Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
The Thrice Bereft Widow of Hung Cow
By Charles CaldUeU Dobie WE8
She O

Wan Lee felt resentment, and the
defense that had answered like
challenge less than ten minutes be-
fore leaped to her lips: my sons
ways are not the ways of his illus
trious father. He Is schooled in tran
guilty"
Which" replied Shoe Shee sagely,
is as thin a cloak against violence
as any known"
Wan Lee felt herself trembling
with anger and fear. Why had she
derision? Yet a certain pride held
her to this encounter, and she asked.
as calmly as she could:
Know you the cause of this out.
break?"
THE usual cause--a woman"
"a bird of brilliant plumage?"
'None other than the distracting
Vat Gee. for whom already five men
have died. She was stolen from her
master under cover of last nights
darkness"
LAS I thought" replied Wan Lee
bitterly. 1T Is for such empty
headed dolls that we wives are
widowed! And has toll been taken?"
AYE. Suey Sing has answered for
the theft of Vat Gee--a young man.
it would seem, as innocent of her
abduction as the mother he leaves
bereft."
Wan Lee felt her palms grow sud
denly moist. "a young man, said
your"
"A young man."
'Who leaves q mother bereft?"
''Who leaves a mother bereft."
Wan Lee put out hand to steady
herself. Heard you his name?"
ut has escaped me. But l knew
his father before him. Shoe Shee
paused, and her cracked voice softened.
"A youth, according to report,
schooled in tranquility"
A BLINDING flash of realization
n swept Wan Lee. She could feel
her eyelids fiuttering as she drew
back from Shoe Shee's instructive
gesture of commiseration.
Shoe Shee sprang forward, en-.
circling Wan Lee with her thin, spent
arms. and thus came the widow of
the illustrious Hung Cow to the
threshold of sorrow.
There were those who said that no
woman ever had borne grief as light
ly as Wan Lee. Outwardly, not even
the serenity Of her market hour
seemed ruffied by the murder of her
son.
But, il this unnatural placidity oc-
casioned remark, what could one say
for her sudden friendship with old
Shoe. Shee? 1t was. not enough to
meet the old bag among the bazaars,
but every night, at the appointed
time, the cautious tapping Of Shoe
Shee came at the wicket, sending the
three daughters Of Wan Lee scamper-
ing.
To any who might have listened
to the conversation, the secret Of this
strange association would have been
half solved. For did not Shoe Shee
of life which could undermine what
or whom it would? And Wan Lee
was filled with vaguely destructive
urge as she contemplated the un-
reyenged havoc which the gods had
wrought for her undoing. 80. .....
Assuredly, justice moved slowly in
these days. Within twelve hours her
husbands murder had been met with
equal violence, while now three days
had passed without so much. as a
finger lifted in the defense of her
households honor. "Were there no
males in the mighty See Yupi Tong
worthy Of sacrifice?" She asked
Shoe Shee repeatedly. Shoe Shee's
replies were not altogether reassur-
ing; from the meetings Of the tongs
came tales of difficulties. indecisions,
differences of opinion.
And Shoe Shree heard subterranean
rumblings filled with portent. III her
ears did not deceive her, the storm
would gain violence by very virtue
of this prolonged calm. Thus for
three days ran the burden of Shoe
Shee's encouragement, and on the
fourth evening she came with con.
f1rmation.
THE man who must pay the PEN
atty for the murder of your son has
been picked"
Wan Lee simulated a dignifed
calm. why, then, do you not name
him?" she asked coldly.
Because my breath was, for the
moment, spent with the haste of
bringing such joyous news to you
Before the week is out the honor of
your husbands house will be satisfied.
The name of him who has been
chosen Is none other than On Yick,
the son of On Wo Low. What think
you of the choice?"
Wan Lee stiffened with importance.
II think it could not be matched with
in a hundred miles of this city. And
were you messenger from my .hus-
bands tong. / should send back word
saying: OF a truth, the humble Wan
Lee is this day honored above all
wpmen!"
That night, sitting upon her bal.