Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-04-14

tG 1874, py Mcclure Newspaper SyHulcate.b
After three years in China, Law
renee came home with a few lines of
care in his keen face, scattered
threads of silver in his dark hair and
an anxious look in his eye
He took Estelle's small hands in his
big ones and looked down into her ex-
pectant face. Failed, DEAR" was all
he said.
"Faled| the color drained Out of
her cheeks. "You poor old DEAR" she
added, patting his broad shoulder.
1--WE will begin over again. Just think
how young we are! y
Listen, dearest Of girls" he sat
down and drew her to seat beside
him, II had excellent chances out
there-senior clerk in the Detson bank
with a fine chance Of being sent to
the New York house. And l lost the
chance. This is the way it happened:
/ took a short vacation last summer
Just few miles up the Huang-pu riv-
er-good fishing and did my own cook
ing. Along came rich Chinese mer-
chant with his train Of servants;
somehow he managed to tumble into
the river and would have been drown
ed, only fished him out. His terrified
servants scattered and by the time
they got back the old man had been
dried out by yours truly, but somehow
took a beastly cold-couldn't get rid
Of it. Had pneumonia, and have been
In %ho sto1 rfhc-vrifh tho
result that I'll bave to live in the
open air for several years and-what's
the use? It's the end of the world for
me-" His stony face turned away
from her timid caresses.
And the nan whose life you saved?
asked after while.
He nodded. Game to the hospital
to see me and made long speech of
thanks. Also recited poem he had
composed on my heroism." He smiled
wanly and the girl was alarmed at the
change in him. He put hand in his
pocket and drew cut a package wrap
ped in soft tissue paper. 1.-THE old beg
gar gave me this as a keepsake. 1t is
just bauble; let me put 1t on your
wrist" He opened lacquered box
and took from it a bracelet elaborate
ly carved from red coral. 1t was in
the form OF serpent, and the open
mouth and the deadly forked tongue
were delicately carved with the fairy
touch of master carver. The clasp
was of solid gold and there were Chi
nese ideographs scatched upon it.
1T is quite wonderful, Donald. Did
he tell you the meaning of these char
acters?"
Lawrence shugged his shoulders.
Something about seven Iyears-and
gratitude. | skipped all the rest l
was pretty bitter about the future"
'You are not sorry you saved his
life are you Donald?"
"Of course not" he declared, and she
knew that he spoke the truth. There
was an echo Of the old confident ring
to go away into the mountains some
where-a dry climate, and work my
way out again. | may be an old man
by the time l earn enough to support
us both"
"Then | shall go with you and we
will work together" she said, and he
could not turn her from this purpose.
So at last he gave in to her pleading
and they were married and went into
the Adirondacks together. Lawrence
took charge, of the paIatial camp" of
a millionaire and there were many
months of idleness when he bemoaned
their exile. you should be nearer
your friends-nearer civilization" he
often said. "You have buried yourself
alive with mel"
She smiled bravely. IF you were
in my place wouldn't you count the
balance on your side?"
He could not be gloomy after that
and she could see that he was getting
better. Another year might restore
him to full health. One day he came
upon her sewing on the doorstep in
the pale spring sunshine. why do you
always wear the red serpent?" he
asked, looking down at the bracelet.
He took it and sat down beside her
The gold clasp was loose and sud-
denly came off in his fingers. He
looked stupidity at the exposed end of
the bauble-the bracelet was a hollow
coral tube and from it poured a little
stream of blazing diamonds, seven in
all. Further search revealed soft paper
with Chinese characters brushed upon
it. Lawrence slowly read the hidden
message: The gods have decreed that
I am to live seven years longer
you have given me back these preci
Gus seven ySRrs and | give to you sew
en- precious stones, one for each year
of the life you saved"
you are sure that there is no mis-
take about it," asked Estelle, still
unbelieving that this good fortune