The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-03-02
THE CATHOLIC BULLETIN MARCH D. 1912

belonging TO Gach OCn0r $500 ana
thought there would not be an end!'
"Oh, dear!" she groaned, catching
her breath sobbingly.
AS I started to say" he went on
relentlessly, here we are engaged al.
most two months, and you are proving
to me at every step what fool | was
to believe that you loved me. There's
no use, Lucy; can't say or do any.
thing more to explain this misunder-
standing. If you won't make up-well,
them he ended lamely, decapitating
four daisies at a stroke.
Jim, I positively will not let you
put the blame of this upon mel" she
cried. To herself she added: There
may be nothing more you can say,
but, oh, there's a lot more you can do!
Why don't you stop talking and being
reasonable and just gather me up and
let me cry on your shoulder" But
naturally, being proud and hurt, she
did not say this audibly.
We'll Lucy" he returned with a
sort of exasperated patience, IF you
can see where else the blame lies
except on the person who does not
accept an explanation, then I'd be
glad to have you point it OUT
There are ways and ways of ex-
planning. There are explanations that
make the offence worse" she said.
But if he had eyes to see it was plain
that the retort was made without
spirit, with utter WEAKNESS of long
ing to be released from her self-im-
posed task of maintaing her position.
1--WE explained to the best of my
ability" he said curtly And silence
fell between them as they walked on,
she fighting back her tears, he behead-
ing daisies without recurrent compunc-
ton.
Up the road, near the top of the
hill, stood a small house. 1t had two
rooms on the lower, two on the upper
floor, with small shed obstructing
the view, placed, apparently, to that
end, in true country oblivion to there
being a view to obstruct.
At the door of this little house stood
tall woman, remarkably thin and
stopped, shading her eyes, unnecces-
sarily, with her gnarled hand as she
stood under the trees watching these
unhappy young people as the ap-
preached up the hill, every movement
eloquent of their disunion.
LAS though it wasn't hard enough to
git through life without putting chain
brakes on your own wheels!" she NUT
tered. Good morning, my dears," she
added as the pair came up with her.
This is the kind o'day that makes
even a lonely old woman like me glad
she's alive, let alone two young folks
that don't need any one but them
selves, amt it?''
1T is a lovely day." agreed Lucy
with a smile that proved how much
Jim lost when she was offended. do
you live here alone?"
Weaving" explained the old wom-
an. 1--WE saved enough to build me
this little house, and here live alone,
winter and summer. Folks far and
near bring me their rags, so I git
along"
Bring you rags?" inquired Lucy,
mystifed, and Jim looked up inter
negatively.
Certain; didn't | say I weaved ?
Rags for rag carpets. I'm buster in
winter than from now on, but there
always some work goin' on. Want
to come in and see my loom? I've
cot q pioco of oorpof On noun. yoovho
you haven't seen how we weave 'em?"
mo, never have" said Lucy glanc-
ing hesitatingly at Jim. He gave her
no response; the old woman did not
seem to question that her invitation
would not be accepted, so Lucy fol-
lowed her into the little house, and,
because he also saw nothing else to
do, Jim followed Lucy.
Over in the corner, a corner that
seemed to include two-thirds of the
small room, stood numbering carpet
loom enlivened by the gay stripes of
a rag carpet which was respondent
with much red and orange of domestic
dye. Piled on the floor beside the
loom were several hanks of brown
warp. The room was scrupulously
neat, but furnished only with the bare
necessities of daily use. There were
three chairs, one a rocker, to which
the hostess invited Lucy, leaving the
two straight for Jim and herself
: DO you live here alone in winter?"
asked Lucy, and her voice said for
her: How dreadful"
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