Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-05
THE MAGIC RING.

beautiful house IN San Francisco. A
pretty young girl jumped out and ran
up the broad stono steps.
She was Alice Claiming, tho helress
just returned from boarding school.
Sho was Of medium height, with black
almond shaped eyes and long glossy
black hair which she wore in a plait
hanging far below her slender waist.
She rang the door bell. the butler
opened tho door. She went to tho Ii
brary where her parents were chat
ting over their tea cups. Sho ran up
TO them saying "Oh! mother! Daddy!
YOU cannot think how happy 1 am
to soc you both again. I've missed you
so much! 1 have something very i'm
portant to say after supper! 1 hope
you'll both agree with me-" "Well,
we shall see. daughter" said her
father.
AS Alice was the only child. her par
ents spoiled her right much. She had
her way about nearly everything.
After supper the family returned to
the cuzy living room, which was fur
nished with English china and wicker
furniture.
NOW. we shall hear what you have
to say, my child" said her mother.
at Is this" said Alice. I'm our school
is Chinese girl; she is sixteen years
old; she came from Canton or Shang-
hal l forget which. anyhow she had
ever so many Interesting stories to tell
US about her country. 1 am so anxious
to see 1t. DO you not think. father, that
you could arrange your business SO
you could take mother and II" well,
this is very sudden, but 1 shall con-
| slider 1t, and will let you know short
ly," said MIR. Charming. With this re-
ply Alice was obliged to be contented.
She did not mention the subject for
two weeks. then her father said to her
mother, my dear. 1 have arranged
everything in a satisfactory manner,
and IL you are willing, 1 shall engage
state rooms on ''The Light of ASIA"
which leaves for Canton day after to-
morrow" Yes, i am satisfied. You
know am fond of travelling and would
not object to visiting China" So
everything was made ready and Fri
day morning Alice and her parents
| could be seen waving their handker-
chiefs over the railing Of the big
steamer. After many days they ar
rived in Canton where they at once
went to an American Hotel. and Alicc's
father saw about getting good guide
and interpreter.
The next morning at o'clock they
Alice said to him: Fun See, please
are sold"
Alice's mother said: why do you
want to go to clothing store. You
cannot wear such clothes in' American"
Il know nov, that that. said Alice, but can
1
So they went to clothing store.
where Alice selected some beautiful
hand-embroidered slippers. and a Chi
| ncse costume. She also bought some
| hair ornaments and a Chinese gold
ring with a piece Of green Jade set in
It. which the shopkeeper assured her.
| through the interpreter, was very
lucky ring. and would bring good for
| tune to the wearer.
Finally they, returned to tho hotel.
Alice went to her room with her Chi
nese things. She thought to herself,
II think 1 shall do something rather
n ,mna. ana na, have an adventure before we
Chong about 1t when I get back to
school" So she carefully dressed her
self in the Chinese clothes and put on
the lucky ring. She then looked at
herself In the mirror. and being well
sarh ,at with her appearanSe she went
anything to her parents. She wander
ed from one dark. narrow, smelly
very bad part Of the city, which housed
all the thieves and bad people OF Can
ton. She was closely watched behind
en,s and tbs the glitter Of her
clothes attracted no little attention.
AT last three bad evil-lookinE China
she, turned a dark corner attacked her
and brought her in spite of her pro-
| tests into dark louise and into n richly
furnished room, which she regarded
/
house spelled poverty. She concluded
that China was the land of surprises.
The men stiil thought she was a
In the Cantonese dialect. She said: IT
don't understand you" Then man
from Shanghai spoke to her. She said
denly said in Chinese. "She is an Amer
| lean! The Americans are very rich
peop,e Let US keep the girl and get
agreed and began to take from her her
rich ornaments. and finally the lucky
ring. When they looked at that they
ring in Chinese characters were these
words: ."rhe vengeance OF the gods
shall fall on those who shall harm the
tremeiy Of su rns Ting They were ex
feared the warning. So they unbound
Alice and one OF them guided her back
to the rart of the city with which she
so on She not knowing what was
written In the ring which tho man
handed back TO her. held out her hand
looked Ut her strangely. then he put
out his own hand and shook hands
with her He said few words which
away and was soon lost to view. - ~
Alice lost no time in hurrying back
% the hotel. where her anxious par
everything. to them. and although she
| gave her.
One week after thev lett Canton. as
| thew stood on tho deck OF the steamer.
Alice SAID to her parents: 1T have had
one adventure In China anyhow. I
shall tell Moy Fong Chong when 7 get
hack to school and ask her to tell me
what was written in the magic ring!'
| With these words on her lips Alice
took one last. and strange 70 say,
Composed by
GEoRGETTE VAN HORN.