The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-05-27
Continued from page 50
THE HERO OF SAN JUAN.


$50 you escaped from Pandora's
box after all. / am glad you did, for
you have made the boy very happy
Seeing his face for the first time,
the girl started back in confusion, a
flood of color suffusing her fair face.
"But-but / thought you were an
old mana real old mani" she STAN
mered, for in spite of his gray hair,
Captain Strong looked very young and
the laugh with which he greeted her
exclamation was boyish in the ex-
IRENE. tt
I'm sorry you are so fearfully dis
appointed" he said, looking at her
quizzically with his bright dark eyes,
"but don't trouble about it, for it is
something Time will soon remedy"
| Marie found the two more like COM
rades than father and son; and after
she had recovered from her surprise
and confusion she entered into CONVEX
sation with her usual brightness and
zest. 4E
Come again, come often, will you
not?" Captain Strong said, when she
started home. 'You have done us
both good and lightened our hearts,
'He seems to ask no pity for him
SELF" she unused: ito see him and to
hear him one would never dream that
he could not walk. l wonder what has
become of his wife," a
In short time Aunt Margaret re-
turned from her visit, bringing with
her a number of guests, and Marie
was so occupied that for several days
she found no opportunity to talk with
her little friend. But one afternoon,
growing weary of the gaiety and chat
ter, she picked up book and stole to
her favorite seat under the apple tree.
Looking in the invalid's direction, she
suddenly exclaimed: ~
"She's GOMEZ" -
Sitting near Captain Strong was a
bert in her arms. They both looked
radiant, but the Captains face was
hidden by his hand. -
"Now-now they will be quite happy
without me-" and she walked slowly
and sadly back to the house. 4"
This is the first day of June" she
said to herself next morning-'Hu-
bert's birthday. He has been telling
me of it for so long; l am sure he will
be disappointed if he doesn't see me
today" ~
So, before the household was astir,
she slipped down stairs and over into
the other garden, with gifts for the
child. Save for the chirping and twit-
tering of the birds silence embodied the
place-no sound of flying footsteps
nor silvery childish laughter greeted
her, and she wondered at the strange
ness of it. She found the Captain sit
ting alone on the vine-covered YER
anda.
Good morning, Captain Strong"
she said brightly; 81 have something
for Hubert-where is he?" T
Not receiving any answer, she
turned her gray eyes full upon him
and was shocked to see the tragic de
spair of his face. II
ooh, what is it," she cried anxious
1y as she tremblingly laid down her
gifts.
Didn't you know?" he answered
slowly, controlling his voice with diff
fculty His mother has taken him
away"
In that simple sentence there
thrilled deep and patient suffering
that touched the girls heart with an
answering pain, and her eyes filled
with tears. 1
'"Oh, I am SO sorry!" she exclaimed
sympathetically. II had hoped, so
hoped she had come home to stay!"
Come to stay!" he repeated in be-
wilderment.
Eyes; your wife, I"
"My wife!" he interrupted did
you think that?" But after all, why
not? 1t was only natural that you
should. What fool was not to have
thought of that possibility" !
Then, seeing her wondering look, he
went on more quietly. Hubert was
the son of my best friend. His par
ents were never happy together, and
separated when he was baby. Soon
afterwards the Spanish-American war
sent our regiment into active service
and Hubert's father was mortally
wounded. Just before he died he gave
the baby to me-neither Of us ever
dreaming that his mother would ever
want him. She was a gay, careless
young thing, averse by nature to care
or responsibility of any kind, and
, never loved the little fellow, and
rather resented his existence.
Perhaps l did wrong to allow him
to call me father, but he was as dear
to me as my own son; and it pre-.
vented unnecessary talk and gossip to
call him by my own name-but his