THE YELLOW SPOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 307, 27 December 1924, Page 25

THE YELLOW SPOT.

By LILY STACH.

CHAI'TKI! XII. .lorry Turner on leaving the lea garden oi the Spring of Kverlasting UelM't ' had set nut for Hie coffin B | lo p ~f Ching Knij. His purpose «:is lo tell young Lee that he had just seen ami talked] with All Sin. He also wanted to tell! him of th,. possible identity of the yniinj; girl of whom he had just heard, who whs visiting the ];<-..■. Jenkins. Suddenly the idea came to him that it would he far better to make sure of the identity of this maiden ami have j something more definite lo tell the' i.iuiig China ma n. , /Vmrdingly he retraced his steps, anil ' in a few minutes found himself standin-' at the dour of the Mission House. " , Mr?. .1. iikins somewhat grudgingly | •ulniitted him and called her husband, i Turner explained to them both the pur-; pose of this cull. Mr. Jenkins was still! feeling offended at the American's manner tiiu-ard him at the tea garden. He listened coldly to his explanation. i "It is lint wise to assume these evil motives on the part of our less fortunate ', brethren, .Mr. Turner," lie said, rebuke' : n his tone and words. "The explanation' is very simple. This little maiden has, been sent, to visit us in response to a r-nrdial invitation extended by Mrs. .Tenkins and myself to her father. Hop Yin, who is a personal friend of mine. Why. c\en Albert, whom you know as All Sin Bury, «iis aware that I was hoping sonic tiny (o have her here to be present nt mir classes." : 'Say, i-< that so?" This added another link to tlic chain of reasoning in Turner's mind. "I'd be mighty obligated to' you if you'd let Miss Lotus Lily come down and let mc put a question or two to her. Mr. Jenkins." The clergyman somewhat unwillingly consented, and the houseboy was sent to bring in the little maiden*. Presently Lotus Lily, quite unabashed, came into the small sitting.room. She had surreptitiously peeped at many strangers, even at foreign devils, herself securely hidden, in Hop Yin's shop. She stared at the American with bright unblinking Being on a visit she was wearing her best array. Her tunic and flopping trousers were of pink and yellow anil blue, silk bordered in black and richly embroidered. It was a piquant, charming little face she turned towards the tea buyer. The fringe of coal-black hair hid half of the low forehead above the sparkling dancing eyes. Her little scarlet mouth was always ready for laughter. Hop Yin, to whom her disposition was really a joy, often felt it his serious duty to gravely rebuke her for this irrepressible gaiety. Lotus Lily felt very important at this interview. Turner treated her with a .ceremonious deference which delighted her. She had, it is true, been amazed when he took of his hat to see that he had no queue and that his forehead was unshaven. She had thought, never having seen one bare-headed before, that of course the foreign devils wore their queues rolled up and concealed under their lints. She gazed now at Jerry Turner in amazement —a man with hair scarcely an mcli Ion"! Kut conscious of the rules of propriety which demanded courtesy to a guest, she nobly repressed her giggles, and looking very demure, answered quite clearly .all that he asked her. She showed no embarrassment. A few adroit questions from Turner elicited from Lotus Lily after a few preliminary "Heh! Heh's" that it was Ah Sin who had given the chair bearers the directions where to take her. When she, found herself deposited at the Mission House, she had accepted quite unquestioningly that Hop Yin had «p----parrently altered his mind and had sent her to the Rev. and Mrs. Jenkins instead of to her grandmother's. Lotus Lily was a typical little Chinese maiden in her implicitly sweet and docile acceptance of the authority of the male of her family. But she was • unlike the usual girl of her age in a certain very charming fearlessness and entire lack of self-consciousness. Turner had now ascertained what he wanted to know—that the small maiden was Lolus Lily and that Ah Sin was responsible for her "abduction." .Terry had long ago decided that it was sheer waste of time to try and explain anything to the. "Rev." as he flippantly designated the clergyman. He therefore made no mention of the ■ fact of the girl's betrothal to young Ching Lee. He merely said that he- was sure that Hop Yin* had believed the girl to be lost, and that he would go and apprise him of the fact of her safety. '"Scuse my butting- in here again, Rev.," he said politely. "I guess I'd better hike along now. I'll pop in and see the old boy, Hop Yin, before I go to by-by to-night. He'll be glad to know that the little dams is all right. So long." Mrs. Jenkins looked after him as he left the room. "I'm not at all sure, Nathaniel," she said, "that I am prepared to accept Mr. Turner's statement as against that of Albert. This American shows no sign of the recognition of: moral obligation; our Albert has accepted the faith —there is that in his favour." "Yes, yes," her husband replied, still greatly perplexed. "As a matter of fa-t we have had no statement from Albert as to this affair. And I feel too, 1 that there is great good in this Ameri- ] can, although he offends mc very much. It is very difficult to judge." Jerry Turner felt elated at the satisfactory way in which this affair of young Lee was working out. As he walked along he tried to fathom the complexity of the Chinese character, which made it seem worth while to All Sin to carry out this purposeless piece of mischief. To his surprise, ho suddenly caught sight of Jean Elwell at a distance, making her way along. She was alone, her gait was slow and diespirited. He made a shrewd guess as to I what had happened. Benton had told j her his story—she knew now the facts-; about ('live and the little slave girl. Turner gave a low whistle of surprise and concern. He went forward to meet Jean, watching her face. "She's as game as they make 'em!" he said to | himself. r She held out her band to greet him in her usual way. "I'm glad to see you again." she said. "Can you give ine (he address of your friend, Mrs. Sarjant. in Shanghai?" "Sure!" he replied. "I know I've got it somewhere and I've gotta hunch it's right here." He fished out a bulky notebook and began rummaging its pages. "And here you are! Little Johnny-on-the-spot! That's mc! Lemme I see, I guess the best way would be for' you to write to her care of the "Home for Eurasian Children," street of the Purple Peacock. That'll always get her." He felt rather than saw Jean wince at the name Eurasian children; he was

suro then that his guess had been correct about Benton. "Tliiink you very much," ahe replied, making a "note of the address. "You seem always the one to help mc in my difficulties," she smiled a wan little smile. "I think I may bo going down to Shanghai soon. I'll write to Mrs. Surjunt before I go. Good-bye." "(iood-bye, Miss Elwell. And don't i you forget to let mc know if there's- ' anything you want done at any time, any place! I'd go to some trouble —and then some, to please you —sure I would." Perhaps with a woman's quickness in 1 Rurh matters, ahe had already a hint of his deeper feeling towards her. She looked iit him wistfully; he held her hand fur a moment. When she spoke it was in a very soft tone of voice. j "You're very good, you've been ' awfully kind, 1 shan't forget, thank you!" ■ ' Slip turned in at the door of the Mission House, he stood for a moment looking after her. "Gee, it's a rum j world!" he remarked to himself. He ' hurried ixlong the narrow streets toward the shop and residence of C'hing Foo. ■ In the time that had passed since the ' news had come of the disappearance of his betrothed, young Lee had left no I stone unturned'in his efforts to trace the missing girl. Much to his surprise, : his father had taken no step towards ' aiding in the search. Chin" Foo seemed to have accepted the affair as settled. The explanation ! was that old Foo had begun to wonI rlcr whether, as his son Lucy held such 'an assured position, he might not aspire ■to an even better alliance for Ins son Lee. Indeed a marriape had been suggested for his second son. with Uu , daughter of the Sub-prefect of Police. i This would have been a distinct honour for the thing family. It is true that the daughter of the Sub-prefect was 1 reported to be vain and ill-tempered, but then she would have a large dowry, 100 rubbed his hands together in contemplative fashion. He sucked in his lips and nodded his head wisely. Lee had gone twice to ask counsel of i the learned Hop Yin. Chinaman though Ihe was. and therefore used to the sup- ] pression of all emotion. Lee could not I but marvel at Hop Yin's stoicism, i The r.ilver merchant seemed to have 1 accepted with the most impassive calmi ness the disappearance of the young girl to whom he was unmistakably attached. "Fate has so ordered it," he said philosophically. "One may not escape his destiny." To Lee, with the blood of the \oung China stirring in his veins the attitude of the two older men was incomprehensible. ITo his great pleasure he now began to I find his brother Lucy more approachi able and sympathetic. Lucy had even i bestirred himself to ask the counsel and assistance of a friend of his, a magistrate in Chin Kiang. So far nothing had resulted from this, appeal. Lucy felt that the attitude of his younger brother was not as acceptant as it should be. " The stones in life"3 pathway are sharp, my small brother." he said sagely. "One should accept his lot; this is a true saying." , But the events of the past few days, and in particular some talks which he I had with the two white men, his brother's and his father's friends. Turner and Benton, had devoloped a strange new manliness and selfhood in young Lee. "It is equally true," he answered his brother, "that it is easy for him who does not suffer the toothache to counsel fortitude." The older looked at the younget reprovingly. "Tliosc are unbecoming words my brother," he said. "It is useless for a man to struggle against his fate." "Kate!" repeated Lee. "You yourself, my brother, have told mc that fate plans for fools—while the wise man ! makes his own plans." h Lucy regarded his brother with brooding eyes. "My small brother, you show I much self-will. It seems to mc that I you would emulate the Fan Kwei and claim the right to choose your own wife." "You chose a wife from the Fan Kwei, my elder hrother." The words cut him, but Lucy kept guard over his expression. "You know that I have suffered in I consequence. I beg that you will not i speak of this again." I "I ask your pardon, my brother," Lee [said contritely, he had' not meant to i wound his brother's feelings. I "It is because the Feng Shuey has also fallen upon you that 1 have done what I have to find news of your betrothed. ] I have even accepted your idea, tor j which there seems to be but little justification, that this man Ah Sin is in some j way responsible, for the abduction. I lean learn but little about him—except jtliat his reputation is somewhat doubt- , ful. There are limits beyond which it jis not wise to go. I counsel you to ] proceed no further in the matter. Our I honoured father makes no further effort. HDiie should accept the will of Heaven." I But young Lee could also reason with j sophistry. "My venerated parents chose the maiden Lotus Lily for mc. is jit not therefore meet that I should leave nothing undone to achieve her?" Lucy looked at his younger brother, far from pleased at his argumentativehiess. He was about to reply when the I houseboy opened the door from the shop and ushered in the American. Both ivounir Chinese bowed ceremoniously; (Turner returning their salutations. He came towards them, evidently in the best of spirits. "I have come to tell the young Ching Lee that his bride awaits him!" "What is it you say honoured tea--1 buyer?" quickly asked Lee. I "The maiden Lotus Lily is safe and i unharmed. I have just seen and spoken with her. ,, '"Can this be true?" Lucy questioned gravely. "You have seen, her—how is that—where is she? ,, "It is quite true." Turner enjoyed the sensation he was making. "She has been for two days a guest in the house of Jossman Jenkins." "How did it happen that she was taken to his house, instead of to her grandmother's?" "It seems that your exalted father's shop assistant. Ah Sin. was with Hop Yin at the moment when the chair bearers called for the maiden Lotus Lily. Hop Yin beinir busy, asked Ah Sin to pivc the bearere the directions. Ah Sin, who frequents the house of the Jossman and knows his plans, gave the chair bearers directions to take the maiden there, and probably also paid them to disappear afterward." "So!" said Lee, his eyes upon his brother. "It was as I liad thought— Ah Sin is responsible. And the maiden is unharmed. Illustrious sir, tell mc how you came to learn this wonderful news.' , "Miss Elwell. the young lady cousin of Jossman chanced to sneak of a young girl who was visiting the Mission House. Something in what she said made mc suspect that this might be the daughter of Hop Yin. So I went at once to the Mission House, saw the Jossman, and was allowed to see and question the maiden also." "And she is well—and unharmed ?" Lee asked again, hardly able to realise the fact.

"She is quite well and j except that they have been teach;,,. ? ' the white man's joss-pidgin." fer coult not resist attempting thii :^ T although it was taken in all eeii ol ,f* ness by the two Chinese. • °" "That she can soon forget," saifl t Greatly honoured sir, I am fa,*?' indebted to you, I shall not forget,? kindness." r r •it is nothing," replied Turner ljjjj,, "I am an old gossip, I listen to talej „ I like to repeat them, that is all, jj , what truly puzzles mc is this— ■■ Ah Sin hope to gain by this foolij], trick?" "He has but one purpose—to thwart mc, to injure mc. to frustrate my ffl ' riage," Lee spoke vuii ominous "And thin he has nearly j doing." " ■How is that?" asked Turner looking from one to tlie oilier of tb ' young Chinamen. "My honoured father and the estetm 1 Hop Yin had agreed to cancel the he'.hrothal. The presents have lj e returned," said Lucy. en "Hut now that all is as it was be*or I trust that the betrothal may' renewed," Lee's voice was full of h O nn but Lucy took him up quickly. ' "All is not now as it was before my young brother." ' ' -What id changed?" asked the American. "My honoured father's wish," Ba j,j Lucy gravely. "The maiden is not the daughter of the august Hop Yin, ehe is an adopted daughter. We have only recently heard this—since her disappearnncc. It is therefore quite a different matter." "She is the same maiden, slie la safe, she is unharmed," Lee persisted with that strange obstinacy which Lucy was beginning In find so trying in him. ••[ will beg my honoured father to reconsider. Why should there now be any change?" "My small brother, you seem to forget that the greatest of blessings is a good son, and the first duty of a son is obedience.'' Turner saw thai the point at issue wbr purely Chinese. "The decision must rest with the august Ching Foo," he 6 aid quietly. "I trust that all will turn out for the best. I take my leave. Igo now for a few minutes to the esteemed Hop Yin. My salutations to ray respected friend, your father." He bowed and was pone. There was silence a moment, then Lucy turned to his brother. "Do you remember what our honoured father said immediately after the visit of the exalted Hop Yin? 'Feng Shuey, , he said. 'I did not consult the Feng Shuey nor ask the approval of my father when I took my Fan Kwei wife. My brother, the spirts of our sacred ancestors must not be again displeased. Feng Shuey!'" Lucy's tone was strongly admonitory. In deference to the words of his elder, Lee inclined his head and did not reply. But to himself he said: "One must grow more free, my father must consent." But Jerry Turner as he stepped into the street, where darkness had already fallen, realised that great changes were coming for China. He saw vaguely that conflict that must go on between the old and the new —between tradition and progress. The young Chinaman whom he had just left and his father seemed in a way to typify the coming struggle. His thoughts "were full of sympathy for young Lee. "He's sure up against it, good and hard!" thought the American to himself. "Gee. I feel sorry for that young fella — I for it's a cinch that old poppa won't give in!" (To be Continued Daily.)