The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-06-24


his wife at the table. she had on
a white lawn dress, dotted over with
small blue forget-me-nots. A slight
warmth was visible in her cheeks,
and her eyes, as she lifted them to
mine, we're full Of smiling welcomes.
She looked pure and beautiful / saw
my friends eyes rest proudly and
lovingly upon her for a few moments
ere he gave himself up to the agree
able work that lay before him.
noticed that while my friends
wife did, with pleasing alaerity, the
honors of the table, urging one dish
after another upon her guest and her
husband, she ate very little herself.
The fact must have escaped the OBJ.
servation of my friend, or he would
certainly have demonstrated j could
not help saying, as | saw her playing
with, instead of eating, her dessert:
Don't you eat anything, Bertha 2"
| had known her many years-even
before her marriage and always adj
dressed her with the old familiarity.
'Oh, she lives on ART" spoke up
my friend, smiling 80 don't imi-
tate her example while at Fern Dale.
| am made of grossest stuff, and can't
get on without the substantial things
that make up what are called creature
comforts
Ee.tha smiled in return, and looked
beautiful, but too ethereal in my eyes.
After dinner we drove out, leaving
Bertha at home with her children and
domestic duties. Not word was said
about her going with us. Our drive
was over breezy hills and amidst
scenery of the most charming charac-
ter. | felt new life in all my pulses
as we went rushing through the ex-
hilarating air. 1t was sunset when
we returned both of us keen for sup
per as though hearty meal had not
been taken only, few hours before.
The warmer glow, that mantled
Bertha's cheeks at dinner-time had
faded; and as 4 looked at her across
the tea-table, I noticed an expression
of WEAKNESS about her eyes, and a
languid failing of the lips, that made
| If | had enjoyedeth ride, and listened
with much apparent interest to my
descriptions of many points in the fine
scenery, through which we had driven.
/ was a little surprised, however, to
learn from a remark she made, that
she had never looked upon it herself.
After supper my friend and retired
rs I1,o S1NH1oxa ~
evening. alone, talking of old times;
discussing the merit of new books, or
lingering over the current topics of
the day. Bertha did not join us.
Once | asked for her. had pleasant
recollections Of hours spent in her
company.
! "Oh, she's buried with the children,
or closeted with her cook" answered
my friend, smiling in his easy, good
natured way. Bertha has become
famous housewife"
| She has too much intellect for
such life as this" said l. Bertha
was born for something more than a
simple housewife"
Il know i'll know it." replied my
friend, with a slight closing of his
| broWs; "but women will take their
way. Her children and her husband
have completely absorbed her"
DO you think this absorption of
her life is a good one-a healthy one
for either mind or body?" | asked.
Perhaps not. But there is a won
derful power of adaptation in nature,
as yon are aware. | suppose it will
all work out right. l often wish it
were different; yet, as wishing does
no good, | never permit myself to get
worried over what can't be helped
! am something of philosopher, you
know, and manage, under all circum-
stances, to keep a quiet mind. If
Bertha likes her way best, why, so
be it; she's a good, loving, over
indulgent wife to me, and / won't
force her out Of the world she seems
most pleased to dwell in, though our
tastes do run parallel in so many
things, and we might enjoy so much
| together"
| My friends feelings lay close to the
surface, and | saw his eyes glisten as
| he turned them away from me. He
loved his wife as tenderly as any man
who loved his own ease and pleasure
as well as he could love anything ex-
cept himself. She was, in his eyes,
the paragon among women. He was
proud of her-very proud of her.
On the next morning, when l met
Bertha at breakfast, and looked mar
rowly into her face, saw more of
the work of exhaustion than l had
noticed on the day before. The pearly
skin lay in fiat surfaces on her cheeks,
forehead, and shrunken nostrils, in
stead of showing rounded fluctuations.
Her lips were very thin and white.
Her eyes-large, dark and lustrous-
! shone out upon you from farther
distance in their shadowy orbits. She
had no appetite, and only made a
feint Of eating, as could see; while
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