Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 36, Number 52, 31 December 1910 — Page 2

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LINCOLN COLOOR

mNE of the mnt interesting mrn J ever met In tl East wnn Ho Long of oil Anjer, Said N'l.holn. Our ncnunlm H a nee w'as peculiar; and wiih mv nIJaBJJBj luck fur . welng thirnrs throuli, n year a i . . , m i. ..v.ii,,',.t,, v, , irii .up.' i mil $kfrotm the woman who had been bis wife, anil heard the ending f his Btory. fIt wo In keeping with hi life. IOt mc tell you about It. If won't take long." "The first time I mw Ie l.ng m when I -came out Kast h hoy in tl.o ablp Rainbow." Nichols begat,. "We an chored at Anjer for mail and frcs'i provisions, and I whs bow man la tho boot flint took the captain ashore. "It wri years afterward that I really made ;h.acquaintance of Do Long. I'd been on n d-.on Ln.t ern roynges then, ami had worked up p ;i ship of my own; but for Bome reason or other I'd never nm r.croaa bliu. "Wbsn we reached tho little creek, my mind we-it br.ck to my first voyago out Last, and I f.an d mxsejf looking ahead for that big banyan trio I mmm bered it all; and bo I wasn't surprised t he greeted by n little fat man whom I recollect, d ns !. I. nc "Com with mr ho pnrrnil, xnibblng "" or irv t'riids In both of hi, lstn to mo, -i.tnin l ( .ir ('luite la no jrooil. In a raaoal. n robber: .mii v,-th m. f'nptnln.' ho whlnol I will trcm yon f,- ' "It was 'May to talk to him about j.-rii i mutter ho woa tin aort of inua you rould .iv nny- , thing to. He'd nnawor you fjulf frnnkly ;ind vobiM. rf.d then watch yoti to nc If yod bolicod hi':' In rbmit five inlnutra I hr-gnu to 'doubt cveryi ! itu ! raid. .'You're lying Ilka the devil.' I t.:l inn ;iftr n while. "lie grinned, na If that waa the bais bo wntit. d to 1 1 eatabllfiheil. 'We'all 11?.' he answered in n . yni 1 tine f voice. 'Whenerer n mouth is i p-ii. ! .i !i o:i tho tongue.' Then lio turned t" ' V- o d h.i , ery lllumlnntlng thliig. 'If I lie. I ; is,, i.. i e. Ifithlng,' be ntnounced. 'You In-Hove n c I "il, 'rnd you tit Jiof nlwnya lie.' M'e ro-t ii M:.- Mmf nulr. - "I bokel at him ngain. ami wondered bow , p be 1 ?nlly wita. 'Hut that fpolla the wr rid : 1 :li.:i'.! faid "While v.e were tnlkliig, two piH-ple , ::: ..ut .f t!u ahrduw rf the liugu banyan jiihI ;ii r, ;o !u-d ti e l-iuro na lf-oi fptnlllur ground. I hmw ti;Ht tbey Were' n white in.tu and a Kumsimi ,.naii sbKfi'isied to bo young ntid beautiful, in ji d h i It rath find half-rlvlllaod dreaa. I wnit-! t M e v ni.it v.'fl tip. and In the alienee heard le l.nn M-)iri..k: t hlnielf behind me. They came towurd ili- liti!.ernndH where we were ulttltiw. und I turned in tim to HWf IH Iug get up with a inox e:iien: ,.f Irritatioll. "Thli la my wife. Captain iehoK' be v. del. when tliey hnd reached the aleps. "My vlfe h i- beeu wnlUing" with Captitln Dodge.' The woman smibd. holdlnc ne with her eyea. I waa completely t. keu i,y xur1 rlae. "'Your wife?' I questlonvd. "De Ing nodded. 'Why v. :' he nnweiv,i t'.:lnk ahe la my daughter? faptniu I'-nle iu "'Yoti are an Old fool!' n'le ,t(ed. sudden! . : 1 &nx. 'Home day you will fmkr w 1. 1 i : "The captain, atandlng on the ,(. i.e. nm-- i fuced and autlon. pluylng with ! s wnt. I- !.: I upKae you're in th ahlp iht , in tl: lioou?' he aald to We. ,. "I nodded. "If that's your btk i: lu beauty.' I anawered. "'Yea,' he snld, evidently j . - d r . !ie aalla like a witch. Won't j..u -v, ; r with nur -' . ' Xo thank you, I nnpied I'd u.k. - a l -lect I'lallke to the man. He wan a.-f: ..i ! .i . .t il I. i eyea watered. "Well. then. I'll be morli e.' ! - - : . -M y. I)e Ing. Oood-by, Mlaae.' "She bad turned away with g. --.:-e ( , tai--n Woman-like, ahe'd tnkeu the i e t.i h ; the rrleil. You make trouble. i n. "That seared Do Ixag; he ;lv !.ii .':' - ! -'Tuko no notice. Captain, be m i n -1 t I l I no bard feeling. Call ami e.- i - - we will hare ready the chicks. f i , k He followed the man ilowu tb" i i v - : alone with the woman. "She waa laughing like a ihiid. "I-';: i cried softly. Now ahe turneil atid idmy preaeuee for the first time, ii : . , ! kvm nie and flnnllT reteil on u.v o .. , ! ; minutes we gused at each oii.er .:' ii . It's dangerous bualuess, thN cnn.- -., eicnied to gather aol leap tu the I t's -. '. ft ml I watched It. fasctuated. i! '. : . . .. i . Lcr band and took a step in m Yv. . Ktayf hhe asked, a little brcatbi. y, Nlehols pained. nd audJen! bed . ' "Do Imx had returned. w).! " tIj. r. in on," he aahl. "He was stnn.tn . . - t watching us with n, alngulariy " ,t : - l j,rciaion. 1 k "'Iok here. De Ixwg.' I sn i s hi-; la mighty wrong, or you arc n : f . you know.' ; "He surprised nie Ky" fiyin- v . , pnaalou. "Don't aak jne! D'.. t - ' " i . " know anything !' he crlel. '1 d . t "Yes. I sstld. 'bnt you ,b i-s . i thought. You're making llf. n;i -e ;; ' i and more than that. You're i. ;- . :c . -. , out foundation.' ''Foundation! Foundation:' !.- vm-.-i "a do you wont? Watch when V ' i y. ;. a .1 then at me! It Ii rda""Walt! I loterrnrtrd. 'Yief this. "'I was but speakluj; In . j . :-. - : havs Men' . v i,' It win hard on the womi:. " . f look at it. She a ren led ao t. I ! ' , But such qualities couldn't 1 ' : ia that .".-.. -, ' There. . "She came out toatlt-n te cm ; er. .a "After euiier we sat on t '. m:. ,-r.rvl.i ; ! ' .watched the moon rise over tl.- i . I everything was so fragranY a ! t- ' '" ' eerned Impossible m tjtst ld "I knew that shetwaa h,k .-:. Now and then I rafifhr Ae tsn 1 under the darkneas of her h '- "After a while we happens! to t e- ti : . ! X cot another lnslshf-Into-the nr.r j : 1 . l r,-

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narked that he omrht t., be -v.-,i off - Li -tirs were b It'll cuoiish. Henveii kti: ''Me';' he ino'iired. MKirrit.g fe-r tit:.... Then !. derided to be fr.'tnk ' "n pt ;1 i U.' I.e . ".lif.de.l. 'I l.rive .1 t i rttjlie :' The wunian lunched til a bw ,..e n t his sid-' 'Show It to (lie enpt.'iin," slie ;iid. "Ie T.ong pr up aii.l enriie .ir beside my ' Vim r He was fumbling .if the h'it?': s the front of h ., coat. " "1 eel here here.' lie mi id. He'd unbuttoned hi . wnNteoat and guided my hand si! i - the linitix. I felt lumps some heavy aul.Ftnn.o. "What Is !tV I risked. " 'fiold :' h" snid. 'IVel here 'T to. ! hf d a leather kct sewed Into his veer. T 'i.i mends :' ho whimpered. I eouldn't believe him f..r a minute, 'diamonds " I luimed " "Heuvons " 1 marveled. 'I should think y -u'd die iti this hot weather. lugging that around. Why don't you put it in a batik V "He shot a slaure ut me out of his . unnintf. seeretive eyes 'Too many bunks have I seen break.' tie aid. wxviug his hands v ith a gesture epresim: dis soiution. '.No: I will my own hftnk be.' "The woman on ihe floor laughed ju'Htn. a ehildisli lauirh of pure .i!i;mal aiiiuseinent. -He sleeps witli it I" she sn ill. "J lite ,i number i f year passed before the opportunity of seeir.i: them anniu iiime my way; but when I did finally renrh fld Anjer for imofher visit, it wan !is if the world hadn't moved while I'd been none. I e I otit nit', me .if the landing and ushered me through the wislen of t!e tjiny;in to his house. Mo didn't win any older; the banyan had always been so tremendous that if If had grown If win Impossible t' mark it; and when we rea, bed the house, the woman sr. mm (in the veranda, ns young and pretty as I remembered her. She greeted me in n disinterested manner the coolness , f it struck nie at once. 'Tl. woman, as I said, wns indifferent. Not that I nunfod it otherwise; bin in my heart I suppose that I w.-.s ;i little , i t ' i 1 1 fit In r .-ifpMido. I imatrlned that sii ,'orned me V.m s'-e. I'd rather disappointed her on.e tiefore. No doubt she thought me foolish, or pruirUh- or perhaps she didn't think of nie at all. It hurts to be passed ncr by a woman. After suitor we sat on the same lifflo veranda nd blew smoke into the silent night. The woman didn't eome out ns she had done the time before, and finally I nsi'd IN Ixtig where she was. lie stru.l; the veranda railing with his lern iied rM an,l swore. Ibov di I know'?' he erled hi' went t r. j-.I the s;iore.' His wordi brought ba-k the pas: r seem, ,1 ifieoiifelviible that the old suflei :n.' ' hearts hnd been going on in that soiitu !e. "I made a feeble effort lo x i r - -1 1 l.nn off to s, .ni. Otll-r topi'-. "Is Shire s; ; ,n Til.- l.'si;ieK- ,,ver thefeV I nskeij, nodding my h". I : t'i.' sr.. re a. r,s th way. "It was flie . rv i!..v I sii.. ;i,In't h.-iv e s.i , J i,. Long leaped i.p ,!k.' : t Irnu;.. ait I l:r:n. he. I a su m:,' of tilrhy i.u ' . t:.e ! '.; i ,.f the rlv.i! char,.!!er ! .. - : .'. i ' My ;'. ' he . n-d it:- her. : - '. t - ' . . t.' - into i n a'.:'. p,.;) re--- , ...... . . - -.:!., s - ! : !.. I i - , . - ; , -! f . j - .... .. ;:, v s :, - . s. 1 v We !,.. 1 t r. . t 1d ; i; !.. " K. . ! k. d. ;n. i s I u a . ' W ' ...i,'t ,.'i let b-;n l,a e her V . I fee .Te iv i ea I s .'!: ' lb- .. s n,,t want' I lb . !,.,. -.. -i. d !... I. id ' I f : !. - a s d: I,!., ,- M I'll .1 tll.l. i : a ' ' a ' . ' ,' i. i , s b.m lie 1: - s l ; . - , I Ued. a iivi h.-r "-! !! -ma i.g on n,v !.e sad. -!e I' : a iii.'i.f !i 1 hate s,.:l ; I!,,:, . more A:.i I a f.. a;fsln. th.i! I l.n t i. i a...;: ioie'- r.,'i' oh. he is .'..'it'g. fii'ti. litu.ia ! ed p, rha; s he oi,s I., r a little. Not so mo, Ii 'I!. a! . ia !..e' Ah. I k'"otv men! I t,u re,, I tho , Iv 1.. n he b,.ks . - It is T" e J e ! . , "' " ' 'I " I e '! a ni-'d la' at, b.Iltf t i.e p--.n. "''!.' .i d !' I. ...g. t:i; "ig h's wn.s.-...i: igrii;,.iii''i 'Mi f r; ,.,-' df, ! Th y sh-i'I lad have ;; ! I t s.: ' e '. - '. i i-s " ,. eri"l. "I M !' h .:. i. an g' 1 1, uld see her : " pa-s ; led he'd tight a : I : i . a , r., ,1 i s fortune : ..n , ."-h a- 1 ti.roiigln A d. 1 v : 'a. ' '.'sf . r I ond I I I - , ' M ' . I. I 'I 1 o 'l h-- I, "1 I Pi -. " 'Mo I o ' I I,..!, " i ! :"' ll -,e v '. II. I . . ' Wl v d a-' . ! ., i , , ! . I ,.r I ; ippir T 1 i,. 1 a " r..l Ss I I .11- , ' 1(1 , '.0 f.. T on bit-. . i's sn, . 1 -. . . f hit I ' I . I . ,-v Me T - T - i "o ' 'a t o. . ,.rf.. y., T . , . ' ' . , t . f i ' i-i i ; ' ' . -l! ;,: H. ' . ti - ' w ; .'-. t ""o v ,1 .. s.. Ks' - ,! '- ' ' t a p.-'' of sn- k " T j ,i. ,,. ,.v.,-.v ... i r V"- -.- a -: ' . , .'r.i TT-C oe - - -. V,"s' 'Tl! ! 't the rii! s, nke a man crus1'! " I '. r.:. .'V,'f-i 'v.

a r-;c'!t of years and s,.:n.v, I jv; ahout i;. tiil I r niemheri-1 th.it bowing tj i in over was the weight pold and diamonds. Me was j. irking ben.-i l-'.'id of hi worldlv olhiter al ; 1 fan. i. d that t! of the bofit was goin(T d Mi ho' broke off for then the deluge!" he , , up the 'hir.a Sea w ! the eft'eef of the n , '. . -. t brough so many is fie 1 'at :ib- in open .; djtion of the atmosph' !'.. - -i'.- t.nv. t lki!: !. suddenly. : ' i .-PI eniil. Y i nd s, rna y r ., ugh they tea i : Iti-. t we km w that something r-i Mas pome: on. At first we thought that it awful meteorological disturbance. The .it'pcar and the sky was positively terr'fV the reports came drifting in reports of o I reports of a cataclysm of nature, reports totally destroyed, or towns Inundated, of s, land and land turning to sea. of ships driftwood against the Java hills! 1 hi i: wild with it. 'of course I concluded that Me Lonx was .lend -everyone in the coast villages had been killed I was thinking of him as I sail'd up th- Straits and approach, 1 the place where I d s- , l: Ii m g.. out of r ight among the pnlni tre.-s, w'l.;,- !.. i,, d up and said goo,!-by to Old Anjer. 'I t - -:. nns'cl through w ide fields of pumice stone rh.it :: ,:!.! I . fat. gray reefs n the muddy surfa-e of rh.. u.:-. - in,, land had a barren appearance, and from thai ,i.-:au,e it i '- a . . "a , .... ok;t g taa if Ie Ing the hanyan about that ',-.t ' . . : v a gre, h- '. r :e. .ei to hear I :y to

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bai.i an tree He told nie that it was gone. It seemed impossible: Thousands of roots and branches ns strong as iron, covering acres of the shore, tilling the sky with its magr.ifi. -ence .gone! WhevcV 1 risked. o o! c knows.' he answered, waving his arras toward the sea The wave en me, and it was gone.' "I !'.."! my .yes and tried to picture the scene. 'W 1 ,.-e .,nV' I suddenly Inquired. i file bills.' he said. 'High!' He held his hands aloft to signify a great altitude. 'The wave reached me. bur it was spent." he said, with awe. " Mi l Me I.'-nsr get away?" I asked for the third time. He shook his head. " I passed him in the village. he murmured. 'He vi, is already djing. Many have searched, but without avail.' hanging his tone, he put a question brupiiy to me. 'Was it true that Me Long had gold and diamonds about him?' he nsked. "Yes, I snid, shortly. So that's why you're so anxious to find him? The man left at once, and they all went over the side in violent conversation. "I til let! away as sooa as the natives had left the shit). There was nothing, nobody to stay for. Month reigned throughout the Straits of Sunda ; you can't c nceive the sadness of the place. I literally fled from the sight of it. and tried to think of better things. I was bound to Batavin, .-nd had to light my way around St. Nicholas through pumice stone. "I was sitting alone one evening in a certain public cafe in tho heart of the town. Dusk was coming on, ,'f Been There I'd Uaic Gone to Ilcr." ! be-rnn tn liht np the renr of the rrniv. g v.as- ,p,1iq nud sfil!. and full of the col ' t.iglit tht you find so often in those places t breze has been rushing in all i the ! t'-ok out a cigar, leaned back in! my s a. rr the machinery of a drer.m. a'jfl a an ;a th door opivsite r.ud walkel a.-t-on . I r.e an omen of adrectcre. I watched ibv. si g'lt and graceful. ' rested in tme 4rk ::. M hen f!ie turned t'ward ire. I r'og- !;. he war she earrie! her bend. I stoo'l ne saw me. .Vv.'rh - r not she kcew me at that distance, f"" ' c Hut when se drew- poirT. a swift 'and - a, . fw.-.j,, ever her f;:ce. Sho drofTcd : - at nT tab'e Tri-hr rrtl:inr. i "' " -i.e s ,1 nt j" stretching lcr r.rrns to-,tard ! ; - s the marh!e. "How atra ne! f "if " sorn seoed bforo I T5t-s-!. QT'!'fl n rnjrr of rhoush' went thnnh my bend. SJit hadr't tevn lost with tie others ct Aafer, tl-n?

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What had happened? I hesitated to ask. How did you escape?' was my tirst ,iKstloa. 'Had you left Anjer before the eruption?' "She caught her breath, and seemed struggling with deep emotion. 'I was there' ; he aid abruptly. I went into the hills.' The i", vital!e r.nswer! All who escaped had gone into the hi lit-. "'Me Long Isn't in Katr.via. 1-j he? I Inquired. They told me at Anjer that be wr.s never heard f ronv "'Ah. le liong! s':e cried, bi a lew voice. 'No, no! They all were lost. All!' !'-. e looked straight ahead with a tcr.se expression, us if Into the mouth -of hell. 'I nloue escaped." she rrld. bitterly. I should have died also, but the fear of death was upon me, nud I ran. He told me to tsate myself, and left me for Me Long. I was nind. and I ran, and (5 oil has cursed me with life yet to live! 'They they both died?' I disked, clumsily. "'Yes,' she answered, without tnovtnjr. Ie Long, and the otherboth are gone!' She struck the table with her eleuched hands. 'Gone! (lone! -Hone! "stte cried. 'What do I care? 1 love him no longer!' "I was shocked at her vehemence; I eouldu't pecui to comprehend. 'Why didn't they get away with you into the hills?' I persisted. "'The fortune delayed them,' she said la n hard, passionate voice. 'Do Tong could not run. His fortune wns too heavy. One wave had come already, a big wave, but small before these which came after. I ran to the other, and urged him to fly with me. I thought that he loved me. Ah, I wsis blind! SUo closed her eyes and held her head erect, like one waiting for a blow to fall, rad.lcnly she cried out in a language I didn't kimw. v!,e wirhed to save Me Long.' she said. "He tvMlicd to save the fortu-m the gold which De Irfnr; kept here, the dlntnor.d. .- Hod! I went to him. thlnklnt sMll that h? loved me. I touched him. He wns np.r:i". tm-.l s.'rurk me on tho breast. He bade me stive r.jyscl.. Ho and De Long fought together and rolled e:i U:3 f;roa:id. Tlu'ii.-I saw !' "Hha rose and gripped the tr.'.de. rwaylng n Ilttlo as siie stood. "A great sour.d v-;-.a la t'n air.' -she Fa id. 'The heaven .was fv.Il of tb-indrr. ami lira streamed from t he cloud.-t. I for, red death, and ran.' fhe stoppeil und seemed, to Ik l!?i!e;.ii:g, as if Ihu echo of that night had cetuc- to her. 'After a while fihe spoke again. 'I stood o.i t'.io bills and looked back.' she said. 'I do not ret;: ::;:: r ! was thlnklntj that he did not love me! All Iclutr vanished, and the wave came to my feet. It h;n :',tu'it lilm ! Ah! She covered her face with iter ha wis, nitd buwed her head. 'Why waa I ryir.ivd?" I heard h'.r cry. , . "I can fancy them Ptartl":? to escape, an odd trio: the woman, light ar.d foil cf Ihe fo.rnge of love, calling on the man to l!y tvl!!t her the man. strlplted of his insincerity and tre.r rt! last, ulrlUing her oft In anger and turning to Ik ! Me Iong: niwl old Me Long, fat, breathless. cr:s::fd with fear, staggering under a load of gold and diauiondf, clinging to h!s fortune lu the face of deiith! I can we the light later, when the man reall;;rd that De loug couldn't get away; struggling, tearing, snarling, the one hugping his hoard closer, tho other pulling hint about on the ground. "We sat in silence for n long lime. At last I took her hand across the table. It was the least that I could do. Tni sorry,' I said. 'Did you make any search for the IssUes?' "She nodded for an answer. I saw her eyes shining, as a woman's will when she's fighting tenrs. 'I searched for days,' she managed to get out. "How long, I do not know. My life was gone with the wave. Hut they have searched night and day for De Long, on all the shore, because of tho fortune. He, too, cannot be found. "Rut she didn't want it. remember. You should have heard her voice when . ho sai l, 'The pvunc,V If it had apinred o:j the Jabh between us she would have thrown it do'.vr-T She wanted better things truer things. Don't for.et that when you think of her. "Her hand lay In mine. nt:d she clasried my fingers wildly. 'I am alone !' she cried. 'Ah, let me talk to you! I have no friends. It was very pitiful. "'I've got to go soon,' I answered, ns geufly as I conld. "She didn't understand. 'No. stay,' sue said. 'In ' the old days you would not talk to me. Ah, how I loved you. when De Long was watching! I remember. Suddenly she leaned toward in?. 'Hut he is r.iv,- t'.end !' she t-ahh "'I i ur-t go !' I answered, shortly. Was I fighting ver.r hard? I don't give myself credit for it. Something ha. I changed, i tau t explain It lu any other way. 'ou ought to sec-. I pitbd her from the bottr:n of my hem-t: a;id od knows she. needed a frleut!. And yet oh. it we hniicssible: "I put my hand In my iTl;-f r:d imlled 'out all Lie money I h;,d. It wasn't ni-js-h. 'Here.' I said. 'Tl:;;i ir. y urs. You must tr.ke It." 'She pushed it back neror t!i" ta'ole, 'No.' r-he nnt -.vered. "I cannot. Why, I loved you on-e! I have not forgotten." t " 'Yo-i mr.st. I commanded. ricase for the takecf wliat we remember ; "Two large tears cr.nie in her e.ves. and she brushed them sharply away. 'You ore kind. sli said. I would not but I need it so much ! You do not know how I need it. I may not see you again.' rgcin. "Can't you do anything ' "'My dear woman.' I asked, taking her hand again. 'C an't you do anything ' "'Nothing!' she said, defiantly. 'I shall never 1ot ii gain.' " 'Can't you marry? I kept on. '"Without love it is hard to gain lore.' she replied. 'Who will marry me? I am an Eurasian. Will you marry me?' She laughed wildly. 'It Is not a quev Hon. she said. "I would not curse your life. "'But you are cursing year own," I told her.' 'No.' she assure,! me. 'Yw do not know me. I sins not unhappy. I'eriiap. wmic day I shall dare to kill myself, end then all will be welt I should hav eied at Anjer. I was a coward! "It was getting late, ar.d I rise. There was no r?e in staying any longer. I was afraid that she'd nske a scene as I lft. I should have known letter. Women like thet fre brave. She stood up beside me, r.nd t'.nehfil ntr hand. "'('-. b -. s!ie sn!d. "I shall remember yon In r.:y rnyerr.' " -.": " T Tied. 'Pcrhet-s yon ought to enrse r?. I rr-ei hfr hand, '("iod-by." I said, and Iffr brr '"-ii bv t he taliV. A whl of the night 'i-d b -e-e c-r-no- throat, tb er,rL ird T went out )!'! ?!-..- rsocir'igfeL to frrr-ret her if I could. (j Copyright, !01Q. ty HeiropstlPin yetetpnper Syndicate, 1

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