The New York herald., 1922-06-25

the arrival of Chan-King. His let
ters were always love letters. with
added paragraphs saying that he
was getting on well with his work
and would have much to tell me of it
when he came home. At last letter
told us to expect him by q certain
steamer, on certain day. But
schedules were still in confusion be-
cause Of the war. That steamer was
delayed. and Chan-King sailed for
another port, meaning TO change
there. More delays followed. More
letters of explanation. More delays
again. Mother and 1 both became
heartsick with hope deferred At
last, one morning, worn out with
watching. I slept later than usual.
and on that morning Chan-King
came home
vi.
Awakened out of a long browse,
/ heard stir in the quiet house, the
clang of a gong, a rush of padded
footballs in the outer hail Happy
voices mingled in greeting at the
door of my mothers apartment. I
threw on my robe. tucked Alicia un-
der my arm and ran across the room.
flinging the door open even as Chan
King had his hand raised TO knock
at the panel. / saw him dimly in
the wavering light He was smiling.
and behind hin. stood his mother.
also smiling, Each of Us Solemnly
spoke the others name. trying to
erase. with long look, the memory
of all those months of absence. Then
he saw the baby ''Li-Sia my thou
sand catties of gold!" he said In
Chinese. Alicia smiled and held out
her arms to him. "She recognizes
him!" said mother. in pleased sur
prise. We three stood together a
moment, silently. gathered around
the child. 1 felt myself mere deeply
absorbed into the clan-a Chinese
woman, dedicated anew. heart and
spirit, to my adopted people.
In this period, at last, I met my
Chinese father. One beautiful day in
early autumn Chan-King and l went
down to the city, returning in mid
afternoon AS our chairs were set
down before the entrance the gate
keeper announced to Chan-King his
fathers arrival / was filled with
swift apprehension. Again chance
had decided my costume: / was
wearing-not the conservative Chi
nese garb in which I had met my
mother-but a frilly American dress
of blue and white summer silk. a
white lace hat with black velvet and
pink rosebuds and white kid pumps.
Chan-King had on white flannels
and a Panama hat. The latter he
handed to a servant, as also his
cane. AS We entered the main room
together a figure rose from beside
Mother to receive u.s. l saw an
elderly man Of medium height, with
grim. smooth shaven face and gray
hair. He was wearing long gown
Of deep blue silk, with a black outer
jacket and the usual round cap of
black satin. My husband first greeted
him and then presented me. While
l stood uncertain there was a
courteous inclination of the gray
head, the grimness of expression
dissolved in a wonderfully winning
smile. and, surprisingly. as Mother
had done. my Chinese father ex-
tended his hand. felt that he was
interpreting me in the light of all she
had told him, that his cordial hand
clasp and kindly words of welcome
were his ratification of her judg.
ment. Then, with a courtly gesture,
he assigned me to his lately occu-
pied chair beside Mother. while he
and Chan-King took seats together
opposite us. Mother smiled into my
eyes with her happiest expression.
1 felt that Chan Kings background
was complete. Long before 1 had
conceived of it as harsh and threat
ening, but had now proved it to be
wholly kind and protecting At my
recent fear of this last test / Won
dered and smiled.
VII.