The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-14

destroyed without the comp
the fire retreated.
The black curtain at the back
Of his brain suddenly moved
forward. Suppose something
had happened to Hester in his
absence? He was no longer a
company man, but an individ-
ual, who would have sacrificed
any interest Of his own, rather
than leave Hester this night to
face the birth Of their child
without him. Looking at his
watch, he was startled to find
1t was past midnight. AS quickly
as he could, he made his way
toward home.
Tragedy
Exhausted, painting for breath,
Stephen came in through the
door that led into the living
room, almost falling over Ii
TSu, who whined and licked his
boots. The coolie carrying a
pail Of hot water was coming
in from the kitchen, "Tai.pan,
.tai-pan," (''Master, mastery
. he said in his soft voice, look
ing pityingly at Stephen.
Hardly noticing, he stumbled
on into the bedroom. He saw
the amah leaning over Hester.
He saw her pass a wet cloth
over HeSter'S face. He heard
Hester'S moan.
"Sweet, sweet, I'm here. What
is it?"
Hester lay with eyes closed,
only the trembling Of her lips
giving any indication that she
lived. Stephen moved reluc-
family to the foot Of the bed
where the baby lay. But the
baby meant nothing to him.
Only Hester mattered. It was
not until long afterward that
he realized the baby was dead.
The assistant manager from
Shanghai was sent up to give
his opinion whether clearing
the space had been necessary.
The situation had become more
serious in the eyes of the COM
pany, since the city had decided
it would have nothing but tiled
roofs.
Stephen hardly heard what
the man said. He had been
over-cautious, according to the
.manager-might have waited a
little longer. But what did he
care, whether Shanghai liked
what he had done, or not?
Maybe he'd sacrificed his baby
to do it? Maybe his son would
have lived If he had been there
to help earlier in the evening.
He was sure Hester thought so.
She was as coldly separated
from him as if he were a
stranger, taking no notice of
him, sitting for hours without
speaking, and at night she lay
straight and rigid on the edge
of the bed.
All Stephen wanted was to
get away.
ut doesn't do any good to be
asking for transfers" the assis.
tant manager said, speaking in
the name Of the company. But
looking on Hester, he was
moved. Chase hadn't told him,
but he understood they had lost
o child recently: "When's your
home leave due, Chase? Over.
due, is it? Well, you fellows get
kind Of buried in these places.
Suppose I put your home leave
up to Shanghai"
. Hester was scarcely conscious
that Stephen and the assistant
manager had gone out.
With restless indirection, she
wandered from room to room,
out to the veranda where the
moonlight lay in metallic bril-
lance. Back into the house
again. Her husband-since the
! night Of the fire she had been
separated from him. Freedom.
With swift and certain direc.
! ton, she reached for her violin,
: thin ecstasy Of life in and for
herself possessing her. Ecstasy
playing itself into frenzy, be-
coming diSordered, stopping
abruptly.
/. AS Stephen came around the
side Of the house, he heard her.
- He stood tranSfixed. Hester's
music, usually an unknown