The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-29

true discernment Mrs. Morrison
recognized the vast difference between
a rose silk for Mrs. Tilden's reception
and rose silk for church going at
Berkeley, even though they were cut
from the same pattern.
She allowed the smiling salesman
to take down bolt after bolt, examin-
ing them with the assumed air of
critic, and yet with the keen and un-
disguised enjoyment of one reveling
for the first time in new delight.
There was fascination in lingering
over those bolts of soft, filmy goods,
hanging on the brink of purchase over
one piece, then passing easily on to
examine something of richer texture,
without experiencing that haunting
nervous fear of going beyond her
means. She had hung in the back
ground often, enviously watching
others at this fascinating task of Sc
lection. The dallying ways of these
more fortunate women had seemed to
her trivial and foolish then. She would
have snatched up joyfully the poorest
piece of the shimmering masses
others cast aside, in those days when
the rigid practice of economy al
lowed nothing finer than ginghams
and calicoes. Now that she had come
into the class of leisure and wealth
she regarded it as her province to
daily harass busy clerks, to linger on
the brink of purchase and then, if she
chose purchase nothing at ALL
'I'll take this she said at last,
when the bolts were piled high on
either side of her, and the salesman's
smile had faded into look of an
noyance.
Cali right, Mrs. Morrison he re-
piled, resuming an affable tone; its
a beautiful piece and will make up
splendidly. How many?" he asked,
measuring off the shimmering yards.
Ten will be enough" she answered,
not sure in her own mind that it
would be, but she would exhibit no
ignorant uncertainty in the matter
When the purchase was completed
she ordered it sent to her home on
I4O o1u ANCAIAC, cIAA AOAC IAO o1OA y
with that feeling of satisfaction which
comes to those who are able to
crafty their wants, however extrava-
giant they may be.
AS she approached the big hand
some house on Howard Avenue, her
home, she felt again that thrill of
satisfaction. Five months of owner
ship had not sufhced to dim the
pleasure she experienced daily in the
feel of velvet rugs under her feet, the
broad expanse of polished floors, ar
tistic furniture and rich cut glass and
silver. Her husband had denied her
nothing in the first flush of prosperity.
She had at times thought him ungen-
erous, in the days back in Berkeley,
before the big inheritance from his
uncle had come, engulfng them like a
flood in the night. They lived even
yet a sort of dreamlike existence,
grasping up what treasures money
could buy and selfishly reveling in the
JOY of their possession.
She entered the house and walked
softly across the long hall, pausing at
the library door. In a chair drawn up
before the CRATE sat young girl
porting over the pages of magazine.
A wealth of dark hair crowned a
sweet, attractive face in which there
seemed to be something of an artists
soul reflected, something very much
akin to the ancestor in lace and vel
vet, whose portrait now hung above
the mantel opposite. Her dress OF
dark material, cut after the fashion OF
the season, in some way way fell short
of what fashion intended, fitted lilly
and looked out of place in the hand
some room. A painful recognition
swept across Mrs. Morrison's face
The girl was her niece, Mary Carroll
from Berkley. The very atmosphere
of Berkeley chung to her; it was evident
in the ill-ftting dress, the coarse heavy
shoes, and the tired, dropping pose OF
the wearer.
"Why, Mary, when did you come
up?" she asked, moving slowly
across the room towards her visitor
"On the noon train" Mary replied
after a moment of startled recogni
ton. Then, with a soft laugh: "Yor
look so changed and grand, Aun
Kitty! | thought you were some one
else for moment
Mrs. Morrison ignored this allusior
to her altered appearance. It called
up for comparison with her presen
elegance the days 'of calico wrappers
ill-shod feet, and other painful mem
cries. She kissed her niece, and thel
, removing her wraps, drew up chat
beside the fire.
Il am sorry I was out when yol
: came, Mary. I went to Mrs. Patter
sons for luncheon today, and sh
stopped uptown to do some shopping
afterwards she explained.
81 came up for the sales, and hav
sd