The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-07-28

The man and woman looked at each
other for an instant, as though not
quite understanding. Did he mean to
reprOach or to console them?
Has the boy been baptized" asked
the doctor, seeing their embarrassment
You are Christians, l take it."
I'VE areCatholics. said the father,
with some hesitation.
'Ah! l had not known it. If I had,
I would not have asked the question.
Being Catholics, the boy has, of course,
received baptism
The father made no answer, while the
mother repressed a cry.
Watch him carefully" continued the
doctor. The fever is subsiding, but it
will leave him extremely weak; he may
pass away at any moment. l can do
nothing more"
The woman buried her head in the
bedclOthes to stifie her sobbing; her
husband knelt beside her. The doctor
softly left the room.
AS the door closed behind him, the
woman lifted her head. She was very
pale. and weeping bitterly.
Felix" she said, in hoarse, agon-
lied whisper-"Felix! Felix"
Yes, Anna; I am here"
He has not been baptised. Go for
the priest at once"
But, Anna, he is not conscious-and
he is 10 years old"
Yes, yes, but he may revive. Co
go at once, l tell you-for the priest.
Do not delay, Felix"
He went quickly from the room,
returning in a few moments.
L have sent John for the Father who
is giving Benediction at the convent.
That was the quickest way
She listened.
They are still singing" she said.
1t is the Tantum Ergo. He must soon
be here"
While she was speaking the boy lay
still. His cheeks grew pallid; the eyes
smiled in unison with the trembling
lips, parched and blue. The mother
quailed: the cruel unbidden guest was
so near! She seemed to feel a breath of
chilly air, to see ghostly, transparent
hands stretching out above her boy.
All! they were c1ose-close to her best
beloved-to the darling whose footsteps
since infancy had been through a path
way of roses; to whom she had never
uttered an impatient word; whose
slightest wish had never been denied;
whose innocent lips had never been
taught to uttr single prayer.
80, mammal" he whispered family.
Il feel so strange! I seem to be going
down-down. Hold me, papal Do not
let me sink and fall
He was lifted in strong, loving arms;
his mother clasping in hers the cold,
clammy little hands
Walter" she cried, gazing into his
face with terrible Walter,
darling, pray! pray!"
The child half drew away from her,
looking at his father as though to ask:
What does she mean?"
Walter, you are not afraid?" said
the father.
Afraid! Of what?"
The man groaned. He could not tell
Uneven in the very face of death.
He was silent
Felix, say a prayer!-oh, say a
gasDed the mother
But her husband remained silent; he
had forgotten how to pray.
Walter darling! Darlington. pray
in your thoughts with mamma Pray
Drav!'
why. why. mamma ?" murmured the
boy You always say it is silly. Why
do you tease me now, mamma when l
am so f1I?"
The child's voice had suddenly grown
stronger; the petulant tone gave her
new hone. She was listening with ears
strained. Yes. the music in the chapel
had ceased. Now she was waiting for
the sound of footstep on the stairs.
Surely never, never in the world had
here been silence so deep. so terrible
TIL little hands were growing colder;
she strove to catch his breathing. her
Eyes glued to the door. 1t opened; a
all man entered. stepping quickly and
loiSeleSSlv to the bedside. The mother
ooked UP at him with imploring eyes;
he father sat motionless, as though
urned to stone The priest bent his
lead to the child's heart Then he took
he little body from the arms which
'ncircled it, and loosening the mothers
,lasp from the lifeless hands, he laid it
pack on the pillow.
Il am too late" he said. THE boy is
lead!"-From the Ave Maria.