The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1906-12-15

when she noticed that the two women continued 10
talk, instead of seeking at once help She ripped
down one of the red curtains that shut off the
kitchen. She knew she would be beaten for doing
so, but she could bear with that. She wrapped the
curtain about her shoulders sped through the front
room down through the garden, climbed, like
squirrel, the field fence, and tore her way
through the tall grass and daisies.
She had been running for perhaps ten minutes
when she dscerned the old priest in the distance
walking calmly In the clover and buttercups, his
hands clasped behind his back. He had not seen
the bull that coming toward him, but the ami
NAL had seen the priest Minnie fleet of foot.
She ran toward the bull. Haunting the bright
let curtain in the sunbeams With a roar the
beast made for her. The priest turned TO
daring little figure, with unbound brown hair dart
ing through the grass, waving behind her a cloud of
crimson calico. while furious bull followed close
i'll her wake. Oh. to be youthful again. that he
might go to her rescue. His rheumatic knees would
not let him But the chase uneven one.
the bull was gaining her fast. Must he stand
there and see her gored to DEATH Was there moth
ing that could be done! He cast rapid glance
around There was laborer approaching. The
priest shouted his strong voice the most youth
full thing about him. The laborer Minnles
danger and ran toward her.
Would he be in time? The priests knees swayed
beneath him. and he stood transfxed. The bull
was not yard from the child. A prayer sped from
his lips. Dear God, the bull has her his horns!
Oh what DEATH The brute is tossing her about
in the grass. No no! The little heroine has cley-
erly thrown the calico around his horns and he is
running his blindfolded head through the swaylng
grasses. The scarlet curtain it is that the anxious
priest flying about the strong neck of the steer
The laborer is now the beast, and Minnie has
almost reached the fence A few yards more and
she will be out of danger.
But the beast had got his horns clear of the cur
tain, and made mad rush upon the fleeing girl.
I Z
silken flag veined with golden threads. She was
caught on the cruel, strong horns Father Kelly
| thought of a martyr of the early ages He was
powerless to help her. he could do nothing but
treat the laborer to rush to the rescue. The man,
maddened by the sight of the little figure on the
bulls head gathered all his strength together and,
pitchfork in hand, leaped through me impeding
grass.
Then she was flung high in the air and fell on
the safe side of the strong fence beyond the reach
of the bulls horns. The laborer had now come up
with the beast and managed it with skilled hand.
Father Kelly hurried through the gate TO Minnies
side. She lay like wounded bird in the long
grass; no blood on her face but much her dress.
Her eyes black and star-likeit up at sight of the
priest. He thought he had never seen a face look
so lovely.
The laborer was as big and dull as an OK. per-
feet Ajax, but his heart was soft his arms
were strong. He bore her home gently, tender
mother would her delicate babe. There in Mrs.
Thompson's own soft bed the priest insisted that
she should be laid Then the minister of God and
the child were left alone. She received her first
Holy Communion. Late that night, when all was
dark and STILL the priest sat with her.
Father" she said "I done it. because | thought
if I saved you from the bull and got keched meself
God would forgive me being so bad and nasty; you
do so much for Him that / know He couldn't do
widout YOU and 1t didn't matter about me, poor
bit of chipmunl"
The priest smiled gravely. Dear little lheolo-
gian Minnie!
But all the same, I bnowed that God was al
ways me, little as | am, and manys the time ]
hid in the deep grass and made mesef believe |
was laying right in His arms and | out and cried
and told Him how stiff I was from getting whacked
with the broomstick. Maybe I wasn't praying when
old Ben, the bull pitched after me! | am bad. |
won't deny, but L would be worser if didn't pray.
Why, if | didn't pray, / would up and split Mrs.
Thompson many time. But it amt right for me
to talk about her, only you so and dear to
God that l say to you what [ say to Him"
Then there were paroxysms of pain. Mrs.
Thompson, with much lamentation in her mouth,
but feeling in her face, got what the priest
wanted to ease the little sufferer She had no love
for the child. Hardly moan came from Minnie's
lips; she was trying to be brave for Gods sake.
1t was far from dawn and the room was quite
dark: save for the light of the blessed candle that
shone like tiny star in the gloom and shed beau
tiful glow the sweet, oval face and the flowing
brown halr
Amt everything bright, Father. as bright as
day" said Minnie, in a weak voice "The sun must
be coming up Is the dawn broke YETI"
you are going, dear child, where the sun never
sets" As her eyes closed, the old priest bent low
and whispered through his tears: ooh, little BIOS
som, culled for Christ when thou seest His divine
face remember me"
Her eyes opened, only for ali instant, but in
hei1 beautiful agate depths he look Of rec
ognl:ion. She had heard his words, Then the
gol,ien ashes motionless the round cheeks
Will W Nhalen in Loretto Magazine.