The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-03-18
The QUESTION or HIS MOTHER.

John Gilbert hadn't the least idea OF
committing himself when he left home
for social call on the Hammonds at
s o'clock, and here he was returning
to his mothers at IL betrothed to
Harriet Hammond.
How had 1t happened? He had met
the whole family as usual on his ar
rival, but two Of the younger girls
were going to some school festival
with their brother and one of his
chums. Mr.. Hammond always retired
early: and about $3.50, Mrs. Hammond
excusing herself for moment, pres
emily returned with tray of light re-
| freshments, telling Harriet and John
they must keep house for her while
she attended to some unforeseen BUSH
ness in the neighborhood.
The youth and maiden had taken
their high school course together, and
had kept up pleasant, though not
serious friendship ever since. He had
always thought of Harriet with ad-
miration; but never until tonight had
he felt within himself the courage of
ten men, and seen her as the one girl
in the world for whose sake he could
accomplish all things.
Yet he had no memory of telling her
anything even remotely approaching
this. He knew he had said, as his fin
gers inadvertently touched hers on
the checker-board: "You and I seem to
hit it off all right in any sort of game,
"and an instant later she was sobbing
on his shoulder, and before. he quite
grasped the situation there was her
mother, also sobbing, and declaring:
'My dear children, have known for
the past four years that you two were
just made for each other"
Tom, Ella and Annie came in be-
fore he had taken his leave, and he
was presented as their new brother. To
be sure he was happy. Harriet Ham
mond was the loveliest girl he had ever
known; but he was not twenty-five yet,
and it had been his fixed intention
never to take any serious step towards
matrimony until he was at least
twenty-eight, and his dear little
mothers future assured.
John Gilbert was just young clerk
in the B. G M. Railroad Company,
with his $50 per week-"splendid
wages for a mere boy" as the little
mother so often told her friends; and
the bank deposit which he was piling
up for her was still less than one
thousand dollars She had her home
possibly more-from her husband.
How happy they had been together
he thought wistfully.
He had no regrets; but it would be
little hard to tell her something so
different from the plans which half in
jest and half in earnest he had often
discussed with her. She wished him to
marry. Of course his possible wife had
been unthought of two hours ago
not so much as the shadow of a
woman. And how should he explain il
all? He must have said more than he
remembered. Anyhow, there was only
one thing to be told now: he was be-
trothed to Harriet Hammond.
1t was a lovely evening in June
The soft breezes and the keen fra
GRANGE from scores of gardens on his
homeward way in the suburbs blew re
freshingly upon his face. He was
neither warm nor excited, nor, truth
to tell, quite as happy as he believed
he would have been when betrothal
was still a distant dream. Yet the
thought of Harriet was sweet. If he
had it to do again that very night, he
would not have chosen differently
What then was lacking? He had heard
of reactions following on gratified love
or ambition. Anyhow, Heaven help
ing, he was sure of another raise In
his salary on the coming first Of Janu
airy; and naturally no word had YET
been spoken of the marriage day.
He hoped the dear little mother
would take the unexpected news we'll
All, she was still up; for he got the
CLEAN of the sitting room as we'll al
the hall lights on his pathway to the
house. He might as we'll tell her al
once, for she would be sure to notice
any constraint in his manner
III sue ulu uOt1CS. 1G1I Lie, UCdT DOyt
she murmured, drawing him into thu
sitting room, in which the white mus
lin curtains futtered in the nigh
wind. You'll sleep better for it." HI
had not realized what slight, young
looking little mother she was unit
now. She hardly came up to his broad
shoulder, and stranger would no
have suspected more than ten years
difference in their ages
Yes, she took it we'll; no question o
that. Il had not thought to lose m.
boy so soon, but it is the way o
! nature" That was ALL
"And you won't lose me-yo,
can't" he answered. Nothing i
settled yet, of course, about on
future, but such mother as you hav
been! And he put his arms abou
her. as was his wont in small DO,