The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-02-13
(Continuea from Page g.
THE EYES OF FAITH.

wasn't true and 1tS would be a shame
to raise her hopes. Besides, it isn't
such good news. ! met a fellow l
used to know at the time Pat and
went around togethet-Jim Kennedy,
his name is-and said, that he heard
Pat is a brakeman or something on
a railroad. He met a chap that saw
him in Philadelphia. But there's
something queer about it. 1t seems
he's been Twin crooked Mary.
I'm going to see what can do about
it,
The next day was Sunday, and Mrs.
Halloran appeared dressed and ready
for Mass before seven o'clock. She
would not take even coffee, explain
ing that she was going to receive Holy
Communion.
Mary watched her anxiously from
the window 1t was cold morning,
and the old lady had looked even
more frail and white than usual
Michael, the sexton, generally. at
tended early Mass in the capacity of
usher. He greeted Mrs. Halloran and
led her to a pew. During Mass he
frequently glanced at her, noticing the
pallor of her face, and the peculiar
look of expectancy in her eyes. He
kept his eye on her when she went
up to the rail, for she walked slowly
and feebly, and pressed her hand to
her heart When she returned to her
seat, he saw her suddenly start up,
gazing up the aisle towards the altar.
Michael looked to see what had caused
the expression of radiant joy on her
face. He saw the communicates,
mostly old women and young girls,
returning from the rail, the priest
closing the door of the tabernacle: a
ray of winter sunlight cleaning
through the stained-glass window and
pointing, like a parti-colored rod, to
the crucifix above the altar That was
all. And yet, the old woman, with
her arms outstretched, tottered up the
aisle with a glad Cry, and, before
Michael could reach her, suddenly
collapsed in a pitifully small, black
heap on the altar steps.
When they had brought her back to
consciousness she tried to raise her.
self on her elbow.
"Where-where is he?' she asked
family.
where is who, ma'am?" inquired
Michael, who had in the meantime
sent for a doctor. The priest, who had
just finished celebrating the Mass,
supported the frail figure, and re-
peated Michaels question. The eyes
of all the group followed the direction
of her gaze.
Didn't ye see Pat?" she went on
eagerly, didn't we see him? l saw
him! He was there! He received
Holy Communion. I saw him coming
back from the altar"
The priest looked inquiringly at
Michael and at the group of people.
They appeared puzzled, and some
shook their head and murmured that
she was wandering" But Pats
mother smiled.
''He was comm back from the altar,
Father" she whispered. He looked
Older-than when he--left home, but
| knew him-Oh, ] knew Pat! He
wasn't as neat and clean, Father, as
he used to be. Pat was that particular
about his looks!. -. He had oil and
dust on his clothes, but the curls of
him, Father! The same curls-so
brown-and soft" Suddenly she
started up, and gazed appealingly at
the priest. Faith, Father, / forgot!
There was a cut on his head! There
was blood-Father, he'll be needin
me-my boy-let me go!" She strug
gled moment, but soon lay still, smil
ing. The faint voice came again, al.
most inaudible now
Thank God, Pat received the Sacra,
ment. God be praised-I knew ye
were good boy, Pat, no matter what
they said of ye.-Mothers always
know, don't they, Pat??"
The priest bent over suddenly, felt
her fluttering pulse and looked sharp
ly at the eyelids. ............ Then he
Strengthened himself and, 1T is over,
he said quietly.
She died happy, Tom," said Mary
that night. She bad been crying until
there were no tears left, but it was
not a hopeless, Misunderstanding grief
The smile on the dead face of hel
mother spared her that.
she thought she saw Pat receive
Holy Communion, Father Henley says
She was happy at the last
ut was great mercy of God,' said
big, awkward young Flynn, with an
absurd break in his deep bass voice.
! The next morning Mary received a
letter, which she read. and then re
read with wonderment in her eyes
She called Tom. and stood trembling
hardly able to say, Read that!' in a
shaking voice. Tom seized the letter
and tried to take in the sense of the
contents, with Mary crying quietly Oh
his shoulder,
'Euston, Pa,
FEB. 8, 81.
Mrs. Thomas Flynn:
Dear Madam: Yesterday / was
called to the scene of an accident near
here-the collision of a freight with
a passenger train on the -rail
road. You have perhaps read of it in
the papers by now. A brakeman who
:, 4 -