Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
The Dagger s. 5 % %.;s 5.5 Sis's
copyrieht. ieso. by pufaeld and cOmpany.

about which lowered several servants.
whom Chang waved away as he seated
Dagger opposite his own place.
He seemed to have forgotten the re-
cent incident. The conversation he
started as the first course was served
led to political subjects, the roles the
Western powers had played in China,
the undermining of the empire by the
opium war and the TAPPING rebellion
two generations since, climaxed by the
Boxer uprising.
He spoke of the impetus to Chinese
liberalism which had been applied by
the students sent to America through
the repayment of the Boxer indemnity,
and the consequent intoxication of q
people who still dealt mentally in the
Middle Ages. and whose traditional phil
losophy and folk-ways must be COM
pletely amended before they could dis
tinguish between the good and the bad
In Western civilization.
1t was as absorbing to Dagger as all
her recent experiences, and she threw
out frequent comments, which brought
grim mods of approval or curt: You
see it, Mrs. Vaneering!" Eyes, but not
many foreigners have the patience to
weigh that" Finally, she interjected:
But didn't Blaine-Mr. Howard
sympathize with all your ambitions,
general?"
Chang frowned over her shoulder in
the odd, blank way that was one OF his
characteristics.
More than any Westerner who has
tried to Understand us. But We will come
back to that. First, I have something
to say to you"
And the cold, twisting hand OF
drama clamped down upon Dagger
heart.
"Yes?" she responded, mechanically.
His eyes settled upon her, posseSsive,
dominating.
"All this is mine" he continued
waving his arm. with its silver-tipped
fingers, to include the surrounding
darkness. "Sung-fu is but the begin
ming, 100000 square miles, 10000, 900
people. But-the beginning. Some day,
if l live, I will rule all China. ! will be
Emperor, Constitutional Emperor. do
not believe in your democracy any more
than I believe in divine Son OF
Heaven"
He stopped, and his eyes bored harder
into hers.
"a man such as I am must have a
woman TO keep pace with him. did not
know that until recently. thought
women were toys to amuse mans ease.
But that .issone thing you Westerners
rarely, there are women man may
treat as an equal. You are that kind
of woman"
Another pause, and Dagger resisted by
a conscious effort the commanding in
fluence of those narrow, Jetty eyes.
''Ypu have seen my wives" he said
blunt1y. II will put them all away.
have a palace in the hills where they
can be comfortable-grow old quarreling
together" he added cynically. You
are different You are my equal. Will
you, as you Westerners say, marry me?
/ do not know what that means, but
will accept whatever terms you make. "
He leaned closer toward her. Il want
you for my Empress. Together we will
make China over"
Dagger shut her eyes to keep out that
piercing stare. She had sensation of
numbness How ridiculousl How fat
teringl How preposterous! How Just
plain silly She was being proposed to
by Chinaman. How Uncle Jim would
rave If he knew 1t! And Blaine-her
head cleared. She reopened her eyes,
and met Chang's tearleSsly, level
proved.
Il know you offer me great honor"
she said. But 1 belong to another
man-who was your friend"
Chang frowned.
ITO a man you must think of as
dead?" he asked.
Yes, although I never belonged to
him living"
The frown left the Tuchun's face.
more than ever 1 see you were meant
to be my Empress" he said. But such
loyalty is not to be despised. You have
not loved in vain, Mrs. Vaneering.
Blaine Howard is alive"
CONTINUED Tomorrow