The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-07
A LIFE FOR "A LIFE.

II LIZ 1 Nm IN AA1 LIS
A scarlet card was affixed to the
door of No. IA Glendon street. The
harmless piece of pasteboard might be
deemed some modern death-dealing de-
vice, were one to judge its significance
from the accelerated pace Of the
passersby the moment they first
caught sight of the little red square.
True, red is ever color to irritate
the nerves of man or beast, be the
former a rabid anarchist or the latter
a peaceful gobbler. But this particular
red possessed the additional charac-
teristic of exciting fear The timid
souls who rushed by the branded cot
tage lived in a hygienic age, and had
direful knowledge of bacteriology.
Some such thoughts as these seem
ed to pass through the mind Of the
sick man who lay within the quaran-
tined dwelling for he asked in queru-
lous tones: us no one permitted to
come near the place, Jennie?"
"No, DEAR" answered the young wife
gently eve are isolated by order of
the board Of health. The doctor says
that they are very strict in the mat
ter"
81 know now how those poor
wretches of lepers that saw at Molo-
kai must have felt. I, too, am sun-
Clean Why don't you leave me?" he
suddenly asked.
"You would never ask that, Lester,
were you not unstrung by your ill
ness" the young wife answered, while
her eyes filled with tears. did you
not tell me that those lepers had
wives, too, and that you marvelled at
their devotedness? Is my conception
of wifehood lower than theirs that /
should leave you when I am most
needed?"
Pardon me, little girl, was not my
right self to question your devotion.
But I am selfish in keeping you"
'It would be selfish of you to deprive
me of the pleasure Of nursing you,"
she made answer. smiling bravelys
brough her tears.
The days passed, and in spite of
loving care the young artist failed
steadily. The doctor suggested that,
as measure of prudence, he should
put his spiritual and temporal affairs
in order lest the malady prove fatal.
"My temporal AFFAIRS" the patient
replied, "are bounded by the four walls
of this house. have no one to mourn
for me save my wife, and nothing to
leave but my paints and brushes"
But" the doctor hesitated.
"Out with it, doctor. You are anx-
ious about your bill, and
"My bill will take care of ITSELF
Aubrey. I never fancied the role of
| Shylock," interrupted the doctor. 81
wished merely to know if you care to
make any spiritual preparation for the
hereafter"
Spiritual! Do you believe that
there is sufficient spirit in penniless
artist to induce visit from any sleek,
well-fed gentleman of the cloth, at the
risk of taking this dreadful malady 2"
"At least 1 may notify the minister
of your persuasion? He will have
prayers offered for you"
Thank you for your interest, doc
tor, but spare yourself the trouble. I
have no faith in the twaddle men call
religion, and less in the gospel grind
ers Or sky pilots that affect it."
The doctor rose, then seated him
self again as Aubrey resumed:
Zone moment, doctor. make one
exception to my last remarkable
| L
once asked him to sit as a model for
a st. Anthony which was to hang in
the Cathedral. At first he refused, but
when he found out that was an ,un-
believer he consented on condition
that he could talk as worked"
Aubrey raised himself on his pill
lows and with more good humor than
he had yet shown, continued:
r@H - %111 =
him-not because his discourse did me
any good, but because his manner be-
came SO earnest and his expression so
ethereal, that felt could bear such
heavenly doctrines as long as they
made my models so like my actual
subject"
Il know the young man." rejoined
the doctor. "He is in very delicate
health at present. Moreover, I have
often met him in professional way
at death beds, and each time I have
been struck anew with the fervor and
conviction with which he performed
his ministrations."
/ Aubrey was silent some moments
before he said: ct is selfish
thought, but ] would like to have that
young fellow near me at the last"
my dear Aubrey" rejoined the doc
tor, sit is more than selfish, for in his
present state two minutes at your bed
side would mean certain death fol
him.
HE is not ascetic enough to pay
that price for my soul, am sure-no1
would / have him." Aubrey responded
somewhat bitterly.
The doctor again rose, and after
giving some parting directions to Mrs
Aubrey, promised to call the following
day, il possible.
During the night the young man be
came alarmingly worse, and the lone
watcher felt that the end was not fal
off. Soon after daylight she heard the
door bell, which she supposed an