The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-20

for could not ask. her.-mait for a.
man with no prospects. II $3.50
There had not been an actual en-
gagement, but they had known each
other always, and each knew the
heart of the other and was satisfied.
lie was endeayonring to convince him.
self that he was glad there was no
formal engagement-for her sake
when he found himself at her uncle's
gate, which he opened, and walked up
the path to the house. AS always, he
looked up to the window over the
porch, and was just in time to see a
hand wave and laughing face van.
ish beyond the white ciirtains.g fin
another second she stood before him
in the door, a radiant vision. >.
you must have news she cried,
hugging his wet coat sleeve, and drag
ging him into the hall, cor you
wouldn't have come so, early, so off
-uncle's asleep In the drawing-room
with that wet coat and into the study
land tell it to me. i've been read.
ing o bit of Amiel for Uncle. and |
think I've the blues from it.''
you don't look it," he said, de-
spite his trouble, for an instant fol
lowing her mood, except your dress
and the ribbon in your hair"
''Sit there" she said, pushing him
into the big easy chair close to the
bright fire, and tell me why you came
so early-it's news of some kind, isn't
it, Dick?"
81 should think So" he said, with
such bitter emphasis that the girl sur
veyed him in establishment. Its
news, and no mistake. I've been an
idiot, and worse-Tve put two hundred
pounds on COMPOUNDED horse-excuse
me, Mollie-and lost it."
Goodness! l thought it was some
thing terrible" cried Mollie in relieved
tones. Since it's only money, there's
no harm done that l can see. OF
course, can't imagine how you did
such. a silly thing as to put money on
a horse-you're not a bit reckless
usually"
He shook his head in gloomy sill
ence, while his hand wandered to his
inner pocket unconsciously, and partly
withdrew Mr.. Bakers letter, for
which Mollie expectantly held out her
hand.
Seeing this, Dick hurried1y thrust
lit out of sight with a guilty air. He
did not want her to see what a miser.
ably open piece of impudent roguery
had misled and ruined him.
II thought you wanted me to look
at that letter." she said, reddening.
"Of course I don't want to see it I'M
less you expressly wish it."
"Oh, that's nothing he said men.
daciously, "a receipted tailor's bill l
got as l was leaving my digs"
i But as his insincerity was very evi.
dent, she made no answer. Then he
went on desperately:
"Mollie, this loss makes a terrible
difference to us. You, see, I've only
got my second year, and l shall not
be able to get my third. Fees and
everything went with that two hun
dred. But what mind really is los
ing you. At this moment / am pau
per, with no prospects whatever; try
to forgive me and forget me as fast
Las you cam
7 He rose then, and held out his hand
There's no use in saying any more,
he said. 81 expect I'll get off to Canada
within the week if l can borrow the
money, so goodbye, Mollie.' :,
She lifted lifeless eyes to him, ant
gave him her hand. Goodbye" She
said, frozen1y, and the next minute hi
had gone.
She flung herself on her knees be
; side the big chair in which he hat
been seated, and, leaning her fore
head upon its arm, wept bitter tears
while above the rain splashing on thu
window panes she seemed to hear ovel
and over the echo of Dicks sudder
goodbye.