The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-04-13

note mdTk6u urgent. IL was from
Elizabeth and dated from the CITY,
Dear Virginia-Will you meet me
at once at Christ's Hospital? My faith
er has had an accident and is very i'll.
He wishes me to bring stenographer,
and I can not bear the thought of a
stranger. think Mr.. Andrews will
spare you under the circumstances
e. c."
Silently I handed the missive to my
employer. My heart gave bound of
relief. for / had felt sure that it was
Louise. In fifteen minutes I was tax
en- in Mr.. Andrews motor car to the
hospital Elizabeth met me and took
me at once to Mr.. Clafin's room. He
had been run over by an automobile.
He lay propped up on pillows, deathly
white, his burning eyes feverishly
alight and eager.
Hurry" he said.
The nurse gave him stimulants and
I sat ready, pencil and pad in hand.
braced myself to hear some unusual
crime, and SO I think did Elizabeth.
The voice startled one by it's strength
and shrillness.
IT shall live but short time I can
not face eternity without making my
confession. Elizabeth is not our child.
We adopted her when a baby. An
English rector and his wife came to
this country for their health. For a
time they improved and Mr.. Thrale
took a small parish in which we lived.
When Elizabeth was born my wife
showed the mother kindly attentions.
Both were young and had no near rela-
tives. Mr.. Thrale was the last of his
family, fine country gentry. They were
both greatly beloved by their parish
toner's. Mr.. Thrale died suddenly, be-
fore Elizabeth was year old. The
shock proved too much for the wife,
who, my wife always insisted, died of
a broken heart. Mr.. Thrale's ill-health
had all come from a long run of ty-
phoid in England, and the doctors ad-
vised change. Mrs. Thrale gave her
baby to my wife who loved her as her
own. Mrs. Clafin insisted that she
should never be told the truth. Lately
urged that she should know-for she
keenly felt my misbehavior-but my
wife, always SO conscientious, was
bitterly opposed to it, and, as I had
caused her so much misery, felt that
must give her her way in this. Only
lately have I guessed Elizabeth troub-
les, and I want this paper to be hand
ed at once to Mr.. Dean Andrews, of
Lippincott C Andrews, Temple Place.
The voice grew alarmingly faint.
The nurse sprang to the bedside with
restoratives. The patient rallied and
asked for me.
you will give that to Mr.. Andrews
as soon as you leave here?" he gasped.
I promised.
Elizabeth followed me to the outer
entrance. She seemed transformed.
Her eyes shone like stars.
| eve coaxed mother to lie down. She
is quote Frustrated. Poor Mr.. Clafin!
he must die so soon and with the bur-
den of all his misdeeds! Who could
feel hard towards him now?" she said,
softly.
She slipped back to the sick-room,
and / was whirled back to the office
with my message of deliverance. How
simply, yet Unexpectedly the problem
which had seemed so hopeless had
been solved!
The wedding followed the death of
Mr.. Claflin. Mr.. Andrews would hardly
give Elizabeth time to get a decent
outfit. AS she stood in her travelling
suit in her own little room-it was of
course, very quiet ,affair-Elizabeth
threw her arms about me and drew
me towards her with rare emotion.
God is so good to me, Virginia." she
whispered; II don't deserve it. am
so happy that I want you to be and in
the same way"
Then her mother called her, and, as
followed her downstairs, I had a
glimpse of Dean Andrews face alight
with the same wonderful glow. They
were to live in lovely home on Mont
rose Avenue, and Mrs. Claflin was to
| live with them.
I was driven home in a whirl, the
glamor of the wedding filling my
thoughts. I saw Elizabeth's lovely
face through a mist of tears. Louise
| was to stay over night with Mrs. Olaf
| lin, with whom she was a great favor
| tie.
AS I came into my rooms they
struck little chill to my heart. I
seemed SO alone. A mans figure came
out of the dusk and voice I knew
so well cried out: miss Townsend,
I've made myself at home. Your land
lady let me in and I've invited myself
to tea. Bashfulness never was my
portion"
It was Mr.. Christian whom I had
| met at the wedding, but who had mys-
teriously disappeared at the last.
Il hate goodbyes, and wanted so
to see you all by myself I ran off