1913-10-18 — Page 8

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

SHORT STORY.

THE MORTGAGE.

BY JOSEPHINE DASKAM BACON.

Continued from Tuxt Stuhy

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1913, 1.30 P.M.

SHORT SERMON.

"And Amasish said to the man

Bible hates every kind of lying. yot lies fill the air like the morba of dust Wuo feels much qun- demned if he has wriggled out of an embarrassing situation by a smart equivocation?

THE OIL AGE.

ed bodios lie addrossed listoned the little girl chaste without mak froza its stiffened creases Lucia/over now. I've had many, many never answered, the kind letter likely enough that in his day the one announcing the discovery

to him so willingly..

Doctor Starchon sighed and and that she is as good and lovely trying to remember your mother's lifted bis daughter off his knees, as you deserve. It is the girl that face as I had seen it last, well and at length, and rose silently. had the runaway horse and you smiling all I could see washers!"

"How strong he is!" she saved ber? I am sure it is. I He shook his head. thought.

hope I haven't been bad for you, It was the merest trick of the of God. But what shall we do Ho walked slowly into the

dear, or hurt you-how I have imagination, of course-I almost for the hundred thousand talente library and over to his great desk cried over it all! God knows never thought of her, then-but which I have given to the arms that held the overflow of its never know how I've worked and actually recall your mother's 2.

I've paid for my happiness. You'll it possessed me and I could never of Iernel?"-If Chroniclee XX mate in the downstairs office, and planned and lied right and left face-not even in her collin. I Amaziah was the son of unlocked, with a key on his ring to protect you from your own have learned since that it's fairly Joash. He came to the throne one of the inner drawers. From chivalrous folly! I believe I common. Many men have told when he was twenty-five years this he took a black, japanned shall never tell another lie-how me of their inability to picture old. Josephus egs that when dispatch box, and unlocked it I hated them! When your lotter their wives mentally, but I didn't he was young ho

That the oil nge has actually was very lawned and even already reached much. Je was daring and there with another smaller key. le firat betrayed you. I wished I know that then, and I had a bad good and exceedingly careful of something of it morning splen-.

fumbled about in the box & mo had never fore enrious, So ho has always

niet you, and felt year because of it. It turned me doing right. How Josephus kuew Lucia's epos never left his face, raade a great deal of troublement sad came back with a paper dreadfully little, but that's all bitterly against her, too, and I that, we do not know but it is decent bing med daily. Two She saw suddenly why the learns it was even harder to make in his hand. As he unfolded it

recent cablegrams from London- authentic traditions of the kings of a means lor the economic con- ing her cold, and to keep her aw that it held a small, old feelings in our two yeare that you she wrote me, poor Elsio!""

never knew, dear, dear Dick, but Lucia shivered at the name, were in existence. It ja, however, vision of cal into patrol and the "She is trying to take the kind without lotting her get easy. fashioned photograph, mounted I know. I had no right to have but her father had ceased to look not much to tell us. Most of us other reporting the acquisitions best and most enduringly flexible going, on the one hand, or on a foreign looking, satiny card-

board. He handed it to her in I wish I could see her picture.

them and I kept them from you. at her..

are pretty good when we are by an English company of a huge type of human being." ho went scheming and lavish one of silence. It was the picture of a Could you tell me when you have me," he said musingly, and then to be. Vast numbers of men but signs of the times. How do "I thought it as a judgmont on children; partly because we have oil concession in Eun-dorare on, enveloping her in the ma-other. And for whichever of gnetism of his low, warm voice these mistakes she made, the little beautiful woman, with smooth children? You were so genite" It was all so long ago!" were more fit for heaven when finitely the new era is upon us the voice she had inherited, and boy has always blumed her sex called the French twist, and the was ill I'll never forgot it. And

hair worn in what used to be and thoughtful when little Elsie He had forgotten her entirely. they were 'Sunday scholars, than is also shown by the lately fore- after every possible sort of ex-erely Fle has had the easier job small waist and looped draperies don't bother abus meit will suddenly, "don't try to play Pro-They were more afraid of disobey-British Admiralty to adopt the "Oh, child!" he burst out they unfortunately are now. shadowed determination of the periment she has found that she for it is much easier to be brive most nearly accomplishes it when than to be kind; so he has al- of the early eighties. The eyes only be what it was before you vidence! Who are you, to punishing God's will then and more now fuel for uavy purposes... she matea a brave and honest man ways grabbed more out of the brows, but the mouth was a pas-about the children. It would be doesn't attend to that? When we difficulty the church is confront world," said Mr Winston Chur- smilod at Lucin; under graceful, And I shall feel better and decide? Do you think Life glad to do it. This is just the There is plenty of oil in the with a chaste and kindly woman. Bag and had more room to carry sion of sadness. It was the face worse to have you just grow tired hand you over those valuable ed with to-day. In overy Chris-chill in the blouse of Commons That is her lowest common it her arms, have been so full of denominator: that she must have, babies, for one thing. But with a woman not much older thun of me, you know. Don't ever pieces of property, ourselves, do tian country almost all the chil in the vast majority of case, in everything that he has pulled out the girl who looked at it, but

on July 17, and indeed thore is., we don't know if dren come under Christian in The world's production in 1911 think that again, that you ought you suppo order to make the humati type a for himself he has miled on Lucia would not feel so old for to despiss yourself, dent. When they're mortgaged? Do you sup-struction, but what chues of виссов. And the reason is something for her, ton; and of ten years to come. obvious. If man is not brave helate geirs all the mechanical toys, Who is it, father?" she asked, "knows the trice she must pay we 2 Big, we problem. The history of Annzish

a woman does what I did she pose we don't regret? But we them in later life? That is the us us under: can't win out personally; if he is he happened on

Country. acem to have and glanced from the picture to did, and will pay. C'est tout. And in time, and start our sons un may be the history in substance

United States not honest he can't advance col- been adapted to ber uses, so that him. He was quite pale and I shall always remember you encumbered. Don't you see? Our of a good many people here and lectively. If woman is zot kind she has set them all working for seemed twice about to speak, but lovingly. But don't come-don't sons! I'm not the first man a

elsewhere.

Russian Empire he doesn't want her, if she is nother, and gained so much time and no words came.

come! I have had three months mortgage has, atendied, Lucis! Is There was no sudden drop in this Duich Fast Indies chaste he can't keep her. strength that now all she needs

"Did yon-were you in love alone already, and I'd rather go that an example, then? No, no, king's moral character. le begun Roumania" pon this baste you may for him to invent an incubator with her once?" she asked gently, on from there. Be happy, deara hundred times, no! But it's a rather well. His father had been Austria build as mooy virtues as you for her babies, she thinke, to touched by his moved, white face. est, dearest Dick, and don't solace, my girl, it's a solace." murdered. The names of the con-. wish-or "can; but experience make her as free to grab as ever

"You onu burn the letter now,spirators are given in the 28th Japan shows that this is the basis. And he was! And maybe he will firmly now." She had the same and her heart ached at it, but her he said, taking her hand that We may be sure that yo kuor Canada

Very much so." he said, quite quite forgot Your Elsie."

Lugia folded back the letter and the photograph,if you like," verae of the previous riter. Cermany men have always known this. So maybe he will.

claini upon my life that you re- that a brave man and an honest

sent in Max's,"

face was cold and stiff.

clenched so tightly on them. "I them. And revenge for bludd man has often been a profligate,

"Did my-did you ever tall-"suppose that is why I didn't do it shed is and always has been a but David is nevertheless hero.

She couldn't have borne it."

"You mother? No, never. before. But there's no more rea- feature of all Arab races, of whom will prove of an advantage or And a kind woman and a chaste

the Jews were one. According otherwise to our own Empire is a womsu has often been a stupid

Hor tingere tightened silently. to the code of the time he might question not easily disposed of. woman. But humanity has always

"N No? I suppose I shouldn't have killed all these conspiratirsiteto as Mr Chezze Money known what 'naaly' meant, and

have shown them to you? The and their families as well. No points out in the London Daily what womanly abould be, and

"I saw her, yes, but she was impulse took me, and you know one would have called him a Necs, an obvious nuvantige mad no generation will ever bully us

unconscious." into believing that one must boed. chaste and the other logical.".

"But, father, mighta't they be? Couldn't they be?"

Lucia's hands clenobed in her lap; her lip quivered. Was that tide of all the ages what she had swept at so contentedly with her nest little broom? Did things inove as slowly as this, in spite of all her committees ?

"But whatever he invents he knows he must be brave or she will

not love bim, and whatever she graba, she knows she must ba chaste or be cannot love her. Believe me, dear, this is true, and it was true when 1913 was B. C."

"But education," she murmur

**If education advances till

10,130 it will still be true, dear,"

he said.

י. י

Lucia fled across the space bat- ween them and buried herself in

his arms..

A flood of red poured over her; it seemed that she was burning.

"Oh!" she cried and choked on something' in her throat, "oh; father!"

I

"Yes," he said quietly, "that is just what I mean. I want you to sce. I don't know any other

Way.

picture, "You too! You too!" She stare, unseeing, at the

ehe whispered.

"I too," he said. "It is Fo. hard, Lucia? It was all before you were born, you know. Shall

tell you about it ?"

"I-I suppose so," she agreed listlessly. It seemed she must be dreaming.

"I was very young," he said, standing before be as she dropped in her obair, "and she was very beautiful and very unhappy. Her

"Is-is she dend ? " "Oh, yes, ten years ago. "Did you-

"How dreadful!"

Be smiled sadly.

•

"

Lucia. I came, just to see if there "It wasn't dreadful really,

was anything I could do. We ware not lovers then, you know."

"Oh!"

ison now.'

T

L

ני

"

"

}

Carperial gallons. 7,713,000,000 2,315,000,000 281,000,000 241,000,000

· 180,000,000

55,000,000

20,000,000

20,000,000

Whether, however, the oil age

what everybody always says about blood-thirsty villain for having rested with the nation which pus- those impulses of mine. I don't, done so, but he did not. Elo bad sessed the beat supply of naval dare not, follow them, "he pleaded. respect to the law of God us re- coat in the world, and that nation Lutie

But if it's made you bate me, vealed in his Bible, in Deu- of coures is the United Kingdom. teronomy XXIV. 16. The But it cannot be gaiusaid that How boyish he looked! It was fathers shall not die for the child-the dethronement of coal means like Max thore. Were all men ren, neither shall the children die she dethronement of the Empire's the same?

for the fathers, but every special advantage. Coal mora "Her husband had grown much She gasped, laughed un man shall die for his own than anything else has made Oh, why can't they all to

kiador-his health Woo

Thie comateadily, then gront sobs shook sin."

W19 splendid Great Bintan what it is. In is s like you?" she cried, between

pletely broken-aud be felt her her and she was in his arms. “ moral achievement of Amaziah not only because England bus tears and laughter, "I always

death much more than I did. "Hate. you? I never loved He refused to follow had the best coal supply for said I'd marry you, when I was "Oh, that's different! That's you're the only one that

You see, she was his wife. But you before!"

well-established custom out of steaming purposes to place in he had his children."

She olung desperately to him, obedience to the Scriptures. How the bunkere of her war ships different!" he cried, and com-understands!"

She stared at him, confused but her storm of weeping did not much ahead of us he was at this that she is able to boast forted her with his rare, warm

alarm him.

stage of his life! We are always her naval smile.

"You're wrong, dear." he said

and resentful.

supremacy but "What was really dreadful,' “It's all right now!" he whie-committing sind, which are plain- also because of

her great "Work at that all you like, y quietly. "Max will understand"

husband was a brutal, cold-if you like, was the time, short-pered.

ly condemned in Scripture; and wealth, a great wealth derived dear. That't just "civilization. "But he doesn't! He says it's blooded fellow who neglected herly after I married, when she was "I'll marry any one you not only in Scripture but by con- mainly from coal. Oual has given Look at the children of chaste absurd. He says he wishes ho'd utterly and had lost all pretence sick and lost her grip on herself say, but I'll never leave you!" "cience and our general know- her manufacturing supremacy men and clever women, and see never told me!" 20

of interest in her or her children and sent for me. I couldn't go she murmured at lust. I never ledge of God's law; yet we do and made her the common car if more of 'em aren't worth work- "You must give him time; then. long before I ever met her. I was because your mother wasn't well, had you really, before, did I?" them because it anita us. Thorier of the world; it is the found-i ing for! But," he gave her a And film his point of view it is shy and lonely and proud, and I and I had to refuse her. It was He held her tighter.

rush to be rich; the Bible conation of her runess, and her whimsical glance, "the kind of absurd, you know. This gener had never been in love in my very hard, for your mother wasn't "Was it because I told you?"demns.it, economice condemn it, richness makes the maintenance people that are working theation goes on" too fast for itself, life-really. We were the only seriously ill, and for any legiti She nodded soberly.

the experience of infinite sorrows of her navy possible. Will the hardost, just now, seem to forget even. Why, een here, Lucia English-speaking people in the mate excuse I could have gone, "I suppose so. And yet I and disillusiouing that it has creat coming of the oil age alter all the necessity of starting true to your grandmother wouldn't have pension. Do you see?

but I couldn't explain this and I don't see why. A-a mortgage ed in countless roule condemns it; this? It can hardly fail to do so type."

allowed the mention of this other Ob yes I see," she answered, wouldn't lie,”.

is a mortgage!"

yet it is the trap that catches the unless it is ultimately, proven He chuckled thoughtfully, woman in her presence; your and hated her voice for sounding His face twitched and he sat He kissed bor wel eyes, more souls of thousands. We have to cheaper for Great Britain to make Laica learned forward, enger to mother would have been merci so cold, but could not meet his abrupty in Lutie chair opposite tenderly than any love.

think well of Amazinh at this stage oil of her stil vast copl ber.. catch his lowest word; never had less to her, and thought herself eyes..

than And I must lose her" he of his career. God's Word was not reserves

to import she left so fascinated by his frank more than justified; you insist "Of course I should have taken I can't describe how it cut though, half resentful, half proud, the empty name that it so often natural oil. After all and friendly talk, as with an utter upon handing Max over to her! her away," he went on simply, me," he said painfully, "it seem- Darling girl," he said, low in is. It pats his sword into its mineral oil is merely dis- equal.

What is be to do? What is he" but she would not give up the ed so-so low to refuse her 1 But ber, ear-was she more woman or sheath, after he and put the act- tilled coal. When Venice was on

children. And he would never that's part of the price." to think?"

child to him? "It'e like those grab-bags your

"Never mind usual murderers of his father to the verge of losing her glorious have divorced her, she always "But what did she pay!"what do we matter? Take death; it drove back the hot position as a world power with Aunt Judy was always arranging "Ihe prefers that sort of insisted, and she absolutely refus-Lucia cried passionately. "Think us, you and Nature, mortgaged prasion of vindictiveness which cantaries of greatness behind her, as we are, and build us into would have made a clean sweep her leaders were closeted with 'Come, come, Lucia, be course it would have ruined it.'- "I have thought of it, child."those great, living properties of of their whole families. That alcaemists. la history repeating reasonable! How can be prefer her if he gives her up for you? he tell me there things?" she them.

"Is this my father? How can he gaid, and a silence fell between yours, the new generations! It's was practical belief in the Bible itself? Are the chemists and

you that count !!!

A little of that to-day would effect physicists to be the guides, Has be seen her since be knew

"You think it's all one-sided, thought. you?"

She neatled closer in his arms an enormous moral revolution. philosophers, and frien la of the She was nine years older than don't you?" he went on after a and sighed.

We are not asked to believe that British Empire, and point the "Of course not, she said I," he went on steadily, and I little. "It's not so, Lucia. But "We count for too much to an action is sinful just because way to her statesmen how best to coldly.

thought I could Lover care for a each pays bis own price in his riek the mortgage, I suppose!" the Bible condemns it; it is the to meet the new situation? It with something in their fists, too, Can't you see he is free?"

"And that is nearly a year mere girl after that: But she own way. Mine-ob, it seems He held her off at arms' length other way about. Actions are would assuredly seem so, if the So the Old Lady says:

knew better. And when I met absurd now, but how I suffered, and looked hard into the very core condemned in the Bible because recent discoveries for the economic they are in their very nature sin-conversion of coal into oil prove "How about her?" Lucia your mother, she knew from my under it! Do you know, would of her honest eyes. "Here, little boy, here is

"So much, that we don't call ful. You never find that the to be correct: courage and honesty; take them murmured against his shoulder. letters. I was going back to tell you believe, that from the moment and grab what else you can. Here, "Perhaps she isn't free,' as her, but she wrote me this." ile I know you were to be born till it a mortgage, daughter." he said. Bible in its general spirit con- it. Has she no handed the creased letter to Lucia, you wera-oh, fully a year old-I" Do you know what Nature has demons a merely legal or artificial little girl, here is kindness and you call

and she took it awkwardly still lived in perfect terror lest you taught us to call it?"

man-mado fault. It goes down to chastity; give one away and bold rights?"

I used to She caught her breath.

fundamentals. And condom- the other tight, and as much else "Not one, dear, not a shadow not meeting his eyos. It was not should look like her!

It was "What?" she whispered, nation which will be pronounced "What very long, but she was slow at dream of it at night.

the Great as you can manage you're wel of one, "he said gravely.

purely an idee fixe, of course, but terrified suddenly at his cold, by

Judge of reading it. ever bargain she may have made, come to!"

Dearest Dick I know from it haunted me and spoiled all my appraising eyes.

all when all accounts are made up "But, of course, accidents hap-be sure she knew-and know

It is one of the few things is that we have knowingly and Mr John Philips, a divor, was pen. The Bag is full of accid- that that was the principal clause the way you write that your only pride in your coming.

reason for crossing the ocean He eat quiet, and insensibly that history, religion and science wilfully disobeyed it, when we examining the bottom of the se ents. It almost seems as though in it. She has no rights.

again is to tell me something. Lucia's heart began to soften, her have agreed upon," he said slow-bave known in our consciences off Ravenscraig for wreckage whet we could have packed it better "It wasn't a bargain, she Do not bother to come, dear Dick, nerves grew quieter. He seemed ly," and the sons of Adam have that it was right.

"Thou shalt he came upon a broad flightTM Ourselves"

murmured, hor face hidden. for I know it already What I her father again.

learned it once and forever. We not steal.” Yet men steal in red windstone stepe, 14ft. in wid! He looked at Lucia, who blush."She wasn't-she was oh, fat- have waited for every day of my There was the other thing-call it a flaw in the title, Lucin, countless polite ways. Thou shall and five in number all firm) cd, and resented it, and loved him her, she wasn't that sort of life since we began, has happened, after your mother died," he went and we look elsewhere when not covet. Yet we do covet our fird with Rorain concrets. Exe They just it was and now that I'm certain, I feel a on. You were only two, you we are ready to build-we look neighbour's prosperity and if he stop was footworn in the centr "It was hard to give the little just as if-oh, you'd never strange sort of relief. I suppose know. We had been very happy elsewhere!"

you won't understand. I hope together. And the moment after And in their meeting eres the boy high spirite enough to made understand l'. ... bim brave, and not give him too

you'll be very happy, my dear, the funeral, when I eat glone, past and future met.,

for the bospital fairs," he said. woman-" **Nature starts the little boys and girls at the great mysterious Bag and give them years of chances. Only to get into the bag at all, Aunt Judy's little clients had to have sama five-cent pieces, and to etand any chance in Na- ture's big game, they must start

all at once.AM

!

woman!

•

利

~There was a long paure,

#1

#7

ed to ruin my career. And of of that!'

+

Roman Remains in Seat

is better off than we are, we are Ravenscar is believed to hav

not particular what we do if we been a Roman military outpo oan only be sa rioh as he. The go the Yorkshire count.