The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-28

The woman, ground down as she
was by the wheels Of wretchedness
and vulgarity and neglect, had yet
within her spark of the eternal
feminine. She cast a depreciating
glance at her tattered gray shawl and
her soiled brown skirt and her large,
colorless shoes.
Its all right" Delmege added reas-
suringly. "The lady will understand
everything"
At the gate of the cemetery Del
mege hailed a taxicab. Fifteen min
utes later he was helping the woman
to alight before the Laidlaw resi-
dence.
Tommy she asked in slow,
dreamy tones, isn't this where
where she lives?"
Delmege paused on the sidewalk
and smiled protectingly
Nov, Annie, you must leave every
thing to me. Long ago, you remem-
Der, whenever things went wrong
with me, l showed absolute confidence
in your direction of my juvenile cam
paigns. Turn about is fair play And
then, half to himself, he added: ct
is true that this particular campaign
spectacular fashion; but l can't help
it. The dramatic possibilities of the
situation are almost infinite. How
ever, as matter of precaution, let
us try the lawn entrance
"I'm Delmege, you know" he said
a moment later to the prim and POM
padoured maid that answered his
ring. "This lady and l wish to see
Mrs. Laidlaw Immediately"
In the private reception room Del
mege waited, the subdued sound of
orchestral music in his ears. The
afternoon tea for charity was on. In
a few minutes he would walk into
the draWing-room and read Youth
and Art" and "Tomlinson; but first
He looked at the woman who was
once "the priests Annie" as she sat
shivering and startled and ashamed
wait here, ANNIE" he said. 81 am
going to give one of my readings in
the corridor"
He had hardly passed through the
portieres when he found himself face
to face with Mrs. Laidlaw. She was
flushed and triumphant; the tiny
spangles on her expensive gown
seemed to radiate self-suficiency and
pride.
20 Pemberton," she cried effusively
sit was so kind of you to come! The
afternoon has been a complete sue
cess. The Archbishop stayed for al.
most half an hour and the Vicar-Gen-
eral is here yet The Mayor is on
his way now and"
She stopped in perplexity at sight
of Delmege's stern countenance and
appraised hand.
Pardon me, Mrs. Laidlaw, but l
believe 1 am almost due to appear
before your guests. | wish to tres
pass slightly on your goodness. AS
this is a charity fete, l thought of a
reading somewhat in line with the
occasion, which | should like you to
hear before I proceed to the drawing
rooms. 1t is not long, and with your
kind permission / shall recite it here
and now" Then, much to the per-
plexity of the hostess, he added: 81
have never heard it, but it is a won
derful poem"
Falling into conventional attitude,
he began:
"Once there we're two maidens; and
the maidens were sisters, and they
were happy and pure and young. And
the roses were fair that blossomed
about them and the air was bright,
and the promise of life for both of
them as fair as the roses, bright as
the air. But the younger sister did
err in weakness and ignorance, and
was cast down and ashamed. And
she sought to rise from the depths
whittier she had fallen, and might,
indeed, have climbed again on high !;
but the elder sister gave unto her no
helping hand And as the years went
on the elder sister waXed wealthy
and became as much as woman may,
a power in the land; but her fallen
sister she regarded not. And the
younger sister was alone and poor,
and from much travelling in the ways
of the city, the slime of the streets
and the filth of the gutter did eat
! into her soul. In the heat and dust
of the day, in the chill and darkness
of the night, sorrows unnumbered
fell upon her, and sin and the wages
thereof did breathe upon her face;
and all because the elder sister had
so cruelty cast her off and would ex.
tend to her no loving hand nor woo
her from her disgraces with soothing
words and winning smiles of womanly
love. Now it came to pass that the
elder sister did give a great supper
and did invite many, and all in the
name of sweet charity; when, as the
feast progressed, led by strolling
troubadour, there came in unto her
Mrs. Laidlaw, who had listened
with increasing wonder and agitation
now almost tottered forward:
"Pemberton! Tommy! For Gods
sake, what does it all mean?"
The music in the drawing-room had
suddenly stopped. Delmege quietly
placed a monitory finger on his lips
There were tears in her eyes.
cit means, my dear Mrs. Laidlaw
that If 10 tiIno for me To aDDnar