Catoctin clarion., 1921-09-01
Lin Lee and His
cousin"
By FREDERICK CLARKE
10, 1874. Western Newspaper Union,

l0. 1871. Western Newspaper Union)
Nobody ever suspected that there
were two Cinnamon in Lin Lees
laundry until we met Lin Loo.
Everybody liked Lin Lee. He had
cut off his pigtail and he attended
the Episcopal church. Like all China
men, he had a natural genius for the
washtub.
So Lin Lee became a resident OF
our village and. as l said, everybody
thought he occupied his shanty alone.
We thought 50 until the evening when,
having brought home the laundry in
its usual highly starched condition,
/, and having received the red paper
with its mysterious hieroglyphlcs
which he always left as security, he
turned round and whistled. and an
other Chinaman came out Of the dark
ness
"My cousin, Lin Loo" he volun-
teered. "He washee well-as we'll as
me. He take your laundry tonight"
"Where are you going, Linz" asked
my father.
Lin grinned. "Me going to China"
he said. "Me fight in grand army Of
the republic"
Lin Lee disappeared just as mys-
teriously rs Lin Loo had come, but
that made no difference. Lin Loo
was just as capable q laundryman as
Lin Lee. The ladies Of our family.
in fact, maintained that Lin Loo had a
special genius for interpreting the
laundry needs Of their own garments
and, as a result, Lin Loo was to be
seen ironing until far into the night
in his little store on Main street.
p. Lin Loo was also an EpiscOpalian.
we found, and when he made his first
visit to our church everyone sat up
and gasped. He was attired In quite
the extreme of fashion, In silk hat
and frockcoat and patent leather
shoes. He carried a silver-headed
caneA too, and was very devotional In
the responses. The rector took
great fancy to him and invited him
to his home to discuss theology. Mrs.
Stubbs, his wife, was equally attached
to Lin Loo.
Yes, It was odd what a general fav-
orite Lin Loo became. Lin Loo was
astonishingly well posted in western
ways. But he wouldn't drink and
didn't swear.
"Any news Of your cousin, LOoT
we would ask. as we stopped In to
watch him bending over his iron and
pressing with his scrawny arms. And
Loo always looked up and smiled and
shook his head.
And when a year had rolled by
and Lee had become only men,
ory, he still maintained the same
assurance. Imperturbable, suave,
courteous, jolly, Lin Lee was social
asset In our town.
And then the missing cousin turned
up just as unexpectedly as he had
gone. One evening Lin Lee stepped
into our parlor. his basket on his arm.
as though he had only left US the
night before, and received the red
paper from my mother. Then he an.
nounced:
me going to leave tomorrow. No
more wash. My cousin, Sam Hong,
has bought my shop"
"And your other cousin-Lin Loor
was asked.
ale go away" replied our visitor
"No see any more"
1t must have been nearly a year
after our friends departure that busi-
ness called me to Richmond. was
str0lling down one of the side streets
when / caught sight Of Lin Lee be-
hind the glass window Of a laundry,
ironing as hard as ever. l walked
In.
He greeted me with the same cheer
full smile as ever. We shook hands
and discussed old times.
"Why did you leave us so suddenly.
Lin Lee2' / asked. "We all miss you
in our town. What was the matter3
Didn't we treat you wellr'
"Sure-fne," answered Lin Lee with
a broad grin. II come to Richmond
to open bigger place, more business.
get married"
At that moment the door opened
and Chinese woman, with little,
black-haired, squint-eyed baby in her
arms, peered out. knew her too. 1t
was Mrs. Lin Lee-once Mr.. Lin Loo.
She nodded and smiled and shut the
door in my face and I said goodbye
quickly and went out.
Now hold no brief for or against
Cinnamon, but I will say was Of
Tended at this horrible deception at
the time. But afterward / began
thinking; could he have been assured
of his wife's safety. living alone In
our town, the only Celestial within
twenty miles7 think he could; I
know he could. But I can imagine
what dangers he may have feared for
her-the young husband, called back
eight thousand miles to fight his
couutrv's haftloc with all hp lova6