The Paper Daughters of Chinatown - Heather B. Moore Page 0,65

women who did not see Chinese girls as humans but as chattel, to be used for monetary profit.

Herrington grinned broadly at the hissing audience and those who were insulting him. He continued to stride up the aisle toward the chairman, who indicated that he could speak next.

Herrington turned toward the jeering audience. “I’m here to announce the marriage between Kum Quai and her new husband, Chung Bow.”

Dolly couldn’t hold back her gasp. She gripped Weigle’s arm as they both stared at Herrington.

“The happy couple were married last Saturday on Pacific Street,” Herrington continued. “Justice Dunn performed the honors, and Chung Bow’s friend Wong Fong was the witness. The marriage license was legally obtained by Attorney H. H. Lowenthal. There was no objection to the marriage, and the newly married couple are traveling to their new home to start their lives together.”

Dolly had so many questions, but the horrific news had drained her body of all reaction. She could not believe for one moment that Kum Quai had been a willing participant in the marriage. Like many Chinese girls before her, she had been forced to enter into such a contract.

When Herrington triumphantly left the meeting, ignoring all the disparaging comments sent his way, Dolly felt as if she had fallen off a cliff and everything inside her was broken and useless.

“Miss Cameron,” Weigle said in a gentle tone, “we’ll find out where they are headed. We can still stop them. We can still free Kum Quai.”

“It’s too late,” Dolly said, her voice cracking.

“It’s never too late,” Weigle said.

He was saying the words that she should have been saying, had been saying . . . yet the pompous image of Attorney Herrington had somehow weighed her down like a ship’s anchor.

Weigle produced a handkerchief, and Dolly wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “Onward,” she said in a whisper, but the word fell flat in her heart.

Shortly after returning to San Francisco, unable to shake the feeling of defeat, Dolly found out from informants through Ah Cheng that Kum Quai had been forced into marriage with death threats. The news didn’t surprise Dolly, but the confirmation still stung.

She paced the street level of the house late at night. No rescues tonight, but Dolly still couldn’t sleep. Kum Quai had been married after all, so of what use had been all the work they’d gone through? Not even a government could stop the Chinese slave owner.

The creak of the stairs caught her attention, and Dolly turned, wondering who else was awake in the middle of the night. Tien came down the stairs, her hand on the railing, her steps determined.

Dolly was about to tell her to go back to bed when Tien held out her hand. Dolly stepped forward to see the blossom of a lotus flower in Tien’s palm. Some of the Chinese grew the flowers in their rooms in wide vases of water.

“What’s this?” Dolly asked, unsure what Tien wanted her to do.

“For you.” Tien wouldn’t meet her gaze, but kept her dark head lowered.

Dolly took the blossom. “Thank you; it’s beautiful.” The gesture was so unexpected, especially coming from Tien.

Before Dolly could say anything else, Tien turned and fled up the stairs like a startled squirrel heading up a tree.

The reason for her haste became apparent when Mrs. Field appeared at the top of the stairs, wearing a dark robe over her long, white nightgown.

“That child should not be up at all hours,” Mrs. Field said. “I’ve a mind to lock her in her room right after her evening chores.”

Dolly released a slow breath. “She can’t sleep when she worries.”

Mrs. Field’s hand tightened on the railing. “Are you still going on about Kum Quai’s marriage?”

Dolly’s mouth parted in surprise. “Going on? She’s in a terrible situation, and we need to come up with a way to free her.”

The director narrowed her eyes. “She is lost to us, and it’s just as well. Too much trouble surrounded her. You went to jail, for heaven’s sake. You can’t be running off like that, soiling the reputation of the fine mission ladies who work here. We must be respectable women, and not get so involved in the Chinese girls’ lives. If they aren’t inside our walls, then they should be left to their own destinies.”

The heat in Dolly’s chest felt like it was going to burst into flames. “Kum Quai is one of us, ma’am. She was kidnapped and coerced. She was tricked and lied to. I will not abandon her. Just