Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-03-17


business. and when | returned to my
office | found an envoy from Lung
Web, bearing many friendly messages
and this gift for YOU
Mrs. Hoffman held out her hand for
the package There, Jeremy. ! told
you the mandarin entertained the
kindlicst sentiment toward you. He
was perfectly charming and warm in
his praise of YOU
Il could not help feeling that he sus-
pected my mission Hes 4 sharp old
beggar and Sheldon has always been
very lenient with him. Stil one can't
refuse a gift in China"
mot one like this said his wife
brcathlessly. Look. Jeremy Is it not
beautiful?"
As she spoke she held to view fan.
The sticks we're of richly carved ivory
covered with lustrous green silk, gay
with embroidered flowers in various
colors. The fan was connected by u
chain Of ivory links With q bracelet
Of the carved ivory
"IIow eXquisite!" sighed Mrs. Iolf-
man. slipping the bracelet on her wrist
and tanning herself gently with the
toy.
Late in the evening she was chat
ting with that polished Chinese cour-
tier, who, ample of figure, with serene
countenance and Watchful eyes. was
one of several of his countrymeu
whose gorgeous apparel made spleu-
did dashes of barbaric color among
the simpler clad Europeans and Amer
leans at the brilliant public reception.
81 am sure this fan has q history"
suggested Nell Hoffman, after she had
thanked the dignitary for his sift.
pray tell IL TO me"
Lung Wen smiled inscrutably ana
shook his seek head. MADAM must
contrive her own history fer the fan"
he said. Perhaps the mission Of
madam's husband might form the ba-
sis for a romance"
Mrs. Hoffman paled and turned
away. A wave of repulsion swept
over her. and for brief instant she
was prompted TO return the fan to
the mandarin, quite reckless of the
breach OF politeness. The cold, deadly
glitter of the little black eyes threat
ened harm TO something-some one
she loved. and Jeremy's mission was
q delicate one and dangerous, indeed.
Her husbands work might become
the theme for tragedy. never ro-
nance.
At that moment Jeremy Hoffman
appeared and carried her away, with
parting apologies to the great man
DARN.
"You "are looking ghastly, Nell
What is the matter? Do you feel i'll,
dear"
AS he asked the question Jeremy's
arm was outstrctched TO catch his
wife's swayiug form. and In another
instant she was living unconscious In
his embrace
"Too much dancing-playing too
hard-nerves unstung-verge OF pros
tration," snapped out the wiry little
English doctor rs he left the Hoffman
bungalow in tie pale dawn
Jeremy went back into the sickroom
and looked down at the white face on
the pillow. lie bitterly reproached
himself for letting his fragile wife
cance her way 50 mcrrlly into an i'll
ness. But ttry had been married only
brief thrr H..u-&. aui his impor-
tant mission h"i' f"1rriai them directly
to Shanghai ~ i. thought outside
OF business l.d trr,I 10 make her hap
py and keen her a"luSed. and now IL
anything hanre0ed II Nell should die
he would leave the cursed country
forever, career or no career.
He recollected with sudden mis-
giving that his predecessor had thrown
over the task because his wife had
died-Elwin had returned to America
and chucked the service forever
Several days afterward Nell had re-
recovered sufficiently to be brought out
into the cool, matted sitting room.
Her illness had taken the form of a
strange inertia Hour after hour she
would lie with dark lashes fringed
against her white cheeks, her bosom
scarcely stirring with each feeble
breath.
The little English doctor was plainl."