The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-10

shawl.) Then let me get you ready,
and shall wait for you in the church
while you finish your interrupted
prayer. Now" and she gave an extra
pat to the bonnet strings, ''are we
ready?"
"Just moment! / have quite in
excusably talked so much concerning
myself, that / did not learn your
name; and we must have name as
well as face to fit memories to.
What is your name, my dear?"
Indeed, Madame, intended to
write it with my address for you, when
we should have returned from church,
and hoped to learn yours. My name
is Marie Renaud."
The girl was adjusting her own hat
as she spoke, and for the fraction of a
second was unaware Of the sudden
silence. Then she turned quickly, to
find her hostess grasping the arms of
her chair, but apparently speeches..
what is it, Madame,-oh, what is
it? Another attack? See! I knew
you were unable to go. Let me make
you comfortable again, dear, and re-
move your wraps"
| But the hands that would have
loosened the wraps were pushed aside,
as the trembling woman cried:
"Why do you mock me? Why do
you mock me in my grief? You were
so kind, and now"
"Mock you, Madame? What"
And then it dawned on Marie that
the poor creatures sorrows had been
too great for the taxed mind, and it
had given way She would change
the subject No, rather would she
ask for her hostess name, and that
might bring back the wandering
mind
Twill Madame have some more hot
tea? And then, while she is resting,
she can tell me her name, and l shall
copy it with the address,
"My name? My name? 1t is-it
is-oh, do not understand yet. My
name was-is-is-Marie Renaud.''
It was the girls turn to be startled
What was to be done? The woman
whatever her name might be, was
plainly demented. Would it be pru-
dent to call some of the neighbors
But the agitated woman, although
visibly weaker, was regaining her
composure. Hesitatingly, she inquir
ed:
"You said-you said-your name
is"
Marie Renaud," slowly and opolo
getically replied the girl.
marie Renaud!-Marie Renaud!
That is my name, too" And she put
her hand YEARLY to her head Then
as if at some sudden, overpowering
, thought, she clutched the girls arm
and earnestly and pathetically studied
the young face turned toward her
But what she sought was not there
!, and she slowly relaxed her grasp ant
leaned heavily against the chair.
What folly" she reproached her
sell, What folly to think that, whe1
, he died so long ago!'
Madame Renaud," said the girl
you shall rest while here See,
relieve you of your wraps again, anC
{ shall remain until you feel stronger
That is BETTER" as the tired heaC
leaned back again and the eyes once
more closed. "And now, while W.
sit here, shall tell you of my family
as you have told me of yours?
. my father, Henri Renaud, was bor1
( in France, but lived in India fo
J many years. was born there, ant
it was there that my mother died
: When / was graduated from the con
vent school last year, my father de
cided that we should travel for
) year. Ny maid and I left him onl.
: yesterday because / wanted to sta,
: here for day. The little place hat
: attracted me, as so many of the littl
! villages along the coast have alread,
done; and he went on to the city o
; K, where we are to meet him agail
! tonight My maid awaits me at tn,
. queer little inn near the station"
t And then she looked pityingly AM
: closely at the poor, shrinking womal
D in the chair, and spoke very slowl.
r and distinctly:
2 "My fathers parents died many
2 many years ago. On the way hom,
we are to visit his mothers grave
5 In his boyhood my father though
that the sea called him; but the shil
r on which he sailed lay at Bomba.
= for some weeks. Long before the boa
2 left port, however, the spell of Indi;
7 was upon my father, and the fascina
2 ton of the strange surroundings ap
!, pealed to his adventurous spirit. H,
e journeyed inland, and it was five year.
] before he found it possible to sail 70
/, Calais, where he learned of his moth
i er's death. He went to her room,-
i the room in which she had died, AM
4 in which so many of the once fam
iliar objects of her care still lay. H
], went to his old room; and he Otter
i says that his tears that day were tn
t bitterest that he ever shed. He visit
t ed her grave, and then went bacl
to India, changed in heart, but no
, in venturesome spirit. He became
D soldier of Fortune; and, as is to-
Y seldom the case, she smiled on tn
|. soldier who enlisted under her bar
n ner. He rose to power and wealth
e and married an English lady, m
}. mother She died when / was tire
/; years old, so l scarce remember her
u my father says I resemble her. H
is such a dear, gentle soul, and 9
%1nA =