The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-07-19
E D NC Alto N Al
FIN AN c. l.
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
THE TEST.

expects calls at all hours. janet ala
not often wake at the sound OF the
sharp little bell, but for some reason
she did on this particular occasion,
and she heard for fathers deep-volced
answer:
"All right, Lucy, I'll be over in few
minutes"
Janet did not go to sleep for some
time. She lay in the dark, her eyes
wide open. her mind uncomtortably
active. It must have been Lucy Ross
to whom her father was speaking.
Could it be that Lucy's mother hao
had relapse? 1t had been SIX months
and thirteen days since the two girls
had spoken to each other, but the
thought that Lucy might be in serious
trouble kept Janet awake.
At breakfast Janet made no inquiry
about her fathers night call,
Poor Lucy Ross is having nara
time this year. She hasn't been aple
10 do ANYTHING since she had influenza,
and last night her father got up to get
an extra blanket for the BED ana III
stead of opening the door to the hall
closet as he supposed, he opened the
door at the head of the back stairs
and fell headlong.
Janet uttered Mortified cry
II did not kill him, but broke his
leg" her father continued. You d pet
Ter go over today, Janet, and see what
YOU can do to help Lucy. Shes
nluckv girl and a smart one, but she's
had more on her shoulders this year
than anv Young girl should carry.
Janet did not answer and appar-
entity her father took her silence Tor
agreement. But after breakfast she
followed her mother into the bedroom
and spoke in a low voice.
You so over and help Lucy, mother,
and I'll do the work here
Mrs. Maxwell looked at her daugh-
Ter gravely.
Why don't you go yourselt, janet,
as your father suggested?
Janets color deepened.
You know why, MOTHER
Mrs. Maxwell sighed.
Il hope you we're sorry for your
share in the foolish quarrel.
Il am sorry" Janet said. If |
could live this last year over, Lucy and
l would be as good friends as ever. l
am dreadfully sorry for her but can't
go over and offer to help her before
she's done a thing to show she wants
to be friends. | won't be the first.
Again Mrs. Maxwell sighed. 1t was
not the first time she had gone over
the question with Janet, and she had
exhausted her arguments. Janet freely
admitted that she had been very much
to blame in the quarrel which had sep,
arated Lucy and herself. She acknowl
edged that she was very sorry and
ashamed of her part in the misunder
standing, but she was not sorry enough
to take the first steps toward recon
Citation.
Mrs. Maxwell spent great deal Of
time the following week at the Ross
home. Lucy was unusually competent
for a girl of seventeen, and no one
could doubt her pluck, but for months
she had been doing work far beyont
her strength and she was beginning
to show the strain. She was extremel!
grateful for Mrs. MaxwelPs aid, ant
as frankly affectionate as daughte
would have been. Only one thing
showed the unnatural situation. Sh'
never mentioned Janet's name.
Mrs. Maxwell felt really uneas,
over going away to make long
promised visit to her sister
ct seems to selfish to leave you
dear" she said to Lucy one day
Janet's mother was under no illusions
She was perfectly aware that in tn
misunderstanding between Lucy ant
her daughter, Janet had been chief.
to blame and her heart went out t.
this slight young girl who was bearin,
a woman's burden so uncomplain
ingly.
you talk about being selfish You!
and Lucy suddenly flung her arm
about the older woman's neck. Mex
to MOTHER" she declared fervently
you are the dearest woman in tn
world"
Up to this time Janet had beef
given daily bulletins of the situation
in the Ross family. Her mother hat
not waited for her to ask questions
But now her mother did not mention
the patient in whom she was SO in
terested and Janet would not inquire
She comforted herself with tn
thought that everything must be &C
ing well or her father would speal
of it.
One day DR.. Maxwell came in iron
his calls frowning slightly, as he a
ways did when worried, and went a
once to the telephone. He called up
former nurse who had been married
year or two previously.
Good morning, Mrs. Rogers. wor
der if you are going to help me out b
taking a case for a few days till ca
get another nurse"
Apparently the answer was nc
favorable, for the doctors frown deel
ened.
Its pressing case, Mrs. Rogers
You know Lucy Ross. She's bee
nursing sick mother for severe
weeks and doing the housework e.
cept for such help as she has had frol
the neighbors This morning while
was making my call she dropped in
faint. There's nobody in the house
do thing, and all the nurses in tow
are huSy"