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

after a poverty-stricken doctor the
troll. I warned you what his so-called
friendship meant. Though, thanks to
the good sense taught you, it failed
in its object, it has done you no end of
harm. What is that book on the Cath
olic religion doing in your room?"
Sheila was silent, thankful that she
was no longer in short frocks.
''His lending you such a book" Mrs.
Dacre continued, proved him to be
no gentleman"
''It was in his library" explained
the niece, 'and he thought it might in
terest me- U
What interest could it have-for a
PROTESTANT"
81 told him I was baptized a
Catholic"
Got" stormed the aunt, losing her
temper. IAN agnostic? He is a Jesu-
it in disguise. The sooner you leave
this house, the better. A Romanist is
no fit companion for my girls
John Chester's Professionalism had
never been more than prejudice
against Rome. Already weakened by
reading and travel, it had entirely
given way before his Irish wife's sim
pie faith and piety. He had cheered
her last moments by promising to APP
point a Catholic nurse for their child.
But death anticipated his purpose.
His latest will vested his fortune in
trustees till Sheila should reach the
age of tWenty-threes But it left his
sister, Mrs. Dacre, free to claim legal
custody of her niece. In vain old
Bridget, the child's Nurse, denounced
dying wishes. She was told that pious
opinions counted for nothing in law.
Sheila had always caused her aunt
some anxiety. She expressed singular
views, and could not be broken of the
habit of calling spade spade. Still,
considering her fathers eccentricity
and her mothers superstition, a few
oddities were to be expected. But
once she became friendly with John
Keith, her gaucheries passed all
bounds. She discussed religion, open
ly questioned her social sets beliefs,
even riddled with agnostic arguments
the creed she had learned at school
mo one will marry her." remon-
strated Mrs. Dacre's bosom friend.
"Her talk amuses men but it also
shocks them What she says is clever
and, between ourselves, very true; but
you know how one longs to slap a
priggish child that is always showing
off it's precocious wisdom!"
She is twenty-five was the de-
spairirg reply, "and more obstinate
than any child.
Sheila's contention was that poverty
was no bar to intellectual friendship,
and when wilful niece is both deaf
to advice and too big to be whipped,
what is a perplexed aunt to do? Mrs.
Dacre knew well that John Keith was
no fortune-hunter. A certain Mar
garet Ellison, who had just finished
her education in Belgium, had en-
gagged. herself to ten thousand year.
Mrs. Dacre's opinion of convent
schools as educational establishments
for Protestant young ladies was, in
consequence, much modified. What
sensible grip she exclaimed. "A
mere child, too! She has only just
put up her hair"
Sheila opposed the view that Mar
garet had made her salvation secure.
"She does not love, you say she OBJ
jected. IF that is the case, money
will bring her no happiness. A girl
should marry man for himself
alone.
There speaks DR.. Keith" the aunt
had .sneered. "A most sensible idea
for pauper~s lllm-doctor to instil into
a girl with five thousand pounds. If
you marry him, my dear, it win GER
tainly be for himself alone"
q The word sslum-doctor' sounded so
wen that Mrs. Dacre repeated it. IL
she could only have heard her niece
quote it at the critical momentl That