The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-07

| Ing Lnem. N01LQ0r OF them seemed
enthusiastic, but in my stupidity I
paid no attention. insisted that
they try the duet, and they sang to-
gether. After it was all over, Mark
ham comeIup to me. He told me they
hadn't spoken for years. Last week
they didn't come, and waited for
them this week, but neither one came. "
And Father Laden looked up at the
older man The anguish of his soul
was mirrored in his face.
my heart is broken with them" he
continued. "They couldn't have been
marvels as Catholics or they would
have made up long ago. But the choir
kept them in the Church and they
must have received some grace. And
now, even that channel they have cut
off. Oh, it's terrible to think Of being
even an unconscious party to driving
people out of the Church," And Fa-
Their Ladden's white face was buried
in the palms of his hands. His
heavy, uneven breathing throbbed on
the air. For a few minutes neither
spoke.
poor child" Father Henderson said
at last, ''poor child! 1t was my fault!
My stupidity, if you will, for the
stupor must have been on both of us.
l should have told you, but | never
thought. Don't upbraid yourself that
your stupidity drove them out,
wan smile lit up Father Henderson S
face-"as nearly as I can diagnose
their case, their stubborness kept
them in. One wouldn't let the pres
ence of the other triumph over him,
so out of pure cussedness,' as the old
darkey said, they both remained in
the choir Still it is unfortunate, most
unfortunate. But don't worry about
it. Leave it all in the Hands of God
Anyone who has your faculty of
plagueing Him ought not to have any
fear"
Father Laden looked up His
heart felt lighter.
Nov, I'm going to read my paper, y
announced Father Henderson. "I've
been wading through these magazines
and I've not even looked at the even
ing papers"
Good night, Father, and many
thanks" called the younger priest
from the top of the stairway. A new
note of happiness was in his voice.
Contrary to the admonitions of Saint
Francis de Sales or the practise OF
the Cure of AIRS, Father Laden slam
med the door after him.
He turned on the lights, pulled the
shades down, and settled himself in a
comfortable chair to finish his Office,
He had only closed the book when
someone raped at the door.
Come in" he called.
Father Henderson walked in, a
newspaper and glasses in one hand.
He held out the paper. Look here, .
he said, "read this
In black-faced type, Father Laden
read the headlines:
ACCUSED OF BIG THEFT.
Edward Morgan, Resident of Exclu-
sive Neighborhood, Taken for EN-
bezzling Bank Funds.
Long Trusted Cashier of Lincoln
Memorial Bank Arrested. Funds
Missing.
Father Henderson took the paper out
of his hands
1--WE read the whole thing" he in
sisted. He's the very Morgan who
was in the choir-the younger you
know. Well, he's accused of embez-
cling the funds and he's arrested and
downtown in Jail. The banks not a
central but an outlying one, and he's
held for bond And to make matters
worse, the paper states that his broth
er-who, as you know, is rich enough
even now refuses to come forward
to aid him. l know the man is inno-
cent"
The calm voice of Father HendeF-
son was tense with excitement.
A panorama flashed through Father
Ladden's mind He saw himself in the
church a few hours earlier trying to
get them both to sing, and kneeling
before the altar a little later. The
glimmer of the sanctuary light came
back to him with his own half-sobbed
prayer to the hidden Christ.
And this was the answer!
"Oh, Father" he grasped, "it's terri
BILE! But what can we do?
why, nothing, suppose" answered
Father Henderson, Il can't even testify
that he was a good Catholic. This
enmity between them was like can.
Ger to both of their souls. Someone's
knocking at the door," he ended alb
ruptly.
Annie opened the door in response
to Father Ladden's, Come in
"a gentleman in the reception room
to see you, Father" she said.
Him." murmured Father Hender
son, "your friends have select hours
for making calls" and he took out his
watch, "but it's only quarter OF
eleven"
Annie went back to the kitchen.
Say" she observed to the cook
who was complaining that she had
never worked so late before, "some
people thing this is summer resort
A friend of Father Ladden's JUS
called. It's miracle any ones up"
Father Laden followed Father Hen
derson to the door of his room, ther
he ran down stairs. As he entered
the reception room a man in long
~ fr1Tp Cd