Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-07-16
he Lord of Thunder Gate

oHe, however, Drorsgnt q volume To
MIN. Compose yourself, then, Kaya-
ma-San. Here is the First Book. In
lt-so | have heard-is written that
to the young should come the Young
| am old. There should be a gayer
maid waiting upon you. She would
drive the sorrow from your eyes. Tell
me, Lord, does not young blood course
in your veins?"
Wells smiled. 81 go to the temple
tomorrow, little mother. 1t seems that
| am to buy maid there"
Those priests! Much gold you will
pay Her hands fiuttered. ut will
be good to have a maid In the house
again. And a babe"
Wells thought in excellent American.
A fat chance" he was thinking
Your maid will pray each night
that she be given a manson" mumbled
on the servant. 81 will see to it that
she protect your comforts. that each
wish, even thoughts unuttered, be
fulfilled"
wells shivered. Why hadn't some
one instructed-or didn't American
mothers do such things ?-AIberta?
Had she ever, during their engage
ment, considered anything and
hadnt she been among the first to
condemn him unheard? With a
start he remembered her beauty, only
to find that he considered it as imper
sonal as painting.
Footsteps in the hall aroused MIN.
priest, shaved of head. a comfort
ably plump fellow, bowed as he shut
Hed into the room. He refused the Of
fered cup of tea, intimating by GEES
lures that he wished to speak to Wells
In private.
The abbot has sent me-" he Wits.
pered hoarsely. There are mission
aries in the next village. They will
view the temple. They have prying
eyes. The abbot wishes you to come
for the maid"
II am deep in devotion, honorable
priest"
"You will find comfort in your sor-
row. Be sure to warn your servants
to be silent until the seiyo-jin depart.
The matter Is important. Be sure to
bring the gold"
Why not? Wells thought. Better
get it over with He clapped his hands,
giving orders: he was bringing a maid
to the household. Let none mention
It, (Why did the priest say that?)
Prepare for her.
The Serving-woman hurried for q
gay robe. Funerals were forgotten.
Wells was soon ready, and accom-,
panied the priest.
Already Wells saw the problems at.
tendant upon buying a maid. He must
tell her that she found no favor in his
eyes-which would be difficult in view
of the fact that he had bought her
How could he tell her?
The jangle of little bells announced
the first prayer hour as he entered the
temple yard. Heavy hangings to
the left of the idol were brushed
aside, and the eldest priest entered
''It has been decreed," he said gravely.
that templemaids may be sold, but
only as wives. Later they may be
Ii.
each must be properly married Is
this satisfactory, Kayama-Sanw With
out permitting Wells to answer (and
Wells was already thinking Of the
form Of his protest, having his own
ideas as to the binding of marriage
ceremonies), he droned Immediately
into the ritual, as is proper, for the
bridegroom must not see the woman
until they are actually married.
Complete, he told the shocked Wells
ne had a favor to ask. 1.-THE priests
have never seen such q woman, IA.
yama-San. Is 1t permitted that they
gaze upon such beauty, that they
might remember it2"
What difference? Wells nodded as
sent.
Wells saw a seconds byplay, just
as the curtain parted, that was not in
tended toe be seen: the trembling
hands of priest touching bright hair:
the twisting of woman's figure as II
to offer combat, then the dropping of
a hopeless head.
"Good!" he heard the priest say.
"Keep your eyes discreetly to the
floor. Walk slowly" and with guild.
ing hand he led the girl into the room.
Fascinated, Wells eyes held to the
weirdness of the picture, to this rose
in Satsuma bowl. The priest was
willing that this moment of awe, of
expectation, be protracted, and, as
was natural, the first upward sweep
tf the girls eyes caught and held the
one bright spot In the room, Wells
brilliant robes.
h II