The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-06-19

tened to her charges pratte during the weeks that
followed and guided his pram through the traffic
OF hensngton High street
LII was June when Bessie began her Nine Fri
days and early i'll October the Hussars got the route
Tor India. She was informed of the fact by Father
Ryan one Saturday when she went to confession
nephew OF his having recently enlisted in the reg
lment-and although she had become little more
resigned to her lot, the idea of Jims leaving the
country was anything but pleasant one. 1t was
true that she had never seen him since the rupture
OF their engagement, still she knew he was in her
nelghborhood more or less, and India seemd so
many, many miles away.
Suppose he wants to bid me bood-by, Father?"
she faltered
Father Ryan reflected, and again his humanity
came TO the fore. Also which may possibly have
had little to do with it. he considered it unlikely
that the bue-eyed trooper would be very keen about
a parting interview with the girl he was leaving
behind him. so he gave his consent and Bessie went
away hoping against hope for one more glimpse of
the man she loved few days later this boon was
vouchsafed her. Trooper jim had been really
rather badly hit this time possibly because was
novelty to him where women were concerned. She
was modest and attractive and pure-minded; and
these feminine attributes which do not very fire.
quentIy enter into the limits of soldiers expert
ence So he wrote and asked her to see him just
once before he left England, and they met the fol
lowing Sunday in the green glades of Kensington
Gardens. Bessie found it even more difficult to say
good-by than it had been previous occasion.
jim blue eyes looked reproachful and his
plants of her cruelty so touched her that she felt
1t was almost impossible reterate her formal re-
tusa TO be his wife Indeed, for quite an appreca-
bic space of time she did not hesitate until the re-
membrance of her unfinished Nine Fridays brought
her back to her better self. So the Hussars sailed
tor India, leaving doubt many sad hearts behind
them. and among them in particular one belonging
to brave little Irish girl who had made big sacri-
fee for the faith that was in her
1t was dull gray morning in February with a
suspicion of frost in the air. when Bessie ended the
novena of the Nine Fridays 1t had been rather
surprise to her implicit confidence in the heavenly
powers that her prayers on her lovers behalf had
not met with speedy response. Father
Ryan's nephew earnest practicing Catholic,
and moreover, very friendly with Trooper lin, and
she had hoped much from their companionship.
Still she firmly believed that sooner or later Jims
heart would be touched by the consoling beauty of
the Catholic religion, and that the barrier
listing between them would be rolled away.
She prayed with more fervor than usual
that morning and when she had finished her thanks
giving irresistible impulse for which she could
not account impelled her to call at the rectory and
ask Father RYAN if he had received any recent In
dian news. The priest greeted her with grave
face
Il was just coming to see if you were still in
church, Bessie" he said Il have some bad news
for you, bad in one sense at least" he added, land
you must try to bear it bravely.'
Is it Jim?" faltered Bessie. "Has he-married
some one else!"
No, my child, he has remained true to YOU and
your faith has met with its reward He has become
Catholic. but"-and his voice trembled a little
at was on his deathbed'
And so Bessie's prayers were answered-in Gods
own way.-Grace Y. Christmas in the Messenger of
the Sacred Heart