The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-02-25
THE FINAL Law.


fields, through small towns, for years
and years. There were days when
1 food was scarce, and even water be-
came treat But for the most part
the boy did not suffer His father told
him stories, they played games as they
went along, and at night, whether
they slept in barn or under the stars,
there was always the solemn time just
before the sleep cloud came down,
when the father told him of the great
Power who held the world and the
destinies of men in the hollow of His
hand 1t was such wonderful thing,
such beautiful thing to know-that
every thing one looked at had been
planned and made only to lead one on
| to the great beyond where the great
Power always lived. AS He was called
Father, too, the name meant to the
child love, shelter, understanding and
all the dearest things of life.
It was late in June when the way
farer and his small son arrived in
Campden A great fear had been grow
ing in the mans heart that he would
not be able to carry out his plan in
regard to his son; for he was running
life everything but vast hope and
trust in his Creator. But all his mis-
| fortunes that had come upon him had
not shaken his living faith. For all
his desperate fight, fear was gaining
on him as his strength waned. Joe
was such little fellow to be alone in
| the world. Even acquaintances were
now far behind them, and the institute
| in which he had planned to place the
boy was still distant.
| Father Medhurst was bending over
the Ginning rose-bush of his front
porch. He loved roses, and this bush
in particular was of great interest to
him. AS he shipped leaves and buds
away to make room for perfect
growth, he hummed monotonous
chant
Father said mans voice behind
him, and the priest Strengthened up in
startled way. No sound had warned
him of the approach. Father" re-
peated the man, II can go no further.
/ / thought"
The voice trailed off into silence;
a thin, worn hand reached blindly, in
stinctively for something to hold to.
Father Medhurst's great arms were
around the man in an instant
1t was slight weight for the big
4 priest to support, and his experienced
eyes saw that for this man the journey
was indeed nearly ended. The ragged
shoes, the weather-stained clothing
told sad story; but in the white face,
even with the eyes closed, there was
a look of determination and high
4 spirit never seen in the ordinary tramp
AS the frail form sank into chair on
the vine-covered porch, Father Med
hurst became conscious of a small
. boy, whose tiny hands were, striving
to aid his father.
He smiled into the upturned, grave
4 eyes of the child.
well, sonny" he said, Il didn't
! know you were there. Run into the
, house, through the door there, and tel
{ the first one you see to bring me-
e some wine"
= The boy obeyed, and the prizes
: rubbed the thin hands of his guest il
: his own warm plans. The housekeep
er came herself, bringing bottle anG
glass unceremoniously for the unusu
al request from the queer little DO!
had startled her.
It was always strange day for Joe
to look back upon. The warm, rose
scented air, the deep voice of the bis
priest, his fathers white face and I'm
accustomed inaction, were all blended
together in a misty way like dream
memory The housekeeper, however
was never dream person. No passing
of the years, no glamour of lost day.
could throw about Mrs. Brent any vel
of fancy. She was practical, real
energetic at all times, even when il
the midst of the tragic, the unusual
the incomprehensible. This last phas,
of life, it is due to her to say, sh
i never conceded. She had most con
yenient code (for herself) of never ad
hitting for an instant that such
thing could be. Everything beyont
her ken was disposed of as sheer nor
sense"
m
Joe's father revived and was takel
into the priests study a room conven
iently near the entrance. He had toll
his short story and his plans for hi
= son before Dr. Burke arrived Fathe
J Medhurst had summoned the docto
Immediately and had allowed the maj
to talk when he saw it would distres
him not to explain knowing, too, tina
!. time for explanation was short.
When the time came for his fathe
to make his confession, Joe was Cal
: ried off by Mrs. Brent to be ''freshene
lIup." She did the work so thorough
l that the little fellow wondered If Their
would be any skin on him when sh
should have finished His submit,
siveness and the beauty of the littl
face looking up at her SO steadily, a
she completed the task. won her hear