The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-11-04

4AG0E1, tHdt ID all. 1L was easy TO
see the old priest meant every word
he said.
The Foster family, If not always
rich. had always been Catholic, and
the paternal grandparents Of the
brldegroom-elect, renowned for their
sterling Catholic principles, bequeath-
ed this priceless inheritance of the
true faith to their only son with a
fair share Of this worlds goods as
well. He, being a man of marked
financial ability, soon increased his
fortune to such an extent that today
ne ranked as one of New York's
richest men. But, as frequently hap
pens, with worldly prosperity came a
disregard for the things of God, and
both he and his wife, Protestant,
cared only for the things of this
world, and thought little or not at all
OF the world to come.
Amidst surroundings of this kind,
Harry, their only son, grew up, and
1T is cot surprising that his Catho-
licity consisted wholly of a more or
less irregular attendance at a Low
Mass on Sunday and a tardy observ-
ance of the Easter precept.
AS for Mabel, devout little Catholic
though she was, her great affection
for the young man blinded her to his
faults, and indeed when with her he
was always so willing to accompany
her to Mass that she credited him
with having stronger religious con-
victions than he in reality possessed
She failed to see that it was one thing
to attend Mass because she asked him
to do SO, and quite another to go in
fulhllment of duty towards God.
Neither did she know that among his
friends her fiance was regarded as a
very liberal Catholic, indeed, even to
their way of thinking, and that few
were SO willing as he, when occasion
required, to oblige his political allies
by acting as sponsor to their children
IN Protestant church.
Even Mrs. Westbrooke or Father
Anthony had no idea of this, nor could
they very easily have found out, for
both led secluded lives in their diff
ferent ways and seldom came in con-
tact with the social set in which the
Fosters moved The marriage had
been arranged before her husband S
death, for he was very anxious his
daughter should marry the only son
and heir of his banker friend So the
widow could but hope for the best
and trust her child's future to Gods
fatherly Providence. Father Anthony's
talk with the young man had been a
satisfactory one and with this they
were obliged to be content
1t was the day before the wedding,
beautiful morning in June, when
all nature was to begin her new life.
Yet the thought of leaving her wild
owed mother, if only for a time, cast
shade of sadness over the girls
otherwise happy face, and it was with
an additional note of tenderness in
her voice that she discussed her
future plans with Mrs. Westbrooke,
who sat beside her on the veranda
that overlooked the beautiful Hudson
and afforded a delightful view of the
Catskills in the distance Mabel did
most of the talking, and she seemed
to think her mothers silence meant
acquiescence in all the arrangements
she was making for them both.
"You will be lonely, dear mother, :"
she said, "but we shall not be long
away, and after our return you are to
live with u.s..
Mrs. Westbrooke looked up.
"You must not think of me as too
lonely, child, though of course I shall
miss you very. much, but your aunt
Amy intends staying with me here
until you return and then I intend
going with her to Chicago for the
winter"
Mabel looked both surprised and
disappointed. Nothing she could say,
however, was of any use, for her
mother was quite decided not to share
the home of the young couple. She
felt instinctively that Harry Foster
would not be grieved at her absence.
Poor mother! The separation was a
p1ILCA OuO LII AC4y DuL SAC WOu1O uOC
cloud her daughters happiness, by
any word of regret, and, as she laid
her hand half caressingly on the girl s
fair hair, she said by way of consola-
ton:
1--WE shall not be far apart, dear
Mabel, and from time to time | will
come to stay with you, but it is
better should keep my own home,
and later on you will think I have
decided wisely. Besides, your aunt is
quite alone and will be glad to have
me with her"
Il only hope that you will change
your mind, mother" Mabel replied
affectionately.
| Then the gong rang for luncheon
and the conversation ended.
The wedding was a quiet one and
attended by few friends of the two
families, but every one noticed how
proud Harry Foster appeared to be