The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-12-16
Continued from page 81
THE ROMANCE OF AN OLD COAT

chased each other through her mind
until, like waves, they struck on the
rock of bitter memories, and the
shadow of past sorrows darkened her
proud old face.
Several years had gone by since
her only child, Agnes, had run away
with the handsome scapegrace against
whom everyone had warned her,
against whom her mothers doors had
been closed and though in the course
of time Mrs. Scott had relented and
been prepared to grant forgiveness.
Agnes had never tried to obtain it.
She had left Glasgow with her worth
less husband, and out of the whirl-
pool of London into which they had
plunged not a word had come, and
all traces of them we're lost.
Mrs. Scott leaned back in her chair
with closed eyes, marveling why the
old wound throbbed anew today and
why the voice SO long unheard should
seem to be ringing in her ears, until
two young persons entered, sufficient
ly like each other to be known as
brother and sister, though at present
one was wearing smile and the other
a frown. AS the latter laid down
her golf clubs rather noisily, Eric
raised a warning finger.
"Sh'sh! Aunt Helen is asleep"
wish I were, never to waken,'
said Clare, before Aunt Helen could
repel the charge. of slumber.
IF you were my child, you should
be sent to bed with heavy supper
crabs and cheese and Holsters and
pork pies for choice" he said. "Then
you'd be glad to have your dreams
disturbed"
Its easy for you to laugh" she
retorted GROSSLY. But I am tired of
having to go without things that every
other girl has. And you have no sym
pathy." ~
"What'll we do about this, Mrs
Scott?" 1t was the voice of Mrs
Jebb, who had just entered with
something in her outstretched hand
THAT little boy left his old coat be
hind him in his hurry, and I was just
giving it a shake when this fell out
of it. Perhaps it belongs to the young
lady. You'll see there is a name on
it,
'It' was much-tarnished locket
which Mrs. Scott took mechanically
and examined with the aid of her eye
glasses. Next moment sound that
was half sob, half a cry, brought
them all beside her in alarm.
"Eric-Clare- here!" She
spoke in gasps. ''It is a locket gave
to Agnes. She was wearing it wher
she went away. Her name is on it
See! My own portrait used to be
inside
Her trembling fingers could no
open it, but Eric did that for her, re
vealing miniature of herself, painted
when her hair was not so white, ant
care had not traced SO deep an auto
graph on her brow-but unmistakabl!
a likeness.
Surely that young lady will b
able to tell US something. We mus
find her at once" said Mrs. Scott
ing to the shore with some children
and they will be there still. We mus
find her, Eric!"
LAS you know her, that will b.
easy" he said cheerfully. I'm Ger
tain we are on our way to hear goo'
news, Aunt. Never mind how lonl
you've had to wait for it,"
1t was the time of year when Salt
coats becomes a suburb of Glasgow
and the shore was crowded with pee
pie from that city. Children digge'
and delved in the sands, or wade,
into the sparkling water, while thei
mothers exchanged condolences AM
opinions. To and fro, from group t.
group, Mrs. Scott led her niece an,
nephew until she recognized Eva an,
indicated her by gesture, findin!
herself unable to speak.
The picnic had reached it's mos
interesting stage-the distribution O
the eatables. Eva was handing rouns
sandwiches; and the eager uplifting
of small sallow faces, the impetuou
extending Of bony fingers to gras]
the food, the instantaneous devourins
of it, told tale that brought a GLOW
to Clare's smooth cheeks.
Eric, to think was trying to quar-
rel with you today because 20,
wouldn't give me sapphire brace
lett" she murmured In rush O
wholesome self-reproach. She hat
thought herself aggrieved because al
unnecessary ornament was not forth
coming; here were children wht
knew what it was to starve!
Gust stay here and take care O.
Aunt Helen" he whispered, seeing
that Mrs. Scott was perilousIy neal
breaking down with excitement: anC
he went forward alone.
How strange it was! To Eric Scot
it seemed that all the days of his life
had been leading on to this moment
when he saw in the clear depths of {
maiden's eyes possibilities and revela