The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-10-04

Velope. much worn at the corners.
With shaking fingers and the aid of
his teeth, he managed to extract the
contents.
There, madame" he said proudly,
and leaned back with the air of a
lawyer having won his suit
II was written in rather fine, very
foreign hand, and in Italian which,
unfortunately l am not able to read;
but at the bottom of the single sheet,
before my staring eyes, was the un-
mistakable signature: Giacomo, Mar
chesa della Chiesa, His Holiness Bene-
dict XIV, Pope OF Rome!
| thought Marie would burst Her
face assumed an alarming purple, and
she sputtered in French, babbling in
coherent terms of endearment which
she showered upon the Pope and the
poilu alike. Then I became conscious
that the hero of this astonishing tale
was speaking once more.
Madame sees that I have spoken
the truth 1t is of verify the sig
nature of the Pope. always carry
| it with me wherever | go, it is my
one treasure Madame would like me
| to translate? Good-but no, | do not
have to look at it, | know it by heart.
| 1t says that the Holy Father had had
| injuries made-it took three months,
| madame understands-and that he is
| glad to inform me that both my father
and mother are alive and are now in
England in a place called Upper
Meth; that in this letter | will find
a draft on the Bank of Rome, money
enough to take me to England in the
most simple way, which would be by
New York because of the war; that
His Holiness blesses his son and
wishes him Godspeed upon his jour
ney, and that the peace of God the
| Father may now and forever rest in
my heart, even if it is not to be found
| in the world at this time. Then the
| Pope signs his name. That is ALL /
am waiting for a ship to take me to
England and then | shall see my
mother and my father, and perhaps
will be able to get work to do. They
say we who are unfit can always find
work in England.
| And now, if madame will have the
goodness to allow me to alight, l will
do SO after expressing the gratitude
| feel toward madame for befriending
a lonely French soldier Madame has
been more than kind"
AS he stood at the side of the road
making funny little bows, his cap in
his hand and his SCARED boys face
looking up into mine, my heart nearly
overlooked | know my eyes did
And as for Marie!
Won't you tell me your name?"
asked.
'Ah, no, madame, if you please
That would spoil it. That would spoi
it. That would make you feel, per
haps, that you ask me to your house
and well, I would rather not.
should like to keep this afternoon
as it is, one of the pleasant memories
| shall take with me from New York
Besides, may at any moment receive
word that | must embark for England
Adieu, madame-mademois ant
; again l thank you,' and with a ga,
little wave of the cap he turned an,
, limped away.
) / watched him disappear. Then
, slammed the door to and snapped a
5 Clifford to drive home. -.
And you needn't blubber like
great baby, Marie" l said, wiping tn
tears from my eyes while | shifted i
most unladylike manner myself
There must be thousands just tlik
, him, | >or soul"
"Ah, out $3.50 young, madame, S
, y-young and b-brave! Oh, the poo
little boy! The poor little cabbage!
> 1T has been wonderful experience
= Think of picking up such a story a
!, that, and in Central park
ut is not his story, madame" M:
RE whimpered. THAT is nothins
But the young gentleman himself! S
charming, songay in all his medals
All, it is to make the heart ache-an
- madame in her old gray! Istold m;
dame she should wear her blue fol
q lard. Then, perhaps, monsieur woul
: have consented to return with us
- with madame. 1t is a thousand pi
1 ies." -
u You foolish creature! Do you SUI
pose the boy noticed what I had Of
an old woman like me-"
- "One can never say. If madam
= had worn her blue foulard, he migl
. have!" replied my incorrigible mai
as we drew up at the curb once NOR
!, | Tho rnfh0Ifc WOy2d