The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-02-28

There speaks DR.. KEITH" the aunt
had sneered. "A most sensible idea
for pauper slum-doctor to instill into
a girl with five thousand pounds! II
you marry him, my dear, it will Ger
tainly be for himself alone"
The word ''slum-doctor" sounded sc
we'll that Mrs. Dacre repeated it. II
! she could only have heard her niece
quote it at the critical moment! That
moment had passed, Mrs. Dacre knew
it's result, and she had had time to re.
gain her temper. Thank goodness
Shiela's worldly good-sense had pre-.
vailed. The obvious course now was
to get her away for time. The Eli.
sons had invited her to visit them
and-be one of their daughters brides
maids. The beatific vision of the SEN
sible Margaret's reward would eff
fectually cure her romantic wrong
headedness.
She had erred in making fuss
about that book. 1t was too deeply
learned to do a young girls mind any
harm. AS for the loan of it, the friend
ship had been professedly intellectual,
and agnostics were interested scien-
tifically in Catholicism. She would
burn it, and let it be forgotten.
Shiela's widest dreams had never
pictured SO perfect trousseau.
How lovely!" she gasped, as the
dainty laces and linens were unfolded
before her eyes. The wedding-dress
struck her dumb with admiration.
"The only person not in love with
it," complained Mrs. Ellison, "is Mar
garet herself. Ralph Stanton is all that
girl could desire, and he worships
the ground she walks on. He could
make her so happy if she would but
let him. tell her how wickedly blind
and ungrateful she is, but" And two
jeweled hands flew tragically apart.
Talk to her." the mother pleaded.
Tell her why you rejected that pre-
sumptuous doctor When she sees
what Importance you, girl like her
self, attach to wealth and position, she
may
Shiela's heart was hot with anger,
her cheeks crimsoned with shame.
Her confusion told Mrs. Ellison that
she had blundered The baby-faced
Margaret-it required an act of faith
to believe she was eighteen-readily
responded to her new-found friends
sympathy. "You have been told so
much" she said, that you ought to
know all. In our set girl must
marry we'll, and we'll means money
Mr.. Stanton has ten thousand year,
and he wants me- His expecting moth
ing with me is a great consideration.
My brothers, Frank and Harry, are in
the Life Guards, the other four in
Cavalry regiments. Their expenses
are so heavy drain on father"
"That you will marry Mr.. Stanton
without loving him."
Il have told no one but himself that
do not love him. | try to keep up
appearances. None can say that do
not show him due attention in public.
If people infer that I do not care for
him, it is not my fault
The wedding was fixed for that day
month. But for Shiela, the Ellisons
would have been dining alone. Des-
sert had just ended, when a footman
presented telegram.
"Gracious!' gasped Mr.. Ellison, up
setting his wine "The Amalgamated
Australasian Company have gone
smash. Stanton is utterly ruined"
The mothers shrek of consterna-
ton drowned the daughters sigh of
relief
"I warned him to sell out" fumed
the father, "but he would have it that
shares would go higher, and went on
buying. Disaster was sure to follow
such pig-headedness sooner or later.
Thank heaven, for Madge's sake, it
has come now"
This view of the matter restored
Mrs. Ellison's philosophy. "You never
cared for him." she said. "And that
nice boy, Gerald Trevor, is very well
off. Of course Mr.. Stanton will under
stand that this breaks off the engage
ment?"
"Of course!" assented Margaret.
"Shall l write-to make sure?"
HE knows the correct thing to do,
mother. And as he is the only one
to be pitied it would be heartless to
deprive him of his privilege"
At breakfast next morning the baby
face was radiant. It was evident that
it's owner had shed no tears for her
lost lover.
Shiela could pardon Margaret's
smiles. "But | wish she were more
sorry for Mr.. Stanton" she muttered
to herself.
what does he say inquired Mrs.
Ellison from behind the tea-urn.
THAT he will call this morning to
give me back my freedom" replied
Margaret, thrusting letter into her
lap.
"You are sure your father or 1 had
not better"
Quite sure. have been SO straight
forward with him all along that it will
be easy to be honest now. And can
always. talk most plainl to him when
we are alone"
Ralph called about eleven. From
the room in which she was writing,
Sheila saw him in the hall. She also
saw Margaret coming down the stairs.
But was it Margaret? Her cheeks
were aglow, her eyes sparkling; the
feet that had been so slow when her
lover was announced now tripped as