The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-04-17

the door bell rang, and a bright frank
faced young chap--one a good deal
like this son of yours -came into the
room. 1t was the junior partner. He
had come to see Mr.. Barnaby. Every
one was so confoundedly sorry Mr..
Barnaby was i'll, and they were so con-
foundedly busy, all of them, trying to
do Mr.. Barnabys work that no one
had had the chance to get to see him!
And here were some letters which only
Mr.. Barnaby could answer, and il he'd
tell him what to do about them he'd
be ever so much obliged, etc., etc.
1.-THE talk lasted an hour. Then the
young fellow jumped up with apollo
gies, and almost ran off-bothering Mr..
Barnaby in his condition-asking me
why / didn't put him out! But he'd
| be hack tomorrow. ! was a little
puzzled, / confess, for it hadn't taken
me long to realize that most of it was
pretense on the young fellows part.
However, when turned back from the
door | understood. Uncle George sat
looking at those long, thin white hands
of his-and the tears were running
down his face.
Il was suddenly aware of great
pity for my poor old uncle, and won
dered why / hadn't thought of this be-
fore. But the junior partner had
thought of it and had come, when he
| felt he decently could, to sick man.
And he came again. He brought knotty
problems, new propositions, and he
was what they would call big kid
now, though in those days the phrase
wasn't coined. There was always
something that would while away an
hour or tWo-a book, game, anything
or that sort-or bottle of some juice
or essence warranted to cure all the
ills that flesh is heir to. Perhaps it
was the religion that kept them so
close together. They were both Cath
olics.
George Barnaby died, of course his
death was inevitable, but it was a
happy one. And you made it happy,
Mr.. Burnett"
There was profound silence. Mr.
lambeth gazed into the fire thought
fully. At last Mr. Burnett spoke.
II can understand what it meant to
the poor fellow, Mr.. lambeth" he re.
marked, in a low tone. 1--WE been
through a serious time myself-and ii
was good to hear from the boys-good
to hear"
Il told myself, then, that if I ever
had the chance to repay you I would
do it. I've never had the chance, sir =
"But the notes! All, yes, the notes
They no longer exist"
THAT will not do" said Mr.. Burnett
extending his hand. Il had forgotten
assure you"
"a deed of kindness is always re
membered somewhere" said Mr.. Land
eth, taking the proffered hand.
"But you see, sir" broke in David
now. eve really don't want the money
1t would hurt us to have to pay it now
but in little while"
Mr.. lambeth waved his words aside
almost brusquely.
We'll talk of that later" he said
For the present the notes have been
met. But come, gentlemen" He went
to the side table and poured some wine
into the three glasses standing there
Let us drink. to happy Easter and
to the memory of George Barnaby"
"A Happy Easter and the memory
of George Barnaby!" They drank il
standing. Then Mr.. Burnett, setting
down his glass, added solemnly: MAY
the Lord have mercy on his SOUL"
= s. 4
And the next day at the close of the
Easter dinner-to which Mr.. lambeth
made a happy and welcome, if hur
riedly invited fffth-they ended with
the same toast drunk in the same way
And David Burnett, young, strong
proud, clever, felt his head go higher
when he looked at his father. He
moved nearer to him. For, the toast
ended, this sturdy and loyal friend
this upright Catholic, added the same
tender benediction of the Church upon
that son of hers who had slipped out
of life so many years before.
"a Happy Easter, father" David
said then, his hand resting on his ia.
theirs arm. "And if | am prouder OF
anything more than that you are my
father it is that am your son.
-GY0cO Ko0u