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

my good Bertha joins me in the
invitation" wrote an old friend, who
lived the easy life of self-indulgent
country gentleman some fifty miles
away from the noisy city, amidst the
work and din and cares of which |
often grew weary. Come, and come
now, when the trees are greenest, the
earth in richest attire, and the air
like stainless crystal" he added.
I'VE will ride,r and sail have the
fairest of s,lre-boats-and spend
the days as merrily as if the world
had never care or sorrow. Come,
| will take no refusal. You are wear
ing yourself out too fast in that toll
ing city,
The invitation came at the right
moment. l was dropping over my
work with slow hands and failing
ardor.
Il will be at Fern Dale wrote,
sin week. Many thanks for your
kind invitation"
And in a week | stood face to face
with my old friend. It was twice
twelve months since | had seen him.
He had gained literally in flesh dur
ing the time; and his face, though
rounder and larger was fresher and
younger in appearance than when
last saw him. The years had not
dealt so kindly with Bertha, his wife,
was grieved to see. Her face had
grown thinner, though not less beauti-
full. 1t was not the beauty of old
that caused your eyes to linger on
her countenance, for the delicately-
rounded outline and warm tinting
were gone But there was more
thought and feeling there, and a depth
and mystery in her eyes which had
never seen before. How singularly
in contrast was the broad, radiant
smile that lit up her whole face with
the glow of sunbeams, and the flicker
ing light that played now and then
SO feebly, yet so full of angel sweet
ness just around her mouth. She was
sitting with a baby on her lap when
| entered. Instead of laying it down,
or calling an attendant; she received
me with the nursing in her arms;
and her eyes passed, every now and
then, from mine to the cherub face
that lay against her bosom.
Another baby" said /, as touched
the peachy cheek with my finger.
And the dearest darling of them
ALL she answered, looking down upon
it tenderly.
she's perfectly bewitched by that
baby said my friend, as he laid his
hand in fond way upon her should
err. "You would think, to see her.
that she'd never seen a baby in her
life before But come into the
library; I've got hundred things to
talk with you about
And he drew me away ere / had
been five minutes in the company of
his wife. | saw that her eyes follow
ed us, and | faneied. that look of
disappointment was in them.
I'm sorry to see that Bertha is not
looking so we'll as when was at Fern
Dale last time, said I. as we sat down
in the handsome library.
mot looking so. well!' My friend
seemed a little surprised at the re-
mark. you have forgotten. In my
eyes, she never looked better She
was always slight and delicate, you
know, and rarely had much color"
Perhaps my memory is at fault;
but | had a vision of Bertha with
rounder, ruddier cheeks, than / see
today
THAT great baby in her arms will
suggest a reason for the change. It
does not come from failing health.
My friend seemed so entirely at
ease on the subject that I said no
more; but did not feel satisfied. we
talked for an hour IN the library when
! dinner was aoanced and ne joined
ls@-