The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-01-15


she lay against his breast, while she
sobbed as a tired child might have
done. Then she drew away from him,
and cried out:
You can not! Oh, Allan! You
can not! / must follow my SOM
Thus it happened that Allan Gray
found himself at an English seaport
one day, year safterward, on his way
home. Absence, travel. seeing new
sights, meeting new people, would,
he thought, soothe this pain of second
loss, dull his bitter hatred of creed
that had been its cause. 1t had had it's
effect; he felt he could now meet Alice
as Of old !; could meet the boy with no
feeling of antagonism.
The ship that was to bear him home
was proudly declared to be the victor
of the sea, as it was the annihilator of
time and distance. In five days the
Watery way that Columbus had first
traversed in weary months would be
covered; the white cliffs Of old Eng
land would hardly have faded into the
gray mists until the shores Of New
England would rise out of the waters.
Within all that mans ingenuity
could devise and wealth secure were
to be found; and the pleasure that had
hitherto been deemed possible only on
the land had been provided for this
floating city. 1T is the last word in
shipbuilding!" proudly declared its
builders. Truly it ISL said its pas
sengers.
Thus acclaimed she set forth on her
maiden voyage, and as she dashed
through the waste of ocean pride
sWelled the hearts Of all: the gallant
ship would win the race!
Far, far beyond the path the good
ship was to follow lie the great ice
fields. Scarcely can we comprehend
their immensely, their lonely terror.
Century after century has wrought to
fashion them, for purpose that lies
hidden in the mind Of the Almighty.
Then came times when portions of the
earth upon which they are builded
gave way beneath that weight of ice,
grown mountains high, and they are
cast into the sea, and the sea bears
them southwark to restore them to its
original likeness.
Out of that Arctic night set forth
this huge mountain of ice. 1t was no
work OF man. Its only light was the
binding glitter upon it when he sun
shone; night it was a vast world
wrapped in darkness. It traversed
slowly, but with crushing force. and
it was to cross the ships course at a
certain point,
Driven by her destiny the ship
sailed straight ahead, and the early
watches of the night brought her up
to the place of doom. Like an egg
shell in a strong closed hand she lay,
when the iceberg, insensible even Of
the impact, passed on. All their
wisdom was swallowed up"
Allan Gray was in billiard room.
He had just won a hardly-contested
game, and the congratulations of the
men were being poured upon him
when the terrible shock came, throw
ing them off their feet.
ITS an iceberg!" he said to HIM
self, as he struggled back to his feet.
I'VE are lost" 81 g
He marvelled at lis calmness
Looking at his companions he saw it
reflected i'll them.
Women and children first"
Out of the dim came a stentorian
voice, as they flung themselves on the
deck. The ship was sinking, sinking
fast; even through the horror OF the
hour Allan Gray caught himself re-
peating that phrase in surprise. The
ship they had sent forth as the mis-
tress of the sea was going down faster
than a sail-boat would have done. He
had never dreamed disaster could be
SO terrible; and he wondered if this
shrinking, praying, cursing, maddened
were many like himself. calm and
ready to obey orders; noting these
men, with all the world before them,
women, loving and beloved, giving up.
their chance OF life, he forgets the
awful spectacle of the others.
II
he hurried down to the steerage.
There were more places on the boats,
and there were here precious lives to
be saved. He stopped short at the
sight he beheld: the multitude was on
it's knees, and above them stood the
priest whom he had often seen among
the cabin passengers. Ills face showed
for him in that brief moment clear-cut,
intellectual, with certain expression
that never failed to call up the mem
DRY of AliceiS son. In this hour he
was here with these poor immigrants,
strangers to him, and they were pray
ing! He was not holding back the
men as were those distraught officers
and deckhands elsewhere: he was not
helping the women and children to try
to escape. He was praying with them
and over his mind flashed dying John
Stones anxiety for the soul of his son.
The soul-Was it always the soul first
with these Catholics?
The priest raised his right hand;
the heads of the. men, women and
children bowed lower; many struck
their breasts. In the next instant
Allan Gray found himself on his
knees, while over all the priest pro-
nounced the words of dissolution and
made the sign of the cross.
4 Il n