The Washington times., 1935-06-11

gOOQS, person OF pTeSIlSe, CIV
ing him prestige.
CHAPTER 80
The friendship Of Stephen
and Ho was threatened. Since
that night in the launch when
each let down the barrier Of his
own culture and entered into
friendship, only once had they
seriously misunderstood each
other. That had been at the
time of the death of the old
tai-tai, when Stephen had seen
there were ways in which he
could not trust Ho. Now it was
Ho who did not understand
Stephen-and over the same
matter.
The day before Christmas, Ho
came to the hong with his gifts.
There was nothing more i'm
portant in the eyes of Ho than
the proper gift for the proper
occasion. Among his own peo-
pie he kept the custom, and he
was not a little proud that he
understood the foreigners Gus
tom which set the day of giving
on the birthday of their god,
rather than that day of greater
rejoicing, the New Year. And
he was not little pleased, too,
with his choice of gifts, especial
ly with his gift for the tong ia.
With ceremony he entered
Stephens office, shaking his
own hands in salutation, for he
abhorred the Western custom
of touching another mans hand,
even the hand of a friend. A
servant followed, his arms
heaped with red-paper parcels.
Stephen rose to greet Ho,
pleasure in his eyes. There was
the customary formality be-
tween the two friends, then Ho
motioned the servant to come
forward. He took from the pile
of gifts a long narrow package.
Holding it in his two hands,
he proffered it to Stephen-the
gift of Ho to the tong-ja's wife.
Stephen, as he took it, knew by
the shape and weight that there
was silk within.
A Token
Now the great Ho, injecting
into his manner even greater
ceremony, bowed gravely, and
placed a second package in
Stephens two hands. The pack
age was small and, Stephen
hoped, not valuable, for an or
der had gone out from the main
office forbidding company men
to accept gifts of value from the
Chinese in their employ. Some
of the presents given the men
of late had smacked of bribery,
they said.
AS Stephen opened the little
box, Ho spoke, I'm token of our
friendship" There before
Stephen lay a gold ring. With.
out alloy, he knew, the gold
was so yellow. And upon the top,
cut into the gold was his name
in Chinese characters, done in
reverse for use as a seal.
It was a beautiful thing, and
Stephen coveted the possession
of it. He held it for a moment
in the palm Of his hand. Then
he turned to Ho saying gravely,
you have made it difficult for
me, friend. Do you not remem-
Der the letter from the Com
pany that was sent to each of
the agents two moons ago? I
showed it to you, did I not?"
All" said Ho. THAT is I'M
derstood with the agents of the
Keepers Of Light. But between
us. there is no Company stand.
ing. That I said long ago."
Stephen sought to explain
that if he took the presents, all
his men would feel free to do
the same. And that he must
accept also the presents of the
agents, setting the order of the
Company at naught. At first
Ho persisted, thinking it could
not be that his friend refused
his gift-it was only good form
to demur before accepting. Then
suddenly, he knew that Stephen
would not accept the ring and
he was angry. His cheeks glowed
golden yellow.
Throw it away then" he
cried, land the silk after it! I
will not have them!" He flung
his words about the room in
great gusts of sound.