The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-08-18

its result, and she had. had time to
regain her temper. Thank goodness,
Sheila's worldly good sense had pre-
vailed. The obvious course now was
to get her away for time. The Eili-
sons had invited her to visit them and
be one OF, their daughters brides
maids. The beatific vision of the SEN
sible Margaret's reward would effect
ually cure her romantic wrong-head-
edness.
Sheila's widest dreams had never
pictured so perfect a trousseau.
How lovely!" she gasped, as the
| dainty laces and linens were unfolded
before her eyes. The wedding dress
struck her dumb with admiration.
"Thes only person not in love with
it, complained Mrs. Ellison, sis Mar
| garet herself. Ralph Stanton is all,
that a girl could desire, and he wor-
ships the ground she walks on. He
could make her SO happy if she would
let him. | tell her how wickedly blind
and ungrateful she is, butt And
two jeweled hands flew tragically
apart
Talk to her." the mother pleaded
| Tell her why you rejected that pre-
| sumptuous doctor. When she sees
| what Importance you, girl like her
1 self, attach to wealth and position,
she may
4 Sheila's heart was hot with anger,
her cheeks crimsoned with shame
/ Her confusion told Mrs. Ellison that
she had Numbered The baby-faced
Margaret required an act of faith
to believe she was eighteen-readily
responded to her new found friends
sympathy. you have been told SO
much" she said, that you. ought to
know all. In our set a girl must
marry we'll, and we'll means money.
i Mr.. Stanton has ten thousand a year,
i and he wants me. His expecting moth
ing with me is great consideration.
My brothers, Frank and Harry, are in
the Life Guards, the other four in
Cavalry regiments. Their expenses
are SO heavy drain on father
| THAT you will marry Mr.. Stanton
without loving him.
II have told no one but himself that
do not love him. | try to keep up
appearances. None can say that
do not show him due attention in pub
lie. If people infer that do not care
for him, it is not my fault"
The wedding was fixed for that day
month. But for Shiela, the Ellisons
would have been dining alone. Des
| sert had just ended, when footman
presented telegram.
Gracious" grasped Mr.. Ellison, up.
setting his wine. "The Amalgamated
Australasian Company have gone
smash, Stanton is utterly ruined"
The mothers shrek of consterna
ton drowned the daughters sigh OF
Irelief.
j 81 warned him to sell out" fumed
the father, "but he would have it that
shares would go higher, and went on
buying. Disaster was sure to follow
such pigheadedness sooner or later
Thank heaven for Madges sake, it has
come now
This view of the matter restored
Mrs. Ellison's philosophy. you never
cared for him." she said "And thai
nice boy, Gerald Trevor, is very well
off. Of course Mr. Stanton will under
stand that this breaks off the engage
ment?"
"Of counsel" assented Margaret.
"Shall I write-to make sure?"
"He knows the correct thing to do
mother. And as he is the only one to
be pitied it would be heartless to de-
prive him of his privilege"
At breakfast the next morning the
baby-face was radiant. 1t was evi
: dent that it's owner had shed no tears
! for her lost lover.
i Shiela could pardon Margaret's
smiles. But l wish she were more
sorry for Mr.. Stanton" she muttered
to herself.
what does he say?" inquired Mrs
Ellison from behind the tea-urn.
"That he will call this morning or
give me back my freedom replied
Margaret, thrusting letter into her
8 lap.
''You are sure your father or had
not better
quite sure, have been so straight
: forward with him all along that it will
be easy to be honest now. And / can
/, always talk most plainly to him when
we are alone"
I Ralph called about eleven. From
the room in which she was writing
IShiela saw him in the hall. She also
saw Margaret coming down the stairs.
But was it Margaret? Her cheeks
i were aglow, her eyes sparkling; the
fleet that had been so slow when her
Hover was announced now tripped as If
-sthey could not move fast enough
And she looked ever so much older
J She paused on, the last step, and
: smiled. Then-the step just enabled
j her to do it-she flung her arms
) around Ralph and kissed him.
Il Shiela shared his bewilderment.
Mar Miss Ellison?" she heard him
demonstrate. "You, cannot have had
!, my note. I am ruined"
$50 father told us last night
: "Our engagement is at an end
i II am so glad she laughed. Nov
u let lis make a new one"