The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-01-01
CONTINUED from page 3d.
CHRISTMAS AT KILLEARY.

| O7Hl0 MAS - Nt%A-Er11s
| ley" with conviction, "and you are
| her daddy. l know you are, because
you're like the big picture, and Pat
knows you, too" Pat, who was sitting
down watching the scene, with quiet
satisfaction, as being Tin his oplnlon) |
! the result of his own cleverness,
thumped his tail vigorously on the
grass. ''Mammie was crying for you
this morning." reproachfully, "and she
wants to see Killeary again, and SO
do I. You will ask us, Daddy and
Mammie, and me, to spend Kismas
there, won't you, grandfather? She
finished her long speech breathlessiy.
i The sadness was fading out of Sir
Maurice's eyes, washed away by happy
tears, the lines of pain out of his face;
the weary world was a changed place
TRANSPORTED by the sound of that
baby voice lisping Grandfather" the
sight of that little eager face lifted
/ to his.
"Take me to your Mammie, dar-
ling he said, lifting her in his arms,
the soft red bundle seeming to warm
his heart and drive the last shadow of
loneliness out of it, "and we will all
go to Killeary at once, if your Dad
dy," with sudden misgiving, will
consent"
"He will do anything that is good
for Mammie,'' announced the child,
confidently.
And thus they started for the
luxurious flat, which was Terrys
home, the bewildered and somewhat
Mortified Jane following meekly, and
half afraid, in spite OF the confidence
inspired by Sir Maurice's air of breed
ing, and by Pats evident recognition
of him, to meet her mistress
;, Jack Stanley was sitting reading his
. paper in the drawing-room, Terry hav-
ing gone away to write her letter,
. when a mans step sounded on the
stairs and he heard his little daugh-
ter's voice in tones of strong excite
ment. A moment later, the door
opened and Sir Maurice entered, Terry
in his arms and Pat at his side.
Daddy! Daddy" cried Terry. Il
have brought grandfather, and he
wants us all to 80 to Killeary for
Kismas!"
The old man came forward quickly,
+. holding out his hand timidly. "You
will forgive me?" he asked, with a
strange humility "Your little Terry
! and my old friend Pat have done SO
already"
with all my heart!" responded
Jack heartily, grasping the out
stretched hand.
In her little boudoir the voices had
5 reached Terry,,s quick ear, and,
4 trembling, hardly knowing what she
$ hoped, she flew down the passage,
4 where she was met by Pat, who had
y come to fetch her, and who rushed
|. a moment she stood at the door, un-
able to believe the evidence of her
eyes: then, with a joyous cry of
Father! she was in his arms.
= 4 y
!. 1t was Christmas Eve, and Terry
: Stanley stood in the window looking
out across Killeary estate to where
the sweep of the mountains and the
distant CLEAN of the sea shut in the
horizon.
The heavy curtains behind her
parted, and her husbands tall figure
:, appeared.
Little GIRL he said wistfully, ARE
you regretting that you are no longer
Miss Delaney of Killeary?"
Jack" she answered reproachfully
putting one hand on each side of his
coat and giving him a little shake.
Don't you know that, though every
fibre of my being responds to the
magic name of the home of my fa-
theirs, / would give it all up again,
twenty times over, for your sake?
have gained infinitely more than |
have lost. Heaven itself would not be
Il Heaven without you,' her voice talk
ing a passionate tone as she looked
up into his true eyes.
He bent his fair head to hers, and
his arms closed round her. Forgive
me, darling" he begged. 81 am as
jealous a brute as ever. What a
triumphal procession you and little
/ 41l0O anu DIT udu tOudy
She laughed at the recollection, but
there was a note of deep feeling in
her voice as she answered. YES, my
own dear people. l am afraid Baby
y Terry would soon be utterly spoilt by
= them if we were going to stay here
. altogether. Do you know, Jacy, {
y great many admiring seyes followed
you as you rode through the village
this morning with Father? We IrisI
= people do love man who can ride
u and who looks well on horseback.
y had some very nice things said to m,
u about you, too, but I'm not going tt
y repeat them, for fear you should grow
O. conceited. These poor people ar,
II great judges Of character-there is M
q deceiving them"
: The door opened, and they pushet
= aside the curtains and crossed to til,
: fireplace as Sir Maurice entered.
~ This is real Christmas Eve" h
= said gladly, his face full of deer cor
- tent and thankfullness, as TER
" slipped down into her old position o.
= the rug at his feet and Jack came an
bent over his high old chair.
ar .Yes," answered Terry, looking u
be from her lowly place and noting ever