The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-09-12

was WlSulnS 1T llISuttuCs IuUI6 lI6queut-.
~ occupied, as she seated herself near
the smouldering fire, a piece Of
knitting lying idly in her hand. 1t was
the hour of twilight, and she was fall
ing into a reverie, when sudden
knock at the door startled her. Who
could it be at such an hour? She
crossed the room quickly, and her
hand on the locked door, asked in a
tremulous voice, who's there?"
eve come from the inn,' was the
impatient answer. do you mean to
keep me out here all night. / was
told you had spare ROOM
AS Biddy realized that this was ac-
tually stranger in search of shelter,
she slowly opened the door and ad-
mitted him. He sat down uncere-
moniously, and wiped the perspiration
from his brow, Sorry" he said
breathlessly, 1--WE had long walk
from Ballyrae-not a jaunting car to
be had anywhere land every place full
up for the fair! l was directed here;
you don't seem to have much room"
he added doubtfully; 'but perhaps you
can put me up for week"
Sure" said Biddy with cleaning
smile as she dropped him curtesy.
1.-THE agents been and taken the pig
off me, and it's not much else but sad
potatoes and pinch of salt, but
you're very welcome"
Dick Seymour did not hesitate The
prospect of a week in one of the poor
est huts in County Kerry was not in
viting, but it was better than spending
it outside, he reflected, SO he resigned
himself to his fate, thinking in the
meanwhile, that it had advantages, for
he would be able to get a real insight
into the life of the Irish peasantry
Biddy showed him his room, and
after a very light repast he retired
for the night.
The days passed quickly by, even for
the blase Dick. He had walked to the
nearest postoffice and wired to Tregay
that he would not return to London
till the end of the following week
There was more to be seen than he
had expected and what he did see
was totally unlike anything he had
ever seen before. But his talks with
the peasants puzzled him. Never was
there country which bore signs OF
such terrible oppression, and it was
evident that the poor were robbed to
keep the upper ten in luxury and
ease. Yes, with all, they held up
their heads and smiled, and never gave
in, and to Dick this self-restraint was
marvellous. Only the day before he
had risen early to explore the sur,
rounding country, and had encountered
Biddy. She had been to Mass. He
could hardly restrain the amusement
in his voice as he asked her if she
went often, but her simple reply in
the affirmative and a strange look in
her eyes rebuked him.
He had gone in among them all
and here and there was some poor
creature who drowned his grief in
drink. But the secret of the others
what was it? Surely that hidden JOY
they possessed was not the Faith al
which he had always scoffed!
Thus Dick unused one afternoon as
he sat outside the cottage door, lazily
watching Biddy digging in the gar
dem l5t
'Biddy," he said, after few min
utes' silence, Il see someone cemins
along in the distance. Who is it?"
She looked round; her eyesight was
bad, and it was some moments. before
she recognized in the approaching fig
ure the parish priest.
Sure" she cried excitedly, "and i
it isn't Father O'Dea himself
Dropping her spade, she ran along tt
meet him, and Seymour, staying where
he was, determined to be as distant a!
| possible with the priest. And then ht
started little, for what was Bidd,
doing kneeling there on the ground
And was that the sign of the cross
the moving hand made over her head
and those words "Benedicat tie Omni
potens Deus, Pater, ct Filius ct Spir
titus Sanctus" which he family heart
in the distance?
i A curious sense of awe came owe
him as he watched the scene Then HI
saw them coming up, Biddy with ;
face beaming with delight and affec
ton, and the priest, tall young fel
low of thirty years, with a tired lool
in his blue eyes, and gentle smil
on his spiritualized face.
Good day to YOU he said, brightly
"Biddy tells me you're staying here
hope you don't find it too dull"
"On the contrary said Seymour,