The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-08-13

time. Alas poor Bettyl "The thoughts of youth
are long, long thoughts" | never became a re-
glous, never having luck nor grace enough" as
she would have expressed it.
Ihe May after that long winter sorrow came to
us; for my father died. We left the convent school
and returned to the country; and it was long,
long time before | saw old Ellen or Betty again.
Betty the daughter of a small farmer who
was broke out of his place." Ellen said. | don't
know about that, but | do know they drifted into
the town to live; and while all the other and
daughters went across the seas to strange lands,
made new homes, and by degrees forgot-or seemed
to torget-Betty remained with the old people at
home, and soothed their SORROWS and kept a little
home for them until God called them in turn to
their home in heaven
Then Betty looked around and found the best
part OF her life over, and that she had grown
old. All the women of her age had married
long ago, and were now happy wives and mothers
while she was lone and lonesome" left behind in
hfe's race, forgotten. She took up the burden of
her lot bravey, and, soothing others, quite for
got that she needed any soothing herself She sold
out all her superfuous furniture, took small
room IN decent house, and then, like true
woman, made the best of life.
One spring night when Betty was forty-eight,
countrywoman knocked at Mrs. Muroony's door.
As the woman of the house out, Betty opened
1t. For minute or two they looked at each other.
Martial" Betty exclaimed at length Martha
Deering!"
"Ay, that's mel" the other woman answered
And you are Betty Donohoe. I'm thinking of
you still as little brown-haired, gray-eyed Betty.
And. laws alive, you're as old as myself"
She laughed deep, hearty laugh, though her
eyes filled with tears and she shook Bettys hand
delightedly.
Il was in the town." said Martha, "and L told
Tom home | wouldn't go without seeing you. Sure
l haven't been here before for seventeen years. Be
tween babies and babies, and christenings and
wakes and now marriags, my time all taken
up But | heard Of you, agragh!-I heard of you"
She brushed the big tears away, although she
still laughed; and Betty with gentle courtesy led
the way to her small room, she still talked on
We often and often speak of you, Tom and l.
It's such an eternity since | you! Are they all
gone but yourselfW
Every one of them"
Martin and Judy and Margaret and Denis,
and all 2"
GLORY be to God And do you ever hear from
Them"
"Three years ago Denis wrote, but not since"
"And how do you ive-how do you support
yourself l mean?"
God gave me strength and Pm used to the
life | have a stand for basket convenient, and
l get Ola nicely
"Well, well Sure you were always sturdy
hearted. Were you surprised when you heard Tom
and were wed Z"
A pang went through Betty's heart There was
a time when Tom Deering and she were more than
friends but that was long ago. in the years before
sorrow touched her.
Il didn't hear it for long time after it hap
pened," she said quietly. "You were always fond
of him"
Indeed l wasw Martha answered heartily.
"And l was beginning to think he'd never make
up his mind to speak, but one Easter day he came
over and it was settled, and from that to this Pm
the happy happy
A memory of that Eastertide back to
Betty. Only week before, Tom had asked her
to leave the old people their fate, and back
to Kilhaven as his wife; and she-well she had put
the happiness of her life behind her, and refused;
and-well, Martha was Tom behring's honored
wife, and she was-Betty-M j. Kehoe, in the
Ave Maria.