The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-01-25
Continued from page 81
"THOU SHALT NOT COVET."

Sometimes from her sitting-room
window she would catch a glimpse of
the great green car dashing past, and
have momentary peep of tiny fig
ure beside Mrs. Digby, and she would
hold out her hands as though she
would clasp him to her-and then
remember that Bossy had passed out
of her life, though he could never pass
out Of her heart.
Because the little fellow could not
forget, Mrs. Digby determined to leave
the Hall until the child's remembrance
had grown less keen. Tender and
yielding to every desire of his, she
was as adamant to that greatest de-
sire of ALTO see his mother.
Il am your mumsy now, darling"
she would say passionately, catching
him up in her arms and clasping him
to her breast "You are my own lit
tie sonny own dear little boy. Bos-
sy, you must love me-say you will
love mel"
patiently to her embrace with an air
of resignation. And sometimes he
would study her face with his beauti-
full, wistful eyes as though he were
trying to understand why such things
should be.
So the Hall was all astir, for their
absence would extend over year or
more. They would spend some time
in New York, then go on to Newport,
where they possessed villa.
But the day before they left for
New York a pair of horses attached to
the carriage of some visitors at the
Hall became FESTIVE and pranced and
reared, and finally tore off down the
avenue, knocking down the groom who
had been standing at their heads and
wee figure in tiny sailor-suit who
had left Mrs. Digby's side to have a
closer view of the beautiful dancing
animals. Her shrek as she flew down
the steps to the tiny prone figure that
did not rise was never forgotten by
those who heard it. Painting and Sob
bling, she lifted him in her arms, but
the sight of that pallid baby face and
the closely shut eyes turned her faint,
and she and her burden fell into the
squire's arms.
HE is dead!" she cried wildly. 81
coveted him-I broke Gods law, and
this is my punishment!
The little fellow was carried in
doors and the doctor sent for, and be-
fore the mother could be summoned
she entered the house.
The squire met her, with his kind
red face quivering with emotion.
II know she said steadily, before
he could speak. II was coming when
met them. Will you take me to him,
please?"
She went into the room where Bossy
was lying with shut eyes, Mrs. Bigby
kneeling beside him. The woman
raised her pale face in agonized en-
treaty as the mother entered, but she
did did not speak. What words of re-
morse could avail in a grief like this
The mother bent over the boy. She
put her hand on the wee brown one
that lay inert beside him. Had he
passed out of the world without one
word to her? Did he belong to God
now and to no earthly love?
The dark lashes stirred The two
women hardly seemed to breathe. The
white lids lifted, and the child's dark
eyes gazed upwards into that face that
came to him in his dreams.
"Mumsy!"
my baby!"
"Bossy sleepy. Sing 'Perper Cow tc
Bossy."
His eyes closed again. A sob came
from Mrs. Digby, but there was nc
falter in the soft voice that crooneG
out the foolish little rhyme about the
the little drowsy, monotonous song
continued until at last the strained
look on the dark face passed away
And, listening, they heard his soft
breathing. Then Mrs. Digby, with
streaming eyes, put her hand on the
mothers.
He was out of danger in week, anG
as soon as he could be moved the
great green car conveyed him and his
happy mother back to the shabby little
house that meant home to them both
"He is yours" said Mrs. Digby, ten
derly holding the hand of the smithy's
wife in her two little jewelled ones
Il was wicked to covet what God had
denied me- If anthing had happened
-" She could not finish the sen
tence, but she leaned forward and
kissed the cheek of Bossys mother
and that kiss cemented friendship
that never was broken.
Two years later one of the houses
of the squire's became vacant, and Il
was presented to Bossy's father. And
the very first day he took up his new
duties and the delighted children
went to the roomy old home, two
miles away, a wonderful thing hap
pened at the Hall-something that
had kept it full of expectation and
hope for months pasta tiny daughter
was born to the squire and his wife
Such a small, fair creature, with hel
mothers beautiful blue eyes and gold
en- hair, and they call her Felicity.
And dreaming, as mothers will, Of
the future before she was month old
Mrs. Digby had 1aughingly vowed thai
/ when her small daughter was a WON