The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-08-22

The days passed and Michael still
kept silence, but Jeanne smiled SOFT
ly as she knelt at her prayers in the
dark corner of the big church, for 1t
was drawing near to Christmas and
she had planned a great surprise for
Michael then-and great triumph
for herself
She heard stories now and again,
tales that sent happy flush to her
cheeks and joyous tingling into her
very finger tips. People began to say
that Michael Wood had grown incau-
tious of late. One or two owned to
having received assistance from him;
his head clerk had been almost shock
ed to find his salary raised suddenly,
and without any request on his part.
The following month the men in the
outer Office discovered that their
value had increased in like proper
ton and they were awed.
But Michael was hard still-and
cold. 1t was as though he could not
free his heart from the iron cage into
which he had thrust it nearly six
years before, and Jeanne began to
look Wistful-the time was drawing
near-so very near. 1t was the 10th
of December, FIVE days before Christ.
mas, when she babe Michael farewell
at the station.
He went to see her off, courteous
as always, to see that she had the
best seat in the car; that she was
provided with magazines and wraps,
the hundred and one things with
which traveller encumbers herself.
She returned with him to the door OF
the car. 'If you were only coming,
Michael" she breathed.
The engine bell began to swing;
there was little hustle consequent
on some last minute arrivals; a
shout!
Hurry up there! Watch your
step! All aboard" and the train
pulled slowly out of the station.
Michael led his wife to her seat;
his lips were curiously white. "Will
it matter if-if-I come like this?''
he asked with a strange tight feeling
in his throat.
Matter! Oh, Michael" she re-
piled.
He swung the next chair round so
that it faced hers and sat down, but
neither spoke for long time.
=.
That feast of St. Thomas was as a
vision of light. Jeanne's eyes spark.
| led and shone. Michael looked at
them now and then and thought them
the most beautiful eyes he had ever
seen, like crystals washed in dew
that gave off prismatic reflections in
the sunlight
The college chapel was filled to
| oVerfloWing, but space had been re.
served for the parents of the candi'
dates. Michael's reserve had broken
down at last He was ashamed OF
some things he had said, and of 9th.
ers that he had done, but he thanked
God that they had not hindered the
glory of this day.
Jeanne surprised him twice in a
furtive attempt to dry his eyes; the
second time she slipped her hand
into his and left it there, and pres.
emily he led her to the altar foot to
share with her the first blessing OF
their son.
Later, on that same day, they
strolled together beside the broad
river that flowed so silently beneath
it's crust of ice. Father John had
them by their hands, walking be.
tween them.
you will come home for Christmas
john" said his father wistfully.
Surely. Mother arranged all that
long ago."
"And you will accept the partner
ship now?"
81? oh, no-not now, father" he
returned, little puzzled
st was my condition; you have
proved yourself, John. I must keep
my word" he insisted.
The young priest smiled, "Then you
shall-but we must talk to Father
Guardian about that"
And so it was that the mission OF
st. John, in Borneo, took Father
Johns place and became a partner in
his fathers business.
"a sleeping partner" Michael call.
ed it.
But when the young missionary
wrote them brief and hurried notes,
in his rare moments of leisure, he
protested that the Mission of his
patron, st. John, was eminently the
working partner in the firm of Wood
and Son..
-MdrD Agatha Crap. in St. AnthonD s Almanac