Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-22

|@c began to believe that things had not changed
IS much as he had feared they would. Evil
Iently it was still possible for proud Chinese
fke his father to live under Japanese flag,
llthough of course it would be only temporary.
It was unthinkable that the Japanese would
continue to rule in China That was why he
bad come back to China with only a masters
legree. His father had commanded him to re-
hahn abroad for two more years at least and if
possible longer in order to get practical expert
nee in his chosen field of metallurgy.
China needs men of the highest training"
bis father had written.
But Martin, reading in the American news
papers about the way Japanese soldiers were
behaving in his country had not been able to
keep his blood calm enough to sit studying.
must come back and do what can now
against the enemy" he wrote his father. And
without waiting for reply he had drawn his next
Terms expense money out of the bank and
bought ticket for China.
.Do the Japanese annoy you on the street,"
he asked his sister now.
II
hesitation in her answer Then she said, Some
lines - no, not if they know who am" Her
ace Swallowed. But hate them!' she said in
low voice. Il want to avoid them!"
"Of course" He was glad to avoid them too,
and he said nothing when the chauffeur drove
Slowly through small winding alleys instead of
he wide main street of the city.
When the car drew up finally before the gate
Pf his fathers home, his throat frightened He
vas really home at last! 1T looks just the
ame, he said gazing at it.
1t was just the same - the wide wooden
yates painted vermilion red and set in the thick
prick wall and over the wall the old twin pome-
yranate trees of the entrance court.
"How the trees have grown" he said.
Then he saw something was changed after
III. Instead of the one Waterman he had been
Used to seeing at his fathers gate, he now saw
wo soldiers, uniformed. their bayonets fixed.
They presented arms smartly as he stepped
from the car and he was embarrassed
whats this?" he whispered to Siu-i when
he had returned their salute
Father has to have a bodyguard just now
he said in voice which COMPOUNDED him. 1t
was angry with soom.
But she led the way quickly into the gate
md there was no time for questions. The first
courtyard was full of eager servants, waiting
% welcome home the son of the house Fire
crackers exploded and banners waved. He had
TO speak to all the old ones and to acknowledge
! he bows of the new Even his old wet nurse
was there come in from the country for this
bay His mother had died at the birth of the
twins, and while Siu-l had her own nurse,
Ling Ma had fed Martini and taken care of
him when he was too big to suckle. Everyone
had expected his father to take another wife
but he had never done so.
But where is Father" he asked his sister
when it was over at last.
HE seems not to have come home yet"
she replied. She hesitated. then went on: why
don't you go to your room and change your
things? BY then surely he will be back"
Il will" he replied
They stood moment, he feeling that she
was about to speak of something. But she did
not She touched his hand merely.
1T is very good to have you home again,
she said and left him.
His own room was not changed at all. Its
wide paper -latticed window looked out into
his own small courtyard. The bamboos, the
pine, were the same. Bamboos attain their
growth in single year and seven years were