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

swept over FaLn0r HENDERSON lace.
He was about to say something, but
changed his mind. His thin lips
closed tightly over smile that wanted
freedom
Confusedly, the younger priest
stopped to restore order out of chaos.
AS he arose his elbow struck the keys
of the piano and a harsh, unholy
chord was born of the touch. It was
Father Ladden's turn to start. He
arose, put his biretta on with one
hand and with the other he closed the
piano.
II don't think l want to hear music
again as long as live," he announced.
Then he sank into chair and sat as
still as he could for about half min
ute, trying to gain his composure.
Father Henderson took off his eye
glasses and slowly rubbed the corner
of each eye. With his gaze fixed in
tently upon the younger man, he be-
gan tapping the table with his fingers.
"Indeed?" he ventured at length,
and his voice was gentle enough.
"Why, is not the choir doing all one
could expect of it?"
There was the shadow of smile
around Father Henderson's eyes, but
his lips were straight.
Father Laden drew a breath that
was half a sigh. Then he lit a cigar
and blew wreath of smoke into the
air.
isn't the choir doing all one could
expect of it?" he echoed. Eyes, Fa-
Their, I daresay it is doing all one
could expect of choir. Miss Evans
is annoyed because Anna Deiner has
solo, and Anna Deiner is hurt be-
cause Miss Evans is vexed. Can you
beat that for a combination? Then, to
cap the climax, I went to the trouble
of giving Markham the best solo of
both the Mass and Benediction, and
he's put out because his solo is the
O Salutaris and doesn't come in until
the Benediction. Every one is out of
humor, so l believe they're doing
everything one could expect of a
choir" and Father Laden blew an
other wreath of smoke towards the
ceiling.
Father Henderson laughed softly.
"Well, WE'LL" he calculated kindly,
and smile lit up his pale face, its
too bad, really too bad!"
The sympathy was balm to Father
Ladders tired nerves He took the
cigar out of his mouth.
Marriages." he smiled, may be
made in Heaven, but there's no reason
to apply the same rule to choirs.''
Father Henderson put his glasses
on the table and laughed again.
"This one of ours was made in
purgatory, at the BEST" he said.
Father Laden did not answer.
There was silence for moment The
older priest took up the thread of the
conversation.
STILL" he continued and twinkle
was in his eye, "the choir did very
we'll until the improvement began"
Father Laden looked up quickly.
st thank you," he replied stiffiy. II
was only trying to raise the standard
of the music in Our Lady Of the Snow.
I don't believe in slipshod methods
of hanging together or hanging apart
and no practise. And inasmuch as
your reverence handed the choir over
to me, propose to do justice to the
matter. If your reverence sees fit to
take the affair out of my hands, well,
that is another thing"
It was only stress of circumstances
that ever caused Father Laden to
address his pastor as Your rever-
ence."
His reverence made no reply. The
little ticking of the fancy clock on
the mantle and the laughter and
sounds from the street made the only
sound. The situation was becoming
painful to the assistant pastor of Our
Lady of the Snow.
I'm certainly disguised with it," he
ventured in a conciliatory tone. "But,
I'm going to stick to it, if it kills me. "
"And us, too," commented Father
Henderson.
His curate arose.
We'll, I believe I'll be going up to
my room now," he said. II have my
office to finish" He hesitated. II
really suppose should not have criti-
cized the choir so. They got on my
nerves, but then priest has no bust
ness with nerves. Good night, Father. "
And he picked up his biretta.
The long, white fingers of Father
Henderson closed over his hand, and
he was looking into the young priests
eyes.
"Sit down, child" he commanded.
And Father Laden, who was indeed
half child, smiled strangely. Father
Hendersons hand gently forced him
back into the chair he had just va
Gated.
Now, tell me" the pastor insisted,
''is there anything else that's bother
ing your"
Father Henderson was looking in
tently at him and under the sympathy
of his gaze the soul of the young priest
responded as readily as the chords
of a Tyre answer the kiss of the wind
"Now, tell me-" Father Henderson
continued persuasively, what is il
that's bothering you. There's some
thing else beneath all this"
| For a moment there was no sound
To the open-hearted soul of Father
Laden it was easier to discover thar
conceal, but it didn't know where tt
| begin.