The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-11-25
Of Interest TO Lady Readers

he arrived he pronounced the injurie
serious Mrs Clarkson had not onl
fractured her leg, but wSs also suffer
ing from concussion of the brain.
! 1t was June before Mrs. Clarkson- wa
able TO leave the house. In the mean
! time Josephine, who had had the hap
! piness of being received into tn
| Church. was her faithful attendant
The girl seemed never absent, and tn,
! invalid grew to look. to her for every
thing If a cooling drink was needed
it was Josephine who prepared it: if z
pillow had to be turned, there was M
hard for the task like Josephine's. Il
was Josephine who bathed her feverisf
brow, Josephine who soothingly famed
the patient, and when she grew strong.
er it was Josephine's young, stout arm
that supported here in her first efforts
to walk.
Mrs. Clarison had entirely forgotten
her threat that her niece should leave
her house ii she persisted in becoming
a Catholic; indeed, she never half
meant it. But not for d day since the
words had been spoken had the girl
failed to think Of them. Though her
aunt's illness had kept her closely con
fined to the house, she had, thanks to
the kind offices of Father Kelly, found
time to arrange with the Mother Su-
perior of an academy for d position as
teacher of music and Of French True.
the salary was not much, but as she
was to live at the convent, she was at
least provided with a home. and it was
settled that the agreement should go
into effect at the beginning of the new
school year.
One morning, as Josephine was
seated with her autlF in the garden of
the country house to which the invalid
had been moved, the girl touched upon
the subject that was so near to her
Dear aunt she said, "as soon as you
feel strong enough to get along with
out me L shall begin to get ready to
leave
''To leave! Why, what do you mean,
my child? Where are you going?H
II have secured a position as a teach
er. and must prepare for it,
"A teacher! You! What do you
mean? Do not trifie with me. Joseph
inc. am not yet strong enough to
stand it."
Il am not joking, auntie. On the very
day of your accident I told you of my
determination to become a Catholic,
and you bid me either relinauish my
choice or find home elsewhere"
well, my dear, you have surely
abandoned that whim?"
"On the contrary, auntie. God has
given me light to see the truth. and I
dare not reject it. / am now and for
many months have been a Catholic To
part with you will grieve me deeply.
but l trust my resolution will not fail
me-"
And you are willing to give up your
comfortable home and take up a battle
for life all for an idea''-
Pardon me- auntie, not for an idea;
FOR the truth"
And 1 am not to be considered at all,
suppose. A childless woman. grown
I'D and feeble, l am to be left alone,
With no one to soothe- my declining
7ears, with none but servants to close
ny eyes at the last"
'Oh, auntie. dear. don't talk SOL II
would do anything in the world for
7ou."
Would you stay with me in spite Of |
-our being a Catholic?"
Why, what question! Being a |
catholic has not lessened my love for
'ou; on the contrary, it is now, if pos
ible, stronger than ever
And if I should tell you" said the |
Id lady, with a shrewd look, that my |
ntire fortune has been swallowed up
n the whirlpool of speculation?"
am young ana can work, thank !
fodi" throwing her arms around her I
-unt's neck.
THAT will do, my child" said Mrs. |
clarkson. dryly. Il haven't lost my
ortune. That was only a little stupid
rtifice of mine to test your affection.
md now. one word for ALL as she
-issed Josephine on the forehead.
Catholic or not-there are good and
ad of all kinds-you stay here. same
s ever. Only don't try to convert me.
nd never bring any of your idols into
he house"
You shall be my only idol"
Mrs. Clarkson never became a Cath
lie, though she lost her old-time
rejudice. and even was known to de-
lare that Father Kelly was not only
ne OF the most charming takers she
ad ever met, but one of the deepest
"A little while before her death she
ven gave her consent to Josephine's
lafriage with Catholic, bright civil
neineer with the plebian name of ;
agan