The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-08-23

religious, generous-hearted and pa
triotic. Their only child, Mary, reared
in such a wholesome atmosphere,
grew to womanhood, blessing to
her family and a ministering angel
to her neighbors She willingly as
sisted her parents in all their plans
and when not at home was to be
found attending the affairs of the lit
tie chapel, three miles down the road,
or reading to the sick of the neighbor-
hood, from books loaned her by the
Sisters.
Her lifelong friend and playmate,
Nellie Meehan, who, the neighbors
declared, never seemed a bit religious
like Mary Dwyer had hidden adieu
to the world two years before and
joined the community at the Lough.
Many a wiseacre shook her head and
said that Mary would soon follow her,
but the latter kept at her daily tasks,
consolation to her parents, whom
she loved devotedly. She was not
good enough for the convent, she
would laughingly say when question
ed as to her intentions, and she owed
duty to her parents for awhile yet,
but she could pray in the world as
well as in the cloister and be an ex-
ampe to her neighbors, as she was.
Then change came into her quiet
| life! Visiting at Father billions one
sunny May day, she was introduced
to his nephew, Gerald O'Brien, a
handsome lad of her own age, who
had come to spend brief vacation
with his uncle. He was from Dublin,
and for some months had been study
ing for the profession of civil en-
gineer Gerald became fascinated
with the beauty and gentleness of his
uncle's guest, and before many days
he was a daily visitor at the Dryer
cottage. How the hours seemed to
fly for this innocent lad and lass!
Hand in hand Gerald and Mary clam
bered over rocks in quest of hidden
flowers and for hours they would
tramp the seashore, building castles
in the air, and enjoying every minute
spent together. Sometimes they would
look wistfully across the broad Allan
tic and wonder as to what the new
Ireland, which lay beyond it looked
like. Again they would plan as to the
day, when Gerald would be successful
in his profession, and they would buy
back part of the ruined estate-the
home of Mary's forefathers.
And sometimes they would speak of
their dreams to good Father Dillon,
who would loosely raise his knotty
black thorn and make pretense at
laying it on Gerad's back, declaring
that castles were not bought with
dreams and there was plenty of Ire
lands best sons in America. Gerald
must remain in Erin and be content
with an honest living in a comfortable
cottage.
But youth is impulsive and Gerald
was no exception to this rule. AS
his vacation drew to a close he
chafed at the thought of parting with
Mary. He could not bear the lone
illness, he said. 1t would simply break
his heart to be absent from her for
long. To these remarks Mary would
gently reply: Hearts do not break
so easily, Gerald, and when you get
lonely, study more diligently, work
hard and the blues will soon drive
AWAY
Gerald babe goodbye to Mary, prom
Using to write faithfully until Christ
mas, when he would be down again
and bidding her to bear him constant
lily in mind-that his ambition hence
forth would be to labor hard, in order
to make a home for her soon. His
letters came frequently At first they
were CHEEKY, then Mary noticed that
Gerald wrote in morose strain. He
seemed discouraged and although he
encouraged her not to fret, grew more
Respondent himself. One letter spoke
of bitter disappointment his father
had recently, and which he said
weighed heavily upon the family
Mary would learn of it all later. Then
for weeks the poor girl heard not one
word. She grew restless. Divers
: thoughts flew through her mind, espe
cially when Father Dillon wondered
as to Gerald's silence and she became
daily visitor at the little chapel. She
, had no fear of Gerald's love for hel
: waning. She knew his manly hear
J beat for her alone, but she feared
something was amiss. Every day she
} dropped into Father billions and they
} confided their doubts and fears IL
each other. Father Dillon always say
, ing, Gerald is lost in his Christina
examinations. Maybe his idleness al
) summer made him dullard and hi
2 has to make up for his pleasure.
i But Mary knew differently. Sht
| knew that Gerald studied hard dur
, ing vacation and hours and hours
/ were spent in study at night, of which
!, Father Dillon knew nothing. GeralC
4 was ambitious to finish his studies
Y so that he might make home TO
4 her and he had to study if he wishe'
/ to succeed Coming from the chape
i early one morning, Mary found thu
3 kindly pastor watching for her-a let
n