The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-01-25
NDE re-

culateness to put a soothing hand up
on his friends arm; and that the ire
aroused by Matthew's ballad had had
no sundering effect on their comrade-
ship seemed evidenced by the fact
that John DOORS accompanied Martin
Boylan, when the latter some three
quarters of an hour afterwards came
in to partake of the afternoon tea pre-
Jared by his daughter Mary
Yet there was flaw in the perfect
crystal OF their understanding.
Whether he desired it or not, that
note Of husky bellicoseness still dom
mated John DOORS speech; and it
was, perhaps, as much of a relief to
Martin as to his daughter when, plead
ing sieap-compelling WEAKNESS as his
excuse, the visitor arose and babe
them both goodnight Mary straight
way availed herself of the luxury of a
solitary evening with her father to
again venture speech on the lately
forbidden topic of Hugh Leonard's
varied eXcellcncies: and to her equal
surprise and delight found that she
was not commanded to desist from
these candid eulogums.
Suddenly Martin spoke to her an
astonishing word.
Tell me, Mary he said, have
ever acted in such a way to you that
it was necessary for you to tell every
straggler that happened to be strolling
around the country about it," With
restraint closely allied with a wise
d plomacy, Martin had thus far re-
Trained from broaching to his daugh-
ter any mention of the matter so
greatly troubling and veXinS himself.
Telling every straggler-" Mary
began puzZledIy, and then stopped
short, remembering that past morn
ing confidence with old Matthew Flah-
erty; why, if | have spoken at all.
it was only to Hugh Leonard and"
There she stopped, lamely but de-
cisiVely. She must not involve old
rhyming Matthew whose
living, such as it was, depended so
! largely on the goodwill of his more
prosperous neighbors.
Yes, and YOU told Matthew FIahcr-
| ty. too. And now he's doing nothing
| but making songs about myself and
| yourself and John DOORS, and singing
! them round the country. To think of
disgrace like that being put upon
me at this time of life. And what |
say now is, that since it was yourself
started him, you had better think out
some way of stopping him before he
! has your father branded and handed
down to posterity as a scheming old
miser and trickster and tyrant.'
He choked on the bitter words
There's just one way, father, of
doing that" answered Mary, with a.
! firmness that amazed herself-"just
one way alone. And you know well
enough what that is
Martins answer was unexpectedly
mild
Let me think, Mary, let me think"
he said
So he thought; seeing between him
and the hearth-fames, now paling to
ashes, John DOORS brick-red counte-
nance, as he had seen it that after
noon glowing to a darker veXation as
it turned upon himself. Beside chal-
lengingly rose the face of Hugh Leon
ard. young, bright-eyed, smilingly con.
fident, bravely-kind; while nearer still
her cheek pressed against his shirt
sleeve leaned the motherless daugh
ter whose happiness was the very
core and kernel of all his striving
Perhaps you're right, Mary he
said, drawing her head to his breast in
a manner familiar to her childhood
and perhaps old Matthew's not Sc
wrong either. Anyhow, we must put
an end to his singing about us. II
be going past the school tomorrow
afternoon, with the horse and cart
and | don't see any reason why
shouldn't go in and invite Hugh Leon
ard to evening tea with us" l3ata5a.
-EieanorR Corfn Rosa,p Na0ozfnes