The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-12-26

hC1p Sic snO nOICly n66ucu, dIu WHICH
seemed SO long in coming.
Don't, Belle. don't!' sobbed Nellie.
Your life may yet be saved" She
ran to the faucet and feVerishIy made
simple emetic of soap and water
Drink it, Belle, drink it," she COM
manded. For Gods sake, drink it."
Its no use,' said Belle, duly. Il
drank it all /" She pointed to an empty
phial lying beside her.
Nellie lifted it mechanically, then
her eyes dilated and her whole ex-
preston changed. Hope and fear
struggled for mastery. Belle" she
asked hoarsely, were there two bot
tles?" as her eyes rested on another
| phial filed with dark fluid and
labeled poison. The one she held
between her trembling fingers was
empty and bore the label of we'll
known narcotic used for headaches
and other nervous disorders.
With a bound Belle Mattherson was
on her feet, gazing wildly at the
empty bottle. 20 God be thanked"
she cried. Il drank from the wrong
bottle!" A great light TRANSPORTED
her face. My God, l am saved" she
cried. Then her voice rose higher.
And am glad! Glad" she shouted,
and fell fainting to the floor
Again Nellie touched the bell. This
time it was answered. With admir-
able presence of mind she hid her agi-
tation from the sharp eyes of the maid
and asked that a doctor be sent for,
that Mrs. .Mattherson had tainted In
| the tragic moments of life how is it
| that strength and poise are given us
| to face them? 1t would seem as if
| God refused to allow us to be tried
| beyond our strength ooh, dear
Mother Of God, how could / doubt you?
You never failed me yet" and Nellie's
heart sang a joyful paean of thanks
giving as she busted herself over poor
| Belle. When the doctor came he dag
nosed the case as a fainting spell and
administered restorative. Before he
| left Belle was sitting up, weak and
wan looking. The child had fallen
asleep and the two friends spoke in
whispers, Nellie holding Bellies hand
in tender sympathy.
81 have been saved from a terrible
| fate," Belle murmured huskily. 81 was
mad-completely out Of my mind 1t
seemed as if could not live without
Georges love. When the news came
of his marriage it completely I'M
nerved me. Up to then | had hope
/ that he would return to me. | might
have known" she added bitterly,
when he took divorce proceedings
and employed witnesses to swear
falsely about me that he was not the
man l thought he was. l was living
| in FOOLS paradise for about a year,
then l noticed change in him. Soon
he ceased to show me even the slight
est affection. l tried not to see it.
Then other attractions came into his
life and he neglected me utterly, and
this she added mournfully, lis the
| end"
q deserve all my misery" continued
Belle wildly. q brought it on myself.
would take no advice. All | wanted
was gay life and Georges love. My
child has not been baptized
Nellie gave an exclamation of sor-
row. 20 Belle" she cried, my poor
Belief"
"The strangest thing was | felt, all
| through that dreadful time when
Georges love was beginning to fail
me, that / must keep my promise to
YOU Something know not what it
was-llrged ME to oft. had always
a sense of honor and liked to keep
my word when once given. Perhaps
that was it. But ! said the Hail
Mary every day. Most times I said
it carelessly, but other times, when
[ was very miserable, | said it fer
vently. Then again 1 hated the very
sight of your gift; it was a reproach to
me and reminded me too wildly of
! George Mattherson. Then came this
awful day when I could say it no long
/ er, when life stretched out like hell
before me- You know the rest" she
| added slowly "In that dark hour ]
could think of no one but you to con-
fide my child"
1T was Our Lady Of the Rosary di-
rected YOU" interrupted Nellie, with
streaming eyes. 20 dear Mother, how
could / think for a second that you
had failed me?" Then she told Belle
how she had prayed INCREASINGLY for
her during the years that had sepa-
rated them.
/ How can | take up my life again?'
said Belle sorrowfully. Il am a di-
vorced woman in the eyes of the
world; l am not married in the eyes
of the Church. And my child is illegit
imate," her voice faltered. Il know
his people want to bring her up a
Protestant, and bad and all as | have
been have still some faith left. Oh
if my story would be warning to the
many thousands of Catholic girls who
take chance in marrying outside
the Church my sufferings shall not
have been in vain" -,
i God takes His own to bring us
back to Him. whispered Nellie
Belle" she added sweetly, you are
quite recovered; the headache cure
didn't harm you Belle shuddered
do you remember that it is your
birthday and Christmas Eve, too
You and the child will come home
with me. And tonight, please God
we shall both go to confession, just
4 aS wn 11snd to in tha old DAVIS"