The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-04-05
Continued from Page 3D.
FATHER JAMES.

guage Father James had left, but not
before he had expressed himself en-
tirely regarding the lace curtain
Irish that had lately come to reside
in the village.
AS Father James entered the kitch-
en- doorway he suddenly turned and
looked over at a little house that lay
close to the railroad track. Good girl,
Sarah" he chuckled and entered the
house. He recalled how he had
scarcely left Whelan's house on the
memorable day when Sarah, minus
the gray gown, the cap and apron and
arrayed in her own simple garments,
had come running after him. Coming
up with the priest she had told with
tears in her eyes how she had thrown
the fine clothes at the feet of Mrs.
Whelan, had shaken her fist in the
astonished woman's face, stamped her
foot and asked, 'How dared the hussy
insult her pastor?" Then breaking
into tears, she had rushed from the
house and up the street to seek con-
ISOLATION from the man she had defend
ed Father James laughed heartily
as he recalled Sarah's act, and his
mirth only gave away when the adj
monition to sit down and eat came
from the housekeeper.
AS the priest was finishing his COT
fee Mrs. Stanton came from the ad-
joining room and asked: 'FWill We be
walkin' this mornin', Father
Father James arose from the table.
He knew by the question that there
was a program of sweeping and clean
ing to be carried out, and that the
housekeeper's question constituted
less than a gentle hint to take him
self elsewhere.
II WILL" he answered.
Mrs. Stanton left the room and re-
turned in moment with the priests
straw hat and his blackthorn and laid
them on the table.
"And where will We be walkin' TOP
she asked.
Father James paused to consider.
WELL" he said at length, "Whelan's
gone to town, so think I'll go up to
the quarry" Saying so he clapped
the straw hat on his head and with
the admonition from Mrs. Stanton ito
mind thin holes an diggin's," he set
out, the blackthorn pounding heavily
on the sidewalk.
Let no one imagine that Father
James visited the quarry only when
Whelan was absent because he feared
to meet the big Irishman. On the
contrary, he loved to encounter Whe-
Ian and Ito look him in the eye" So
intense was this desire that every
year when the bishop sent notice to
take up the orphans collection Father
James made sure to call upon Whelan
first of all the citizens. He solicited
from Catholics and non-Catholics alike,
but Whelan was always the first to
be addressed and though he had been
refused donation each and every
time, Father James still continued
his yearly visits to the house No, the
reason that Father James visited the
quarry only when Whelan was absent
was because his desire to encounter
the man was second to his love OF
peace. When first he had gone to the
place after Whelan had taken charge
the latter had sought to taunt him
within the hearing of the quarry
workers. Father James did not mind
the insulting remarks, but the men
the majority of whom were Catholic
and Father James parishioners, did
and as a result a fight between Whe
Ian and several of the men was on
two or three occasions but narrowly
averted. 1t was to avoid these un
pleasantries that the good priest la
bored, and though he liked exceeding
ly to wander about the quarry study
ing the rock strata and recalling the
geology lectures of his college days
he allowed himself the pleasure only
when the danger of alteration be
tween the workmen and Whelan was
entirely removed.
A walk of twenty minutes to the
southern limit of the village brought
the priest to his destination. But in
stead of the many cries of welcome
he was accustomed to hear on his
rare visits oppressive silence greeted
him. The place was deserted anC
the old priest could account fol
the absence of the men in no way unit
walking over to one of the building.
that stood on the brink of the grea
excavation he found the cause in tn,
broken cylinder of the huge hoistins
engine. Father James examined tn,
break for moment and then turned
and descended the winding road tina
led to the bottom of the quarry. i
was there that he found the most en-
joyment. Standing on tip-toe or dowr
on his knees, he examined the STRAIT:
that lay all about him. In their vary
ing thickness, their age, hardness
durability and color Father Jane.
found enough to interest him for al
hour, and then he resumed walking