The Catholic bulletin., 1918-02-16
A Necklace and a Cross

poPaidI "I1H the young people OIL our
set, and encouraged by admiration.
They were right My mother was the
religion Of our home, and irreEgion
lived in the person of my father and
relatives, and yet they failed to con-
slider the impression my beloved
mother had made on me. At her knees
i learned to pray, and from her de-
voted soul imbibed the firmest faith
in the truths she believed
, My father could afford me a college
education. Then, as | had developed
a praisable soprano and possessed
some general talent for music, he in
sisted on sending me to Ashburn Uni
.Versity. My readers can imagine, if
they are not familiar with, my sur
roundings. To steal away to Mass
Sunday morning was not easy, in the
midst of unbelievers, but the memory
Of my mother, and, have 70 doubt,
her Watchful care from another
world, gave me strength and perse-
verancc.
] had many friends among both di-
visions, men and women, and finished
any two years course in vocal and in
strumental with fair amount of cx-
cellencC. In fact, | was installed
among the faculty with a far more
remuneratiVe position than individual
endeavor could have won me in years
Not more than u month of my first
term as instructor had passed when
Norbert J. Beckman was enrolled as
Il vocal student. What occupied the
remainder Of his time at the uniVer-
sity remained mystery. He was
English except in name and ways. His
black hair and fair skin caused SEN
satiOn, perhaps because the combina-
tion set off his splendid build with
dash and impressiveness. Besides he
had college mans smile--if you
| know what that is-which took our
guileless little girls by storm
| Professor Siepton took charge of
this promising pupil, and shortly after
came over to me for a voluntary re-
! port. "A wonderful voice; soft, mel
| low and resonant, a fair air, doesn't
know time yet, but the best material
! | have ever had"
/ was on the lookout for some de-
cline in his enthusiasm, which may
! have come in this guise. One morn.
ing he came in earlN Miss More
head, | have come to the conclusion
| that | must have your assistance once
| Or twice a week. My star pupil has
the voice, but it has begun to dawn or
| me that he lacks feeling. Your voice
will harmonic exquisitely and per
! haps you can put some feeling and
! some gertleness into his tones. If he
wanted to overwhelm people with
majesty and sublimity he would be
superb, but he does not appear tc
know the loftier emotions in the
] least"
| He came again later, and gave M
entire supervision of his precious
charge.
DO you want to sing in opera?"
asked him, smilingly.
Surely, Miss Moreland, if yol
/ think l have that kind of voice."
| THE professor simply thinks it tht
best ever"
We'll, yes, and we'll, no; he il
| dubious now about my heart. He doe:
not seem to think it all there"
l laughed. He put it amusingly TX
me.
You have not lost it, have your
| "Well, yes, and wen, no; l have
| not lost it so that | could not lose i
| again"
Then l suppose we instructors
must be satisfied with that
We got on admirably, as he woule
say. From intermittent remarks
| saw gleams OF brilliancy and fount
him an entertaining pupil.
Miss Moreland," he said on ont
occasion, you are very different from
| the others here
That's interesting, Mr.. Beckman
but trying, too, till know how"
4 "Well, of course, these intuitions o.
ones self are not easy to put il
| words. ! believe you are more sin
cerely yourself. | mean you are OK
ternally more independent and at the
sure you won't betray me, but some
how | find the majority over-polite
aad yet unfeeling, and not under
standing" The complaint was sincere
and his personality SO forceful in this
/ new guise-he was usually pleasant
| and facetious-that / could not meet
| it in any light vein whatever.
That's nice of you, Mr.. Beckman
but don't you think you are too hard
on the rest?"
Il think not. | can give you an
example. You won't mind if it is a
confession?'
This side of the man was a reycla
ton, as he lowered above me at the
piano. negligent, but incapable of IN
gainliness.
when | came into your university
world | soon found myself popular
among the girl students, but could
not get on at all with the men.
| turned man-courtcr. I got their first
names and had compliments for their
accomplishments. On the other hand
| with the most popular girls, | asked
/ pardon when we met. for allowing
their names to escape me. They cut
me fast, but | won their admirers
Hence | am now in wrong only with