The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-05-29
1Continued from page 80
DiSlLLuSloNED. i,

As4CA SeSANtS IA AOboA -
!. your confidence, here is mine Il am
betrothed to Philip Barnes since last
night"
In spite of the balm Margaret
Devon offered her conscience In re-
gard to this engagement, the girl
was much troubled but she would
not admit it, especially to Eleanor
who tried hard to swerve her from
the marriage. Margaret knew that
her missing that First Friday Com
munion was on account Of Philip
Barnes and the dance; she know hat.
she remained away from Holy Hour
that evening because it would inter
fere with Mr.. Barnes plans, and
these items bothered her intensely:
"But we are only just engaged, she
told herself. 81 should not be so
mandatory about things at first.
Everything is sure to come out all
right after WHILE" But, somehow,
whenever it was a question of a
Church engagement or an appoint
ment with Mr.. Barnes, Mr.. Barnes
won, and Margaret kept postponing
the time when she should make him
understand that her attitude toward
the Church and religious affairs must
remain unchanged. 1t was $50 much
easier to drift; and drift she did, just
a wee bit farther away each time
Her mothers worldliness encouraged
this course; Mr.. Barnes was one of
the seasons catches" and many a
girl envied Margaret. The girls fa-
Their was too busy making money to
notice much what she did; so there
was no one to demonstrate but Ell
eanor, who regretted that she must
leave her friend in such a crisis, but
promised to pray for her faithfully.
One day, the following autumn, it
surprised Margaret to receive a box
of flowers, beautiful, soft white chrys-
anthemums, for Mr.. Barnes had been
out of town on business for some
weeks. She found inside, however. a
card bearing the name of Edward
Daniels and the words: TN memory
of one other autumn day." Then the
date flashed upon her, and she recalled
a happy event few years back, a
glorious tramp off on the hills, into
the woods, with her school-boy lover,
and his youthful, but earnest declar-
alton made thats golden afternoon,
whereby he told her of his hopes and
ambitions. in all of which she was COM
cerned, and of which she was the cen
ter and inspiration, of his love, honor,
loyalty and devotion which were all
hers, and were to be hers forever. 1t
was only boyish outburst, but the I'M
wavering faith with which his man
hood had kept the pledge endowed
it with dignity and made his love
sacred and his VOWS holy trust.
Before Margaret realized it, she
found herself rather longing for the
old days and the good comradeship of
Ned and Eleanor. ] But her thoughts
were interrupted by the arrival of a
telegram to the effect that Barnes
would return that night. This put a
different face upon things, and old
times were forgotten. She smiled
a little sadly, Thought a contrast
that stood out in her mind between
the two mem How it would amuse
Philip to know how near she had been
to an alliance with DR.. Daniels! If
he scoffed at her having a religious
fanatic, as he 4calleds' Eleanor, for a
girl friend, how much4 more would he
make fun of narrow mind edness" and
the "chiIdishness of religions fairy
tales" ID a grown man! But down
in her heart, she was ashamed Of her.
self, wishing, although she hardly &C
knoWledged it, that Philip was more
on the type of her Ned. Her conso1a-
ton, blind as usual, was that she
would convert Philip after their mar
riage, and then all would be well.
Rousing herself from reverie, Miss
Devon made ready to go to an after.
noon reception. She, tried to tell her
self that she was exceedingly happy
because Philip was coming that night,
but somehow the happiness was
forced. Was tit couldn't be-that
they were not as enthusiastic about
each others companionship as they
used to be? Did not this telegram
prove that he was anxious to see her,
and that he knew she must be i'm
patiently waiting for his return? Mar
garet was loath to relinquish her iilu-
sion. During his absence she had
taken the opportunity of making few
visits to the Blessed Sacrament Was
it the unwonted meditation that de-
pressed her? Something did, like an
evil omen, but she could not tell what
A late-comer at the reception must
have brought along a dainty morsel
of gossip with her, for it was de-
voured eagerly and caused quite a
commotion among the butterflies gath
cred; but it. did not come Margaret's
way She caught chances leveled at
her. Why were they staring? Or did
she imagine it? Was her brooding
making her sensitive? 1t became tire
some and she went away alone Out
of the large group of friends" there
was not one to whom she would dare
unburden her souls Affections. When
leaving the house whisper reached
her. Il wonder If he will be. all devo-
tion now!" Was it meant for her?
Had anything happened to Philip?
She hurried to her carriage, and on