The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-09-25
Copyright By The ssbssnsrrill 90.
CHAPTER XVI

The Chiyo Maru passed slowly
through the Gate, the waters broken
and troubled by an outiowing. talus-
descended tide. A land breeze met
him: harbinger OF Danzanits and ma
drona. OF rough-bark pine and laurel.
of windburned hills with hidden VS."
OF ravine cushioned with maiden-hair
and fve-flngered fern. woodwardia
and goldback: hills mountainous In
purple-brown against q peacock-biue
sky.
White ferryboats churned their way
across the steamers path. Like
hand with many fingers. the city with
its piers swan past. Tugs met them
hawsers were dragged aboard. and the
Chiyo was slowly warped against the
docks end; swung broadside.
crowd massed on the dock 10 well
come the Chlyo. and Wells felt home
sickness stirring. Before. he had al
ways considered Japan as home; tiny
towns In the late evening; handfasted
lovers. alike the world over: boy
teasing girl; maid provoking
more teasing: old Shinto priests nm
gers paused In rafting rosaries. smn-
ing upon heaps OF ragged urchins
tumbling in warm dust; the untin-
nabulation Of little bells and cracked
cadences OF the temple bell-all this
had been a part OF his life from the
beginning. Now II seemed apart. for
eign, already half-effaced and forgot
ten. Strange that the loneliness OF
his real homeland had never I'M
pressed itself before. II must be that
that in the past he had been impreg-
mated with the Orient; these hills
about the bay were as velvet-sided. as
bird-haunted and wind-kissed as any
In the East-if he had but seen IL
Almost every one on board seemed
20 have at least one handkerchief
waving friend. and most had a dozen
or more. but all the smilingly eager
faces looking up were strange TO his
eyes. He saw Alberta and his Uncle
Jim. TO be sure. but they. also. were
strange and strangers: there was no
one for Robert Wells. and be felt very
much alone.
He saw the police lines, that vel
Corners might not press too closely to
the edge of the dock; saw that group |
OF men were Inside OF the lines, men
shorter and stockier than the rest
This must be the delegation come to
do honor to Aochi-San's son. and they |
would expect every detail OF ultra
courtesy from him-and he would give
Il. He would be rushed away In their
midst, would be banqueted. there
would be speeches. and all OF the time /
he would be keen TO consummate the
purpose OF his long voyage. he must
remain a masquerader-be a part OF
never-endlng conversations and cere-
monies long drawn out.
As the boat swung close 10 the pier.
the tugs cast OF their lines Wells
tapped at Ellen's door.
TT is the hour for departure be
said you will be glad TO leave this
prison" Ellen noticed that his rs"
were even more ike the letter r" In
sound than before So he was prac-
ticing. that his part be perfecti
Il fear that which is coming Ellen
said as they walked to the side OF the
ship. "And I am very excited
You may touch my sleeve with
your fingers, that my courage make
you brave Wells said heroically.
As the boat eased against the pier.
Wells hand touched Ellen's; he was
not aware that he was retaining II.
nor that a reassuring pressure was
giving him that very courage which he