The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-08-24
Two Souls With But A Single
Thought

The Homecoming of Muriel Stanton
was social event in Bay View. Be-
sides being the only daughter of Mr..
Beckwith Stanton, than whom there
was no one weather. or more re-
spected in the community. Miss
Muriel also radiated a geniality of
spirit and charm of manner that
would have won her hosts of warm
friends whatever might have been her
station in life.
For two years she had been stu
dent in one of the fashionable travel
schools which made it's headquarters
in Paris, but the growing intensity of
the Great War necessitated the clos
ing of such educational institutions.
So, after many experiences both
thrilling and inconvenient, she had
safely landed in America, and upon
her arrival at Bay View plunged into
the social whirl. 1t was commonly re-
marked that Bay View had never wit
messed more brilliant series of So
ciety functions than followed the
return home of Muriel Stanton.
At the close of an afternoon of
unusual gaiety, Mrs. Stanton found
her daughter in a secluded corner of
the spacious Italian garden.
why, Muriel," she exclaimed, 1--WE
been looking for you these 20 minutes.
Whatever are you doing out here?"
Just enjoying the late afternoon,
mother" smiled Muriel, with a slight
trace of usefulness in her expression.
THAT curious cloud arrangement over
the western horizon reminds me of
the Japanese print | have, where the
blackbirds are flying in long line
against the wonder of an oriental
sky
The look of wistfulnes in her
daughters smile, was not lost on Mrs.
Stanton. She sat down upon the mar
BILE garden seat and with motherly
affection placed her arm about
Muriers shoulders.
Sweet, both your father and have
observed certain restraint about you
since your return home. Is it DR.
Perry about whom you are thinking
or did you meet some dashing French
or English officer before leaving
Europe and are now regretting his
absence?"
Turning her face directly toward
her mother, Muriel slowly shook hel
head and replied:
Mother, dear, | believe | like DR.
Perry best of my men acquaintances
Only last night he asked me to marry
him, but | told him l was not in a
position to give him definite answer
He pressed me for the reason, but
wished first to discuss the matter
with you No, mother, it is not DR.
Perry that is my chief concert
though naturally he is by no means
out of my mind. l hope that which
| am about to tell you will not cause
you undue alarm or misrepresentation
Please promise you will listen quite
calmly to what l shall say"
"Muriel! You alarm me even by
your suggestion. What on earth is
troubling your"
You recollect, mother, that before
| went abroad, | expressed wish to
be educated in the convent of Nor
wood, but after much discussion OF
the subject, in fact after fear that
should be so impressed with the
'pageantry of Romanism' l might en-
brace Catholicism, it was agreed that
l should go to Europe instead. II
has developed your fears were well
founded"
Daughter, do you mean to tell me
that"
Hush, mother, please let me con
tinue. Please let me explain fully
You will recall that from the Riviera
we went to Rome, where we spen'
several months. One day, we had {
respite from our language and ar
| lessons and spent the Afternoon
| among the hills on the outskirts o
| the city. AS is common to every Cath
Ollie country in Europe, there were
small shrines everywhere. On this
| particular dlIGIAOOA, uAoSOtSANo
charming little chapel nestled amon'
| the trees. | debated for some time
as to whether | should enter, but
seemed drawn to do so by an If
| resistible impulse. So | sought thu
quiet and GOODNESS of the interior.
Coming from the bright SUNSHINE
into the darkened building, | wal
momentarily blinded but gradually
made my way up narrow aisle ant
knelt by the altar rail. When | wa
able to see distinctly, | found befor'
me an exquisite statue of the Blessed
Virgin holding the Christ Child il
| her arms l knelt before the statu
for Is or 20 minutes, and as | knel
| a great peace flooded my soul. N
vague words rushed to my lips or m!
mind, but a great well of love fille'
my heart-love of Mary and her Babe
Catholics possess great heritage il
their devotion to the Virgin Mother
and it is this feature of their faitl
that has always drawn me particu
larly. The few minutes spent in tn
little chapel are among the happies
of my life."
"And l suppose that the momen
you reached the city you lost no tim