The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-06-13

thing to cause remark and reward?"
But the bars were put upon his sleeves
and medal pinned above his honest
heart, and a beautiful woman who
had come to seek the cause of his alb
.sence from his sick protege's bedside,
was informed that it would not be con-
venient to see him then. But see him
she did through the open Window-and
she had wondered at herself for being
so interested.
But now she wondered no longer
She had that afternoon witnessed his
modest attempt at concealing his pro-
motion by resuming his citizens
dress, and it made her sense of honor
tingle with satisfaction. She knew
now why she was so interested.
1t was arranged that Father Gordon
would come every day to visit and in
struct the little patient with view
to his preparation for first Holy Com
munion. OF course Sheridan came
every day either in blue or gray, but
he tried to avoid calling when in uni
form. Now all this, very naturally be-
came the occasion of perferVid COM
ment.
What on earth is turning Helen
Dalyrmple's head?" said one. II can't
get her at bridge or golf or the yacht
ltclub or anywhere at ALL"
''She is just turned nurse to the lit
tie waif chap" said another.
i And another remarked: 81 was at
school with her at the convent, and it
was always noticed there that she took
serious matters seriously, especially
religion. I believed at that time that
had her graduation been year further
off she would have become Catholic. "
But why did she not keep it up?"
said an old bachelor of twenty
eight or thirty, who disliked re-
ligion because it interfered with
his theories and practice of
soft romance, and who would like to
put it at disadvantage. IF religion
was serious with her among the en-
vironments of the school-the nuns
and shrines and services and all that
it would be SO here in her home.
No, religion is to her what it is to
you all, fad-conscious- distinctive
respect compelling to a fine extent
but fad
"You are more than likely unjust to
Helen at any rate" stated the convent
graduate, ''for almost Immediately aft
er her Homecoming her father was
stricken with paralysis and died in her
arms. Since then, let me think, it
must be four years, she has been with
us, whereas you argue religion is
scarcely serious. But Helen is a
trump, anyhow, and her care for the
poor, homeless thing is a proof of it. .
ooh! Helen is all to the good" said
the bad man, Il believe in her but not
in her religion, at least the religion
she shares with you dear things.
why, whatever do you mean? you
iconoclast!" they rushed their threat.
ening question like an avalanche upon
| him. But he only raised his hands in
self defense-and referred them to his
previous statements. eve cannot
! argue with an infidel!" one remarked
whereupon he defended himself by say
ing:
Have | not already said l believed
in Helen?" . ..s
Eyes, but not in her religion"
WELL" he said, mot in the one she
has now, at any rate
my dear girls exclaimed the first
speaker, "our pious Jack is about tt
become Catholic himself"
mot much" said Jack, Lent is toe
long; besides I'm going to wait and
see what Helen does"
Helen made her first Holy Com
munion on the feast of the Assump
ton. Most of the people of her "set'
were out of the burning town at that
time but Jack was in the Church anC
remarked to himself: Il suppose the
pretty kid beside her is the wait. Well
guess Helen is serious enough now
but who is the man there, too:
Wouldn't he gladden. up football
squad?"
Of course while the back of the
kneeling persons were towards him
/ UdCh, CC4 4Iclu 4lCFCI DCCL
serious about religion, kept up his run
ming stream of comment, but wher
they turned from the Communion raj
returning to their seats, he saw theil
faces. He left the church very sooT
afterwards, but he was very quiet
that day. And later when he joined
his comrades at the seashore he could
not be drawn into theological discus
sion again. Some said it was from 9
fright, some thought it was owing tc
an announcement of marriage between
John Marshall Sheridan and Heller
Estelle Dalrymple, but, he once told
the convent graduate in confidence
that he never could make light ex
preston on the faces of those who
came from the altar rail that hot day
in August A. c., in Mt. Ange
| Magazine.
AsNDsN SNHINNTEEG