The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-05-19

can't mean that it's wrong, or illegal, |
or anything like that?"
Father Fender regarded her coldly. |
These women. Fl. What was the use?
"Of course, it's wrong" in a chilly |
tone that indicated plainly, what else
could it be? Didn't you ever hear of
stuffing the ballot box?"
ooh, but" murmured poor Mrs.
Ryan, on the verge of tears, ''but we
we didn't mean anything like that.
Mine were all real people," piteously.
I'm sure they-the extra ones-all
were."
THAT may be- softening bit;
"but you can see yourself how it
could be abused"
Mrs. Ryan nodded miserably. She
had an overwhelming sense of shame,
as though she had been doing some
thing disgraceful Yet every one of
those whose votes she had put in had
given them to her in good faith
Father" Mrs. Rockford half whis-.
pered, anxious to pour oil on the trou-.
bled water-she had had no proxies
and she was extracting considerable
enjoyment out of the situation-"Why
not follow my little Virginias sugges-
ton and choose neutral saint? And
you make the choice
"A neutral saint?" puzzled. Obi"
His frown relaxed as she explained.
! Hum we'll :" He arose.
Bright eyes, eXpectant eyes, pleas
antly beaming eyes, but not shamed
or confounded eye among all those
that faced him so confidently, not to
say confidingly. Just for all the world
like lot of children" he told himself
with irritated Indulgence. Then ehis
sense of humor, hitherto unwarrant-
ably absent, came dancing back to
him, and he smiled.
my dear ladies' he said, when
you come to vote-some day-for the
President Of the United States, or the
| Governor, say-don't, l beg of you,
| don't undertake to vote all the absent
or Indifferent ladies in your neighbor-
hood
There was an interrupting murmur
| of protest, more or less laughing, and
preening Doesn't he think we
| know better than that?" went f1ut-
tering through the crowd.
| Because" Father Pender went on,
now smiling genially, there are some
quite unfeeling laws directed espe,
| cially against such agreeable occupa'
tons. Now" holding up monitory
| finger, "since I'm sure we all wish to
| conform to the letter of the law even
in small things, we shall have to
/ throw out all these votes for the rea
son that so many of them were cast
illegally. Not that you meant it that
way, I'know," hastily.
"Oh, no, Father" earnestly, and in
chorus.
/ We'll, then. So now instead of vot
ing again-which you may do if yor
i prefer, however, have a suggestion
to make on my own part. This or
ganization which has done so much
for poor families throughout the city
and is planning to keep on with the
excellent work, could do no better
than to choose for it's patron one wht
looks with a kindly eye on all wht
labor and suffer, himself the head O.
|, the loveliest family the world ha:
ever seen-the good, the gentle st
j Joseph
J, The arresting applause was so sud
den and hearty as to be almost dis
, concerning, and whatever furthe
!, words Father Fender might have sai'
were hushed on his lips by the laugh
ing chatter which ensued. But he dit
manage a remark to Mrs. Ryan.
t "Why, that seemed to be unanimous
, so to speak," elevating his eyebrows
, "I-ah-somehow got the impression
that the ladies were a bit stubborn.
| Mrs. Ryan was still flushed, but sh
: had a curiously satisfied look. "Not
t bit of it," she returned gaily, surpris
, ing herself as much as Father Pende
: by the statement.
: And Mrs. Rockford, who had beef
7 accommodating among the ladies, hur
: ried up with the laughing announce
) ment: Il actually believe they all cas-
) their votes for St. Joseph, Father. TIL
jokes on somebody, isn't it?''
ii An examination of the ballot box
r after the members of st. Joseph guile
! had dispersed in particularly goo'
! humor, bore out the truth of Mrs
Rochford's belief. Nearly all Of tn
: women had evidently arbitrated wit
. their desires and convictions, and
E with a few scattering votes for 81
| Hedwig on behalf of the faithful
, Poles, and three or four aggressiv
st. Christophers, every vote had beel
, cast for st. Joseph.
, But where are yours, Minnie?
, Mrs. Rockford asked, ruffling througl
r the bits of paper. They're practicall
, all St. Joseph. Did you"
:, She looked up suspiciously int
e Mrs. Ryan's conscious face.
f why, st. Joseph was my choice.
$ that lady admitted with a candid,
guilty smile.
J. Helen Moriartp, In The Ma0nifcat.