The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-09-16
Continued from page 8
DOCTOR JACK.

SLanQ. L Will give you uo lA1oImd-
ton. l refuse to be responsible for
your visit to such pesthole as that
Italian tenement 1t is the very folly
of fanaticism," he continued holly, as
he met the steady gaze of the secre-
tary's eyes and realized all his buster
was in vain.
II think you are rather exceeding
your professional privileges" Miss
Vane answered calmly, though her fair
face flushed. 81 have my ideas of
duty, and you yours. There is happily
no need of our discussing the matter
further"
And this was the final incident that
had seemingly led to the amazing
document that DR.. Jack, after reading
for the tenth time, consigned to an
inner breast-pocket where it disturbed
the doctors heart action beyond all
professional belief.
There had never been trace of
sentiment apparent in Mildred Vane's
manner to him. They had met with
the friendly comaraderie of those who
work together in ways of sacrifice and
self-affacement, too dark and sad for
any glamor of romance. And in the
gladder, brighter ways she trod, the
poor doctor had no place, no right to
intrude, and though more than once he
had received Miss Vane's cards to
brilliant functions" at her palatial
home, he had always felt them to be
sent merely in graceful cognizance of
relations which had no personal inter
est to the fair society queen.
And all the time she had guessed the
secret his heart was hiding, ''read it
in his honest eyes, heard it in his
tender tones"
After the first bewildering shock of
the letter, it's phrases began to echo
and re-echo in DR.. Jacks mind with
an ever-growing sweetness, like some
exquisite strain breathing through mu-
sic he had been too dull to compre-
bend. Surely there could be but one
meaning in her words. Her heart had
wakened in sympathy to the love she
had guessed, she had stopped from her
dazzling height to his lowliness, to bid
him hope
Come to me and tell me ALL
And his raptured heart leaped from
it's bonds at the call. He would go
he would go-he would forget all the
barriers of, pride and place that stood
between them, even as she had for
gotten them. Strange, bewildering, in
comprehensive as was the happiness
she held out to him, he would accept
it as the most priceless gift life could
bestow. But with such vista open
ing before him, DR.. Jack found it hare
to walk the rough way of his daily
work with his usual steady tread.
i More than once during this Devil
dering day he paused in dim halls ant
dark alleyways to glance again at the
dainty missive and wonder at the
dreamland revealed to one who hat
never dared dream before. Brighter
and brighter grew the vision, sweetel
and clearer the music of hope, unit
all the earth seemed flooded with rain
bow light, echoing with strange, swee
song.
And when at last the day was don,
and he was free to answer her call
he felt like one who treads some en-
chanted land with winged feet AL
heights and depths were leveled. Ii
this wonder world, the splendor of tn,
millionaire mansion to which he wa.
admitted seemed lost in its radiance
He was ushered into little must,
room off the great drawing-rooms
where every touch told of her swee
presence. The golden-stringed harp
the open piano, the St. Cecilia over tn,
quaint high mantel, the cluster of val
, ley lilies on the little mosaic stand
: One wide window opened on a garden
} a single star cleaned like a silver
lamp through the dusky bloom. 1t wa.
all dream, surely-but dream DR.
J Jack could never forget. His hear
seemed to leap to his lips as ht
caught the rustic of silken skirt, ant
} then suddenly she stood smiling be
fore him.
Il have been wondering all day i
you would come" she said, holding ou
her hand to him.
'Wonderingi" he echoed. "Coult
you doubt it for moment?"
Frankly, did," she said, lifting hel
soft, clear eyes to his. Il have no
been studying you all these month.
without learning that YOU are rathel
an unusual person. So was not quit,
, sure how you would take my letter"
) Take it, he repeated TREMENDOUSLY
) How could take it save as a favo
: beyond my widest hopes and dreams
} never knew what life, joy, hope
meant until today" He paused in hi
outburst. The eyes that me his wer,
) so calm and steadying in their gentl
) gaze
Il am glad" she said softly.
+ And DIR. Jack felt there was sureI
: never wooing and winning SO strang
: as this.
Though I was not sure Of you. az