YELLOV ANGEL MART STEWART DAGGEIT . OLIVEr-PERCIVAL Infer THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE YELLOW ANGEL JNthe noon-day sun the Celestial's white garments shone spotless. BY MARY STEWART DAGGETT Author of "Maripossilla," "The Broad Aisle," "The Higher Court," etc. i ILLUSTRATED COPYRIGHT, 1914 BY BROWNE & HOWELL COMPANY PUBLISHED. APRIL, 19U THE VAIL-BALLOU COMPANT Einghamtoii, New York, U. S. A. PS TO THE MASTER OF TEMPLE HILL AND TO FRIENDS OF EARLIER CALIFORNIA DAYS WHO DEPLORE WITH ME THE PASSING OF "THE YELLOW ANGEL" M. S. D. 524952 UBR4RI The author acknowledges permission from "The Outlook," New York, and from "The Los Angeles Times Maga zine/' Los Angeles, to reprint certain chapters now comprised in the story of THE YELLOW ANGEL. PREFACE WHETHER the present Chinese Repub lic shall stand or fall is but a matter of suppositional interest when compared with ultimate standards that will undoubtedly con trol the awakened race. China is no longer "shut in"; the world at large must respect its brand in the universal round-up of nations. Ernest Francisco Fenollosa holds that a trite opportunity for the ignorant is to declare that "China is China." He then continues, "That is enough for the professed sinologue. To find evidence regarding it (China) outside of its own forbidding records, is what they never ask. 'East is East and West is West, and never the two shall meet/ so runs Kip ling's specious dictum; and American orators use it to-day to aft'ect our treaty legislation. But the truth is that they have met, and they are meeting again now ; and history is a thou- PREFACE sand times richer for the contact. They have contributed a great deal to each other, and must contribute still more; they interchange views from the basis of a common humanity; and humanity is thus enabled to perceive what is stupid in its insularity." Fenollosa's words are adequate. The author of THE YELLOW ANGEL is en couraged by their sincerity; and the simple story of "Sue Chang" shall go forth with the hope that it may in some measure dispel Oc cidental prejudice. M. S. D. PASADENA, CAL., March, 1914. CONTENTS THE YELLOW ANGEL CHAPTER PAGE I "THE YELLOW ANGEL" 15 II YEARS AFTER 26 III THE UNDERSTUDY 44 IV ALL SAME FAN-TAN 56 V THE QUEUE OF CENTURIES 64 VI THE LION AND THE LAMB 105 VII THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM 119 VIII THE COAT OF MANY COLORS 135 IX His DREAM OF THE REPUBLIC 147 THREE HEATHEN TALES OF THE QUARTER THE REDEMPTION OF HOP LEE 169 THE AWAKENING OF THE DRAGON 197 THE BLACK LILT ' . .224 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS In the noon-day sun the Celestial's white garments shone spotless Frontispiece FACING PAGE His starched white sacklet and apron glistened in the California sunshine 16 Even the hens of the chicken-yard respected him . 23 " Heap lovely little man ! I take picture with him" 32 "I tell my fiends back China, my wheel fly all same bird" 38 "How you think I look?" 96 Madam Woo-Ho-Kee, Yoc "the lotus-bud," and the two parakeets 176 Woo-Ho-Kee folded his arms opulently .... 192 Handsome Lem Gay 198 "Hop Lee loman too ploud! she too smart 'cause that little son!" . 206 Ah Puck was very happy. It was a distinction to be owned by the dude of Chinatown .... 208 LIST OF ILLUSTBATIONS FACING PAGE The jaws of the great Mongolian dragon stood open with the fierce charge of Lem Gay's golden prod . 218 The "Black Lily" had dressed for the last act of her career 230 Her father, of lowest caste a "water-rat" . . 234 Hired mourners, bell-men, and gong beaters should rest no instant, when once the ghost of San Lu had been given up 232 Moon Dee, the slave girl 224 THE YELLOW ANGEL THE YELLOW ANGEL CHAPTER I "THE YELLOW ANGEL" *'T NO understand! I no understand!" 1 said Sue Chang, "The Yellow Angel." He wound a long black queue about his head ; plunged brown, shapely hands beneath the flow of a hydrant, and dried them on a fresh, coarse towel. When he moved from a shelter ing pepper tree, his starched white sacklet and apron glistened in the California sun shine. He stood, shading his eyes as he gazed across the valley and beyond to outlying hills that rolled between the country and the town. Chinese New Year was in full blast in the "City of Angels." In the old Quarter the clang of gongs proclaimed wild revels and Sue Chang thought he heard music. For one 15 16 THE YELLOW ANGEL happy week heathen might rage and imagine vain things. Golden-faced aliens owned the smiling land, all ignoring bonds of trade and service to feast and jabber of wives and chil dren and friends in the old home at the other side of the world. "The Yellow Angel" of Temple Hill was alone and sad; for this year he took no active interest in the loud festivi ties of the great holiday. He had promised his Mission teacher to be good ; to eschew evil. His lavender silk outing garment and felt Fe dora hat hung on hooks in his tent-house, while, earlier in the day, he half-tearfully watched a neighbor's cook depart for the Quar ter, dressed in rich attire. He again softly sighed, remembering his own neglected gala garb. Above, in the deep blue sky, he saw bird-shaped kites of every hue and knew that " Chinatown " blazed with flags, banners and lanterns. Sue Chang's soul hungered from afar. It was hard to be a strict Presbyterian when even birds and butterflies seemed to be flying in quest of pleasure. In harmless retro spect, he recalled familiar balconies of the Quarter, hung with palms and flowers, where S starched white sacklet and apron glistened in the California sunshine. "THE YELLOW ANGEL" 17 happy, smiling women and tiny children now completed tiro domestic picture for Chinese carnival. He knew that Celestial merchants chatted on every corner, while privileged boys shot firecrackers and paraded in gorgeous trousers and royal overgarments. Sue Chang could not forget customs dear to his hungry heart. "I no likey not see," he sadly owned. It appeared that only the Yellow Angel and the prejudiced tourist were unable to respond to delightful opportunities. Sue Chang's scru ples had developed in twelve months, whereas the man from an eastern sea coast had nur tured disapproval of heathen orgies through generations of Puritanical ancestors. He now deplored wild conditions of a Christian land, and sought baked beans amid strawberries ripened in open beds in midwinter. The old Quarter seemed hopeless and to an unimagina tive mind the "New England Almanack" was artfully profaned. January in Los Angeles, "City of Angels," had become a blooming paradox ; a mix-up of Christmas calendars and the Fourth of July. 18 THE YELLOW ANGEL Everything in the country was bewildering. Meantime heathen excitement continued to wax hot with good-natured disregard for all things serious pervading the balmy air. Un holy jargon and sensuous odors welled from the walls of Chinatown. In every direction golden angels in shining raiment paid visits with smiles and cherry-red New Year's cards. Flowing sleeves of lavender and green and rose caught the breeze with holiday swing, suggesting full possibilities of aviation, as happy aliens flew by on new bicycles. For even zealous " Mission boys" had generally de serted their American households. Through out the city fair women flushed above the range or frowned upon a cold repast. The Yellow Angel alone stuck to his kitchen telephone and a seven-o'clock dinner. Until the last moment the mistress of Temple Hill contemplated their cook's departure; when he did not go, she smiled triumphant. "He shall be numbered with the Golden Cherubim," the master irreverently proclaimed, but failed to discover that a sacrificial role, even in humble life, is not satisfying. "THE YELLOW ANGEL' 19 Sue Chang went on with his work, miserably conscious of heartbreaking righteousness and tame reward. "I no understand ! I no under stand!" he murmured again and again. During twelve long months the Yellow Angel had professed sober, confusing doc trines of Christianity. A brave renunciation of present gay opportunities had exalted him in the eyes of his auburn-haired Mission-school teacher and endeared him afresh to the hearts of his employers ; yet for unanswerable reasons the Celestial did not feel compensated for the loss of joyous opportunities still within his reach. Frequent trains, steaming down the valley, puffed a tune for Chinatown. Every tree stirring on the Hill wafted an invitation to the city, while at last the old Quarter seemed to laugh at the poor Yellow Angel's sacrifice. It was then that he again remembered his rash promise to the teacher at the Mission. For the auburn-haired instructress had unfolded many strange things, alas ! to become less plain under pressure of unexpected disappointment, and to-day he was not valiant. "I no understand! I just heap stupid," he 20 THE YELLOW ANGEL cried out; and the sound of his own voice brought stolid comfort. A red kite soared above his head, and down in the street he heard once more the crackle of powder. A belated Chinaman tore down the road on a wheel. " I be Clistian ! I be Clistian ! " Sue Chang choked. "I not go Chinatown see my flens jus* go Mission have Holy Supper." His eyes lifted to the fluttering kite. Then sud denly the will to put Satan's gay bird behind him drove him half-crazed to the screened porch of the kitchen. He seized a basket of vegetables and began to shell peas. Deter mination marked his brow. His chin sank to his breast; for a moment his young counte nance was set and dull. Roses smiled upon him, but he did not notice their pretty pink and white faces. He knit his golden forehead into sad, perplexed lines and rained fresh green bullets against an answering pan. The trag edy of the previous night broke over him and his earlier satisfaction in the communion serv ice, so judiciously administered at the Mission, now seemed doubtful. "THE YELLOW ANGEL' 21 The house was still; for the mistress, the children, the governess and the nurse-maid had all departed for a drive. The Yellow Angel was alone and no one would hear. "I be Clistian one long year," he began, "not heap happy! I not go Chinatown see flens hear 'bout my cluntry. My cluntry good land, people jus' stupid. Big mountains all same California. My people kind jus' say fool plare to idol be heap poor. My f adder my mudder not velly bad?" The inflection of his voice answered the questions and Pigeon English burst into inspired alle gory. " I be heap stupid claus I not understand ! ' ' he desperately deplored. "Now I good I not have flun! My flens down Chinatown have flun I stay be Clistian. I no shoot fireclacker fly kite play fan-tan smoke opium do no bad thing jus' go Mission. Las' night teacher tell boys Holy supper more better Ian China New Year. Boys sing say plare all give money build church tell teacher good night. That not make velly happy. Len boys go Los Angeles. I not go. Teacher 22 THE YELLOW ANGEL say I good Clistian. Plitty soon I see locket in sky, I no likey look my heart so solly. I no likey go in my house see all my flens go Chinatown ! "Lem Gee he "say, 'Come Chinatown have flun. ' I say I not go I Clistian. Too much expense I pay money, build church. Lem Gee say, 'Heap fool/ I say I not fool I likey be good have sins forgive. Lem Gee say, 'Go, take lun!' He say he not go Mis sion one week he go Chinatown have heap flun fly klite shoot fireclacker play fan- tan. Lem Gee not work kitchen one week; one day he come home cook go Mission be heap solly have sins forgive all samy. I no sabe ! I no sabe ! ' ' Peas fell into the pan with angry thud, while shooting crackers exploded down the street. Sue Chang groaned. He had reached the de nouement of his allegory. The penalty of Christian warfare was heavy and a tear swept his golden cheek. He thrust it away and went on conclusively. "Lem Gee go Chinatown I go my house. I go dark street I say plare cause I flaid. "THE YELLOW ANGEL' 23 Plitty soon big dog come bite my leg bad man hit my head. I fall down no sense. Bad man steal my money. I go my house. I heap sick. I cly say nudder plare. Not much flun! I hear fireclacker down Chinatown. I see locket in skly. I stay my bed. This morn ing I work hard cook sclub. My kitchen all clean 'fore Lem Gee come see me. Lem Gee have new blicycle. He so happy fly all same bird. He say I big fool, not go China town last night. He say see! show heap pile gold. He say he play fan-tan; no cop catchy on just good luck. Lem Gee buy new blicycle L have plesent for teacher heap more money. Plitty soon he velly solly, he say. Not velly solly yet not till one week. One week he go Mission get one blite bled, one dlink wine, be forgive sins. I no understand ! I just a heap sick in my heart." Above, a meadow-lark gave the call for the New Year. Pink and red roses nodded in the breeze, still pointing down to Chinatown. Festive echoes of Celestial merry-making tore Sue Chang's heart; but again he tossed green peas from sweet-smelling pods. Again he 24 THE YELLOW ANGEL bowed Ms head in dull submission to an unjust fate. Rewards of the Christian soldier were not satisfying, and in vain he tried to sing his favorite hymn. There was no song in his heart ; and the blonde image of his adored Mis sion teacher refused to materialize. Vague, horrible skepticism entered his soul. Hence forth theological problems would torture him ; for even now he respected the discernment of Lena Gee, while the more wiley heathen's opu lent state and delectable outing seemed to frost all budding faith. The "Yellow Angel" deplored his own virtuous, but withal disas trous, stand. Sudden, irresistible longing seized him. Friends and countrymen called loudly above the voice of the auburn-haired siren. * ' I sick in my heart ! " he cried. " I no likey be good all time too hard ! I go Chinatown jus' one hour. I get dinner len I go theater see big play hear music have little flun! I talk 'bout my cluntry 'bout my f adder my mudder buy fine plesent for teacher all same Lena Gee." Late into night sounded the gongs of wild "THE YELLOW ANGEL' 25 Celestials, and long after tourists had left the quarter, pandemonium prevailed. Then hush of opium deadened noise in the streets. When red lanterns paled with early glow of morning, the boy Sue Chang stumbled forth to trudge his weary way to Temple Hill; to stir in deep humility cold, dead ashes of an ac cusing range. CHAPTER II YEAES AFTER THE Yellow Angel's kitchen was immacu late; in fact too clean for the course of ordinary events. Rows of utensils hung coldly bright above the sink; a dead range shone with melancholy luster of fresh mourn ing ; and even the little clock ticked a premoni tory knell from the side wall. Sue Chang, in an oilcloth traveling costume, his queue uncoiled, his dark face a study of conflicting emotions, bade farewell to Temple Hill. For the first time during ten years of service the faithful cook claimed a vacation of a year, and faced again for the Fatherland. Chang's visit to old China was attended with certain trepidation the gradual result of a long sojourn in the United States. He dreaded the ocean voyage, taken in the deep 26 YEARS AFTER 27 bowels of the ship, and by degrees had lost faith in traditions of his native land. The United States had insidiously usurped the power of rotting ancestors; while Cali fornia was now the heathen's advanced ideal of civilization. On Temple Hill, his American home, every tree and shrub on the six-acre knoll seemed dear to him. Here he had seen roses and children blooming together, side by side, until dreams of far-away China, of ag ing parents, and a lily-footed "bride to be" be came strangely mixed with local interests and modern beliefs. Chang had become an im portant factor in the daily life and domestic economy of "Temple Hill." The mistress faced an oft-postponed ca lamity; for Chang was going "back home" to be gone a whole year. With strange unrest she computed the price of her faithful cook's departure. The present moment seemed like a gloomy "foreword" to a still more gloomy story. Celestial data called up vivid memories of past tribulations, as she again endeavored to solve a half-forgotten problem. Twice be fore she had sought out the rule for the in- 28 THE YELLOW ANGEL volved question, "How many days in a month when the cook goes on a vacation?" Already she jumped at her answer, and it was twice the number allotted in the calendar. On a fresh, sunshiny morning, when she should have been in the rose garden, listening to love songs of mocking-birds hidden among vines of the veranda, she was otherwise en gaged, with thoughts that were irritable and grim. What should she do without her faith ful heathen? Where could his match be found? Was not his bread as digestible as heavenly manna ? his soup as nutritious as the avowed promises of gold-label advertisements ? When he beat the dust from a treasured prayer-rug, he harmed not a sacred thread! Controlled by his steady hands, usual cut- glass disasters were averted; within his judi cious grasp Coalport china took no sudden leaps into the air. He was a wonder, this quiet, masterful Chang. Even the hens of the chicken-yard respected him; for each did her duty and laid an egg a day Sunday not ex empt. The doves revered him likewise, mourning with exaggerated pathos when he de- N the hens of the chicken-yard respected him. YEARS AFTER 29 serted them. Always when he called they came, dashing through the blue to the very verge of his kitchen door. When he fed them, they returned to their cotes joyfully, circling as they went, flashing wings against a sunlit air like darting prisms. Standing among the pigeons in spotless white work-clothes, his queue coiled neatly above his intelligent golden brow, Chang made a picture. As the children of Temple Hill grew up, they went away to school and college; then Chang was "heap sorry." When they came home, he felt "heap glad." When a daughter of the house was married, he rejoiced. One day a little grandson arrived, and Celestial joy knew no bounds. "Heap lovely little man!" he cried. "I take picture with him send back China let my folks see all same 'Merican baby." He was charmed with the result of the snap shot and posed again with his "New Depart ure" bicycle. "I tell my fiends back China, my wheel fly all same bird," he declared with smiles. "My people not smart like these United States, ' ' he went on. * ' More better old 30 THE YELLOW ANGEL Empress die I think that old lady keep China heap dark ; some day my people get more light all same 'Merica." A wistful shade clouded his brow. "Since I live this Temple Hill I understand many things," he acknowledged with com mendable pride. "Now I not believe those idols now I say idols no good." The mis tress bowed approval, and Chang proceeded to establish Christian premises. " Idols can not make happy idols cannot make rich idols cannot make good idols just like old brickbat no hear no see no feel. When I go back home, I tell my family these United States great cluntry idols no good I know sure now I live so long this Temple Hill. ' ' And shortly after Chang's heroic threat to enlighten his benighted countrymen, he had received a command from aging parents to return to China on a most important mission. Both bade him fulfill his long-standing pledge to the child wife of years back ; to hasten with out delay to the Flowery Kingdom and restore a wilting blossom. The girl had matured and, with others of her class, awaited the arrival of YEARS AFTER 31 alien sons who had gone to the United States after money. At first Chang seemed reluctant to obey the summons; but tenets of a yet vague theology had not displaced traditions of ages, and gradually the lukewarm bridegroom flamed to the idea of nuptials prescribed by unrelenting ancestors. Chang's preparations for his wedding soon became elaborate. He bought gifts for his future wife, and most character istic of all that he selected were buttons fashioned from United States two-dollar-and- a-half gold pieces. These he purchased from the bank to enrich the wedding garments of a lily-footed bride. Each treasure was shown in turn to the sympathetic mistress of the Hill. Chang was a proud suitor, but occasionally he had doubts. 1 'I like plitty much have my wife stay these United States, but no can," he one day de plored. "Not much fun have wife far, away ten thousand miles I sorry, but no can help my f adder say I come back China get mally more better back there. China son no can do like 'Merican boy China boy no dare tell his 32 THE YELLOW ANGEL f adder 'mind you business' China son must do all same his f adder tell him." The case was plain ; and, the evening before Chang's departure for San Francisco, the boys of the Mission school gave him a little supper. "I have heap lovely party last night," he said next morning. "My fiends bring plesents lice cleam cake nuts laisons I make speech! Teacher say long, lovely plare clause I not get sick that old ship not get eat up by big whale get safe back China then come back these United States. Boys sing * Onward, Clistian Soldier' shake hands say good luck till I be home Temple Hill my own kitchen." At this time there seemed to be no doubt in regard to the legality of Chang's return papers. The United States had not then crossed tho Rubicon. A chimerical interest in a store of Los Angeles' Chinatown gave him the privilege to return to the Republic at the end of a year. The mistress knew that after twelve months Chang would come back and take up his work without complaint or outward emo- "PJEAP lovely little man! I take picture with /'/?/." YEARS AFTER 33 tion. Some fine morning he would suddenly appear and domestic burdens would roll away. She might lift her eyes and behold the faithful one upon the rose walk; his oilcloth traveling suit worse for wear, the gray Fedora hat a trifle soiled otherwise the smiling bridegroom would be in excellent condition. She saw his cheeks round, his eyes bright, his whole coun tenance frank with joy. An hour later would again establish him in the United States. He could once more wear his spotless white gar ments ; coil his queue for labor. In imagina tion the mistress heard him calling to the pigeons and half forgot that the faithful one must go from home. Then came the realiza tion of a long, hard year not yet begun. That same night she had a dream. After wakeful hours filled with plans for a now demoralized household she saw a wide and pleasant meadow, leading sweetly forward, wild green barley spears gleamed through warm brown mold, while millions of golden poppies blazed in sun light. The vision was quieting, and next morning the master of the Hill interpreted it with a chuckle. 34 THE YELLOW ANGEL "The meadow," said he, "means years of peace and comfort; the barley-spears elim inate the sad contingency of sour bread, and golden poppies typify Celestial thrift when at last the Yellow Angel comes back. ' Blest be the shade of Confucius!' Blest be his shade, for our precious Heathen will be sure to re turn to his American home dead broke!" And the prophecy proved true. The year rolled round, and one day Chang's familiar face appeared at the door, and soon the house hold was depending on him as formerly. Five tranquil years now went by before Chang's brow began again to gather lines of anxiety. Then for the first time in the memory of the mistress he grew slightly irritable ; later she surmised that her hour had come Chang was again going to China. When she re covered from her shock sufficiently to inquire the cause of her cook's sudden determination, Chang explained graphically that Chinese cir cles were greatly excited over the unjust stringency of the Exclusion Act. The old "Geary Law" was masquerading in a strait- jacket, and it was the belief of Celestial sages YEARS AFTER 35 that working boys could have but one more chance for a peaceful trip to the Fatherland : the assurance that return papers would not be honored by United States officials after the en suing year had created a panic in both San Francisco and Los Angeles' Chinatowns. One morning Chang stood with a troubled brow. "I sorry but I feel heap big debil inside my heart," he confessed. "I go back China once more come these United States once more len I must not come this 'Merica." "Not so bad as that," the lady contradicted. "Yes, I go United States not care I do no harm! No matter." He spread his hands in tragical despair. "I not go now I not get back these United States any more my papers no good after one year when I come this cluntry one more time I stay five year then I go back see my wife all time be all same my people." Sad lines formed in his forehead. "I sorry United States do that way. My cluntry pretty good," he went on; "big mountains all same California people just poor too dark not heap smart. Wing Lee he go China, too." Wing Lee was our 36 laundryman, and, like our cook, had served us for years. "Yes, he go too," Chang continued. "He sell out business go back home pay all his money so wife and children not be slaves any more. ' ' The mistress raised her hands in hor ror. "Wing Lee 's wife and children slaves ! ' ' "Yes, they all slaves back China. I not know Wing Lee back home," Chang coolly an nounced. "We go same ship till I get China ; when I get my cluntry, I say good-by not speak to Wing Lee any more." "Indeed!" said the mistress. After all, thought she, snobbery is but the grandchild of caste. Chang's candid scorn for the washman who was returning to China upon a godlike mission filled her with fresh interest. * ' And will Wing Lee be able to return to America?" she asked. "He not know maybe he sneak in all same Mexico. He know one fellow do that way. Wing Lee tell me he try get back, too. When wife and children be free he say he be dead bloke len he try get back these United States make little money. He not know sure." The mistress prayed devoutly that the YEARS AFTER 37 "Mexican sneak" might prove successful. "And you feel that you must return to China at once ?" she asked, with a lingering hope that Chang could be induced to change his mind. "Yes, I go," he declared emphatically; and two weeks later he departed. The ensuing year was a long one for the Temple Hill household. Many of the best Chinese servants of the Southwest had dis creetly followed the judgment of Chang. There seemed to be hardly a reliable cook left in the country. A hegira had taken place in Los Angeles' Chinatown, and even Yap Sing, the Grand Mogul of Celestial employment agencies, owned that the stock of cooks was poor and unreliable. "Pretty soon boys all come back," he encouraged from tune to time, and at last the promise was fulfilled. After months of inconvenience and waiting, when the mistress of the Hill had almost given up the idea of Chang's return, she saw him once more trudging into the grounds with his big shining valise and a suggestive bundle of ship blankets. Her heart fluttered somewhat wildly, but she stood still with smiling dignity 38 THE YELLOW ANGEL and awaited the inevitable moment. Triumph lit her eyes, for only that very morning she had disputed the pessimistic opinion of her husband, declaring stoutly that Chang the faithful would surely come. Now, spreading beyond the approaching vision of returning peace and comfort, the great mountains seemed to applaud her faith. She lifted her eyes unto the hills and returned thanks for blessings past and close at hand. Spring air of the Southwest land touched her cheeks; every rose in the garden seemed to congratulate her. Then, with an exultant whir through the sun-kissed sky, came the doves. A pure white leader steered the flash ing flock and as Chang put down his valise and bundle to gaze upward the pigeons appeared to know that their friend had come. Into the blue they dove joyous wings, circling after daz zling mates this way and that way, until at last they found the little plaza before the kitchen door. Here Chang fed them after his eventful journey of ten thousand miles. In her secret soul the mistress vowed ruin to an unjust Exclusion Act. A restriction act "/ TELL my fiends back China, my wheel fly all same bird," YEARS AFTER 39 were well enough, but justice should control its articles. Of what particular benefit were for eign missions if the United States did not treat fairly the very heathen it sought to Christianize? When the faithful, plodding, clear-sighted Chinese laborers had all been driven from the Pacific coast, what would become of the " Happy Valleys" of a goodly land not yet half developed? Would not decline tarnish the golden promises of earlier years? What would be the ultimate story of the far- stretching, burning mesa thirsting for un developed water; of wide utilitarian acres below the "Mother Mountains"; of tender pockets of fertile mold hidden between pleas ant hills? She asked herself the questions with perturbation. After a long sojourn in her adopted land, she did not believe it possible to develop the Pacific slope without the aid of Chinese laborers. The Japanese could never displace their Celestial cousins, in the calm estimation of the mistress of Temple Hill. She had watched both alien races with extreme interest, 40 THE YELLOW ANGEL and she had seen always that in complicated matters, in tasks demanding strength and en durance, in loyalty, in truthfulness, in honesty and general adaptability, the intelligent China man can distance a Japanese of his own class. As yet no Celestial had dreamed of a Republic for his native land. Still wondering in regard to the possible out- 1 come of a grave and undecided issue, the lady walked to the rear of the house. There, on the kitchen porch, she found her model heathen shelling peas. Gold of Ophir roses peeped at him from behind the lattice, while a derelict hen from the chicken-yard cackled her com plaints at his feet. The picture was a com forting one, and the mistress of the Hill dis missed for the day all moody speculations. Peas fell into the pan like pleasant rain. Sud denly Chang lifted his eyes; his countenance shone with pride and satisfaction. "I not tell you I get little son back China? Yes, he come all light six hours before I start back these United States." He waited ex pectantly for congratulation sure to follow, YEARS AFTER 41 then went on: "I not likey to leave my little son that soon but no can help I heap scare anyway 'clause I stay home so long I flaid my papers no good I heap scare I not get back United States all light. My old ship sail next day my little boy be born. I heap sick in my heart but no can stay hear my little son make big cly." The mistress sympathized as best she could, and Chang continued. "You not likey you husbland go away six hours after you li ttle son get born?" "No, indeed," she answered. "I not think these United States velly kind to poor Chinaman. Sixteen year I work this cluntry do no harm when my little son be born I can no stay home one day fear my papers no good. That hard I say. I think Chinaman not do United States any harm? some Chinaman good some bad all same 'Merican man. Bad Chinaman smoke opium do mean thing ; but bad Chinaman not harm United States just harm hisself . ' ' Chang's command of English was not fluent ; 42 THE YELLOW ANGEL but his epigrammatic philosophy charmed. The intelligent heathen understood more than he could express. "I heap solly 'bout my poor cluntry. She have hard luck all time. That big Boxer war ! Now pletty soon that big Russia want Man churia say China old fool. Some day I think China not have much land left. One year lose some fight pay big money lose more land. After 'while nations take all China be dead bloke not any good. I see things myself. Back home my people heap scare say all cluntries fight China plitty soon China have no more land just old temples old idols. I wish China all same Republic!" He dropped his eyes, and the brown hands renewed their scuffle with green pods. For a moment falling peas appeared to sound a dirge to gloomy convictions; then Chang lifted a smiling face. "I no can help these things," he declared, with the good nature of a true philosopher. "Now I stay this cluntry five year then, I see, maybe, Plesident these United States do something make new law so good China- YEARS AFTER 43 man can stay this cluntry go home come back. I think that like Jesus. Jesus be solly^ I think, when poor Chinaman have bad luck.'* The crude philosopher of the pea-pods had closed the question, and with strange humility the lady walked away. Months later, when Russia and Japan began to fight for golden apples, she recalled Chang's prophecy. Often at breakfast she felt a fur tive glance behind her chair, and knew that her Celestial sought for headlines of war in the morning paper. CHAPTER III THE UNDERSTUDY DURING the Yellow Angel's second visit to China, Temple Hill appeared to be threatened with devastation. All at once the family cow went dry, then died, regardless of the little grandson who had arrived from the East to spend the summer. The old gray- hound, so long befriended by Sue Chang, choked on a bone and gave up the ghost. Doves flew boldly away to find strange mates, while broods of downy chicks hatched out and soon expired. Even the mistress of the Hill grew thin and alarmed over the Yellow Angel's uncertain return. For the Exclusion Law again flourished. Celestials met trouble and insult the moment they entered the Golden Gate, despite credentials and worthy records. Meanwhile cooks came and went with every moon. The situation was tragic. 44 THE UNDERSTUDY 45 The poor mistress had given up to despair, when at last she secured a Jap of promising pretension. The freshness of his white ap parel, the style of his bearing and withal his deferential manner, filled her with joy. He seemed to be a jewel beyond careless appraise ment. Still she was cold and annoyed when the master ranked his possibilities with those of the absent Yellow Angel. "Wait," she commanded. But he persisted that she was unreasonable in her cool estimate of the new cook 's first dinner. "Holy guns! could there be anything more perfect? His etceteras are wonderful; his bow is a dream. There is nothing lacking but the Fujiyama, yet to be painted upon his kit chen wall. Perhaps some local Japanese art ist would accommodate us ; surely our treasure is worthy of any attainable background." The wife raised her eyelids in cool derision. "It is just possible that he might prefer silk, hand-painted Wistaria curtains at his win dows instead of shades. And the electric bulbs could be dropped into Oriental lanterns," she suggested witheringly. 46 THE YELLOW ANGEL "For my part, I am willing to watch for de velopments. Because his first dinner was good is no sign that his second one will be better. .Wait a day or two before you order the Fuji yama ; even that unique background might not suit the taste of the next one." " Fudge," said her husband; "you don't seem to understand that all proverbs have been transposed to suit a progressive age. 'All things come to him who waits' now means, the man who waits gets left. As soon as the fame of our treasure spreads throughout the neigh borhood there will be trouble in store for us if we neglect his personal comforts and dwarf his impressions of what a kitchen ought to be. Our friends across the way with so much money will educate his taste; while in their superb annex he may discover sterling dish- pans and wrought-iron pokers that will put our plain utensils to shame. Be reasonable, dear ; for once give me the benefit of the doubt. I have studied human nature so thoroughly that I am fully convinced about this particular matter. Our Jap will rise to his environment. If we wish to keep him, we must 'go one better' THE UNDERSTUDY 47 on chaste elegance and gentlemanly perqui sites." "I do not deny in part what you say," said the lady gazing gloomily at the pretentious mansion across the way. "I don't deny that our treasure may be hard to keep ; for really, there is no chance for happiness in this neigh borhood any longer. We ought to move out of it. It is far too rich for us, and now if we have to decorate the kitchen wall with the Fu jiyama, I think we had better sell the place." "My dear," said the husband, "you have not been to service for two Sundays ; meantime you have forgotten to repeat the tenth command ment. I see clearly that you are not inclined to keep this law. To restore your naturally courageous heart to its old cunning I would suggest a dinner party. Invite a few friends ; the bishop who is a summer bachelor ; George Horton and Jack Roe. Roe says he's starved since his wife went East, and Horton 's about the same." "I'm not quite sure," the wife deliberated. "Well, I think I will. The Bishop is so ap preciative, I just love him. And the other 48 THE YELLOW ANGEL men will be simply overawed by our spotless prize. Really, I never saw anything more re freshing for hot weather than a Jap's white- linen get-up. Just think, even his shoes are white. White shoes, white pantaloons, white jacket, white apron, white cap for the kitchen," she enumerated. " Looks quite like an East Indian butler. Yes, I think it will be lovely to have something doing. I haven't dared to ask any one to dinner since the Yel low Angel went to China. Of course he was perfect! I fear he may never get back to this side; and there are so few good Chinese servants left in the country that we will doubt less be compelled to employ Japanese. If all Japs are as capable and aesthetic as our present incumbent we may get along after all ! " She dropped into a chair with an attitude of deep thinking. "It is Tuesday; Friday would be the best day," said she. "Tell the Bishop seven o'clock; it will surely be cool by that time; very informal, of course." " Yes, very informal," her husband intoned ; "very informal, with all the best dishes." "The swellest little dinner of the summer; THE UNDERSTUDY 49 cool and restful in every detail/' she ex plained. The master blinked responsively. "Of course it'll be great, all your things are. But I can't quite see why our dinner last night was not good enough for any man. Take that tomato salad, for instance. Great Scott! It was like a Japanese painting. The pudding was as mysterious as a poem, and I never wish to drink better black coffee. I don't see why you women want to fuss about having a few friends. ' ' "But you see," she beamed, "not everyone can secure a cook who is able to help the table maid; to emulate a butler. As you said a moment ago, we are in duty bound to give him opportunities for uplifting environment. If we don't put on style for company he'll think we have no position in the neighborhood. A man understands so little; never the real reason of success in entertaining. The one time you always take trouble to notice is when something is horribly bad." "When all is perfect, what can a poor soul say 1 ?" "Nothing, of course; but you might look 50 THE YELLOW ANGEL volumes of praise, just as you look volumes of wrath when things don't suit/' she held out. "Well," said her husband, "I will look six cantos of ecstasy when the Bishop eats his salad." Her eyes smiled. "You needn't overdo it." Then a faraway expression came into her face. "I hardly count on his white shoes for all the year round," she absently observed. Even as she speculated, the Jap appeared between Kiskillim curtains. "Madam is served," he announced with one hand pressed to his heart, the other one at the side of a jacket no longer spotless. But hope stirred eternal. Still it was tacitly agreed that the Fujiyama for the kitchen should not be painted until after the dinner. "A scaffolding might disturb culinary fancies; if he struck his head, for instance, stars instead of patties might be the result," the master wisely ventured. But on Thursday evening, the night before the affair on hand, the mistress seemed greatly depressed. In vain her husband sought to cheer her. THE UNDERSTUDY 51 "I wish you would stop joking," she com plained. Her spouse flipped the ashes from a cigar and smiled. "Don't get discouraged," he coaxed. "You cannot always expect a first- class dinner from any cook ; to-morrow he will give us a corker." "But his clothes," she cried. "He has be come a perfect fright. Yesterday morning he shed his soiled shoes, then by night his jacket had become an absolute disgrace, all stained with plum juice." "He's saving a fresh outfit for your din ner," the husband assured her. "Do you really think so 9" she laughed hys terically, catching at the straw of comfort. "I have tried my best to peep into his room; but he keeps it locked, and there is no chance of seeing through the keyhole. Jane doesn't believe that he owns another full set of linens, but thinks he'll do washing to-night and iron his clothes in the morning. She says she has often seen a Jap press out a fresh jacket be tween courses at dinner. I don't want to fol low him too closely, but I am awfully worried. 52 THE YELLOW ANGEL His cooking has fallen off right along; if he should turn up to-morrow evening without any clothes it would be simply dreadful." " Scandalous!' 7 agreed the master. "I fail to appreciate your wit," she cried, crossly. "We had no business to invite those people before we knew just what to expect. And I suppose you have told the men all sorts of nonsense." "To be sure. They were all charmed with my invitation. I told them to look for some thing fine, quite on the order of a * linen shower,' with all sorts of 'far East' touches thrown in. Horton and Roe both decided to lunch on iced tea and crackers on Friday, and the Bishop said to tell you that he would do his weekly fast during the first two meals of the day." "You would be more of a man if you gave up being facetious. I am positively worn out with the heat and it's all your fault, asking those men to dinner. Dear, dear; little Tom is crying again. Jane says he is growing ter ribly spoiled. Every time he wakes in the evening she has to hold his hand till he quiets 53 down. He is getting to be just like a real man; so exacting, and ridiculously sentimen tal." "Like Ms grandfather." * * Exactly. And Julia can 't say that we have spoiled her son when she gets back from Eu rope." She turned gloomily to cross the room with strong presentiment. A tap on the door called her without. The thing she expected had happened. Shorn of white glory, deeply afflicted with sudden pain, the Jap addressed her. "I very sorry but my head all sick. My heart makes very sad that I go." "Go?" she repeated, sweeping with scorn ful eyes the demoralized dream of a passing butler. "You wish to leave me? You do not remember that I have invited friends to din ner that everything has been fully arranged for to-morrow ? You cannot go. " "I sorry very sorry, but I go. I no can stay. Kitchen too hot. My head crazy. I think I go learn be doctor." She saw the futility of argument. He was 54 THE YELLOW ANGEL bowing low before her; one hand above his heart, the other clutching his hair. An instant later he had vanished. Then the tragedy of the approaching dinner took hold of her, and she burst out wrathfully. "The odious creature has gone! Actually gone! Every vestige of white apparel has been dropped, even his trousers !" "Good gracious !" cried her husband. "A linen shower, for sure." "Now his trousers are brown horrid old butternut things, not fit to be seen," she pro claimed. "He looks just like a hod carrier. I knew from the first he could never keep up such spotless pretense ; but I didn't dream that he was a whited sepulcher, with only a ghost of a wardrobe. Now perhaps you will under stand why I do not go into ecstasies over new servants. You will have to tell those men not to come to dinner until next week ; meanwhile I shall do my best to get a China boy. "Just think of the comfort we had with the Yellow Angel!" She was half tearful. "Even when I gave him a vacation he always came home ahead of the allotted time. He ac- THE UNDERSTUDY 55 tually loved to work. Before lie left for China, when you were trying to fix up his re turn papers, he gave us all Julia's baby, even Jane such pretty farewell gifts ; every one of them in perfect taste, presented with real feel ing." She was growing reminiscent "Just think what delicious bread he made. And his soups and desserts, how perfect! He never seemed tired of trying to please us. Don't you remember the time he went to San Bernardo to see his brother? He had ex pected to be gone a week, but on the evening of the third day I happened to hear the screen door of the summer kitchen softly open and there was the Yellow Angel, ready to get our breakfast the next morning. 'Not velly much fun take vacation,' he con fessed. 'Jus' walk lound look store lindow lide 'lectric car get heap tired.' His words made a text for his character. We '11 never have a bit of comfort or a wholesome thing to eat until he comes home." CHAPTER IV ALL SAME FAN-TAN THE stag dinner of Saturday night had made the master late to Sunday's break fast. He was not contemplating divine serv ice. The soft air of June wafted through open French windows, while without he heard a Gloria of birds and felt the call of a perfect day. The Yellow Angel was once more in California; again cooking and ministering to famished souls of Temple Hill. This morn ing he seemed unduly solicitous for the mas ter's health. He kept fluttering about the table until at last curiosity got the better of him and he spoke out, like a child. "I know that cook down Mr. Bain house where you go las' night," he exulted. "He velly gland! More better Ian me?" he mod estly questioned. "We had a very good dinner," the master 56 ALL SAME FAN-TAN 57 answered without undue enthusiasm. To Chang's evident joy the cook at Bain's had not eclipsed his own previous effort. His yellow brow shone triumphant. "That fiend tell me all 'bout party," he again ventured. "He say hot time hot dlinks heap money get bet all same fan- tan." Embarrassing silence followed, but the Yel low Angel was wound up. ' 1 1 bet my fiend one dollar my boss get heap most plunk." He glanced admiringly at the master. "My fiend bet one dollar he boss got most plunk." Childlike curiosity sharpened his voice with rising inflection. "Why you not tell me?" he persisted. "If you not tell me my fiend make me pay one dollar I not like that." The disastrous outcome was so personal that the tender-hearted master twirled a silver dol lar upon the tray. "You shall not be out of pocket on my ac count," he declared. The Celestial looked foolishly at the coin. "American gentlemen do not care to boast 58 THE Y . " AXGEL of their good fortune," the master added eva sively. "Tell your friend to ask his own boss for particulars." He leaned hack in his chair and laughed guiltily. But the Yellow Angel did not re tire. Something was on his mind something back: of the point in question. He fingered his tray, then spoke desperately. "That fiend I tell you *bout get allest down Chinatown." "Indeed!" said the master. "What was the matter?" **Las* night he play fan-tan all same he boss." The reply came with strange direct ness. "He say he boss not get allest he think that old cop not allest China boys. He teQ me not fair do udder way. He say he feel big hick hisself, every ti*"c he see gentlemen get lot money heap easy all same fan-tan. After he wash dishes plitty late he go that loom Tnakp hot stuff bling 1anH1i