The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-12-06

the morning he went to Mass, received
Holy Communion, and then, as usual,
he paid visit to Our Lady's altar
He noticed that the ring which he had
placed on her hand the evening before
had disappeared. but this did not
cause him anxiety, for such thing
as theft had never been heard of at
Innistoge, and stealing from church
was a thing not to be thought of
even. You might leave purse of
gold on the doorstep of Innistoge
church and no one would think of
touching it.
Doubtless Father Tom has seen
the ring and taken charge of it," said
he to himself. "He will use it as he
thinks best in Our Lady's service"
But Father Tom had not taken pos
session of the ring. He had not even
seen it. No one had. And yet it had
disappeared completely. But Gerald
Darcy did not know this, and when
the first sadness of farewell was over,
he journeyed on to London with as
light and buoyant heart as any
young man who, in the morning of
life, sees the future all smiling before
him, and canopied with roseate skies
of hope.
On reaching London, Gerald took up
his residence at clearinghouse in
Guilford street, which had been recon-
mended to him by the manager of
the bank where he was employed.
The clearinghouse was very quiet
and orderly, and conducted on the
very best of lines. The lady who
owned it was a Catholic, and the gen
crafty of her boarders were Catholics
also, and many of them Irish. Gerald
rejoiced to find himself in such quar-
tiers, and felt happy and comfortable
and quite at home in a very short
time.
At the bank his punctuality and
trustWorthiness gave great satisfac-
ton to his employers, his reputation
grew apace, and in a short time he
was high up on the list for promo
ton.
Every now and again Gerald's
father wrote to the head of the bank
in inquire how his son was getting
on, and on each occasion he received
such eulogistic report of him that
he felt he need no longer have any
anxiety concerning his future. But,
aIas there are pitfalls for the feet
of young man in every big city,
which it takes more than common
vigilance to avoid, and into which
even the most virtuous are sometimes
| trapped.
Some of Gerald's colleagues became
envious of his growing reputation, and
envied him the steady nerves and the
clear head-reward of temperance in
all things-which enabled him to do a
far greater amount of work than they,
with brains bemuddled by late hours
and vicious habits, were able to ac-
complish. They determined to chaff
him out of his regular habits and vir-
tuous life, and conspired amongst
themselves for that purpose.
1t was Geralds custom to attend
Mass every morning on his way to
the bank at st. Etheldreda's church
| in Ely place. This they soon dis
covered and made the subject of
ridicule.
"Why, one would think you were a
little fellow in a cap and feather not
yet emancipated from your mothers
apron-strings to do that sort Of thing.
You've never really grown up, old
man. l think we ought to call you
Baby" said one of his colleagues to
him one day as he was commenting
on his habits.
Gerald's strong Irish faith was,
however, proof against ridicule, and
they could not induce him to give up
any outward manifestation of it to
which he was accustomed.
They then determined to resort to
other devices. One of them who lived
at boarding house which was usually
described as "bit Bohemian in the
neighborhood, sometimes asked Ger
aid to spend an evening with him
there. He at first declined, but, being
accused by his colleagues of want
of sociability and good comradeship,
| he at length accepted the invitation
| Whenever he spent an evening with
this particular colleague his landlady
noticed that he returned late at night,
and looked pale and haggard next
morning. Being solicitous for the vel
1 fare of all her boarders, and having
very special regard for Gerald be
cause of his goodness and piety, she
| warned him that he seemed to be
keeping company that was not good
for him, and that he would be very
| foolish indeed if he allowed fond
ness for such companionship to grow
upon him. At first Gerald seemed in
clined to heed her warnings, but
eventually he laughed at them, and
told her that Herbert Seagrove, the
person to whom she objected, was one
of the jolliest fellows living, and that
he never had such pleasant evenings
as those he spent in his company.
One day, when Gerald had not been
to business as he was feeling some
what out of sorts, Herbert Seagrove
called to see him in the afternoon,
and stayed to dinner. The hostess
noticed that during the whole time he
stayed he seemed to be observing
everything with a very inquisitive
eye, and felt certain that he was max.
| ing her establishment the subject of