The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-08-17

myself, Father she replied, with sim
pie pathos. but We might have had
a little home some day. He doesn't
drink and he's good and kind"
And SO you have spent these even
ings with him?' l said quietly.
YES, Father" she answered. There
are so few left to us, Father. He
knows l can never marry him now.
The years in the shop have done their
work-blighted our hopes"
The bald simplicity of her statement
was almost appalling. looked at her
1.-The frail, delicate girlwoman, for
she was little more-and saw that the
years in the vitiated atmosphere of
the great factory, combined perhaps
with INSULT cient food, not to mention
the home atmosphere of dirt and
squalor and drunkenness, had indeed
done their deadly work.
Never mind, Kathleen" | said as
gently as | could. IF Brian is good
boy, and you're both keeping out of
mischief, no harm has been done. Try
to prevail upon him for Gods sake and
your own sane W 1ldhS LIS LlCA
sion next week"
She gave me one grateful look from
her eyes of Irish blue.
"Ah, Father she replied, and her
lips dimpled into smiles, ''but you're
the coaxer!"
will you promise me this, Kath-
leen?" said I, also smiling. And will
you go to confession tonight and finish
up the mission, like a good girl"
Il will-for your sake, Father. But
I can't go to confession till Saturday
night
Well, as you wish. But, somewhow
| should prefer you to go tonight.
Father Maurice is hearing out in the
church now. He is patient and kind
and would notwithstanding"
For a moment the girl looked
troubled, undecided.
"Ah, leave it till Saturday night,
Father" she said pleadingly. And
then it's to yourself and no one else
will CO."
And now something impelled me to
speak with the utmost seriousness.
Il hope you won't regret this delay,
Kathleen said as gently as possible.
But sometimes God sends us a grace
on a Thursday night which He with
holds from us on a Saturday.
She seemed startled for a moment,
and then she recovered herself. TAX
ing a little ribbon from under her
cloak, she showed me her Child of
Mary medal, furnished a trifle from
constant wear.
She's been looking out for me all
these years." said the girl, simply;
"and I think she will take care of me
till Saturday, Father
The next moment she had slipped
through the door and was gone.
My thoughts that evening l can
hardly put into words. They swept a
gamut of emotions. And my sermon
i happened to be the preacher that
night-well, they tell me I Numbered
A line at least three yards in length
bombarded the sacristy door at the
conclusion.
20 Father, what can we do?" was
LuS uu1N O10d1 p1d41I VIC uluA h1AOW
the girls were having so hard time. y
What can you do?" I said. GO
home and build them a dance hall. y
The majority of my auditors gasped
Yes" | repeated, "a dance hall
a good, decent, respectable place, as
, close to the church as you like-the
closer the better-but with plenty OF
reasonable freedom. Then they won't
be going to ruin on the streets. And
clean your dirty homes and make them
bright and comfortable. Il had caught
a glimpse of my friend Mrs. Mulcahey
on the outskirts of the throng).
That night l fell into heavy slum.
Der almost as soon as my head touched
the pillow. And so when my night
bell rang it was an instant or two be.
fore l realized what the hollow clamo1
meant. But l was fully awake in an.
other moment as a voice came agoniz
ingly up the tube:
"Quick!-hurry, Father! Come to
Mike Mulcahey's. Kathleen is dying
and asking for YOU
You may be sure it did not take me
long to respond to the summons.
My messenger had gone on ahead
but it was beautiful moonlight night
and I knew my way perfectly. I had
to go out into rather unsettled part
of the town, but I calculated that
!. could reach the house inside of fifteen
minutes at the most-long enough
though! for a soul to have many times
passed into eternity.
"Ah, Kathleen, Kathleen, why die
you not do as l wanted you to do this
evening""
: | believe I breathed the words quite
audibly. At, the moment looked up
and there, distinctly before me in the
; bright moonlight, stood the figure Of
Kathleen Mulcahey I was about tc
| u T.