The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-03-24

enIouSH the mousse ike one out Of her
senses; she placed the telegram on the
breast of the sleeping babe, and then
fastened 1t to the cradle, as a talisman
OF infallible and supreme happiness.
oh! he will return, he will returnl"
she exclaimed. after ten moons. and
the flowers of spring will usher in his
return. Ten moons from now the Jas
mines and the roses that l have plant
ed will be in bloom. He will PASS
through the rows of flowers before en-
tering the house, and his brow will ex-
hale sweet perfume, cen as the brow
of god. The leaves, nodding softly
in the breeze, will murmur a silent
salutation as he passes. My, nay. his
child will call him by name. and the
voice of his little Cherry Blossom will
speak sweet music to his soul, I will
go forward to meet him, will raise
my eyes to his, I will read in his coun-
tenance the profound affection that
glows brightly within his soul. Blend
ed in our mutual smiles there will
speak but a single love-"
Oh! yes, inded, Henry Wendes still
loves his little girl, and his rosy Will
liam Cherry Blossom! Poor, simple O
Fana!
After prosperous voyage Wendes
arrived at Hamburg. He was there
met by his mother, who embraced him
with all the maternal tenderness of
loving parent, whose affection for
her son was doubly enhanced by the
recent loss of her husband. Henry on
his part promised to do all in his pow
er to console and satisfy the mother.
He had proposed to remain but
short time in Cologne, but on looking
over the ground he soon discovered
that the complicated state of affairs
was not a thing to be cleared UP in a
few months. Nor was he long in no.
ticing that there was a sort of family
entente, or conspiracy, to keep him as
long as possible in Germany, and if
feasible, to make him entirely forget
Japan. In fact, his mother never left
his side, but accompanied him every
where, surrounded him with every kind
OF pleasure, amusement and diver
sions. He was ever on the go. Re-
ceptions, banquets, balls followed one
another in rapid succession, and his
life became one continuous round of
enjoyment. At times he excused him
self from her company on such occa-
sions, but casting a glance of loving
rebuke at him, she would gently chide
him: my son, do not try to do every
thing alone; leave some of the work
to your brother Francis. He assisted
your father down to the day of his
death, and has become we'll acquaint-
ed with the intricacies of the business.
You have been away from me for ten
long years, and will you now begrudge
me a paltry hour or SO? There is
plenty of time for the affairs of bust
ness. Everything is progressing
smoothly. You need rest after your
long voyage. You should renew old
friendships, and become acquainted at
least with your relatives. Why, you
have been away so long that many
have well nigh forgotten you" Little
by little he yielded to her continued
and persistent entreaties, and although
he at times felt qualms of conscience,
still by degrees these were satisfied.
No one in the family ever SO much
as alluded to Japan, or to his Japanese
wife. o Fana was completely ignored
by the Wendes, as if she had never
existed, or had never entered into the
life of their darling boy. They kept
gently limiting that he as eldest son
should remain in Germany, and not re-
turn to Japan, but should allow Fran
els, or Edward, the third son, who was
then studying in Berlin, to replace
him abroad; or he might even leave
Mayer in full charge, since he was a
man of experience and ability, and
wholly devoted to the Wendes' house
and firm. On these occasions Henry
would knit his brows and remain sill
ent. At night, however, in the seclu-
sion of his own apartments he would
write to o Fana in Japanese the most
tender and affectionate thoughts, to
compensate, as it were, for the shame
full silence with which she was treat
ed in his family.
Among the persons whom he found
on his arrival home was a certain
Charlotte Keller, the daughter of an
old friend of the family, who acted as
travelling companion to Mrs. Wendes.
This girl possessed that bewitching
beauty which makes men start on first
sight. She was highly educated and
cultured, and of SO vivacious a dispo-
sition that it seemed impossible for
her to be affected by even the most
terrible calamity or disaster. Mrs.
Wendes could not dispense with her
company, and as there were three
sons and no daughter in the family,
Charlotte was looked upon as the
rightful possessor of that place. In
the beginning Henry paid no attention
| whatever to the girl, but on finding
her ever in the company of his moth.
err, he naturally became very friendly
with her. Nor could it well happen
~ h A 10 CHI o1x cot