I
When Wan Hom Hing came to Seattle to start a branch of the merchant
business which his firm carried on so successfully in the different
ports of China, he brought with him his nephew, Wan Lin Fo, then
eighteen years of age. Wan Lin Fo was a well-educated Chinese youth,
with bright eyes and keen ears. In a few years’ time he knew as much
about the business as did any of the senior partners. Moreover, he
learned to speak and write the American language with such fluency that
he was never at a loss for an answer, when the white man, as was
sometimes the case, sought to pose him. “All work and no play,” however,
is as much against the principles of a Chinese youth as it is against
those of a young American, and now and again Lin Fo would while away an
evening at the Chinese Literary Club, above the Chinese restaurant,
discussing with some chosen companions the works and merits of Chinese
sages—and some other things. New Year’s Day, or rather, Week, would also
see him, business forgotten, arrayed in national costume of finest silk,
and color “the blue of the sky after rain,” visiting with his friends,
both Chinese and American, and scattering silver and gold coin amongst
the youngsters of the families visited.
It was on the occasion of one of these New Year’s visits that Wan Lin Fo
first made known to the family of his firm’s silent American partner,
Thomas Raymond, that he was betrothed. It came about in this wise: One
of the young ladies of the house, who was fair and frank of face and
friendly and cheery in manner, observing as she handed him a cup of tea
that Lin Fo’s eyes wore a rather wistful expression, questioned him as
to the wherefore:
“Miss Adah,” replied Lin Fo, “may I tell you something?”
“Certainly, Mr. Wan,” replied the girl. “You know how I enjoy hearing
your tales.”
“But this is no tale. Miss Adah, you have inspired in me a love—”
Adah Raymond started. Wan Lin Fo spake slowly.
“For the little girl in China to whom I am betrothed.”
“Oh, Mr. Wan! That is good news. But what have I to do with it?”
“This, Miss Adah! Every time I come to this house, I see you, so good
and so beautiful, dispensing tea and happiness to all around, and I
think, could I have in my home and ever by my side one who is also both
good and beautiful, what a felicitious life mine would be!”
“You must not flatter me, Mr. Wan!”
“All that I say is founded on my heart. But I will speak not of you. I
will speak of Pau Tsu.”
“Pau Tsu?”
“Yes. That is the name of my future wife. It means a pearl.”
“How pretty! Tell me all about her!”
“I was betrothed to Pau Tsu before leaving China. My parents adopted her
to be my wife. As I remember, she had shining eyes and the good-luck
color was on her cheek. Her mouth was like a red vine leaf, and her
eyebrows most exquisitely arched. As slender as a willow was her form,
and when she spoke, her voice lilted from note to note in the sweetest
melody.”
Adah Raymond softly clapped her hands.
“Ah! You were even then in love with her.”
“No,” replied Lin Fo thoughtfully. “I was too young to be in
love—sixteen years of age. Pau Tsu was thirteen. But, as I have
confessed, you have caused me to remember and love her.”
Adah Raymond was not a self-conscious girl, but for the life of her she
could think of no reply to Lin Fo’s speech.
“I am twenty-two years old now,” he continued. “Pau Tsu is eighteen.
Tomorrow I will write to my parents and persuade them to send her to me
at the time of the spring festival. My elder brother was married last
year, and his wife is now under my parents’ roof, so that Pau Tsu, who
has been the daughter of the house for so many years, can now be spared
to me.”
“What a sweet little thing she must be,” commented Adah Raymond.
“You will say that when you see her,” proudly responded Lin Fo. “My
parents say she is always happy. There is not a bird or flower or
dewdrop in which she does not find some glad meaning.”
“I shall be so glad to know her. Can she speak English?”
Lin Fo’s face fell.
“No,” he replied, “but,”—brightening—“when she comes I will have her
learn to speak like you—and be like you.”