The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-03-10

exalted to the stars the laws Of Japan
that permit man to have several |
wives in Asia and, if he so choose, an
other in Europe; the wise ones re-
NAMED non-committal, entrenched as
they were behind sardonic smile, and
the trite proverb, Time will tell.
At the end of his vacation Wendes,
with his wife and mother-in-law. re-
turned to Toxic. AT the railway sta
ton they were met by the whole body
of workmen of the well-known house
of Henry Wendes, and were given an
ovation, but Mayer was not there.
Wendes noticed this fact at once, and
could divine nothing good for himself
The same day Mayer presented him
self before Wendes in the private of
fee of the latter to go over the ac-
counts together. AS he was about to
leave, Henry took him by the arm and
said: Tomorrow evening my wife
will give dinner in honor of q few
of our friends. | trust that you will
do us the honor to be present. prin-
cipally for the sake Of my dear little
0 Fana. For you are more father
than a mere friend to me-"
ooh! are you married." asked May
er with all seriousness.
Henry took the whole matter as a
huge joke, and leaning back on the
richly upholstered chair, laughed with
gusto.
What" he said, "have you not
heard the great news? All Toxic is
talking it over, and the only man who
is in complete ignorance is Adolph
Mayer"
why, in the village of Shimibara
there is not, at least to my knowledge,
either Church or Catholic priest" con-
tinued Mayer, without the slightest
embarrassment. "Who performed the
ceremony"
We'll, now, what do you think of
that! Why, the Bonza of the Pagoda
Of Shimibara married us, And what
a quiet, plain little ceremony it was,
too! He simply whispered a prayer
over us, we lit two torches, / RECALLED
the old Bonza with a generous offer
ing, and took care that his assistants
received substantial tip, and the.
whole ceremony was over What more
do you Want?"
Il wish you would see. that every
thing is Strengthened out with the
Catholic missionary of Toxic. That
ceremony at Shimibara may be all
right for o Fana, native of the place
and a follower Of Buddha, but for
European and a Catholic like you it
means nothing at all. o Fana is your
wife before the law of Japan, but not
before the Catholic Church. If you
continue to live in this state you will
certainly not be a great honor to our
fellow countrymen.'
HIN! my. dear Adolph! Have you
finished your little speech? When
reached the station and noticed that
you were not there ] thought to my
self, Mayer is getting a sermon ready
for me. I am very sorry, however,
that your eloluence must be wasted
on the desert air. You already know
the reason; I am not of the same re-
ligious persuasion as yourself"
mo, you are not now Of the same
persuasion as | am, but your father
and your mother are Catholics as we'll
as I, and not so very long ago you
yourself professed the same faith
True, most true indeed! And what
of it? | did, once upon time, believe
as you do, but | have changed since
then, and not without good reason.
Moreover, as regards marriage, l am
more than convinced that no religious
ceremony whatever is necessary to
render it valid. Suffice it that there be
genuine love on both sides, and this is
the case with us"
Eyes, this is the case with you to-
day, but who knows how long this
gushing fervor of youth is going to
continue? The day will come when
you will tire of your Japanese doll, and
will lay her. away on the shelf to take
up another 1t is the same old story
of Europeans in Japan. Poor o Fana!"
Don't dare to insult mel" cried
Wendes, rising with anger, and turn
| ing purple in the face Il do not need,
nor will I tolerate, the priests bless
| ing to make me faithful to my wife.
Before you judge me wait and see how
| things will turn out. At the same
time, please be so kind as never to
mention this subject to me again.
The following evening the dinner
was given as arranged and o Fana ac-
quilted herself with that grace and
dignity which Japanese girls know so
well how to infuse into their entertain
ments. Mayer deliberated for a long
time as to whether he should accept
the invitation, but finally decided for
| the affirmative. Il have already per-
! formed my duty" he thought. Now
l must be careful not to lose all the
influence have left over that reck-
less man. One day or other o Fana
will have great need of me-"
When Wendes saw Mayer enter he
| suddenly became jubilant, and was
| filled with renewed confidence and
satisfaction. After all, he cherished
| the highest esteem for his superinten-
| dent, and to see him accept this invi-