The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-04-10
THE cATHoLIc BULLETIN APRIL 10, IoI5. !.

Z [ +. * i. {. 4 9It
The proud eyes softened. "Ah,
Elaine, you are too good for me-"
Indeed no-your eyes are blinded
but ! Will be faithful, Gerald. Be-
lieve that and trust in Gods good
ness
They had reached the gate leading
into the neat cottage that was Elaine's
home.
Good bye, Gerald" she said, smiling
at him. asrr,, .r,
will | see you tomorrow" he
asked, OBTAINING her a moment.
Perhaps at church, she answered.
We'll, remember about the picture
AN Easter Lily With your face.
for an inspiration, it shall be my mas,
terpiece. r
I Elaine's eyes dropped beneath their.
deep fringed lashes and her lips trem-.
bled.
God grant that it will bring you.
every happiness she whispered.
Long. ago the good people of Brier.
Hill had decided that Mrs. Archer,
the most competent dressmaker in.
the place, was a very peculiar woman.
SIZE had lived among them since
Elaine was a little child, but so reti-
cent, was she that none. knew aught
| of her past life. She professed no re-
ligious q belief, and never entered a
church, but she had reared her daugh-
ter in the Catholic faith, and though
| it cost her days and nights of, extra
toll she had Elaine educated at the
Convent of the Holy Angels, a beauti-
full spot some miles distant.
When Elaine returned home, with
the mien of a gracious princess, her
mother would not permit her to share
her ofttimes arduous tasks. I.
But the greatest wonder was her
objection to Gerald Neville, the gifted
young artist who aspired to Elaine S
hand. The widow was criticized, of
course, but few ventured to penetrate
behind the barrier of reserve with
which she met all proffers of advice.
When Elaine entered the room after
painting with Gerald she found her
mother at the window bending over a
dainty garment designed for an Easter
bride. Her pale face frightened at
her. daughters approach.
'sHow tired you look, mother!" said
Elaine. Please let me, finish that
work." and she took it gently from
the half-reluctant hands. For once
Mrs. Archer sat in perfect idleness
leaning back in her chair and look.
ing at her child's exquisite profile
Esilhouetted.. against the window in the
fast waning light, and watching the
slender white hands moving swiftly
lover, the silken fabric.
Elaine.
Yes, mother" -
'Mother!'''. A o9spasm of pair
crossed. the pale. face, as Mrs. Archer
repeated the word. "Child-to hear
your lips pronounce that name have
lived for eighteen years with my sou
| in ieopardy!" stfr 4
+. tMother.',1 calculated Elaine, anC
this time the sweet voice was tremu
lous. aAre you i'll? Why do yol
speak so Strangely" @nt.
dFsNot i'll In body but ] saw you ant
! Gerald standing at the. gate, and fee
Ithattit is time to. speak : Besides,
cannot live this Way any longer.
, must right the. wrong have done, i
, Indeed it is not toollate. Elaine, an
not your mother"
The @1ainty garment slipped from
IElaine's hands. Her pale lips spoke
the words mechanically, then she sa
like a marble image.
"No-only your foster mother
Your mother was thought to be in ;
Idecline when l took you-a feeble
, Infant only a few months old. hat
a ,child-a little girl a month YOU
, senior. The physician who attended
!, your mother recommended sea voy
lage for her, and the country for you
, EYour father took her to Italy. Al
, l,soon as possible, my husband, wht
, Twas nurseryman, secured gooC
position and we moved to the coun
TRY. There we lived, a secluded blu
pheasant life until you were nearl.
1.-TWO years old. | grew to love yol
, livery dearly, and no one where WI
Iliyed knew that you we're not my owl
4 child. In the meantime your mother
lhea1th continued delicate, and you
parents remained abroad A grea
Igrief came suddenly upon me. In on
Iweek / was widowed and childless
My husband was killed in railwa,
accident and my little Ellen died 0
, Ediphtheria. You, too, had the disease
but recovered. Almost heartbroken
FLOR knew that when your parent
returned they would claim you,
yielded to temptation, and wrote, tel
, ling them their child was dead. TIL
little grave beside the waters of tn
! Potomac in your native state i
marked byla stone on which is in
, Iseribed, Elaine Norwood, aged tw
/ years. / did wrong, and l have re