Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-05-16


Ovsr The tIg0 AHIfTieaN 0eeonS.
the lads schooling. His elder son OBJ
:. iected to an excellent education, fear
ing that the boy would grow to com
slider himself on an equal plane VITA
himself, and resorted to devious meth
DDS TO hinder the hated ones progress.
With perhaps a measure of sly ref
elimination the old man now gave the
4 boy his school name Of Shameful, q
the manifestation Of virtue, a titB
shading in superiority the one of Shan
4 chi, meaning Virtue Uninterrupted
4 Shan-chi burned with silent wrath ard
/ his wife was a perfect mirror TO ms
dark reflections.
That should be thus humbled Is
! an injustice to wiring tears of SYM
pathy of heaven ITSELF" he said as he
thrust out his tongue to express thu
depths of horror. unless I am mis-
taken the tolerance of my worthy an
cestors must be sorely tried by these
unbearable events And so when I tell
you frankly that I am deeply suspicious,
and see my honorable parent as the
victim of vile deceit, am exhibiting
no more than righteous Indignation.
There is something unreasonable about
the whole business. My father is very
old man. That this Shameful Is gen
timely a brother Of mine is something
which I simply viii not strain my Ina
agination to believe, say what you will "
without counting offense, it was on
the very tip Of my tongue to express
what you have said" repeated his wife
dutifully.
ut is no use to talk" said Shameful,
II am not to be gulled by even SO sharp
young woman as she whom / must
,r1<1
of us must keep his head If we are not /
to become the laughing stock OF the /
district An old man is to be forgiven 1
many things, 1t is rightly written. In
the final analysis we are all merely
human. Yet, as for myself, I tell you
here and now that I shall never rec
ognize this little impostor for anything
but an inferior and an interloper, and
when I think Of the possibility that
my father viii persist in his madness so
far as to divide his wealth between
him and me am overcome with the
fury Of just Indignation"
Which is a completely proper at
titude," said the lady.
No one could have predicted not
even your story teller, what circum-
stances might have ensued but for
tragic happening which filled Mel Shih
with dread and terror and sent Shan
orders about the house pompously. For
the venerable Nj one day suddenly coll
lapSed from the effect of q swift stroke,
and lay dying upon sofa. The old man
spoke with great effort, and Mel Shih
sat by him continuously, weeping, her
little son by her side.
Mr.. Nj realized that his days we're
over. He called to him his elder son,
handed him a ledger which contained
Tho fAf fv, l
houses, land, and servants, and spoke
20 him as follows: THE little Shan
ehu Is but five years old. Both he and
Mel Shih must be provided for II
should, as justice dictates, now divide
ny estate, these whom love would
)e given responsibilities for which I
ear they are still unfit. Therefore,
Inn deciding the whole of my property
'ver to you and ask that you promise
hough you were q father until Shan
'hu comes Of age. When the time
ONES, see that q proper division of
ny property Is made. If Mei Shih de-
Tres to remarry, permit her TO DO so.
she decides TO embrace widowhood,
10 not interfere with her wishes. Obey
ne as filtal son should, for go now
the Nine Springs, and close my eyes
pom this world"
Shan-chi glanced through the book
nd was overjoyed to find that all the
roperty was intact and properly deed
d to him alone. Il viii carry out your
he now declared happily,
milling, implicitly"
Mel Shin saw Shan-chi go and, tears
dreaming down her cheeks, knelt by
ne bedside. saying, '"This little lad is
our own flesh and blood, yet you give
i'm into the care Of an elder son who
5 you must know, hates him. What
Ill become of us2"
I'm afraid that you don't under
and" said the old man slowly, his
1ice growing weaker every moment.
have thought long and pondered
seply. If had made an instant d.
sion 1t would have so embittered my
1filial son as to put you both in dan
n of his wrath, and there is no tell
q what violence he might have con-
red. AS 1t Is, you must have patience
AIT until I am dead q year, and find
me fine young fellow TO provide for
,tlr comfort"
Never viii consent to remarriagel"
ei Shih exclaimed ITO the end
Ial remain faithful to your memory
one who has loved with all her be-
g Is in honor CONTAINED to do. I
all raise Shameful In your name
he child of a widow who remarries
rfeits his fathers name and title),
voting the rest Of my life to his
oper upbringingS
THAT Is well indeed" said Mr.. Nj,