The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-22
iE Dali Y
81 HORT STORY
On the Way to China.
eys. a. t1AcKLEY.
Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure
NaWaNaWar GvndicafAA

kCOypIlknL, lSlV. ny tho MCCLURE
Newspaper syndicate.)
~ sY1 OF on your warmest clothes
and lie beit and come on
deck at once! On deck at
4 pncei''
Before she could open her lips the
hekd was withdrawn from Jean Pat
tefsOn's staterocm and the command
z sharp. convincing, was being repeat
cd u the next door.
The Aurelia wah going down. The
tcfcaniS and confused noiBes that came
To- Jeans ears told her that. She could
never get to China, now. nor to the far
n1tssi0n post to which she had wanted
to 50 50 lenE!
With steady fingers the Eirl secured
the miniatures Of her dead father and
mother IN her bosom, fastened her
dark wooden gown. pulled on her heavy
sweater and knitted cap. An old Nor
Wegian spoke to her on deck:
Der rocks brought der need for
life boats, and der looks like dere's not
enough. Some of Us mon will hat to
make our bed in. der sea dis night. o
Z veil, der bottom OF der sea lies as soft
fs any uddef bed to dead men!"
Not enough hosts! Jeans strong
hands shook. Tho noon, that now and
then frcM behind scuddinx cloud,
dirtly 1T the rolling sea, trembied
She was afraid-afratd Afraid for one
whom she had mover seen or heard Of
before they left San Francisco har;
Dor.
At adjacent seats at No. 3, jeans
table In the dining room, there had sat
Mrs. Asa Scales Of St. Louis, on her
way Tor . trip TO japan, with her one
daughter. Dorothy, . pretty fair girl
Of nineteen; Mr1. Thornton, OF Cleve.
land, With her young daughter; VIII.
liam Bowman, Of Memphis, . young
widower, going to Pekin with two b..
bies Of six ard th1ee he ceuld not bear
to leave behind, and Lansing Webster.
ok st. Louis, tho gayest-hearted ysunE
man that ever took passage ON trans
Pacific liner, or troubled the heart Of
Z proud Episcopalian bishop father.
When he wasn't eutravooasly tliYt-
ing WITH Derethy scales-mostly for
the fun Of annoying the maternal
dragon he was walking the deck
with athletic Eve Thornton, holding
Up Nelly bowman. Wonder.eyed, TO $50
the slouting whales, Or playing tag
with mothefsoss Billy and the other
children aboard, thrills Of childish
laughter surrounding him.
And, after he had discovered Jean
was gotlE a. . missionary he had
pretended to reJsice besause ghe was
% make 1t safe for him over there
And the ray grace Of his words and Of
him set something foolish and sWee.
and painful struggling in jeans breast.
One day while Mrs. Scales SLEPT the
deep slee1 Of the Diverted and Web.
stef took malicious pleasure in sitting,
with Dcrothy's full approval, By the
daughteY.ss deck chair. Mrs. Scales
maid sat down By Jean.
Miss Dorothy's friead would better
look sharp" she proffered.
Why doesn't Mrs. Scales like hint"
asked Jean, flushing over what seemed
her kosstDtng queStisn.
mo money there the maid answer
cd riatter.offactly. and no capacity
tor making 1t. At least he's never
struck to anything. He's crossing now
10 take 9 Job son,n friend OF Bishop
Webster's gotten for him in Hong
Kong"
When Mrs. Scales swept Dorothy of
deck Webster came and stood by tho
vacant chair by Jean, his eyes dancing
viii ;.sr:4iief. 8e
Please don't everybody run away
10 pleaded. "Anyway, you belong to
the Band Of Hope for Black Sheep,
don't yoni"
He smiled . bit wisttully. i've got
Two brothers going high up like fel-
lows ought to g" he told her. willis
s O big lawyer in St Louis, and Kicks
m electrical engineer, and at the top.
4 md Il nobody wants me in tho D. s.,
10 I'm going across to take a shipping
clerk's place In Hong Kong. You are
10 steady and sure-te me how to be
twant TO make god this time"
They talked long tine that after.
aeon Of many things. She told him Of
her life IA Vermont, Of how long she
had wanted to 90 to China, Of how
z happy she had been to be sent. a
aSuppose We get stipwrecked and 30
down betcre We reacn China; Whist
Ehenf,
She was silent /. moment, but pres
a unity abe smiled.
It's all light-all light and JOY on
The other side, and one-one would be
there in q naoment!"
tor ycn-yes,' he murmured, 'but
rye heen . drifter-1'm afraid for me
ltSMould be going out IN the dark"
I0r . long time after he LETT her
jean ksS thinking. He was 30 gem
i6vabie, 80 good to look upon.
IND he only thought Of her Is some-
kodysto pass friendly words with. That
] VS. three dsyBlaSo. and In those three
aAyB Lansing Webster had become the
Z hay, the sun. tho blue Of the sky, to
Jean. She had gone 70 sleep each
Z 80. J. ~ - - hA