The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-02-27

"Clarinda, sweetheart" he whis-
pered, encouraged by the softening
light in her eyes, IF the world is not
what you fancy, come back My love
will be always yours. To make you
my wife would be the greatest JOY on
earth"
"Ernest-you know-oh pray, for
get me- +"
Never" he cried, never"
And then the train moved out of the
station, and Clarinda was gone.
Absence, they say" the girl MUIR
INJURED as she was carried swiftly
through the country, but tears drop
| ping upon her book, makes the heart
grow fonder. Shall | come to love
kindred, my stepmother, the yellow
haired babies, and Ernest Langton
better than anything else? Shall /
! long for home and rusticity? No, in
deed, / hope not. I'm not going to be
a goose. I'll send them lovely things
and be sort of fairy god-mother to
| them-but I'm going out into the
world to become somebody, either by
a great marriage or my splendid
voice, I'm. not sure which,
Mrs. GOlding, a tall, handsome
woman received her niece kindly. She
was dressed in gown of rich texture
and beautiful coloring that enchanted
Clarinda and helped to rouse her some
what dropping spirits.
But if Clarinda looked with admira-
ton at her aunts flowing robe, Mrs.
Golding gaZed in horror at the short,
clumsily-made garment that had been
the girls Sunday best for many
months.
MY DEAR she cried, throwing up
| her hands, Madame Frilldydill must
sec you at once. No onc,' with
shudder, must be allowed to catch
sight of you till you are clothed like
a lady
Clarinda blushed deeply and bit her
lip, then laughed at her folly in re-
senting these remarks.
I'm country pumpkin so why
should 1 wonder at her horror" she
thought; then looking at her Aunt, she
said sweetly: .
THANK you, Aunt Tabitha. You are
most kind. I'll be delighted to have
a new dress"
Madame Frilldydill was a person of
marvellous skill and astonishing rap
idity, and the very next evening Clar
india entered her Amt's dTawing-room
a vision of youth and beauty in a soft
/ filmy dress OF snowy white, the like
of which she had never seen before.
Her success was instantaneous.
Everyone in the room admired her,
and predicted wonderful things for
her future. Mrs. Golding was de-
lighted, and SO complimentary and
ELUSIVE were some Of the men of the
party that Clarinda went to bed that
night, her brain in a Whirl, quite in
toXicated by their sweet words and
flattering chances.
The next few months passed like a
dream. There were dinners and balls,
receptions and small dances, and the
belle of them all was the young girl
from the country.
Clarinda was enchanted. Nothing
seemed wanting to complete her hap
piness. She had crowds of admirers,
variety of beautiful dresses, and
plenty of pocket-money. Her aunt
was most generous in that respect,
and this was a matter of much rejoic-
ing, for the girl, as it enabled her, to
help her stepmother and send pres
ents to the children. Nothing de
lighted her more than to hear that
they we're pleased and talked of her
as their good sweet fairy from morn.
ing till night.
One day as she was busy putting up
} parcel of pretty frocks and pinafores
that she had spent some hours choos-
ing in SWears and Wells, Mrs. Golding
entered the morning room, smiling
pleasantly.
"You are looking charming, my
DEAR" she said, patting the girl softly
on the cheek. "And / feel sure | shall
, soon hear some very good news from
you.
"'Tis fortunate you came to me,
heart-whole, Clarinda, otherwise all
: this would be so much time lost.
} Now, you have only to hold up your
) little finger, which you will do, I
know, and Samuel Ibbotson is at your
feet-yours for ever. Ny dear, it's
splendid. Thirty thousand"
but Aunt" cried Clarinda, aghast,
Il don't care for Mr.. Ibbotson. He's
"Just the man for you. Girls like
. You cannot afford to pick and choose.
But" breaking off suddenly and gazing
: in establishment at the children's
; things, what have you there? Where
is the baZaar?"
! There is no bazaar, Aunt. These
are for my brother Eddy and my sis
ters Flossy and Glare. Aren't they
nice?"
) Very" dryly. "But you'll please
buy no more things for Mrs. Uttley
and her children with my money.
When you are Mrs Samuel Ibbotson,"
Struggling her shoulders, you can do
as you please" and she walked away.
That evening Clarinda's eyes shone
like stars. Her complexion was bril-
liant, her lips rosy, though slightly
l1remulous, and all who saw her enter
the ballroom at Lady Fane's declared
her to be the loveliest girl they had
ever seen. But Notwithstanding her
bright look and her dainty graceful
ness, SO admirably set off by white