Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31

most distinguished MEMBER, ana, Dy
the same token, his tirst-born a faith
full branch, ripe for plucking.
And this sons mother? Wan Lee
smiled when she thought Of her--a
woman with lily feet, mincing be-
tween her daughters-in-law, a woman
of circumstance, a woman of caste,
a woman to be envied, and, yet, a
woman as vulnerable to sorrow as
the humble widow of the intrepid
Hung Cow. Is it to be wondered,
then, that Wan Lee was shaken with
gusts of satisfaction? For, of a truth,
one must feed upon cold comfort II
the fires of happiness have burned to
ashes. And when, an hour later, she
heard Shoe Shee again pattering up
the stairs, she thought:
Can it be that the honor Of my
husbands house has been so swiftly
Accomplishment"
But her hopes were premature. Yet
Shoe Shee brought gossip Of even
greater import. Most extraordinary
news had seeped through the wall
Of secrecy with which the Suey Sings
hedged in all proceedings of import.
1t seemed that, on the morrow there
would be dispatched to Wan Lee u
messenger whose duty was to &C.
quaint that matron with certain tong
secrets. And, having fulfilled this
part of his mission, to take counsel
with the widow of Hung Cow as to
the best line of action.
X X X
A LII that night Wan Lee lay wide
4 n eyed on her couch. shaken with
misgivings and reassurances, rising
with the dawn to set her house in
order for her visitor.
She had expected a venerable mes
senger. but. when her glance rested
upon the figure of man midway be-
tween youth and middle age she had
a sinking of heart. This man was not
intent on carrying formal honors to
her house.
BY the time he had reached the
meat of his argument she had almost
anticipated it: Would a goodly sum
from the Golfers of the See Yup treas
ury serve the honor of he house as
Justify as the death of On Yick? She
felt her cheeks burn with the heat of
this indignity, and. rising in her seat,
answered him:
Does my husbands tong think that
the honor of Hang Cows house is to
be bought like a bolt of silk"
To which her visitor made answer:
us it bought the less. because the
currency be blood?"
The question was confusing, but she
rallied quickly. 1.-The currency has
been fixed by custom. Who am I to
gainsay it? Are there no more men
among you that you must shift the
burden upon the shoulders Of a
woman?"
The messenger bowed. question
able suavity in his voice. I'VE
thought the shoulders of compassion
broad. Men are not versed in mercy.
But they have often great knowledge
of expediency. And yet expediency is
weak thing in itself. Is it so vile
to call pity into counsel?"
Pity" she sneered. WAS it pity
that widowed me? And pity that be-
money enough in all the world to re.
quite me-"
Nor blood either, if you but knew
it! I am the father of first-born son,
and / know that the lives of so such
would not add one jot to my happi-
ness were he taken from me-"
She looked at him scornfully, steel.
ing her heart. And yet" she an
swered, you say that men are not
versed in mercy! Nay, but they can
make even mercy serve as cloak to
cowardice. And so you come fawning
for justification to the widow of the
boldest man who ever graced your
tong, that you may say: Wan Lee,
the widow of Hung Cow. has per-
suaded me against our inclination.
Having been bereft of both a hus-
band and a son. she has need of
money: the father of On Yick is rich.
In such a dilemma we have no choice
but to accede to her wishes" 1t is
thus that the tale will run. will it
not?"
The messenger looked at her with
You have guessed it.
You are wise, Wan Lee. This is why,
If you but cast your eyes in the iirec-
ton I point, you cannot fail to dis
ern the truth"
Her sneer continued. IA truth
drawn closer to your vision with the
eyeglasses of expediency?"
He bowed very low. 1.-THE short
sighted take whatever means is near.
est to clear up their infirmity. What
does it matter how the blind are made
to see, so the miracle is accomplished?
However, one but muddies the pool
with constant STRINGS. Let us per-
NIT the issue to settle. I shall go
back to my brothers and say that the
widow Of Hung Cow is undecided"
You will go back, then, o crafty
messenger, with a lie"'
What would you have me say, that
Wan Lee cried no quarter? That the
shoulders or compassion are shrunk-
en-! Are you ready, Wan Lee, to send
bullet speeding toward the heart of
-