The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-04-05

steps. rung the newly installed door
bell. and had awaited for his sum-
mons to be answered Presently the
door had opened, but instead of Mrs.
Whelan, whom he had expected to
see. there stood in the doorway Sarah
Murray, one of the village girls. Sarah
was arrayed in gray gown, with a
little apron of some light flimsy ma
terial and the tiniest of white caps.
The cap sat high upon Sarah's red
hair, and looked very much as if it
were alive and in constant fear of be-
| ing swamped in the sea of red that
surrounded it. At first Father James
was struck with surprise at seeing
Sarah in such splendid attire and he
glared increduously at the girl, who
uuailed before the awful glance of her
confessor. Then the humor of the
situation struck the old priest and
throwing back his head he laughed
heartily at the young ladys unusual
appearance, Sarah, until that moment,
had considered herself very fortunate
in being able to change from the worn
and not quite fashionable garments
which she had always known to the
finery which she now wore, but as
Father James hearty laughter sound
ed in her ears she blushed deeply and
hung her head The old priests hill
arity at sign of Sarah's embarrass-
ment ceased, and, looking kindly at
the girl, he asked:
well, Sarah, aren't We goin' to leave
me in?"
Sarah hesitated and dropped her
head still lower Father James
laughed shortly and started to enter,
when the girl suddenly spoke up with
determination. You must have a
card, Father"
"A what!' shouted the astonished
| priest.
"A card" repeated the girl.
"A card, Ell? Who says 500"
me mistress"
Huh A card A card, indeed I"
repeated the priest. you go into the
house, Sarah, an tell your stylish mis-
tress that Father James Hagen is out
side, an that he's comm in, an that
he's comm in without card!"
At these words, voiced in tone
that Father James employed only
when thoroughly aroused, Sarah had
turned and fed, leaving the astonished
priest standing on the threshold with
face flushed and eyes flashing. For a
moment the little priest waited Then
| \ I,S o;1I1 hot a1yJ oh inc O.
the blackthorn tightly, he strobe into
the hallway.
He had scarcely gained entrance
when the sound of an exceedingly
angry voice reached his ears, and in
another moment Sarah and her irate
mistress, Mrs. Whelan, had entered
the room. Mrs Whelan was an inch
or two taller than Father James and
much stouter. She had gray hair, eyes
of the same color, pug nose and lit
tie ears that were scarcely visible, so
fatty did they rest against her head,
She was dressed in black satin gown
that creaked and rustled with every
move she made, and about her neck
hung a bit of lace that the priest knew
instantly to have been made in Dub
lin. On her right wrist she carried
heavy bracelet, at her throat was q
heart-shaped clasp set with many
: stones. Two heavy earrings com
pleted the display of jewelry. Father
James eye took in all of these details
and though unaccustomed to such evi
; dences of prosperity, they did MOI
startle him one-half so much as die
: the look of animosity that overspreat
the woman's features.
The housekeeper's cry of "the aig:
is done, Father" aroused the prizes
from his revery and he turned toward
the house. Mrs. Stanton's cry hat
come very OPPORTUNITY, for Father
Z James did not care to recall the discus
sion that had taken place on tina
/ memorable morning in the Whela1
5 parlor. Sufficient it is to say that the
2 angry woman had told the priest il
: few words that she wanted no pa
/ pists' about her place, and that Faith
5 er James would add greatly to hi
4 popularity there by speedily vacating
i When the little clergyman had triet
: to demonstrate with the woman sh
S had grown more incensed and wa
t apparently on the verge of hysteric
/ when Whelan himself had entered tn
a room To his question regarding tn
Y scene Father James had had no chanc
to reply, for the wife of the QUAR-
) boss in a moment had poured forth t
h her too sympathetic husband tn
i story of what she termed eth egree.
S Gus slightin' of her household Gus
d TOMS" Whelan, his eyes glued upo
a the Roman collar rather than on tn
face of the priest, had listened wit
S scowling features and at the end woul
}. have elected the unwelcome visito
= bodily had not forbidding look SCI
It tied itself upon the features of tn
n priest. He had therefore contente
It himself with ordering the clergyma
d to leave the premises, employing i
o the operation sundry phrases and e,
e. pressions that reflected no credit t
y himself as man of temperate lal
If (Con+ioued on Page 81