The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-04-28
Thus the two had strangely met

Thus the two had strangely met.
Geraldine accepted the invitation of
Sister Ignatius and went into the Sis
ter's house adjoining the church. Be
fore she left she had told her friend
her story, sparing herself in no way.
When she had finished, she said: Il
fear | have forfeited your good opin-
ion, Sister,. Her cheeks burned and
her voice was low and faltering.
Sister Ignatius laid her hand gently
on the bowed head. "No, nv child.
Although we despise sin, we must love
the sinner. Who among us is with
out sin? Many who vainly boast have
never been tempted. God will reward
you for the sacrifice you are making.
Be %comforted, for there is ioy in
heaven when a sinner does penance.'
Geraldine returned to the hotel
greatly comforted. On Holy Saturday
afternoon she mingled with the
throng of penitents. On Easter morn
ing she received her Risen Lord.
She, too, had risen to a new life.
- "ctNSAo VI L1lS AQu 6uCuSu jill
from the grave,
From the wounds of the Victor, Who
suffered to save"
Three days later Chester Courtney
was able to be removed to his
mothers home. His last interview
with Geraldine affected him greatly.
She told him all without reserve, and
pointed out the impossibility of mar
riage between them. To her sur
prise he did not sneer when she
openly avowed herself a Catholic, and
when they parted MARY Magdalen's
Funeral Tears was in his posses
sion.
Sister 1gnatius consulted with her
brother, Father Wynne, and the lat
ter obtained a position for Geraldine.
A friend of his, the pastor of one of
the large churches in a neighboring
city, desired an %organist. There was
also an excellent opening for a
teacher of music. Geraldine's talent
fitted her for the position. An &C
complished pianist, she possessed a
beautiful and well-trained voice. In
deed, it was her musical ability that
had first attracted Chester Courtney,
who was also a fine musician. She
gratefully accepted Father Wynne's
offer.
Several years passed. Miss Ire
mayn had won more than a local
musical reputation. Still young,
beautiful, and accomplished, it was
no wonder that she had received sew
eral excellent offers of marriage.
But she refused them all and de-
voted her time to teaching and charit-
able work.
For nearly four years she had
heard nothing of the Courtneys. A
year after Chester's accident, his
mother had died. Vivian married
and returned to the East. About the
same time her brother went to
California. One day Geraldine re.
ceived a letter from Father Wynne
asking her to take part in a concert
for the benefit of the Church of the
Holy Rosary. She consented gladly
for the sacred edifice was very dear
to her.
Some time before, Father Wynne
had received a large contribution from
an unknown source. 1t enabled him
to put into execution a long-cherished
plan-the building of a school fol
boys, under the patronage of st
Joseph. The concert was to take
place in the hall of the recently com
pleted structure on the evening oil
the day of it's dedication.
With some emotion Geraldine re
visited for the first time the place
where the great change in her life
had been effected. Sister Ignatius
received her affectionately. She ad
mired the beauty of the new schoo
and went into the church to pray
She took pleasure in playing on the
fine pipe organ in the new building
1t was also the gift of the unknown
donor. Geraldine drank tea will
Father Wynne. He told her that j.;
feature of the concert was to be the
singing of a boys quartet and choru.
under the direction of Brother Joseph
a fine musician who had been teach
ing in the old school for nearly +;
! year. Brother Joseph was highl!
gifted, but remarkably modest ant
retiring. Nevertheless, he was to b.
placed in charge of the new school
Geraldine listened with interest
From Father Wynne's praise, she con
ceived an exalted opinion of Brothe,
Joseph. That evening when she hat
finished her solo and responded to al
enthusiastic encore, she watched thu
boys, sixteen in number, come on thu
stage. The organ pealed forth grand
ly, the music rose and fell, soft ant
low like a lullaby, full and stronl
like a song of triumph. Then thu
clear, boyish voices were raise'
heavenward. They sang exquisitely
their training was marvellous, AM
the applause was long and loud. A
last they filed out. Geraldine ben
forward to look at the gifted Brothe
Joseph. For an instant their eye
met in mutual recognition. 1t wa
Chester Courtney.
Like. a flash she c~omprehende'
everything. He was the mysteriou
benefactor, whose munificence ha'
erected st. Joseph's School for Boys