Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 13, 1923 — page 94: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= pleted a few purchases to while away the hours. The following day, while Odette was arranging with Mrs. Blake’s housekeep- er, something in the way of a small dinner party in honor of Paula’s visit, Mrs. Wyn- gate slipped out alone and walked in the direction of the quay, near the offices and godowns owned by Chiang tu Lee. It was a visit of* curiosity, and as she walked past the humming rice mills and silk warehouses, she saw how the father of young Chiang had founded a gigantic and _ thriving industry. Large and small vessels, junks and freighters flew the house flag of Lee & Co., a double dragon on a back- ground of yellow. And all this wealth and commerce was invested in the frail anatomy of one small Celestial with a gold pince- . nez! Passing the main building which housed the clerical staff, she was suddenly over- taken by the swift-running car which had brought Chiang to the Blakes’ house the day before. It was driven by a tall Batavian in white and gold livery, which also bore the double dragon on a circle of yellow. Halting the car, he saluted her respect- fully. ‘The Hon. Mr. Chiang tu Lee pre- sents his compliments to Mrs. Wyngate, and begs her to honor his establishment with her presence.” Paula pondered the invitation for a breath-giving space, and quickly made up her mind. The white and gold livery held open the door of the car allowing her to enter. A hundred yards along the quay front the car halted at the official residence of young Mr. Chiang. Paula had passed the building ten minutes before and it was evident that she had been observed. The entrance was a study in French deco- ration and color that was at once soothing and refreshing after the blinding white sandstone roads. Ushered into a conserva- torylike foyer, by more of the dragon seal livery, her eyes encountered an exquisite setting of rare orchids and magnolias, with young Mr. Chiang seated in a cane chair beneath. His greeting was restrained, but held an unmistakable sincerity that was not lost on Paula. ““ T hope you like Songolo, Mrs. Wyngate. Sa OE SE ee TS - ».. of “ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. You will not find it so exciting as Paris, say, but unlike the great European capital it has natural gifts of palms and pearls, silk and fruit of the gods. . What more, eh?” he concluded with his boyish smile. She sat on an ottoman, where a dozen crimson-crested parakeets chattered and swarmed in the palms overhead. There was a delicious fragrance in everything around her, a sense of sybarite cleanliness and order that she had never experienced before. For a little while they talked easily and without restraint, but in his musical, way- ward sentences she began to divine the key- note of his. existence: Odette! Paula lay back on the ottoman, half be- guiled, a little entranced by the soft distilla- tion of this Eastern magic. But the strong white woman in her was not to be denied. She was the ambassadress of her race. She stood for her caste and the prestige of her little island kingdom. She would be defin- ite with this splendid little Chinaman, defin- ite beyond misunderstanding. “ Mr. Chiang,” she began calmly, ‘‘ my sister tells me that you have made her an offer of marriage, which, I gather, she has practically accepted.” Chiang smiled as one in full possession of the sweetest thing in life. ‘‘ We are going to be very happy, Mrs. Wyngate,” he said simply. “Your happiness would depend a good deal on Odette. She is white, Mr. Chiang!” . He lit a cigarette slowly and then met her glance across the table. “ What of that?” he asked gravely. ‘ I am not afflicted with those theories. I stand for humanity. My ideals and beliefs begin and end there. In the abstract there is a difference of what you call race.” “Tf the difference between East and West was an abstraction, Mr. Chiang, I should have nothing more to say. In this instance Miss West happens to be my sister, and I fear that her marriage with Mr. East is going to spoil her life and mine among the only people we know. Against your good self I have nothing to say. There are white people in these islands unfit to associate with you, and I find it difficult to make my point quite clear.” GComichboo