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

uHdC there lS uOLniHS sWQTLH WHLlS III
this world save God!"
On the following day she read the
news in a New York daily telling of
Bellies marriage and the departure of
Mr.. and Mrs. Mattherson for the PA
cific coast.
ll.--Five Years After.
1t was Christmas Eve again. All
day Nellie had been busy preparing
| for the festival She was no longer
Nellie Moran, but the proud and happy
wife of John Stephens, a young law
yer, fast making a name for himself
in the busy metropolis. She was a
happy mother, too, and her little girl
was named Belle, after her absent
friend, Nell being one Of those staunch
souls who never forget a friend. She
had received a few letters from Belle
letters in which with her loving in
stinct and reading between the lines,
she saw that her friend was not as
happy as she had expected to be. At
first there were pages devoted to de-
scriptions Of balls and routs in which
Belle figured as the bright particular
star. There was never any mention
of religion, save in one letter in a
postscript which said, Il have kept my
promise and cherish your rosary 7:
Then the letters ceased suddenly and.
although Nellie wrote and wrote
again, she received no reply. Finally
her letters were returned to her
through the dead letter office.
''They must have left California, !
Nellie concluded, and grieved exceed
ingIy that Belle had not sent her new
address. "She wants the friendship
to Drop" she thought sadly. "But l
shall keep my promise to Our Lady
and pray on for poor Bellies saliva
ton"
AS Nellie trimmed the Christmas
| tree, with her little daughter helping
her to pin on the ghttering things in
preparation for the morrow, her
| thoughts flew back to that Christmas
Eve five years before, when Belle had
voluntarily given up her faith for the
love of George Mattherson, and she
| wondered how the marriage had turn
ed out Were they both living and
we'll? Had Belle repented? But even
if she had what did it matter? What
was done could not be rndone. Belle
was living a life of sin SO long as she
lived with George Mattherson. Her
children, if she had any, were illegiti-
mate, according to the Catholic
! Church, in which marriage is Sacra-
/ ment and not merely a civil agree
ment that can be broken. 1t was a
tangle from which there seemed no
way out. Belle had hemmed herself in
with barriers of her own making
George Mattherson loved Belle toe
much to give her up, and Belle would
never separate from him if that were
the price of her repentance. Nellie
sighed and shook her head sadly.
cts all in Our Ladys hands, she
thought. Il left the matter with Her
She will find way out
With this thought her face bright
ened and she stopped for moment to
play bo-peep with her little daughter.
AS she ran around the rOom follow.
ed by the toddler she was a delightful
picture of domestic happiness.
In the middle of the fun the maid
appeared with letter. When the
young mother looked at it she gave a
start of surprise. The address was in
Bellies handwriting. There was nc
postmark on it; it had been delivered
by a special messenger. On opening
it something dropped to the ground
1t was the Turquoise rosary she had
given to Belle five years before. With
a vague, sickening premonition OF
something wrong Nellie lifted the ros,
airy and read the, letter Her fears
were too well founded. The letter
ran:
| Dear Nellie-When we parted five
years ago, l made you a promise that
can no longer keep, for | have lost
belief in both God and man. | am a
most unhappy woman. My husband
first deserted me, then divorced me
and has now married another, woman
The news of his marriage came to me
only few hours ago and the shock
has been too much. When you read
! this I shall be no more" (Horror
stricken, Nellie read ON, though the
!. letters blurred and danced before hel
eyes.) "If l had only taken youl
advice, Nellie. But no matter, all viii
soon be over. In memory of our ole
, friendship, 1 implore you to take
charge of my child and bring her III
| in the faith her mother spurned. Yor
will find my will in a sealed package
, directed to you. The child is wei
provided for. Godi what are richie!
and all the pleasures of the WORLD
, when one is in despair? Come at once
to the Hotel st. Simon lest his people
, claim her. Goodbye, Nellie,
"Your unhappy friend,
: BELLE
With choking sobs Nellie read thu
letter. "Oh, dear Mother of God, : sh'
cried, "have my prayers been in vain
In what have l failed that this shoult
happen? If l were only in time tt
save her from her terrible deed!''
The thought acted like a whip t
), spur her on to definite action. Hur
riedly putting on her outdoor gar
ments, she ordered taxicab, and leav
: ing directions in a brief note to he
!. husband as to her destination, sh,