The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-07-01
Continued from page 81
A MEMBER OF HEARTS.


lovely homes-because Lacey had
made people see what a comfortable
addition to the family children are,
particularly little orphan children.
When young Dennis Mccarthy was
killed at the station, it was Lacey who
told his mother-and dried her tears
and said in the voice that seemed to
caress:
"You know, Mrs. Mccarthy, God
must have wanted Dennis right up
close to Him or He wouldn't have
taken him away so soon."
1t was Lacey's custom to go to the
big dark tenement, in the evening and
sitting in the chair that Dennis had
left vacant-to play his beloved
violin.
Hour after hour he played and poor,
aching hearts forgot their sadness,
rebellious, hardened hearts grew
tender and quiet under the magic of
his music.
On one of these visits Mrs. McCar
thy told him about Eileen and brought
him to see her
Eileen was only wisp of humanity
lying on hard bed in the hot, dark
| tenement. Her mother worked all
day long and little Ely lay on the
miserable bed and prayed that the
dear God would make her able to
| walk sometime.
Mrs. Mccarthy didn't know where
Ely and her mother had come from.
They had only been there a week but
Mrs. Mccarthy was sure, Lacey could
do something for them.
Lacey looked at Eily's patient little
face and knew that he must do some
thing. He told Eileen that he knew a
wonderful doctor who fixed little girls
backs and made them able to walk.
He would bring this doctor to Ely
Lsoon-or better still bring Ely to the
doctor.
But with wild scream Eileen chung
to him.
"You mustn't take me away from my
mother won't let you-No, never-I
want my mother
Lacey promised that Eileen would
not be taken from her mother and
| went away to find Dr. Talford.
DR.. Talford loved Lacey in a way
that surprised even himself and moth
ing pleased him better than call for
help. He was truly gratified by the
condescending manner in which Lacey
allowed him the privilege of making
the little Eileen's body straight and
strong.
For the first time in his life Lacey
Edid not tell his mother what he had
done. She was his help and adviser
| always-but lately, alarmed by his
pale face and bright eyes, she had
rather firmly told him not to work so
hard Besides mother might think it
| better to bring Eileen to brighter,
cooler place. And Lacey's experience
had been that those places rarely adj
mitted mother"
| Lacey accompanied DR.. Talford on
his first visit to Eileen. Then with a
gentle tact he took Eileen's mother
away to seek comfort of Mrs. Nc
| Carthy and sat outside Eileen's door,
patiently waiting.
| At last the door opened and the
| Doctor spoke cheerfully: There S
nothing incurable about the child's
trouble. She'll have to be moved to a
place where there's. sun and light
Then I'll operate and I may say, feel
confident of the result" x
Eileen turned frightened eyes to
Lacey and whispered: f'Mother, too
And Lacey, like the little knight he
was, put his hand protectingly on he1
fair hair and said:
Eyes, Doctor Talford, l know you
can cure her but you must take hel
mother, too. She would be very lone
some without her mother and besides
she seems to have fear that some
thing is going to separate them alto
gether."
Doctor Talford shook his head de
cidedly. That's impossible, Lacey
She'll be well cared for and it will be
a matter of only six or seven months
at most. I'll send for her at five
o'clock
you shall not take Eileen away
without her mother. I'll not let yoI
touch her. She's only a little bit of q
girl and you are big man and mus
have forgotten that you have a heart.
Was this Lacey-this boy with flash
ing eyes and a mouth as straight az
Mr.. Carral's ever was.
The Doctor gasped in establishment
why, boy, 4 never supposed you haC
it iiK you. After this you're Michael,
all you lack is the flaming sword
You win. She stays here with hel
mother and I'm the banker for ONT
year from date"
There was a new note of respect il
Doctor Talford's voice when he spok,
to Lacey-or Michael, as he hence
forth called him.
Eileen was cared for and began t,
), grow strong and rosy and after th,
operation soon walked few totterini
steps-to meet Lacey at the door.
Then as the days sped happily ol
she grew holder and walked to tn
t window to watch for his coming.