The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-28
How Mary keane Went
to Confession.

SISCA, VANIu, uSCp, uulOuCACu NY uuSC.
AS far as the eye could see at the
left the green Wavered away to the
edge of the blue, the indigo blue sea;
on the right it went up the hill side
ways, and was dotted by deadly white
splashes, the roofs and walls of the
country houses, and in one place a
stone quarry.
A fruit woman, with her woolly head
swathed in variegated kerchief and a
heaped wooden tray of tropical delica-
cies hoisted upon that, tramped along
the winding, binding road. A group
of young tourists, all in white, skipped
leisurely ahead of her, she ever gaining
upon their slower footsteps. AS she
neared them, one turned suddenly and
snapped her camera. The fruit wom-
an ragged. No word of payment for
the privileges! No thought of buying
from the footsore burden-bearer!
"You got no right to tex NAH pic
ture!" she stormed. "You got no right
when you doan ask! I'll get sum-
mons out on you'll"
The white figures closed in togeth-
er, giggling and launching their Shout
ders. Two turned their heads and
looked mockingly back at her.
''You got no right to TEX nah pic
ture!" she repeated, DULY volcanic
"I-Pll get an auction out on you!"
The girls fled from her, laughing
their amusement, and the black woman
trudged on her way. 1t was hot day
in a hot cline, albeit she knew no
weather save that of the tropics, and
she was weary and business had not
been good. She scolded to herself as
she went forward.
ct was hardly charitable" Aline
said to her companions, why not
have given her penny, Mary? Two
cents of our money! Perhaps the poor
black creature needed it,"
The girl addressed was prepos-
sessing young woman. Her type and
class was unmistakable. she had the
raven black hair, the blue eyes and the
rose skin of the Irish beauty; she
dressed and walked and talked with an
air of cultivation and assurance the
daughter of the more than well-to-do
Irish-American. There was no mis-
taking her.
81 can't fee them ALL" she protested.
Everybody wants tip! never saw
such a place! But papa says all re-
sorts are the same, and I for one am
going to draw the line somewhere on
tipping!"
"But you took her picture said
Aline.
81 wanted it," declared Mary. coolly.
"Of course took it,
Later that day they went driving,
this crowd of merry, healthy girls from
the North. At every crossing of the
beautiful Bermuda roads, children,
black and white, approached them,
many with flowers in their hands.
"Give me penny" was the constant
plea. 2
Some of the little ones were wonder
fully winsome, some were merely I'M
kempt but by no means pinched; the
white eyes and brown faces of the
pickaninnies shone. To them all the
girls gave freely, soon emptying their
purses of copper coins, and the car
riage was filed with too-fragrant bios
SONS. All but Mary. ii
II don't believe in it," she said.
what is the use of encouraging beg
ging?'
st don't know" sighed Aline, sex
cept that we have it to spare, you par
ticularly."
To her father and mother Mary was
the most wonderful girl that ever lived.
She was lovely to look at; she had
been carefully educated, and God had
given her good head. Travel and
culture and books had freed her of her
mothers diffdence, her fathers blunt
ness and brusqueness. What they had
not noticed was that the girl had been
spoiled, and that her spelling had TAX
en- a terribly self-engrossed, earthly
turn. For years she had caught the
lapses of her parents and had en-
larged upon their faults in startling
manner. They had not realized it.
Where her father clustered over the
charity required of him by surround
ings and his own means and her
mother gave with poor grace, the girl
gave not all. Where they, occasion
ally. sighted the duties of Catholicism
and failed to do honor daily to the Di-
vinity that had created them in the
true faith, Mary saw nothing, respect
ed nothing below the surface of her
Greed. Nor did she observe it's rules
and regulations. And her blind par.
ents did not notice. incredible as ii
may OOOAA'
1t was Friday; and when they re.
turned from their drive, dinner had
been served in the rambling white din.
ing-room of their guest-house. Mary
slipped into the chair beside her father
What are you eating, dad?" she
asked.
Fish, he answered. tits very
good'
"Pshaw!" cried She mo, I don't
want fish, Melissa! A steak! Bring
me large, rare piece
"Sh!" whispered Mrs. Keane at he1
husbands other side Don't say a
word! She's forgotten that it is Fri
day, and know she is starved"
Il thought Catholics did not cal
meat on Friday" said ever-protesting
Aline, when they had left the table.
Mary laughed. WELL" she said, 81
know Melissa didn't have whale OF
shark or swordfish on the bill of fare!
God knows asked for fish," she
quoted.
Eyes, I've heard the story" said one
of the other girls; IT think it awfully