she sobbed as
| he gathered her into his arms. Mrs
| Mook's coming"
wire her not to-" he said sharply.
II know that she's your stepmother,
| darling, but that doesn't entitle her
| to come out here ami make life miser-
able. I should not think that she
would want to- You don't even call
| her mother
"She doesn't mind a little thing like
| that" sobbed Lefty. she writes that
| the doctor says that her lungs are
weak and that six months in the mild
California air is just what she needs.
She's coming to stay with us because
dad can't afford to send her out here
and pay her board too
| "Wire her not TO come" repeated
Ben sternly. But Lefty shook her
head.
| I'VE can't she walled 'She start
ed the day after she mailed this, and
she'll be here tomorrow"
| 'Then We'll have to make the best
| Of it. said Ben, with the peculiar
tightening of the lips that marked his
displeasure. Perhaps we may find
some way of housing her elsewhere
Let's have dinner. The situation will
look better after we have had some
thing to eat
But even Wah Ling's perfect cook.
ing did not bring the customary sense
of contentment. though he had done
his best, because he had seen that his
| mistress was worried.
He moved about the dining room in
his spotless white costume like some
accomplished ghost and took a dislike
to the new guest before he had seer
her because she had made the mistress
cry.
But his dislike became persona
when he entered the dining room the
following afternoon. Mrs. Nook haG
arrived only half hour before, and
she had not been apprised of the EN-
ployment Of a Chinese ''boy."
''The persons in his night clothes.
she cried, eying Wah Ling's snow!
garments with disfavor "My deal
Lefty. your father wears those thing'
to sleep in
at is the native costume" explain
ed Lefty "It is very cool and com
forta BILE"
Its indecent" commented Mrs
Nook, and Wah Ling scowled.
A melancholy trio sat on the piazzs
that evening in the soft dusk, heav!
with the scent of flowers. Mrs. Mool
found fault with everything and an
nounced that on the morrow sh'
would readiust the household affairs.
Lefty sought to make reply, but /;
warning pressure on her arm caused
her to remain silent. and not unit
Mrs. Nook announced herself read.
for bed was the riddle explained.
Immediately after breakfast Mrs
Nook announced that the process o
reform would start in the kitchen
Mrs. Melville drew back
You mustn't go in there." she cried
.Tell Wah Ling what you want done
and he will do it perfectly. but tn
Chinese boys will not stand for an
supervision
That's all nonsense" declared Mrs
Nook militantly. HE can ride roug
shod over you. but he'll find he hd
some one else to deal with now"