The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-02-02
MADONNA MIA.

by night at the theaters and banquet
halls. My parents We're dead, but
they had managed during their life
time to amass a sufficient fortune to
leave me man of leisure. My in
come from the rents of number OF
East Side tenements was large enough
to allow me free hand. One night |
came home to my apartments in a
bachelor suite, suffering from a pain
in my chest. II had been going of late
rather briskly and had been drinking
rather heavily. The next morning
found me very sick man. There
was painful oppression of the chest,
and pains shot through my back and
sides like electric sparks. | rang for
my valet and summoned the doctor.
He looked grave, stroked his chin and
said in a very serious tone: "Pneu-
monia.''.. He used his privilege of a
long-standing friendship to read me a
little lecture on my gay and giddy
life, but to tell the truth, he produced.
little effect. The outcome was that
a trained nurse was at once secured.
Almost before | realized what had
happened, a ;.fraillooking girl, with
large brown eyes and an abundance
of brown waving hair was moving
noiselessly about my room. What
don't remember, but there are vague
recolfections of grinning devils and
/ plying brown eyes; of Kissing ser
penis and a soothing voice, urging me
to quiet and repose. ~,
On awakening one bright morning
from the darkness of delirium to the
reality around me, felt the anxious
craving for life and the coWardly fear
of death. All was silent, save for the
girl who sat by the window reading,
in a whisper, a small red book. AS
stirred slightly, her eyes turned to-
ward me. ! NJ
"Oh, Mr.. Stanley; good morning."
she smiled.
It is said that when everything else
fails the ruling passion always as
serts itself, and so my churlish self
| ishness atflonce manifested itself. Far
from being grateful at my escape from
death, there was scarcely feeling
of gladness at my recovery; there
was no remorse for my own indul-
gence and the thoughtless exposure
which had precipitated this siege of
sickness; there was only "a mean cha
grin at the fact that L had been i'll at
ALL My true character stoodlFevealed,
and what added to my discontinue,
II knew that: girl with those large
brown eyes had read deep down into
my very soul. Arising she came over
to my bed. Fl
f. I'm glad you're coming around,
she said. Now, don't I must beg of
you, don't throw off those blankets.
You're very weak and must do as I
say" " W..
las for doing what you say, you
must understand, as you are in my
employ, that am accustomed to give
orders to those | hire
She looked her establishment, but
my attempt at intimidation had failed.
was soon obeying her, and carrying
out her wishes.
The days dragged on to three
weeks since 1 had returned to con-
seriousness. had been like spoiled
child. When things went well | in.
duIged in Gliding and fault-fnding;
but when the ordinary inconvenience
. consequent upon every sick-room
thwarted my wishes, / gave vent to my
| feelings in language that was coarse
Eand violent Miss Morrison (such was
i my nurses name) took my ungentle
manly words and actions as a matter
of course; you can guess my. surprise
then, at what followed.
The first day was allowed to walk
around, having gone to the window
to look upon the busy street, with its
autos flying past, pedestrians dodg
ing, hurrying. to and fro, turned
] toward my living room and opened
/ the door. Puzzled for a moment,
grew violentlgs angry. ] glared around
at the girl.
what does this mean?" I growled;
and followed up my question with 8
regular volley of reproaches anG
curses.
/ What does what mean?" she asked
i Come here" | exclaimed. 'LooE
at that room! Who has dared to tam
| per with it?''
| She did not seem to grow. excited
Ibut came over to the open door ant
| stood beside me.
Mr.; Stanley. before you go any
| further. I've something to say. Fol
three. weeks you have been using Ian
-guage which r do. not. care to hear
II have not adverted to- the fact. be
cause my duty was to save your life
/ if possible. Now that YOU are out: o.
/ danger, Iawant to tell you, you mus
either dispense with such language. q
| dispense with my services
7 + knew she meantsit. She was de
terInined woman, though slight ant
fTaf1 Of body. I tell you, character
and determination stood clearly mark
/ ed on her flushed face. I was silenf
i for a moment.
/ You're the first woman who has
ever objected to my language an
| swered.
4 Then your mother must be dead,
Sht replied. ssBut be that as it NAV