The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-12-15

the Precious Blood. The congrega-
ton had been a great teaching order
in it's day, and in the pioneer period
OF the city's existence had been a
force in religious and municipal life.
Now the local houses of the order
had long been closed, and the eleven
mounds here in Mount Calvary Gem
etery, with their weather-stained
wooden crosses, were all but forgot
ten.
''Its a fortunate thing" unused Del
mege in his whimsical way, "that the
men whose bodies rest here had high
er aims than earthly fame and human
recognition. And over yonder is the
massive vault of George P. Towne,
the man who had boosted that he
meant to leave monument behind
him. Well, there's his monument, all
right; but l daresay it doesn't exact.
ly square with the late George P.s
aspirations. ~
A rustling in the long grass, caused
Delmege to look over his shoulder
and he saw an old and poorly dressed
| woman approaching. His trained eye
| promptly discovered her role in the
inscrutable drama of life.
"She's victim of poverty, depres
| sion and asthma. Also, she has been
drinking more than is good for her.
The woman looked cautiously al
Delmege, stopped and moistened hel
lips with her tongue. She drew q
| tattered gray shawl more closely
about her narrow, STOPPING shoulders
and said:
Il hope I'm not disturbing you, sir
but wonder if you could let me have
the price of a cup of coffee?"
| Her tones were dry and very tired
1t was evident that her mendicant
formula was very familiar to her owT
ears.
| Delmege, rising to his feet, noted
the hard CLINT that came into the
woman's eyes as his hand slipped into
his trouser pocket.
| THANK you, sir" she murmured
her thin, soiled fingers closing on the
coin he proffered her. God will re
ward you for helping poor woman
in distress"
On the point of moving away sht
cast another glance at his face. Their
| she stood stock still, the look freez
ing into a surprised, incredulous
| stare.
Dear mel" she exclaimed, partl!
to herself. "You can't be-are vol
little Tommy Delmege?'
Il used to be, long ago" he smiled
when I had no literary aspirations
Now they insist on ca ng me 4. Penn
/ berton. But, my dc madam, yol
| certainly have the advantage of me-
Eyes, it must be Tommy Delmege,
the woman continued. I'D know those
eyes of yours anywhere. | remem
Der we used to argue about whether
they we're brown or gray.
That laughed Delmege, lis still
a matter of debate"
and you used to serve Mass at st
| Margaret's; and remember the time
you got set of books in the parochia
school for the best English compost
ton; and then -
Delmege took quick step for
ward
Good heavens!'' he whispered
You are the priests Annie!"
The childhood phrase came to his
lips automatically Here, after many
years, was the plump and rosy "sec
ond girl in the clergy residence al
st. Margaret's. Here was the Annie
who used to open the door and SWEEP
the front steps and make a gay morn
i ing trip down Twenty-fourth street tx
the bakers and the fruit stand. Here
was the Annie who had tied up his
cut finger that awful day he ha6
played at fighting a duel with Joe
Kelly, the Annie who had, on many
occasions, conveyed cakes and apples
to the altar boys. Here was Mrs
Laidlaw's sister!
The two women-how we'll he re
membered it all!-had been employed
Lin the priests house. One day Annie
had disappeared and no word was
1 spoken of her after. Vainly had nc
asked his mother, Father Don, Bill
the sexton, her own sister Kate. II