Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-06

under the social code of Asiatic seclu-
Chin Chez" (Azure Butterfly ap-
peared openly upon the scene and an
nounced to Mrs. HopkinSon. who with
a bevy of lady friends from the col
ony had been especially invited. that
she didn't see any reason why the
one person of all in whose honor the
party was given should be hidden
away in the background.
No. indeed" replied the consurs
wife. you are the center of attraction
your wedding. and we should have
been awfully disappointed if we hadn't
seen you. wouldn't we, LADIES'"
I'VE certainly would was the an
swer that came back in chorus. :.
And where is the Fortunate young
"Ah! l am afraid not this time at
least. That would really never do
just here and now. We are several
years ahead Of the times, as you say,
already. but to actually allow the
prospective bridegroom to appear at
his own betrothal party would be to
take fifty years jump into the flu
ture. No. poor. dear boy. he is having
to content himself with a little feast
OF his own at his rooms, with few
college chums. you know"
Yes. and all the time bemoaning
his hard luck and the stupid old ma
tive conservatism that keeps you
apart. suppose
We'll, We shall not really be sepa-
rated SO very long. for the wedding is
only three months hence--which is aw-
fully short for China-and, after all, We
don't mind being little Chinesey now
just to please our families and our
Chin Chez blushed and smiled. this is
truly-truly love match, and that makes
all the difference in the world.''
Yes! 1t certainly did. And just how
1t came to be one of the "truly-truly"
kind and not one Of the old-fashioned
ly to Miss Julia Dubray, who had been
Chin Chee's devoted teacher and guide
and counselor and friend during her re-
cent years at that wonderful school on
the Hill. known as THE Victoria College
for Chinese Young Ladies'" Now if any
maker she would have instantly resented
it, but at the same time she would have
been obliged to acknowledge that she
had done everything in her power to
rescue her darling Chin Chez from the
man the family had planned for her.
Just to think of their throwing away
beautiful and accomplished girl like
that on a miserable old drug-clerk who
can't even speak a word OF English and
who hasn't anything in the world but
his money. she was won't to say, When
there's that splendid young fellow Yung
Wing, just back in the colony from Har-
ward and simply waiting for chance
to make her the finest husband in the
world =.
And SO Miss Julia went to work to
bring about the desired result. She
worked long and patiently and never
vised various interviews with Chin
Chee's father and mother and never
missed an opportunity to sing her
fayorite pupils praises to Yung Wing.
And in the end she won out, as most
perseyering creatures generally do: and
when she had finally convinced the par
ents that it was their solemn duty to
the daughter to give her at least some
little choice in the matter of her hus-
band she felt she had dealt serious
blow at the whole commercial matrimon,
ial system The rest was easy: and
after she had placed Chin Chez next to
herself in the Cathedral pew on Sunday
morning and arranged to have Mr.: Yung
Wing sit Just across the aisle ana acci-
dentally meet them as they were pass
ing out. why. all that remained was dor
her to pray the good Lord that Chinese
or no Chinese, it might be case or
Glove at first sight'-and it was!
Now there may have been some nap
pier puest at the betrothal feast than
Miss Julia. but, if so. no one was aple
word that can adequately describe her
appearance and feelings, and that Is
'radiant''-yes, she was Literally ra,
diant. She was the one who mad
really brought it all about: and In the
midst of all her magnificent triumph
over ancient custom and tradition
she plated for herself crown OF
personal satisfaction that she had
| brought these two young lives TO-
gether.
YOU dear. darling child" she cried.
as she literally raised the slender
form of Chin Chez from the floor and
clasped her in her arms" l know l
am kissing the happiest girl in ALL
but whether she meant "Hongkong
| or "the whole world" nobody ever
knew. for with a piercing shrek two
| of the woman servants burst into the
room and exclaimed. Sing boo tao
| lao sing lang. Sing boo tao LAO
Sing lang" C"The police have arrest
| cd the bridegroom. The police have
arrested the bridegroom."D while
! the sweet little azure butterfly" gen.
| fly folded it's wings and tainted away
| in it's teachers arms,
The report was only too true. Act
! ing on the complaint of MessrS. Bar
low & Co.. TIA co,.ca hed carefully