The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-02-04
The One Thing Necessary

The fourth!" said General Wyndon,
with a sigh as he folded the letter
and slipped it under his plate. "My
dear Mary, Roland Martin has asked
his firm to give him the Pacific Coast
territory for while"
ooh, my!" said Mrs. Wyndon. She
was a slender, white-haired woman,
with delicate face. isn't that too
bad? Isn't that too bad?" she re-
peated, almost pathetically. II really
thought Theo cared for him."
The General waved his hand and
began his breakfast.
Cared for him!" he growled. 81
don't believe she'll ever care for any
one"
Good morning. father! Good morn
ing, mother!"
Miss Theo Wyndon, what do you
mean by this? Late for breakfast, as
usual"
The girl came into the room hur-
riedly, and kissed her father and
mother before settling into her place.
General Wyndon looked at her with a
glance he tried to make disappearing.
'You don't seem very sorry, Theo,'
he began. She waved her spoon at
him.
"You know you've not had more
than one bite, either of you," she said,
airly. $50 don't feel really sorry.
Besides, lateness is it's own worst
punishment. I MISS" raising laugh
ing face; 'tjust so much of your So
ciety."
Her brown eyes danced. He tried
to grumble, but could not
"Well, perhaps you won't fret much
at losing Roland Martins society,"" he
said. when did you refuse him,
Theo?"
II didn't refuse him, father
Didn't refuse Roland Martin? Why
he asked me-he said he was
going to speak to you
IT rather thought he was going to
speak to me, father"
why didn't he?"
He's rather an oddity,' with lit
tie grimace. 1--WE were talking the
other. day on personal matters, senti-
ments, tastes, ETC., and I told him I
could never marry any man but a
church member. I did, really. And
I think he imagined I wanted him to
become a ranting, raving, out-and-out
revivalist at once, for he said no more.
He left me, my youthful hopes blight
ed, my young heart filed with sor-
row"
'Theo, Theo, don't get on that
string. Why did you tell him anything
of the sort? Or was it a polite way
of refusing him? You know you don't
give ten-cent piece about a mans
religion"
Perhaps if had a little more of
my own" began the girl.
ct don't see you've ever felt the
need of it," said the General, coldly.
"And how could man-an up-to-date,
busy man like Roland Martin be both
cred with religion? Theo, I'll try to
believe you said it to him, but I don't
want you to pretend to me that you
would want him to get religion"
Theo Wyndon laughed softly.
ooh, father! You should have seen
his face! It was funny! He sat and
stared and stared. He thought was
out of my senses. Then he said Well,
I'm not church member, and have no
inclination toward any church. I've
been brought up to follow my own
convictions, do as my conscience die
tates, and hate the Church of Rome
With which lack of profession of faith
the gentleman signed his doom if he
cared anything about me. will never
marry man who hates the Church of
Rome"
"Why not?" cried her exasperated
father. How could it affect you?"
Theo put her bright head on one
side with long sigh.
ooh, father, one gets SO tired try
ing to find new excuses. And that was
a very good one."
General Wyndon laughed-he could
not help himself.
"You have the most wonderful tai
ent for wriggling out of a situation"
he said. "He was fine chap
"a really worthy fellow" put in
Mrs. Wyndon now, disapprovingIy,
land of a most excellent family. l
liked him"
ooh, mother! How could you?
Picture living as long with him as
you've done with father!" She shiv-
cred. eff he we're only like father"
she added, hastily, realizing that her
remark could be misconstrued. "Why,
I don't believe Mr.. Martin could say
cross word if he tried! 1t W an
awful experience almost
y almost clammy."
There is only one thing helps me
to endure your singular choice of
English" said Mrs. Wyndon, but the
smile on her lips belied the severity
of her words. CAS- your fathers
daughter you cannot help it."
I'm afraid I'm sitting very nicely
between two fires" remarked the
General RI his c11n Of coffee