Ku Yum had not been seen for weeks and those who were deputed to bring
her into the sheltering home were unable to find her. It was suspected
that the little thing purposely kept out of the way—no difficult matter,
all Chinatown being in sympathy with her and arrayed against Miss Mason.
Where formerly the teacher had met with smiles and pleased greetings,
she now beheld averted faces and downcast eyes, and her school had
within a week dwindled from twenty-four scholars to four. Verily, though
acting with the best of intentions, she had shown a lack of diplomacy.
It was about nine o’clock in the evening. She had been visiting little
Lae Choo, who was lying low with typhoid fever. As she wended her way
home through Chinatown, she did not feel at all easy in mind; indeed, as
she passed one of the most unsavory corners and observed some men frown
and mutter among themselves as they recognized her, she lost her dignity
in a little run. As she stopped to take breath, she felt her skirt
pulled from behind and heard a familiar little voice say:
“Teacher, be you afraid?”
“Oh, Ku Yum,” she exclaimed, “is that you?” Then she added reprovingly:
“Do you think it is right for a little Chinese girl to be out alone at
this time of the night?”
“I be not alone,” replied the little creature, and in the gloom Miss
Mason, could distinguish behind her two boyish figures.
She shook her head.
“Ku Yum, will you promise me that you will try to be a good little
girl?” she asked.
Ku Yum answered solemnly:
“Ku Yum _never_ be a good girl.”
Her heart hardened. After all, it was best that the child should be
placed where she would be compelled to behave herself.
“Come, see my father,” said Ku Yum pleadingly.
Her voice was soft, and her expression was so subdued that the teacher
could hardly believe that the moment before she had defiantly stated
that she would never be a good girl. She paused irresolutely. Should she
make one more appeal to the parent to make her a promise which would be
a good excuse for restraining the order of the Court? Ah, if he only
would, and she only could prevent the carrying out of that order!
They found Ten Suie among his curiosities, smoking a very long pipe with
a very small, ivory bowl. He calmly surveyed the teacher through a pair
of gold-rimmed goggles, and under such scrutiny it was hard indeed for
her to broach the subject that was on her mind. However, after admiring
the little carved animals, jars, vases, bronzes, dishes, pendants,
charms, and snuff-boxes displayed in his handsome showcase, she took
courage.
“Mr. Ten Suie,” she began, “I have come to speak to you about Ku Yum.”
Ten Suie laid down his pipe and leaned over the counter. Under his calm
exterior some strong excitement was working, for his eyes glittered
exceedingly.
“Perhaps you speak too much about Ku Yum alleady,” he said. “Ku Yum be
my child. I bling him up, as I please. Now, teacher, I tell you
something. One, two, three, four, five, seven, eight, nine years go by,
I have five boy. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven years go, I
have four boy. One, two, three, four, five, six years go by, I have one
boy. Every year for three year evil spirit come, look at my boy, and
take him. Well, one, two, three, four, five, six years go by, I see but
one boy, he four year old. I say to me: Ten Suie, evil spirit be
jealous. I be ’flaid he want my one boy. I dless him like one girl. Evil
spirit think him one girl, and go away; no want girl.”
Ten Suie ceased speaking, and settled back into his seat.
For some moments Miss Mason stood uncomprehending. Then the full meaning
of Ten Suie’s words dawned upon her, and she turned to Ku Yum, and
taking the child’s little hand in hers, said:
“Goodbye, Ku Yum. Your father, by passing you off as a girl, thought to
keep an evil spirit away from you; but just by that means he brought
another, and one which nearly took you from him too.”
“Goodbye, teacher,” said Ku Yum, smiling wistfully. “I never be good
girl, but perhaps I be good boy.”