The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-11-06
Shadows and Sunshine

III SkAV w ~ASA ~
The sun went down in flaming
glory, turning the ocean into sea OF
liquid fire, painting the little cottage
on the shore vivid rose color, and,
piercing the window, formed halo
around the golden head of a young girl
reclining in a morris chair. 1t was
very pale but winsome face the sun
nv curls framed and it's beauty was
more of heaven than of earth.
Slowly the sun sank from view, the
crimson glow died out of the sky and
the face by the window became mar
ble-like in it's pallor. An elderly wom-
an with kind, sweet face entered the
room, looked anxiously at the droop-
ing golden head and then approached
the girl with glass in her hand
Here, darling, take a swallow of
this" she said gently, holding the
tumbler to the girls lips. "It will put
bit of color into your cheeks against
your brothers coming
The girl drained the glass. Il feel
better, Nan, DEAR" she said with a
| smile. "You said Edgar would arrive
about seven o'clock, didn't you? There!
The clock is striking the hour now.
"And here comes your brother, too, y
AIDED Nan, as the front door shut
rather noisily and firm steps were
heard in the hall.
A soft glow came into the pale
cheeks, the deep blue eyes lit up with
Joy, and, as tall, handsome, bright
haired young man entered the room,
she stretched out her arms.
! EDGAR"
"Agnes, my DEAR" he said, taking
both her hands in his and bending
over her WITH "a world of love and
concern in his fine, manly face, How
does the salt air agree with my little
sister,"
Every we'll indeed, Edgar" answered
| Agnes. 81 have been stronger this
week than for long time. And, oh!
how / love the ocean! I lie here by
the hour watching the pillows break
upon the beach,
81 am glad, Dear Heart" he said
stroking her shining curls.
"But come, children, supper is
ready" called Nan from the adjoining
room, whittier she had gone while
brother and sister were exchanging
greetings.
Agnes arose, and leaning lightly or
her brothers arm was conducted t6
her chair. He sat down opposite hel
and during the meal watched hel
stealthily. Yes, she was better, he tolo
himself. Why, the last week in the city
she had been unable to get up. Surely
there was hope of her ultimate cure
her case could not be hopeless.
Agnes and Edgar Donovan were or
phans. Their parents had been car
ried off within week of each othel
by an epidemic six years ago. Witt
her dying breath the mother gave
Agnes into her brothers care. Since
then Edgar (who was six years hel
senior had been father and motEel
and brother to Agnes. Her nurse, al
ways affectionately called "Nan," glad
| ly left her married daughter, Will
whom she had made her home, to b.
with her darling and watched Owe
Agnes with mothers care. Agnes
always frail, had begun to fail SOM
months ago, but so imperceptibly. tia
even Edgar's watchful eyes did no
detect her danger until her condition
became alarming. Then he heard tn
terrible truth that she was the victim
: of an incurable heart disease, and that
| if he wished to prolong her life, n
must take her out Of the city, eithe
to the country or the seashOre. As
mes longed for the ocean, and Edga
therefore rented a pretty little cottag
on the shore not far from a small cit
so that he was able to spend his weel
ends with them.
After supper Agnes reclined In tn
large rocker on the porch, overlookin
the beach, and Edgar sat down at he
feet. It was a beautiful night, cali
and warm, with a thousand stars null
roring themselves in the heaving ocea
and the pillows musically tapping upo
the beach. To the north. betwee
!. them and the glare Of the city, tn
illuminated cross of st. Joseph's Res
House rose into the star-studded hea'
ems. To the south. the lights OF
cottage mile or SO away twinkle
cheerily. Beyond, all was darkness.
Agnes broke the silence after
while by saying:
Tomorrow is Sunday and ! sha
j, not be able to 60 to Mass"
8 "Never mind, dear, you can pra
in your own little room and ] sha
pray for, you and beg God to restcl
you to health"
"If 1t is His will, brother darling
softly returned Agnes. Then, ate
pause, she said:
Edgar, I am very much intereste
IN q young lady who passes here ever
morning to attend Mass at st. j
seph's. Sometimes she is accompal
led w an elderly lady, her mothe