The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-07-08
MS head; 1t was one of those mys-
teries which he could never solve.

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teries which he could never solve.
The interview with Father Donovan
had been extremely disappointing to
Annie Morton, and that night she
paced her little room till late hour
In deep thought. The girl had always
been pious, and even now her faith
meant everything to her; she had
never even thought of placing this, her
dearest treasure, in danger. But the
earnest words of the priest had made
her Waver. For the first time in her
life she stood on the threshold of
human happiness. Till now her path
OF life had been rugged and thorny
Poverty had always been her portion
She had been forced out into life at a
very early age. The years of her
youth had been spent between the
room which she called her home. But
still there had been joy in her life,
a joy so sweet and beautiful that it
cast splendor about the dull monot-
ony of everyday, drudgery and had
made her grinding life-work pleasant.
But that joy had been ruthlessly
snatched from her, when just one year
ago the mother whom she had loved
with every chord of her heart and to
whom she chung with every fibre of
her being, was taken from her. The
girl shuddered now as she looked
about the dark, cherries room, made
gloomier still by the absence of her
who had given it sunshine and light.
She thought of the lonely, sorrowful
days she had spent here since her
mothers death. Then a beautiful
picture unfolded itself to her enrap-
tured gaze, of a happy home where
peace would reign supreme, where
every comfort would be hers. Ger
tainly she had right to some of LIES
joys. What was life to her, all alone,
in the world, and penniless? Father
Donovan was simply unreasonable; he
didn't understand, how could he under
stand? The girl looked down at the
diamond that sparkled on her shapely
finger. 1t was her engagement ring,
the ring that was to seal their happi-
ness. Was that ring to become but
sign of her disappointment, her
wretched disappointment? No, that
can never be; the matter is simply
settled.
A few days later Father Donovan
received the following note:
Please, Father, have everything ar
ranged for Wednesday evening, June
2. have decided definitely.-Annie
Morton"
Father Donovan frowned poor
girl, she seems not to be decided so
definitely, after all, otherwise why is
she so afraid to face me? Well, | sup
pose this finishes it; no use talking
to her now" During the next two
weeks the old priest never vent to
the altar without praying for Miss
Morton. He had seen so much misery
accrue from unions such as this that
he shuddered at the idea of this girl,
whom he had known from catechism
class, to whom he had given her First
Holy Communion, entering a mixed
marriage.
The following days passed like a
dream for Annie. So much had to be
arranged She had given up her posi-
ton, and day by day, she visited the
stores and shops to arrange her trous-
seau. The house had been selected
lovely cottage out in Woodlawn,
with broad porch and comfortable
dormer windows and was faultlessly
furnished. Each article had been
selected by the happy couple with
tasteful discernment, and everything
had been arranged by the def hand
of Annie. Her little room on Cliff
street Annie had Invested of all it's
tawdry raiment. She placed each
little trinklet away with tender care;
she would keep them all as remem-
brances. There was the picture of
the Sacred Heart, which her mother
crucifix. Her heart sighed as she
placed these precious keepsakes into
the worn, old trunk, but then as soon
as she had Howard converted they
would get their honored place in the
new home down in Woodlawn. Annie
was perfectly happy; she felt as if
by one step she was to be transferred
to Paradise. Even Father Donovan's
warning words did not disturb her
now. She knew he was mistaken,
and she only hoped that the day would
soon come when she could give him
the best proof of his blindness by
leading Howard to him, docile con-
vert. Howard had never refused her
her religion If she earnestly entreated
him to do so?