The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-10-28

broke from the lips OF the mother
like some startled cry OF deadly pain
and the young man sprang to his feet
. deep flush overspreading his usu-
ally serene countenance
Pardon, mother, I did not know
that you had entered. But pray be
seated he continued, and taking up
the picture he was about to place II
In his pocket, when his mother com
manded in low, stern voice, Gilbert,
give that photograph to me, please
With an unsteady hand and down
cast eyes he complied with her re.
quest.
My son, you have met the one girl
whom Of all others most dreaded you
to meet, artful, winning Helen Moor.
Gilbert Martin, why do you cherish her
likeness? forbid it. You know she
is 2 Catholic, and knowing how hate
that religion, have you dared seek the
company of and taken a fancy to a
member of that faith? But, come, my
son, will teach you a lesson
Lady Martin, with stern counte-
nance, from which every trace Of ten
derness had fed, led the way through
the great hallway, into the kitchen;
theres dismissing the surprised serv-
ants, she closed and bolted the door,
then, without even as much as glance
at her son, she slipped to the great
open fireplace, and dropped the pic
ture on the glowing Goals. For one
brief moment, the beautiful pictured
face seemed to gaze reproachfully
upon her, then the flames leapt up all
around it, and soon in its place ap-
peared a blackened, crumbling heap.
Lady Martin then faced her son
standing few PAGES in the back
ground, his eyes closed, that he might
not see the destruction of his cher
ished picture, while his pale coun-
tenance and trembling eyelids gave
token of great mental anguish
Nov, my son." said Lady Martin,
"it will be easy to forget that girl. Do
not SO much as give her thought,
Gilbert"
"Oh, mother, you do not know how
dear that little token was to me, else
you could not have burned it, invol-
unfairly burst from the young mans
lips, when he beheld the blackened,
crumbling heap in the great fireplace,
Dear to you? Did hear you
Alright, my son? Are you fool, to
become infatuated with that artful
girl?"
Mother, you do Helen an injustice
You well know she is as noble as she
is beautiful"
"Say no more, my son. Would you
ever dare to marry a Catholic, know
ing how dislike that creed? Would
you dare to do so?"
Gilbert, smiling sadly, answered:
Mother, would Catholic marry Gil
bert Martin, Catholic so true to her
faith as Helen? Ask yourself that
question, and think it will calm your
fears. But while Iremain Protest.
ant myself would not dare to marry
Catholic
SON? Is that what you said? And
what is the meaning of your words
You would not break my heart, would
you, Gilbert, and bow my old gray
head in sorrow?"
mo, mother, would not do SO. But
in doing right, could not cause you
sorrow, you know
Gilbert, believe you have been
attending ST. Luke's Catholic church
occasionally. did not at first see
any harm in your doing so. Knowing
Father Gray to be gifted speaker,
thought perhaps it would do much
good. Now must ask you to discon-
tinue going to st. Luke's. For the
first reason that there you would be
sure to meet Helen Moor. And, sec
ondly, you might begin to tolerate
Catholic views"
do not ask me to discontinue my
attendance at st. Luke's, mother.
like very much. to go, and you know
the best, the noblest families in the
whole village and surrounding coun-
try are members of st. Luke's parish
and Catholic"
THAT does not matter, my son,
have requested, nay, commanded, you
to attend no more. Do not as much
as give Helen Moor thought. Let
the memory of that artful girl die.
And now, goodnight, Gilbert
So saying, Lady Martin withdrew,
and Gilbert returned to the library,
where he flung himself on his knees,
with the low murmured prayer: "Oh,
my God, teach me the truth. Teach
me what is right; and then, though all
the world turned against me, will
not, need not fear"
The hours glide swiftly by, yet he
who is kneeling SO motionless gives nc
heed to the passing time. Cropping
bIindly in the dark, he prays for light
Continued on page 6.)