The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-10-23

degrees higher than Rosaliei on their
narrow social plane. Resale found
herself at times unconscioHsly plan.
ming how to impress Isabelle Of
course, Rosalie did not admit this.
even to herself, but she recognized in
Isabelle some one different from her
other acquaintance. Isabelle, It'll
might be remarked in passing, had
the same feelings for Rosalie. At
present she was waiting for her guest
at the foot of the stairway. She
had 'phoned for Rosalie to discuss
with her the prices of velvet at Maley's
emporium and incidentally to find out
if the Harrisons, new arrivals in the.
neighborhood, we're as rich as reputed.
Also if it we're true that Jack Harri-.
son had eloped with his fathers ste
nographer the week before and brought
her home in taxi to his enraged
parent, who had closed the door on
them after refusing in plain terms to
pay the bill, thus leaving poor Jack in
quandary. Isabelle also viewed with
candid vanity diamond solitaire on
the telltale finger. Resale she had
decided would be the first "to know" "
At I. length the horn footed, there
came a grinding of wheels and Ro-
sale was in her arms. There was a
slightly embarrassed hug as Rosalie
slipped from her coat, and Isabelle,
with the bulky garment in her arms,
followed her chattering guest up the
stairs. She deeply admired Rosalie-
her glowing face-her breezy man
ner. She admired the rough tweed
wrap with its fuzzy lining. Somehow
it suited Rosalie Twisting it over
her arm, the collar fell back and she
saw-a medal of the Immaculate Con-
ception
1t is only Justice to Isabelle to say
that she gasped. She gazed at the
graceful figure ahead and felt a ris-
ing esteem for her unconscious guest.
Rosalie Clayton was not only a Cath
| Ollie, but she wore a little medal of
the Immaculate Conception and wore
it daily! Isabelle had been pious. She
was only % now, and piety in her
circle had long been out Of fashion
1t seemed to take her back to the
days of pigtails and of ankle-length
skirts. This little medal threw a
glamor about Resale. When they
reached her room, Isabelle, in fiji
Of penitence and reparation, lifted the
Sacred Heart cameo that had always
lain face downward on her dressing
table to a standing position. She
would never be ashamed to show il
again never-never. Sweet Resale
Clayton had taught her a lesson.
Near the picture was IAN Invitation
to retreat that was to be held al
some convent. 1T had lain unan
swered for three weeks, but now lisa
belle picked it up and opened it slow
ly. She felt that it would be out oil
place to begin talking about the Har
risons. Rosalie had removed her hat
and, perched on the arm of chintz
covered chair, was stripping her fin
i gers of her gloves.
Have you made a retreat lately
Rosalie?" asked Isabelle.
i Rosalie flushed and stared at lisa
belle in amazement. Retreat? Hel
thoughts worked rapidly. If Isabelle
Lawrence made retreats then retreats
must be "the thing" and to be social
ly correct one must always do "the
thing" The thing" was the thing tx
Il do. Her glance travelled from lisa
bellies inquiring face to the Sacred
Heart cameo on the dressing table
i There is always something appealing
in Sacred Heart picture-the meek
i ly bowed head, the tender eyes. Sc
Isabelle was really pious. That was
] the attraction. That was the kind o.
girl she was. Rosalie found her
self with on overwhelming respect fol
i piety. She did not answer at once
Isabelle, mistaking her manner, re
Il peated her question more firmly.
i "N-not very lately replied Rosalie
ss'Have you?"
4 1t was Isabe1le's turn to flush, ant
their eyes met for fleet second il
measured doubt Each wished, will
shame that she had made retrea
i lately, and each equally felt that sh,
could never admit that she had not
"You see, / didn't make one las
4 year." confessed. Rosalie, with little
i deprecatory laugh, secretly elated sht
had turned the point neatly, truth
4 fully and without embarrassment tt
herself.
! And Isabelle bending confidential
n ly forward, whispered, with nerv
GUS little giggle: Il didn't make ont
last year, either. Isn't it awful! d
4, course, we will both make up for i
this year"
"Of course!" echoed Rosalie, EN-
phatically.
Y. So they began strange converse
y ton, these two whose religion wal
not rooted deeply, although the seeds
i we're there, sown in early childhood
A fContfnued on mage 7.A