The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-17
OUR LADY'S ROSES

1t has been such a beautiful visit.
Marian's eyes, apparently viewing
from the car window the gliding and
receding scenery, were grave and ret
respective. She was going home now,
after delightful vacation spent with
her aunt, confident that though the
visit was over, the romance of it was
not. She glanced down at the books,
and candy, and flowers, piled high on
the seat beside her, which he had
placed there in the way of man with
maid when he considers her charm
ing. He had been frankly attentive
throughout her visit, while her aunt
had been jubilant over what she desig-
mated Marian's catch" Remembering
the word, Marion grew just a trifie
grave; her aunt was very different
type from the girls mother, the latter
being convert to the Catholic faith,
while Aunt Emma was quite ignorant
on religious subjects. With smile
Marian recalled explaining that she
could not eat meat on Friday; and
her aunt had inquired solicitously:
wouldn't she eat little if it was
boiled, and it was mutton?" evidently
considering her something in the ma
ture of a Jewess. She reflected now
with some uneasiness, that she knew
nothing of the religious principles of
Edmund Norris; but surely it would
not be difficult to show him the truth
of Embellishments not his ideals al
ready Catholic? She remembered what
he had said in regard to his ideal
woman; before all things she must be
good, with a heart as innocent and
indebted as that of some little child.
Smiling, he had added that she must
have grey eyes, and light brown hair
that curled.
At the last he had held her hand
for a very long time, much to Marian's
embarrassment and the amusement of
her fellowpassenger she had
promised him letters. Surely her
romance had only begun!
But now the girl gathered up her
belongings, and peeped into the mirror
to straighten her hat; as she was
uSdIluS n0l anu oOOA 01AC
was in the midst of bevy of brothers
and sisters who had come to the sta
ton to meet her and escort her home.
1t was late that night before Marian
finished talking things over with her
mother who was an invalid, seldom
able to leave her room. She had
spoken of Edmund Norris; how at
tentive he had been, and how very
nice he was-Quite innocently telling
about the ideal woman, though leav-
ing out as irrelevant what he had said
about the grey eyes and curly hair.
Mrs Newcomb sighed, and did not
tell the girl that the ideal woman of
any man is good. Perhaps they had
not been wise in allowing Marian to
visit her worldly aunt; but she had
needed a change and the invitation
had seemed most opportune. She
(Mrs. Newcomb) would write to her
sister and ask for full particulars in
regard to Edmund Norris.
The next few days passed very
happily for Marian. She was living
over again in Imagination all the
beautiful summer romance. Then one
morning came a letter; and at once
she fed to the privacy of her own
room to open it.
my dear one" it began, It had
thought my first letter to you would
have been a formal affair I had
meant to WOO you slowly, fearing that
any impetuosity on my part would
prove fatal to the blossom that is
your love; but since you have gone,
can realize only this: want you
to be my wife just as soon as it can
possibly be managed. Every thought
of mine is a thought of you; every
pulse-beat of my heart is a longing
for your presence. Dearest, there is
something I am going to tell you.
had thought at first it was not neces-
sary, believing that should it come to
your knowledge after our marriage, /
could explain things satisfactorily; but