The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-11-25
A WINTER NIGHTS TALE.


gantly- appointed room. The elder wa
a wel-preserved woman of about s.
of distinguished appearance. with th
easy manner that comes from associ
alton. with polite society. The othe
was about 27 years of age, and showed
equal evidence Of good breeding. Moth
ing in their voice or manner would IN
dicate that their conversation was any
thing but pleasant. Yet, for one, a
least, it might mean the seYering o
lifelong ties, the parting from friends
from home.
Finally. to end the conversation the
elder said. as she rose: Since y'ol
seem fully determined listen to my de-
cisien Either You give up this con-
templated disgraceful step at once, OF
find a home elsewhere" and with q
slight inclination Of her head, she left
the room.
Find home elsewhere" anything
but a pleasant prospect for the young
woman. Left an orphan at the age OF
6. Josephine Grey had been virtually
though not legally adopted by her aunt,
Mrs. Clarkson, a wealthy, chndleSs
widow The girl was educated at a
leading Young Ladies Academy, and
no mains were spared to make her bril-
liant and accomplished. as became the
prospective heiress of the wealthy
widow Mrs Clarkson herself was still
a leader in society. Her gowns were OF
the latest pattern; her receptions the
most exclusive; she gave literally to
public charities, and no scandal was
ever associated with her name. she
was humanely good, and a naturally
kind heart often prompted her to acts
of benefcence Further than this, her
religion consisted in keeping a pew in
a fashionable church. but she no more
cared what was believed or taught
there than the veriest pagan.
Brought up amid such surroundings
1t is not surprising that Josephine
ideas Of religion should be somewhat
vague. Had she been asked about her
religious belief she would have an
swered that it was of the bToadest kind,
and as she was a reader and admirer OF
Darwin, Huxley and other progressive
writer's, she undoubtedly spoke the
truth.
Like her aunt, Josephine. too, was
exceedingly warm hearted, easily
moved to pity at sight of suffering, ana
generous to a fault She was past 70
when an event happened that bld Ialr
to change her whole life.
Mrs Clarkson was spending the sum-
mer at LIenDx, where she had cottage,
and .Joseohine. as usual, accompanied
her. One night the household was
thrown. into a state of excitement by
the sudden illness Of "Old Mary,
tin1e-tried. faithful servant, who was
seized with an attack of bilious conc.
For awhile il looked as II 1t mlghl
nrove fatal and while one hurried for
the doctor and anSther for the priest,
Josephine waited 5n the sick woman,
doing all that was possible TO relieve
iner. The priest was the first TO arrive,
and when he left the marked change
for the better in the womans condltlon
struck Josephine as something remark
able. Il really believe it was her su-
faith in the priests power
that saved her. she said afterWard, |
when speaking to her aunt.
Josephine's curiosity was aroused. |
Here was a study for her. She began !
to question: Mary. and the answers she |
received astonished her Mary could
neither read nor write. Then OF What |
use is it for you, to go TO churcn !
asked the young lady. You do not
understand a word of the Latin that
your priest mumbles to himself. and |
is a sacred volume to YOU |
u know / cant rade. but sure, l have
me bades. miss answered Mary.
''Your beads, And of what use are
they. nray?'' "Of what use, is 1t?
Faith. it's not use alone they are. but
comfort, too. Sure, whin l LUX at tn
little brass crucifiX it reminds me OF
orr dear Lord. who gev His life for uz.
Nbfn I bless meself / think of the
Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, an Holy
Ghost Thin / say the Greed. an that
tells me the whole life on arth OF Our
Lord an l declare me faith in Him an
His Church After that-but what's
The use in me tellin yer. DEAR m
my poor, ignorant crateyur. II yer
want to know about our holy religion.
I--l.11t he
ell yer what yer ought to know, an
nav God open yer heart to receive his
rurds"
See Catholic priest, Such a thought
,ever entered Josephine's head. In
Iced. her -preconceiVed notions of a
,riest were such that he was the last
,erson in the world she would think of
-oing to see. She pictured him red
aced. vulgar-looking person, whose
i'm in life was TO wheedle his dupes out
f as much money as possible. But
larry rung the changes so often on
'afher Kelly's virtues and accomplish
cents that Josephine. without a word i
3 any one. at last called on him. Here !
-as another surprise for her. She found !.
he priest a venerable, benevolent :
,oking gentleman, who spoke unmis-
allblv good English, with just a sug-
estion of a most musical brogue. His !
and of information was something TO =
larveI at. until one learnedtthat he had /.
raveled the world over, and had been !;
he intimate friend Of the brightest 4
linds in science, literature and art.
Josephine was delighted with him,
nd as the result of repeated visits and
ls4ruction she in a very short time
lade up her mind to enter the Church
was the aVowal of this determination d
lat brings up 10 the point at which i
lis sketch opens.
Though Mrs. Clarkson had no fixed Y
,ligious belief, she felt sure of one Il
ling. that Romanism-by which she e
cant Catholicity-was superstitious "
ld vulgar, unspeakably vulgar, for Il
as it not the religion Of the servant oi
ri and the laboTing mani SO, when a.
,sephine announced that she was II
Dout to become a Catholic the old lady al
as really shocked. She could not be- al
we that her niece, brought up amid II
xury and refinement, could so demean fo
,rself as to become a Romanist Hor- fo
blei She ought not to take such &c
should not if Mrs. Clarkson bl
uld help it, and so, finding all other TO
cans fail, she at last resorted to
reads.
Mrs. Clarkson was so indifferent in sc
alters of religion that Josephine new TO
imagined she would object for a mo- OF
emit to her becoming a Jew or a Mo- ar
mmedan, if SO inclined. Perhaps she tn
,uld not, but Catholic-ah! that was m
ferent. pl
rhe girl had been brought up with ar
E understanding that she would be ar
untifully provided for by her aunt in
d now her whole future was sudden pa
changed. What was she to do? She mt
ght teach-that at least was some ov
ng. All. well. God would provide. fin
t was the Wednesday before Christ TT
Is. and Josephine was preparing for in
r baptism, which was to be admins 1t
ed on Christmas morning. Mrs. sh
irkson was dressed for a dinner it
rty, one Of the most brilliant affairs gr