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

/
for your besetting sin, rejoice at the
disappointment it has occasioned you
today, for | trust it will be q lesson
| for the future" Needless to say, that
day was an unhappy one Tor Regina.
On the following morning, while she
was still INDUCING in the same Ian
guild pastime, Angela, who was pass
ing that way on mission of mercy,
stopped to learn why she had been so
sadly disappointed. ooh, Regina, that
deadly sin of yours, that detestable
sloth deprived us of the pleasure of
your dear company and robbed you of
a most gloriously enjoyable day. Re-
gina, dear, this will never do! You
must fight this awful fault or it will
ruin your life. Promise me you will
begin at once?'- Regina raised her
languid head somewhat defiantly and
said: Miss Templeton, methinks it
were becoming in you to be less lavish
in your reproofs and to hold your adj
vice till asked for" A look of pain,
accompanied by crimson flush, pass
ed over her friends face, but the
humility of her loyal heart came to
the rescue, and with all the frankness
of her generous nature, she held out
her hand, saying, in tones of the
sweetest humility, Il ask your pardon,
dear Regina, if | have offended you by
presuming on privilege l imagined
long ago given to an old friend. Grant
me forgiveness, and will never again
transgress by assuming the language
of a monitress." The gentleness of
her meek and humble friend confused,
and brought to shame the dignifed
Beauty, who in turn begged forgive
ness and gave the desired promise.
But a keener anguish than that caused
by disappointment or admonitiOn was
necessary for the reform of Regina,
and soon she was to learn that selfish
ness can bring to us only sorrow and
remorse.
Wealthy relatives in London invited
her to spend the season with them
and full of enthusiasm she was per
mitted to accept the pToffered invita-
tom lovingly charging Angela to keep
her informed of everything, as she
laughingly said, Ralph will keep me
on edge all the time, he is such a
tease" A couple Of months had pass
ed in the usual round of festivities
when one morning a special message
from Angela was handed to Regina,
reading: Come at once, dear Re
gina, your mother is very i'll. Lord
Lancaster and Ralph are away for the
day, so I hasten to inform you my
self" "Poor Mama is very ill.," said
Regina in answer to the inquiring
eyes bent upon her; Il must prepare to
leave London early tomorrow morn
ing" But" ventured her hostess, ''is
it wise to defer your going till tomor-
row." Let not our readers imagine
that Regina was an unfeeling daugh-
ter, for such was not the case; she
loved dearly, but hers was a selfish
love, and, sad to say, how often we
met with such characters. The tears
would come to her eyes when she
thought of her dear mother, and the
remembrance of Angela's words press
ed on her mind, yet when the matter
was referred to, she remarked, "Oh,
4 that is Angela's way of putting things.
, She is almost radical on the question
of promptness." However, she parted
from her kind friends with much af-
) lection and was pressed to return to
, them should her mother speedily re
: cover. But as the hours sped by she
5 was filed with an oppression of
gloomy apprehension. Already that
J sad and severe lesson so poignant yet
so efficacious was casting it's inspir-
ing influence over her thoughtless
t mind and ease-loving soul. With
: parched lips and loudly beating heart
she entered the carriage sent for her
: No father, no Ralph to welcome her?
Surely some terrible thing had oc-
Cured! Nor did she dare to ask the
silent old butler, who sadly saluteG
and assisted her. Scarcely had she
gained anything like composure when
the carriage halted at the great en-
, trance. A weeping servant opened the
door, This sight froze the very blood
: in her veins. Her Wrappings were
: flung aside as she flew up the panelled
) halls. Frantic with fear she reached
: her mothers room. The door was
, open and weeping servants stood out
side, smothering their grief as they
raised their eyes to gaze on the sad
J scene within. With a heartrending
cry, ooh, | am too late!" she brushed
/ by her grief-stricken father, who turn
ed to greet her, and fell on her knees
beside what she believed to be the
: corpse of her mother. Then, 0 then her
: agonizing soul realized the value of
; unselfshly responding to the call OF
| duty! Lord Lancaster lovingly sooth-
ed her and placed her hands within
those of her dying mother, which lay
so sweetly at peace on her bosom. He
| tenderly whispered: "Our dear Regina
is here with you," for she seemed to
linger only for her coming. A faint
) pressure of the hand, heavenly smile,
: and the light of love which cleaned
, only for an instant in the eyes, told
, that the spirit of the fond mother was
still present, but only for brief
space, and then the bonds which bound
! it in it's tenement of clay were broken,
| leaving a cherries abode for the low
ing hearts that cherished her SO ten
J derby.
! Almost insane with grief, Regina
) locked herself in her room. o! the
| y+for obaor1occnocc and gloom that