The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-04-28

Ou IhS OOAAo"1ul way VI LIlG ClOSS.
She glanced from Chester Courtney's
face, his lips still curled in sneering
laughter, to the volume lying in her
lap. He reached forth his hand.
''Let me throw it out of the win
dow, Geraldine" His tone was sweet
and persuasive.
No Her other hand came down
on it protectingly. Il want to finish
reading it,
Vivian laughed at her brothers look
of angry discontinue. Geraldine
again resumed her reading, quietly, to
all appearances, but secretly filled
with conflicting emotions. If anyone
had told her yesterday that she would
have disregarded the wishes of one
for whose sake she had apostatized,
she would have rejected the prophecy
with contempt But although she did
not realize it, the grace of God was
knocking at the door of her soul. The
compassionate Shepherd was search
ing the highway for the sheep that
had strayed from the fold.
Geraldine Tremayn was an orphan.
She scarcely remembered her father,
who had been a convert to Catholicity.
Her mother, a most devout woman,
had been called away when her child
most needed her love and care. At
that time Geraldine had been a day
pupil at a convent school. After her
mothers death she went to live with
her fathers sister, who lost no time
in removing her from all Catholic in
f1uences. Her aunt was sincere in the
thought that to have her niece pro-
claim herself a Catholic was to ruin
her prospects for the future. So she
brought worldly influences to bear
upon her. The result was what might
have been expected. Geraldine be-
came vain and frivolous. She grew
neglectful of her religious duties. If
the hope of one day returning to her
allegiance still fingered in her mind
it was dispelled completely when she
met Chester Courtney.
Wealthy, handsome, born to com.
mand and highly gifted intellectually,
his was sad waste of talents. a
lamentable abuse of natures noblest
gifts. At one time he had professed
belief in one of the numerous sects of
Professionalism. Finding nothing to
hold him, he became sceptical, and at
last drifted from the narrow channel
of doubt into the open sea of infidel-
ity His book shelves were lined with
works by atheistical writer's. He
sneered at the mention of religion.
Often Geraldine shuddered at the ir-
reverent expressions he made use of,
but she could not resist his fascinating
personality. She gave to the creature
the love which belonged to the Crea-
tor. And now she was his promised
wife, and their marriage was to take
place in the early summer
The morning hours sped on. The
sky cleared and the April sun shone
brightly. Vivian and Mr.. Forbes con-
versed gaily. Mr.. Courtney looked
moodily out of the window watching
the varying landscape.
Geraldine turned the last page and
read it eagerly. Then she noticed
that the fiyleaf was covered with lines
closely written in pencil:
'To the hall of that feast came the
sinful and fair,
She heard in the city that Jesus was
there.
She marked not the splendour that
blazed on their board,
But silently knelt at the feet of her
Lord.
''The hair of her forehead, so sad and
so meek,
Hung dark DER the bushes that burn
ed on her cheek;
But SO still and SO lowly she knelt in
her shame,
It seemed that her spirit had flown
from it's frame.
'The frown and the murmur went
round thro' them all
That one SO unhallowed should tread
in that hail.
| And some said the poor would be oh.
jects more meet
For the wealth of the perfumes she
showered at His feet.
"She marked but her Saviour, she
spoke but in signs,
She dared not look up to the heaven
! of His eyes;
And the hot tears gushed forth at each
| heave of her breast,
AS her lips to His sandals she throb
| bingly pressed.
"On the cloud after tempests, she
shineth the bow,
In the glance of the sunbeam, as melt
/ eth the snow,
/ He looked on that lost one, her sin,
i were forgiven;
And Mary went forth In the beauty
of heaven!"
Geraldine closed the book and sa
i buried in thought. To her compan
ions questions she returned mono
syllable answers. Chester Courtne,
was angered and half alarmed at he
strange conduct.
AAlA&~ CONTINUED On page 6.l 49,