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Show I Jf It Was :: : Local - :::: Custom , .. , tt By JOHN PALMER (, 1114, WtaMra Nawipaptr Unto.) hXXTHAT Is it, Harry r Daisy ' " " clung to her fiance's arm nenr-ously nenr-ously as they aaw the native crowd surrounding something that had just been taken by a boatman out of the river. "Don't look, dear. Just a suicide, I expect. They kill themselves for trifles, these natives." "How terrible," said the little bride-to-be, shuddering. "I shall feel more comfortable when our boat has sailed." Barry Beamish had been employed In the country for three years. lie had left a girl behind him In America. The day of their marriage had seemed Impossibly remote, and, In the end, he had done as nearly all his friends did had taken a temporary bride from the village. Almond Blossom I How faithful she had been I He had grown really fond of ber. And he had come to be thankful thank-ful that there had been no children. That might have proved a tie, a bar. In the back of his mind there was always the dream of some day going home to Palsy. But the understanding between them had practically lapsed. And there had been an epistolary quarrel. Daisy had ceased to write. And Harry had settled down with Almond Blossom. Blos-som. It was a most respectable menage. me-nage. All his friends envied him. There had even come a time when he . had thought of taking Almond Blossom Blos-som to the clergyman. But, after all, why tie himself, and why anticipate the future? The years went by. Three years. A letter came from Daisy. Her father was bringing her out on bis business trip he had substantial Interests In the country and had got Harry his Job. And did he care for her the same? If so? Then it was Harry had known that deep down within him there had always al-ways been the same tug at his heart. He wanted to return to America. Daisy had hinted at a position which ber father wanted him to fill at home. And of course, if be answered her letter let-ter It could only mean one thing. Almond Blossom was watching him as he replied. Harry thought she did not understand, but she understood very well. 8he understood how to read his face. She loved him. She had Just gone on loving him in her submissive wsy. The day before the ship came in no use temng ner Derore, and Harry dreaded scenes he quietly said that their association must come to an end. She had always known that It was to be temporary. He was going to send her back to her father with rich gifts. She would be one of the richest girls In the village. Almond Blossom had listened to him quietly, end bowed in her quaint way. Not a flicker of distress showed Itself on her face. "You're a good girl to take It like that," said Harry, patting her shoulder. shoul-der. "Some girls would have made an awful fuss, but you'll be well looked after, believe me. And then you'll have the chance of picking up rich husband." He was to meet Daisy and her father fa-ther when the boat came in, and they were going straight on to Hongkong, and thence back to America. On the last morning Harry stole quietly out of the house while Almond Blossom was sleeping. He could not bear to say good-by to her. Yet he did look at her face, placid In sleep, and a curious feeling choked him. But he thrust that weakness aside. After all, these Orientals did not feel as Americans and Europeans did. So he turned his back upon the little house and all Its memories, snd soon he was at the wharf. "Harry 1" "Daisy I" Her a'ins were around his neck. She was frankly kissing him. All the past seemed like an evil dream. There was a delay of about an hour on the boat customs formalities. At last they were permitted to land. "How picturesque that canal scene Is I" said Daisy. "I wish I had my camera with me. Oh, look I What Is that. Harryr "Don't look, dear.' Just a suicide, I expect They kill themselves for trifles, these natives." ' "How terrible I" said Daisy, shuddering. shud-dering. "I shall feel more comfortable when our boat has sailed. What do they kill themselves forT For lover "IxiveT No, they don't know what It meuns In our sense of the word." |