The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-10-29

much to the pleasure of the evening"
And the expense" Milly longed to retort, but
she laughed instead. ''Why didn't you ever sug-
gest it before Kathleen2 You of the many bril-
liant ideas"
oh, I'm stupid, of course where my wits
most needed" laughed Kathleen and dashed off to
attend to the wants of a handsome youth at the
farther end of the table.
Mildred watched the crowd few moments in
silence. The prospects were bright for success
full social. The crowd was larger than she had
ever seen 1t on similar occasions, and moreover,
everyone seemed happy and enthusiastic On all
SIDES she heard fattering praise of Mrs. Gardner.
queer little ache clutched at her heart, but she
tried to ignore it and poin in the gaiety around
her.
ooh, Milly O'Neill, come here" called a dis
tressed voice from the kitchen doorway
why, what is it, Mrs. James, she asked the
visible
The cream is almost gone, and the evening
not half over yet, and such crowd as we never
had before walled she.
But can't we order more at once?" asked
Miy, calmly
We've tried, and they say it is too late to fill
order now"
but came back, after few moments conversation,
looking as distressed as did Mrs. James
ut is useless, they say. No ice cream on hand"
what on earth will we do about it?' gasped
Mrs. James, IN despair.
Il don't know, really answered Mlly, her
brown eyes troubled. Call Mrs Gardner, she
might be able to do something
Mrs Gardner, indeed!" snapped Mrs. James.
Cut flowers and music and nothing to eat That's
management for you " And Mrs. James flounced
back into the kitchen to talk it with her
panions.
"MiIly's eyes followed the stately, smiling Mrs.
Gardner she moved about among the throng
with all the airs of a social queen. Pity welled
up in her heart. Mrs. Gardner had usurped her
throne but for a day, for the ladies Of st. Marys
Society too practical and sensible to
look such failure this.
The evening ended somehow, and MilIy went
home with her husband. Mrs. Gardner had borne
the news of the calamity with rare grace in spite
of the many looks of indignation that were eveled
in her direction.
"I'll wager she don't feel half as bad over this
affair you do Milly," declared her husband on
the way home.
''You know nothing about it, Charles She is
not of those hysterical sort. | do admire that
composure she displays"
Its just as l expected" leased her husband.
you walk right up and sit your throne
again. and I'll sing Long Live the Queen"
Milly O'Neill received many calls next day from,
the members of st. Marys Altar Society, many of
whom seemed to think they owed her a humble
apology, and by o'clock that evening her sympa
thetic heart was aching. as much the humili-
alton of her rival it had ached over her
misfortune. She longed to do something to allevi-
ate the modification she knew Mrs. Gardner must
feel. She had just to the conclusion that she
must go and see her the very next morning when
her meditations and the preparation of her hus
bands supper were interrupted by the ring of the
telephone, and a distressed voice answered her.
"Ths is Mrs Gardner. Mrs. O'Neill. Ny little
boy is very sick, and I'm so worried. and I've
heard so much about how good you are to"
"I'll be right over, Mrs. Gardner" Milly called
back She hung up the receiver, hurried into her
wraps and was gone
On the corner she met her husband. I'm GO
ing over to Mrs. Gardeners. Her little boy is very
sick" she briefly explained
Angel of mercy" began her husband but she
hurried ON. unheeding.
Mrs O'Neill found it difficult to identify the
worried, tear-stained woman who bent over little
Tommy's bed with the brilliant, smiling of the
night before
"Oh Mrs. ONeill, it was so good of you to
come The doctor says Tommy has pneumonia,
and I'm almost distracted. | afraid he is 60
ing to die"
Mrs. ONeill looked down at the fevered, toss
ing child and realized that he very i'll, but she
spoke comforting and reassuring words to his moth
er and began ministering to the wants of Tommy.
1t was the next afternoon, when Tommy had
been pronounced out of danger by the doctor and
had fallen into restful sleep, that Mrs. Gardner
brought up the subject which for the time had
been forgotten.
II feel utterly disgraced over the Altar Society
Social" she confided. II am not at all practical,
so my husband says, and it must be true or IL
shouldn't have made such mess of things"
"Oh, don't let it trouble you" Milly fastened
to say "You have only been in town short time,
and Won don't know conditions here as we do
Don't make excuses for me. / know | am very
much to blame, but [ have always longed to assist
in church work, to do something that was not all
empty vanity, and this seemed like such an oppor-
tunity" she finished. wistfully.
Mily O'Neill looked up at the woman she had
thought vain and self-centered, and a warm rush
of sympathy swept over her. After all, they were
very much akin at heart.
SOh, Mrs Gardner, we do need you she cried,
impulsively. "There are so many opportunities
for good work here, and you are just the one to
ssIf I only had vo1lr nractical mind and GOOD