The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-10-22


HE&$ within me was my hatred Of Wing Tai
~ 4 greater still than that hatred my Low
for the maid he had stolen, 10y Shan
<tca He had stolen her out Of her father
CD house at Using Him. she that NJ.
betrothed, had given her in care OF Al
old crone his mother, and taken her tS
Marking Thither ! had followed them-too latel
Then |, Chang Kuang, the scholar, sold wha
jewels I.had upon me, made over hall my house ant
lands to usurers, bought me keen short sword an6
dagger, and followed in the next ship. Weary was
the journey-pent as was with coolies OF the low.
est caste in the dark, foul belly Of the vessel
AT last the monster foamed into the bay Of San
francisco, and /, in the gusc OF returning mer-
chant and with ready passport entered a city
had never seen ! made my way into the Quarter
of the Chinese None knew me there
Cautiously, ah, cautiously, inquired after Wing
Tai. the slave-dealer Cunnngly, knowingly, |
smiled as / asked whether, perchance, he had
brought new slave girls from China 50 cunning
was | in my questioning that all, forsooth, held me
10 be one who had mind to purchase such pretty
chattels They could not read the black thoughts in
MY brain the red rage in my heart They could not
know that in my tunic not only gold lay hid but
STEEL Wing Tai, said they, was the man must see.
He always bought the prettest slaves His power
with the white officials was great, and the richest
among the merchants shielded him from the law Of
the land He had but lately returned from China
no doubt he had brought at least one fair bird from
the homeland
1T is we'll 1t is most excellent, cheering news,
said |, smiling upon Fong How tea merchant with
whom had had most speech but where may the
great Wing Tai be found
"Iie is one Of the leaders Of the Quong Iio Sing
Society," said the tea trader "and will sit in council
this evening.
The Quong Ho Sing was the name Of one Of the
secret tongs or clans Of the city and waged bloody
feud with its rival the Ming ii tong
stood in silence the while the courteous mer~
chant babbed
III the Honorable Stranger would have speech
with Wing Tai about
aYes" broke in, Il would have speech with him
about girl.
Whereupon the sleek merchant behind the
ter prinned IN friendly wise and bespoke me thus
My friend you appear in truth to be an honor
able man and | rejoice to be Of service to YOU and
to my tong. 1t is to dispose Of 10y Shan (did ne
mark me vince at that beloved namca that Wing
Tai goes 10 the rooms 81 the tong tonight l. TOO,
am member Of the Quong lio Sing Society. Y
your worship perchance, has mind to possess this
handsome slave
Il would give all have in the world cried, "to
possess her!"
Then | saw that greed awoke in the heart d the
merchant lie measured me with his little eyes
and grew still more gracious.
II cannot said he, conduct you thither myself
for affairs Of great importance bid me remain IN my
shop tonight. But you shall have that which gives
admittance to our chambers.
lie wrote strange words upon card and bade me
deliver it to the doorkeeper at the meeting place OF
the tong
All that day / wandered through the Quarter
plagued by despair and cieered by hope. How close
= r1aS
Low Shan: Where was 81 Shan: What MALLS hid
her what secret alleyways led to her prison When
ever / saw maid or lady from aiar my heart
bounded within me like roe, lest it he She But the
fox Wing Tai was too wise to display his human
treasures upon the street. fearing. the power and
envy Of the other tong, and the women among the
white missionaries.
Once | thought I the thief OF my happiness
from afar. / stood still and clutched the dagger
within my sleeve but It was not he. The people in
tho street gazed at me curiously renlarhins me as
stranger therefore did deem il wise to hide me
somewhere until the night. What place was thefe
filter for that than the temple; Th;.her went and
offered up prayers before ali the osses and borncd
many punk-stcks, and gave ofe1ng q gold to
the priests But my prayers the love goddess. The
marriage goddess Kuan Yin, were loudest and most
deep.
"I.et I.oy Shan be given back to me" ] inplored;
my house IS empty III lslHS lllii' 'ile ~
and the mat long for her tiny feet. Our marriage
cards wait to be laced together with the red siken
cords the flowers are witherng there in Their vases
NV heart too would wither within me were II not
keot warm by my wrath and fresh by my tears.
Give I-oy Shan into my hands-Loy Shan and Wing
Tai"
Thus prayed before the smiling golden goddess
and offered up the richest incense. BY chance nay
short sword slipped its sheath and fell out OF my
bosom and lay giittering, naked before the altara
haopv oment--an answer to my prayer Then even
a. called unto the goddess, it was as Il she made
resoonse Did not hear little cry and voice iaat
Was ike the faint uurnur Of the voice Of 10y Sham
Or was il but soreery