Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-05-27

same way four years ago. when he
hrst went out.
You + interested in the WORK -.
she asked. after a pause.
Very much" he answered .s,t
has been my life's aim"
mat was all that passed between
them. There seemed no more tn say
and she moved away. He stood look
ing after her.
She is very beautiful" he mnsae.
strangely beautiful. She is I'm
some n 1 wonder" He broke
on and passed his hand across his
forehead with a gesture of pain.
Eolth, too, was thoughtful.
M Is b man who Is to be nv
husband" she kept saying to herself.
That is the man who is to be nv
husband"
There vas only a vague wonde-
"'tnin ner at the knowledge; no
doubt at all.
When at length the marriage was
arranged it was not without consid-
cradle opposition on the part of the
vicar. Greatly as he admired the
mlssionary's character, he looked
upon his loss Of memory as a mental
weakness, and could not consider him
q desirable husband for his daughter.
Moreover. Mr.. Lyall was fully deter
mined to go to China, and Edith not
only accepted his determination. but
even sustained him in 1t. In the end
ner quiet persistence won its way
n her father gave in at last and re-
signed himself to the loss OF her. On
the Gay Of the wedding he himself
performed the ceremony. saw the
newly married pair drive away. and
then shut himself in his study to
pore over books he could hardly see
Tor the tears hat gathered in his
eyes.
Edith was quietly happy. She had
learned from her husband something
OF MS missionary zeal, and looked be-
yond the happiness of the early
months of marriage to the work thew
were to accomplish together. Not
until they had started on their voy.
g TO the East did she begin to real
lie the mere pleasures OF living. Then
the world in its mystery and beauty
took hold Of her. She saw it unroll
before her as a map. The hot sands
OF Port Said. the long blue levels of
the Indian Ocean, the vivid green of
Singapore, became all constituent
parts OF mi glorious whole. The
evenings spent under awnings in
calm seas, listening to the throbbing
OF the screw, were so many hours of
placid happiness, hours to be stored
in he mind as precious memories,
It was with a half sigh OF regret that
she reached Shanghai at last. and
putting aside those memories. faced
the future that lay before her.
Here she learned to give up her
European dress and to wear the
straight, u~ngraceful garb of the Chi.
nese woman. She worked hard a,
the language, and spoke long with
men and women who knew the In.
terror. A month vas spent In prep.
aration; then her husband received
his orders. He accepted them with.
out comment. They left together or
one Of the big, shallow draft river
steamers with white sides and high
decks, and a stand of muskets in the
wheelhouse. At Hankow. six hundred
miles up the muddy river, they
changed to a smaller steamer, which
took them another three hundred
miles to Ichang. From this onward
they travelled in junks, passing up
ward through the gorges of the Yang
tse, where the river, pent within
mountain walls, rushes swiftly dowI
in a series of mighty rapids; whert
their boat was dragged by mail
strength Of coolie labor against thu
current, through reaches each more
savage and desolate than the last.
It was here that Edith began Il