The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-04-08
THE GIRL.

''Well, Tn sorry enough that [ did it, If | had
it to do over again [ should do differently" Emily
spoke with real regret to the aunt who always
sympathetic listener to the telling of her girl trou-
bles or pleasures
Gertrude will never forgive me, she said So
And if she chooses to harbor anger against me L
can't help it."
'I'm sorry to see broken what appeared such a
beautiful friendship that which has existed be-
tween you two"
80 | am, but [ can't help it, I told Gertrude
once that | was sorry, | said all that could reason
ably be expected, but she wouldn't listen"
81 don't think have heard the full account of
what occurred"
at was bad enough admitted Emily regret
fully. 81 was going down town and Gertrude
over and asked me to mail letter for her. [ laid
it on the hat rack until went out Then Phil called
me out the back door to see something about his
rabbits, so | went that way and the letter slipped
my mind. In the afternoon Gertrude came over,
and the moment [ saw her at the gate | thought
of that letter. [ hated to let her know had neg
lected it, so | hurried down and covered it up in
tending to take it to mail just as soon az she went
away. 1t was cowardly not to tell her-l felt it so
at the time. Well, that was the day Counsin Elean-
or came and if you'll believe me, Aunt Amy, [
didn't think of that letter again. Two days after
wards Gertrude came in, and as my evil star would
have it, Maria was just cleaning the hall, and the
letter lay there in plain sight.
Him, him." Aunt Amy shook her head.
Gertrude was standing in the sitting
holding it when | came down."
81 shouldn't like to have been you," commented
Emily's aunt.
you would not She stood there without
word-listening to me as l Numbered and stam-
mered and fell all over myself trying to explain
and excuse--but what excuse was there %
What indeed!"
"When | stopped she asked me if l had not
thought of the letter when she in that after
noon. That was the worst of it, for of course, L
had to that had, and had refrained from tell
ing her because | was ashamed. | begged her to
sit down, but she still stood there while she told
me, with a cold manner which [ could see was put
to hide her fire of feeling underneath, why it
had been such matter of concern to her that the
letter should go promptly. 1t had been written in
to one from her cousin, whom she loves
very dearly and who is out of health. The cousin
on her way south and asked Gertrude to come
to her for day she passed through the city, and
to give her address at which she could meet her.
If had been candid enough to tell Gertrude of my
neglect that afternoon the letter might still have
been mailed in time. SO it's about as bad as it
can be- you see"
"Yes," assented Aunt Amy.
Il hadn't a word to say at first as Gertrude
finished and turned away. Then [ followed her to
the door and tried to tell her something of my
shame and regret. She would not listen to me, but
went away. That was three weeks ago, and we
never speak now"
q must confess" said Aunt Amy, that think
Gertrude has pretty good reason for harboring an
CRY feelings, as you call it. You certainly did her
a deep injury"
''You think she never can get over it?"
"That depends on how much of the grace of
God she has in her heart"
NYou see," said Gertrude, Il never could forgive
it of her. How could any onel"
81 am sure it would be difficult thing to do
said the person. Gertrudes teacher and very dear
and trusted friend, to whom she telling her sore
grievance against Emily.
IF she had only been more frank with me. If
she had told me that day. Even afterwards, if she
had only been fair with me- But to wait until L
found out her neglect just by accident 1t seemed
so tricky and deceitful"
at certainly was Your severe disappoint-
ment was greatly increased by the way in which it
had come about"
eyes, if it had been through some accident L
could have borne it better. Now Miss Vernon,
mother says l ought to forgive Emily but how can
Il"
Sometimes said her friend, thoughtfuly, Il
think it good thing to try to even ourselves up
against our friends"
II don't quite understand you"
II believe / am rather obscure. I mean. we all
have our faults Some OF us have those which lean
in one direction, some in another. Pride, selfish
ness, lack of candor, laziness, inconsderateness,
carelessness what an ugly list it makes. Can any
of us say we are entirely free from all these!"
'Not l." admitted Gertrude.
There are several pretty good reasons for for
giving an injury" went on her friend. SIN the
first place. we like our friends to turn lenient eye
on our own faults. We do not like to be severely
judged We want them to deal gently with us be-
cause they love u.s. So let US try to feel that way
towards our friends faults. We are not perfect
ourselves-et us not expect perfection in them"
II surely am not perfect" said Gertrude,
thoughtfully
$50 much for our friends side; now let us look
giving spirit one which will hold onto and cherish
grudge which will allow Its own sweet serenity to
be clouded. Can we afford to submit to such an
affection because our friends have ds}le US a
wrong? 0, we cannot. Let us forget. Let. us rise