1914-08-29 — Page 8

SHORT

THE HONG KONG TELEGRAPH.

STORY.

THE CAMEL OF HAN,

BY SAMUEL MERWIN.

[Below we give the first in that they were quarreling obaard- stalment of another of Samuelty, grotesquely. Oh, how she Herwin's clever Far Eastern hated scenes, argument, criticism! stories, which he has been con- After all,"the thought rashed tributing to Madure's Mag- into her mind on a hot wave of asins. It deals with a further anger,"he's only an uncle by chapter in the charmed life of marriage, Miss Austin, and will doubt- less be as much appreciated as have been the other stories by the same author which we have from time to time published.]

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EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1914,

wondering how to rephrase her husband's sputterings on the subject: "I can't undertake to ran my basiness and Edith toáġ- ertainly not out there. It is all well enough for people that'll atay put. But Edith-in Tal Yaan? Not much!",

The blue eyes were flashing now, sad there was a spot of rod on each cheek.

Oh, well," she added, rather sadly, "you won't like to hear me say these things"

Finally she said: ́`** Your uncle thinks it would be safer for opean

meant it!

She had been staring out of the window as she spoke, Now she turned and looked at the rather bewildered face of the girl before her.

the

gratifying myself; and all the "I've been caring for myself, time they needed me in Shorsi!” She shook her head again, and a little time went on with the

SHORT SERMON.

"That they all may be one; as business of dressing. Eith, in Thou, Father, are in me and I in some bewilderment, eat watching Thea, that they also my be one in hor.

us; that the world may know that Thou hast sont me." Finally the missionary came resting her cheek lightly on that the world may know that. and took her by the shoulders,"That they all may be ona; Edith's abundant fluffy buir. Tuon hast sont me." anateady. It's the wrougest

It is the prayer of a defeated

"I'm afraid I ran away with "Please go on," said Edith you, dear," she said gently. "I eoftly. "I want to understand, forgot that you don't know these "Well, fifteen years ago a Eur people as I do. Everything is company-the Shonsi confused now, нідов as to leave you here at the hotel. Syndicato, it was called-gos a revolution. The people are tired, | coming in to-morrow on the Han'sole right to work the best coal, they don't know about it. When she spoke, her voice was soul who has fought the fight The Oldhams wire that they'ro concession granting them the and "poor, and worried. And kow train; and your uncle is sare and iron mines of Shansi. They Without leadership they will do they'll be glad to take care of got it in the usual way-bribery nothing; and all those who thing I do," she said, "clinging with the forces of this world about you.".

at Peking. Native companies might lead are fixo. It is not my pretty things. It always it and has been beaten. To- You're leaving soon, then ? " were prohibited from setting up so different, my dear, from our blinds me. Every now and again, morrow, no, one might almost say Why-300. By the early modera machinery or competing hume public-only worse; and when I feel strong, I give them to-day, He will be brought to a train to-morrow morning. Some in any effective way. The pro- they are incredibly poorer and all away; then, the first thing shameful and fearful death. Not dreadful hour-six o'clock, Ivince ali but rose up in arms. think, We won't disturb you; Listen to this. It soauds quaint the officiala, of course, he s and weaken. I want you to take is, wrong; not because He has denied more timid. Blaustein has got know, I'm tempted again, ant boause He has done anything and you can stay right on here as I've translated it; bus oh, they at Tui Yuan. They have his Edith dear. I bought it in a fit the existence of any God; not with the Oldhams.""

money and the promise of more; of wilfulnes. It's the only becaue his endeavoured to bold to their mines till death, as he can on his own, just so long as my funny camel. That's dut. at

The People of Shaasi must and they'll les tim do whatever thing I've kept, this year, except raise revolution; but because" He Li Pai Jen committed suicide on he doesn't stir up trouble. But the mission in Tai Yuen; and, that God is love; that any one has endeavoured to show people accout of the mines, and about they won't back him in a prias. anyway, it isn't beautiful-just may come to Him and be forgiven; him we can only think with grief They can't. If we can only show quaint. It's nothing any budy that the kingdom of Gud was and sorrow and tears; yet if the aume "real pupalar opposition, would ever want, except ma.

there for the usking therefore, government and officials still un- those canny old mandarins will

they were guing to kill Him! righteously flitter the foreignere have to be with us or less face. in their opression and fly the Oh1" she stghed" with a little people robbing them of their money, a little leadership, a little flesh and blood to give those to organization, posters on all the the foreigners then some one else highways for a hundred miles out must follow Li Pai Jen and throw of Tai Yuan, a big public meet away his own life by bomb-throwing, just one more mighty effort and so repay the Syndicate!...just to make it look as if the The little missionary was eit people are still guarding their ting up very straight now. Her righta-"

voice had deepoood in timbre. He oyes blazed with militant spirit.

he was thinking, "it will be Rhoda Eaveeby,"

The afternoon had been stir. Miss Austin turned away a face ring, beautiful, at the bedside of that gave no hint of whatever that little pale woman with the thoughts were stirring behind it. gently smiling month, thin hair,"If anybody takes care of me," and luminous blue eyes. And the ricksha ride, alone at dusk, "Uncle Frank has a grouch," through swarming, muddy street It was a trim, cheerful girl thought Miss Austin, glancing of old Peking there had been who appeared next morning at noross the table, because I'm the stir of enchantment in it. tho, bedside of Miss Rho is late to dinner. He's going to be And now this...! Tears Eavesby in the English Bard ugly in a minute." With which were crowding into her eyes; Mission, carrying a tiny black observation, she dropped her she fought them back.

and white sleeve-dog, and follow gloves into her lap, pinned up All through the meal the

by a "boy" with a wicker her veil, and told the Chinese silence. continued-antil coffee.st-0388 waiter in her best Pidgin-Eng-and-sigar time. Then Mr. Wil The invalid greeted her with a lish that she would skip soup and berly began to breathe heavily, wistful smile.

It is good of you fish and begin with the roast. He was going to say something. to be so fresh and pretty, dear," "I've been with Miss Faves by Edith wondered what. Probably she said, and clung to her hand. all afternoon," she explained an attemptat good humoursome" You bring the lovely spring day sweetly, in the hope of averting thing joonlar, offhand. That was right into the room with you." the storm, "at the English always likely, with him, to be Miss Austin blushed with Board Mission. She's ill, you the next phase after an outbreak pleasure. "Was my telephone know. But she is wonderful-" Day after to-morrow," she message very abrupt?" she said. her experiences and the fight she reflected, "he'll give me a pearl Aunt and uncle left for T'ai has made for her people out in necklace or something. And I Yuan this morning with Mr. Shanai. She would die for those don't want him to. Oh, why Blumstein, couldn't stay heathen in a minute,"

can't people jaat behave!" The cloud on Mr. Wilberly's "Fanny thing." bogan Uncle fat face was gathering into a Frank, with an effort at a chuckle. scowl. Edith had forgotten his "You know, I've been nibbling particular dislike for mission-at one or two of those old vases aries. Now, doubtless, she had at the porcelain merchant's in the turned him on. He would raat, Ha Ta High Stroat." (Yes, it She dieliked ranting. She was to be the offhand vein, hesitated, but then concluded, "Well, Blamstein tipped me off thought defiantly:

to-day the fellow has really got "I wish I had started as a some fine Ming and Kang Hai missionary, My life is so useless. staff, and wants big prices--but I'd like to be right out there in the it seems he is acting for Heather- fight with Rhoda Eaveaby." ington, the English dealer that's

Mr. Wilberly cleared his throat. stopping here at the hotel." "Do you think you're as pon- You don't say!" responded siderate as you might be, Edith Mrs. Wilberly, eager to humour -knocking around Peking alone, him.

A

t

I

arcund the hotel with those stupid Oldham people, so I made up my mind to come here."

This speech had an unexpected effect. The little missionary eat up straight.

a

Car

17

not the money, what good would "But, Rhoda dear, if you have

it do?"

She flaug out her thin white arms in a gesture of intense bat despairing nervous energy, com- "We beat them," she went on. pressed her lips again, and got to After ten years of manoenvering her feet. the syndicate gave it appalled Edith sprang up and took her out. But they left a wreck be- arm. bind them, a wreak of our work: Rhoda dear???

"What are you going to do, and our hopes. There aren't two "Got into my clothes-write other provinces in all the eight some letters-pack up." een that hate foreigners and yea Edith knit her "brows. "But Uhristianity as Shansi hates bat, anyway, you can't go to sham. In 1900 they killed

TaiYuan BOW, hundred and sixty of "No not until morning, worse people overy while.

man,luck! But I can't lie another woman, and child that was minute in that bad,” in the province at the tim They pearly did it again in 1907. We had to start pll over then, for the third time, teaching them that The little missionary steadied Christianity doesn't mean greed, herself by the foot of the bed, and bribory, plunder. We've had to looked at Edith. "I don't know," be so very, very patient. And she murmared; and there was a now these exploiters are at it hoarseness in her voice. She again, working through the new pressed her hands to her temples. Edith told her. Misa Eavesby government, taking advantage "I don't seem able to think kait her brows, then draw another of the unsettled conditions. clearly. Here is my fifteen years' pillow in behind her and leaned Blumstein hae back against it. Elith, concern watching Suanei. He wants that eyes and, somehow, I'm failing never stopped fight going to nothing before my ed, looked at the thin face, usually wonderful anthracite coal-and to meet the emergency!": gentle and smiling, but now keen, the iron. The great civilized almost sharp, with a set to the Christian world wants that iron mouth and a light in the blue and coal. They will bribe, steal. eyes.

murder they will devastate a oeople-but they want that iron and ocal."

"My dear," she said, '* you don't meanthe Blumstein -Simon Blumatein, of the North China Development Company?";

Miss Austin nodded. "Yes, his name is Simon, I think,"

Miss Evesby sat mationless for a long moment. Then I've never thought to ask your uncle's name, dear.!'

fake this, please baause I ask you to."

scarf among her own things in So Miss Austin, packed the the sticker suit-com.

What is this camel ?" asked Miss Austin, turning away from the window and making an effort to speak in a casual tone,

"Oh, just a pottery image. It was given me by an old Chiness gentleman of Taiku whom we cured of the opiam habit."

"Has it any glaza-or.colour?" The little missionary knit her has. At least, it isn't rough brows. "Why-yes, I believe it clay, lika some of those old things, What are you getting at, Edith ?"

What a hideous non aequitur! para from a mere statement of the low frightfully the conclusion ap

the world has been doing for every premises! And yet that is what men who has dared to life his hand and say "God."

Think of the prophets that have died as martyre; think of the honest men who have ataked. their all on houosty and have failed; think of the Christians down through the ages who have dared to say that God and Christ think of the men and women you were more than church or state; know who are fighting and losing badly in the interests of their ideale..

But he is victorious even as he is crushed beneath the chariot wheels of a triumphant world: "That the world may know that Thou hart sent me.'

"Nothing."

We soo tens of thousanda "You are wondering if it has streaming ap and eaying, "And a value." She sighed.

"If it thun, Lord, dost Thou know our bad, I would have sold it long defeat? Dost Thou know our ago. Even though it was a pre misery?" Ab. yes, He knew. cent. You see, dear, it is only the beautiful pieces that are such. My poor camel is just an worth anything-the vases and

old brown thing. Oh, it would bring a little something-five, ton, twenty-five dollars, even. Though I doubt it. You can buy all sorts and sizes of pottery and bronze animals for that. Why, even if it were ivory, it wouldn't fetch nearly enough. And i isn't ivory."

"I'm going with you," she

said.

Ah, this vindication that we crave in the future!

bus looked forward to the day How the misinterpreted anal when the world would know that it was in the right! For that, too, Jesus proyed.

The vindication has come to know." It dosa know, but what is. Jesus. That the world may the world?

We talk about getting away from the world, and very rightly,

Civilisation is the precipitate of onr fathers' ideala, and it is always tending toward creature comforta We talk about the elevation of our race, but we mean that we are more comfortable than were ou fathers.

at night, this way? How about "Yes, I do. Heatherington, it your sunt and me? There are appears, brought the stuff all the

Memories of coloured plates in her Miss Austin made no reply: people who would hold us so way from London, and is selling countable for you. But, the way it here secretly to rich Americans,

uncle'squarto volumes on Ubines Miss Austin was stirring with porcelains were passing in a you go on, never thinking of any Can you beat it? Blumstein save

in lignation against her Uncle confused series before her mind's body but yourself of anything he can average twenty per cent.

Frank. Why need he mix in this e But she had on y impressione. only sometimes we pot wrong but your own whima-" higher prices here than in New

miserable exploitation of a weaker n exact knowledge. If fouly definitions in the word "world. Mrs. Wilberly, with a flatter-York or London. Fulks, apend So they're at it again," caused

people? Then, in a fish, it came knew!" she thought. ing glance around, ventured: freer, you know, when they're iho missionary. She looked up

There enmes to us.a piosure to her that the business of life, tu But I'm sure ebe came travelling. Faot. I do myself. and soberly sundied the girlish

"Come," said the little mis- you will find in the books, of She throw back the bedclothes which he was so passionately onary, as if with a suddeniny holy people standing on the straight to the hotel from the Lucky I picked up this tip. I'd face before her. I don't quite and swung ber feet around, gropvated, was precisely that resolution, "let's waste no more tops of pillars in a deserted Ro mission, Frank.”

have fallen for it, sure. But know what to say."

ing for her slippers.

exploiting weaker peoples. Ele thought on useless notions. I've a city that has been destroyed Mr. Wilberly was not to be paver again! The next time I "If it's about uncle ?"

Oh, please," Elith murmur had talked enthusiastically-be- made up my mind. Blumstein by drought and invadera; at the headed, "And the people you buy Chinese stuff, I buy in little "I'm afraid it is." She besited," you masta't tire youself!tween platitudes of the wonder pick up,

Edith! I tell you, old New York."

ated again.

is going to beat me at last; but bottom of the pillars people are D. lie down again."

fai " they're a bad lot out here. As a He attempted another chuckle.

opportunities for develop. when the heating comes Ieball watching and praising the sanc "Plengo tell me, What are But the little missionary mêtement" in Shansi. practical business man, I've had but with no great success. Edith they at again?"

Now suddenly be in Tai Xuan to take it. You've tity of those above them. They ly reached for a wrap and drew she know what he meant. He been a dear, Edith; I hate to ought to escape the world by chances to observe 'em. Even did not so much as raise her eyes. Well, suppose you look there it about her shoulders. It was a meant bribery, stealth, sharp leave you this way. But I've got climbing a pillar. That is no way experienced people get taken in. Finally, muttering something in the middle bureau drawer Japaneso scarf of crepe silk, a dealing in the letter of contracts, take the early train to-morrow." And you, a girl with not the about talking over with Blum- over to the right. Oh, jast soft gray in colour, fringed at the diplomatic trickery..

to get a reputation, and it is one slightest knowledge of life-" stein, he left them.

rammage things around! Nende, and exquisitely embroider-

Mias Austin sat on the edge of way to get rid of the world, but "But a missionary !" faltered You must try not to mind bring me that fat red portfolio ad with trailing wistaria blos- belp?" asked Edith suddenly, and cuddled him against her

Would a hundred dollars the bed, picked up littie Wing is not the right way. Edith, while the colour slowly your uncle," said Mrs. Wilberly. The whole story is in there some some, also in gray. Then she Miss Eavesby smiled sadly and cheek. mounted her cheeks. "And "These indirect ways of doing whare." When

Edith had smiled gently and replied:

shook her bend. "Bless your frail, sweet little woman, all spirit business upset him. Everything brought the portfolio, Miss "No, dear. I must get up and heart, Edith-no, a small amount and faith and courage. You just is delay delay-delay. And Eavesby drow thick bundles of dress. I can't lie abed here would be wasted. I said five don't know, Uncle Frank. Sho everybody smiles. It's that papers from the various compart not with Simon Blumstein in hundred-but it would take is a saint."

matter of the Shansi concession. ments and strewed them about T'ai Yuso, I'm sorry to be in- rather more than less.**. She isn" a saint! "sputtered He's been thinking of nothing the bed. Here this one. I hospitable. "Oh,"-blue eyes "I couldn't possibly raise an Mr. Wilberly.

else since we landed at Shanghai, trapelated them myself-all the began flashing again, ob, if I other cent without going to Unele "Ssh!" breathed his wife and I don't see that the thing has petitions of the Contry and only had some money! With Frank," mused Edith "Don't raise your voice, Frank!" progressed an inch. I shall be People of Shansi." She smiled five hundred dollars I could boat he is

But Mr. Wilberly had to get it glad, for one, when he definitely faintly. "Though perhaps 'peti- Blumstein."

We can't ask him to put all out,

"They're not sainte-gives it up. Then maybe we tions' isn't just the word."

Mies Austin's eyes widened. up money to defeat himself. No: none of 'em. They're a meddle-could start back home. But, as She glanced over the docum-You could beat him?" she we're fighting him." And she some lot of humbuge, mixing in it standa now, nothing will suit fent, and sighed. "Why do for repeated, wondering. things they're not fitted to under Blumstein but our going clear out eigners have to come in and stir

sighed. stand. Why don't they stick to there to Tai Yuan Fa. He says it all up again this dreadful lips and nodded. "I could do it. Bid Miss Lavesby, & little later,

The missionary compressed her

"I want you to have this," their preaching! As a business we shall have government escort business just because they are If I had the money. It's a matter folding the wistaris scarf with a and there'll be uo possible greedy for more and more of new petitions and runners and loving touch and laying it on He paused. There was a long, denger."

-and more! We missionaries travelling expenses for a dozen Edith's suitcase. longailence. Edith was still "Well," replied Edith in a low come from Christian lands and workers and a big meeting at

"You want me-Why, my apparently intent on the menu, voice, "a glimpse of the interior and try to teach, the gospel of T'ai Yuan-yes, a meeting will dear, I wouldn't think but her lashes drooped over eyes would be interesting. It has our Christ to these yellow people, do it. And such things cost that had deepened from their looked lately as if we weren't even and then our leading citizens some money, even in

The little missionary Inid har China. hand on Edith's arm. usual hazel to a brown. The going to have the trip to the follow us and use the power and And, of course, I can't be active I bought it for myself; and it

"Please flush lingered on her cheeks and Ming Tombs."

intelligence that is the birthright myself. Mr. Harbison won't let was wrong. I want you to have temples. Surely everybody at Mrs Wilberly hesitated, and of civilization to rob them of all me. He is afraid of trouble, it." the near-by tables must know her eyes wandered. She was they have!"

They're all afraid.”

But, my dear

44

man,

i

2

and on the other side.

"

"Oh, no, my chilă ! **. Edith nodded. Her eyes were glistening,

be actually unsafe."

But it's impossible. It might "How about yourself? " "That's different,"

Why? How ?"

It's my work.

"I'm pledged to the service.

"Well," said Edith, slowly time I was a little use to some- and with emotion, "it's about body or something. I never have been yet. You have at least two need a nurse, that's what you degrees of fever right now. You

need. If you insist, after I got you safely to T'ai Yuan, I'll join and come back with them. Bat sunt and anole, take my scolding, you sha'n't go a step without (2′o be Continued next Baterday,)

Wherever you find comfort coming in the door you will have tosbet the windows to keep ideale in. Jesus dared to stand and tell Gia age that sort of truth, and the world simply smote Him. Of course, we have improved the

rld immensely. Civiliantion is advancing, so that this pre cipitate or human idealiem makes a little higher ground all the time on which we may climb to look

centre where stands the Christ, further over God's kingdom.

We have turned toward the giving Himself for the world and the world, and lo! as we come beckoning us to give ourselves to carer to Him and our tasks, we find ourselves coming closer together.