The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-09-16

Il
the first, as told papa"
Again DR.. Jack was conscious Of a
seismic shock, but the speaker went
lserenely on her amazing way:
There were others that he wished
me to consider, but" the fair face
dimpled, Il am stubborn young per-
son, as you know. And really, after
that little storm we had yesterday,
| felt I must settle matters or might
lose you, SO I wrote at once There
are objections, of course. You ought
to be Catholic. But our good Bishop,
who is dear old friend Of mine,
agrees that for the present, consider
ing all your other good qualifications
again dimpling into an arch smile,
I'VE must condone your lack of faith.
have promised I will do praying
enough for both. AS for the money
matters she hesitated a little, 'well,
you must see papa about them. You
will find him most liberal. And SO
you will take charge Of the Mater
MisericOrdiae' at once"
''The Mater Misericordiae," echoed
DR.. Jack.
Don't you like the name?" she went
on. Tt seemed to me such a fitting
one for hospital like ours, where
there is no earthly hope. And then,
too, it is, as I explained, memorial
to my own dear mother, who died
three years ago."
| A hospital! A memorial to her
mother! He was to take charge
For moment the, room seemed to
reel around DR.. Jack, as he whirled
down from the dizzy heights of the
dream world in which he had been
wandering all day. And while he sat
stunned, breathless, in the chaos of
his shattered fools paradise, she went
on eagerly to unfold her plans for the
beautiful charity, of which in the dark
ways they had trodden together, she
had found there was such crying need.
She was going away indefinitely and
would like to leave it we'll established
in his care.
"And | feel" she added, her fair
face kindling, that this lifework will
lead you to the Light and Truth that
as yet you can not see. And now will
you see papa and settle business mat
tiers with him tonight?"
mot tonight" he answered huskiIy,
as he rose and strove to steady heart
and voice under the fierce pang of
loss this fair, serene girl must never
guess. Il have an imperative call to-
night. will come again and speak to
your father. I can only thank you
now, thank you for your great good
ness, and return this letter that came
to me by mistake this morning. |
must apologize for opening -reading
it-before discovering it was intended
for some happier man." The words
came brokenly, awkwardly, but he
could do no better. His whole strong,
steady being was like a harp with
every cord unstrung. She took the
, note he extended to her, glanced at it
wonderingly, and then her face broke
into it's own bright smile
How stupid of me! This letter is
to my old friend Jacqueline Granard,
, and she doubtless received yours. |
must have exchanged the envelopes
in my hurry last night. Jacqueline is
one of my dearest and best school
friends. I have just discovered that
she is desperately in love with one OF
the best fellows in the world, and
they are too poor to marry, and SO il
! has been postponed Indefinitely and
ly-and-and-" AS she
glanced over the lines of the letter
) sudden light seemed to dawn upon
t the reader, and she lifted clear, ques
I tioning eyes to DR.. Jacks face.
! What her woman's intuition read in
i it's lines of rigid restraint we can moi
v say, but she went on gently:
"This letter was to ask Jack-it Ii
/ her pet name with us-to put aside
all foolish pride and let me help he1
e to be happy and best In fact, I an
e trying to settle all my friends vel
d and wisely before I leave For my
r little sister Jean is coming from schoo
r next month to take my place here, ant
III | am going where my heart has Ions
l. been calling me-the Convent of Sain
It Croix, to be Sister of Mercy in deet
and in truth. And now, dear friend
. understand and her voice
seemed to blend with the breath O.
!, the lilies, her glance to beam with thu
i pure, plying light Of the far off star
: Il understand, he said, and he lifted
her white hand as if it were a holy
9 thing to his lips and went out into The
!, night.
q Marp r. Wd0odmon,