The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-03-09
Continued from page 81
THE RAY.

An affectionate light flashed into
Mrs. Longs eyes at the name of her
daughters friend. At her name all
their arguments rested. All avenues of
protest and discussion led to her and
there stopped, After all there was
Ursula. Surely, as Evelyn said, here
was indeed a happy marriage. A
charming, lovable girl of deep religious
feeling, Ursula Paine had married Rob-
ert Elliott, young man of excellent
character who, though brought up in a
family circle Of staunch Presbyterian
ism, was himself professedly without
religion.
Ursula's family gave at last a reluct-
ant consent to the marriage, an atti-
tude which softened later into open
blessing and approval, as the progress
of years appeared but to intensity the
daughters happiness. Robert proved
an affectionate husband, attending
Mass regularly with his little family
and offering no obstacle to his wife's
plans for their training and welfare.
The thought of this happiness was
a singular source of consolation to
Mrs. Longs wrestling mind. After
all, she thought, Evelyn's prospects
were as good as Ursula's; Richard Nc
Williams was even more highly re-
garded than Robert Elliott. Men said
of him that he had great future
before him; that he was a man of
unique intellect and character. His
personal force and charm, a certain
quite kindness and distinction, Mrs.
Long herself had long acknowledged
and admired.
After all, thought the mother for
the hundredth time over her sewing
after all, there is Ursula; and 9TH
ers, of course, with married content
like unto Ursula's.
Hundreds of them," exclaimed
Evelyn; hundreds, l am sure, if we
only knew of them. Ursula can't be
the only one, of course"
But at night Mrs. Long remained
long on her knees before her little
crucifiX.
| y 4 q
| Two weeks later a breathless mes
sage from one of Elliott's servants
came Historically over the telephone
and burst like shell into the Longs
little sitting-room.
"Please-ma' am-come quick-Mrs.
Elliott, ma'am-the automobile"
Mrs. Long seized her hat and ran,
waiting for no more, while Evelyn tele-
phoned hurriedly for Father Terry.
At the young mothers bedside the
priest had barely time to extend the
great rites of his calling; the girl to
hear a last dying exclamation-an ex-
clamation poignant with the insight of
a soul faced with eternity-when death
came
Evelyn" she had cried; Evelyn!
my children!"
Something in that heart-rending
scene struck the deeps in Evelyn'sl
heart. All her thoughts, all her ener-
gies were now diverted from the trivi-
alities of trousseau making to Ursula's
little family. She postponed her mar
riage one month in an effort to see
more of the motherless ones.
Their little faces would follow me
on my wedding Journey" she said to
her mother. II shall wait until Rob-
ert's mother comes on from California
to make her home with them
Mrs. Elliott finally arrived and
Evelyn picked up the loose ends of her
halted wedding plans, running occa-
sionally into the Elliotts to see Mrs.
| %h4
One evening, as Mrs. Long sat sew
ing, Evelyn came in from her usual
call at the Elliotts. Without removing
hat or coat she threw herself into
chair near her mother, in an attitude
of the most abandoned grief.
"Mother!" she cried, in a tense
voice, then paused. "How can I tell
your" she burst out MRS. Elliott
has taken Robert and James from St.
Clements and Ursula from St.
Agatha's. They all started to the
public school today. And yesterday"
she continued, ignoring her mothers
interruption, yesterday she took them
to the Presbyterian church"
/ Mrs. Long looked up. A tear fell
on the needlework punched in her
lap.
81 have been expecting it, Evelyn"
Expecting it, mother!" she ex-
claimed. Expecting that Ursula's
husband would SO disregard all he sol.
EMMY promised-all-and would per-
NIT his children to miss Mass and to
go to an alien church,"
Remember, Evelyn, Robert is not a
Catholic" said the mother, gently.
"Yes-but he promised solemnly-''