The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-17

NA4Au6 w 10 Win II, anu WAS 1I1paJl6lL-
~ awaiting an answer from her sister
to the letter she had sent asking for
particulars concerning him.
Presently the girls were on their
way to church, talking gaily as they
went, but in Marian's inner con
seriousness two sentences kept repeat.
ing themselves, as though they were
beggars knocking for entrance at her
heart. What is creed to us who love!
Marian, my Mariana" and the other
only this: Tomorrow will be Our
Lady's feast day
Both Marian and Alice were quite
at home in the church, so at once they
made their way to the Baptistry, and
selected suitable vases for the flowers,
after which Alice could only admiring-
ly watch her friend arrange them.
When this was done each girl carried
a vase to the altar, and then returned
to sweep up the scattered leaves
"Of course you are coming home
with me?" Alice said, drawing on her
gloves
mot today" Marian answered, flush
ing hotly II will stay in church a
WHILE"
There was something queer in Mar
ian's voice. Her friend glanced at her
in surprise; then her face cleared.
"oh, you are going to confession" she
said. II noticed Father Grey was
hearing when we put the flowers on
the altar. Isn't he nice-Father Grey?
Though it must be little hard for
him just yet, so new to the parish as
he is. Well, will not wait, as I went
to confession Saturday. and with a
nod and a smile she was gone
Marian looked at her little watch.
1t was just half-past four. She would
wait half an hour, and then go to
meet Edmund; and she passed into
the church, preferring to wait there.
A little later, Father Grey came out
of his confessional, his penitent hav-
ing departed, and glanced inquiring-
ly at the young girl kneeling near the
back of the church. Was she pre-
pairing for confession, he wondered
If so he must not hurry her, and
kneeling down he quietly told his
beads while he waited. Again he
glanced at her, and found himself
growing anxious over the child, for
they were all children to him, silver
or golden-haired, as the case might
be; all those in whose faces, as in
this girls, he could read marks oil
suffering, or in whose eyes cleaned
that mute look of anguish which comes
alike to brute or human creatures in
its hour of pain. He felt he must
speak to her. Il will be back in just
a few minutes, if you wish to go tt
confession" he said, pausing beside
her on his way up the aisle.
Startled, she looked up 81 do moi
think-that is, / do not wish to go,
she faltered.
Very WELL" Father Grey returned
quietly, and passed on, to kneel with
in the sanctuary before Our Lady's
altar. AS he looked up at the sweet
face of the statute it seemed to hin
that the Blessed Mother was not quite
pleased with him, as though she con
sidered it somehow his fault that this
child was not going to confession il
honor of her feast day tomorrow; az
though, indeed, she was, asking hin
to do something more about it. Blu
he had surely done little more thar
his duty in suggesting confession; be
sides, the girl had said she did moi
| xxyfCh n &h0 %1,,
end. He just barely knew the child
But still the Virgin seemed to bt
gazing at him reproachfully, and hel
outstretched hands seemed to beseecl
him earnestly for some gift he could
grant for her fast day; and such beau
but apparently she did not care fol
roses today
} There was slight movement in the
back of the church. Was the girl leav
ing? Panic seized the heart Of this
old priest. He rose and in the act
of brushing an imaginary speck O
dust from the altar-cloth his elbow
came in contact with something-anC
down crashed vase of roses to the
marble Of the sanctuary floor. The
ruse worked admirably, for even as
he stopped to pick up the fragments
the girl stood at the railing.
wait just moment Father" she
said, II will get a broom and SWEEP
them up" and an instant later she dis
appeared in a dim recess near the
choir stairway, emerging with broom
and dust-pan. Very carefully Father
Grey picked up the fallen roses and
brought them into the Baptistry where
Marian, carrying the debris, joined
him presently.
Il hope it was not very valuable
vase" said Father Grey, with a qualm
of uneasiness at thought of a wrath.
full altar society he might have to
reckon with.
ooh, no." Marian treasured him;
"and there are more like it. will
place the flowers in one, as they are
not injured in the least"
"You are surely a friend in need,
said Father Grey as he watched her
artistic arrangement of the roses
Whenever I can be of any service to
you, please let me, will you? Do you
know" he continued gravely, Il think
we often make mistakes in that way
we do not let our friends help us
enough. Trials come perhaps they
are new to us, and we do not quite