The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-02-07
in desperation, Martha suggested fix.

q.
just talk today. I'm not going to wear
| that dress tonight, anyway. I can
| wear my old pink satin Or else not
| dress at all. Ed doesn't mind"
do you really believe he doesn't ."
asked Martha deliberately.
well" and Nora faltered, For
there suddenly came to her mind the
night her husband had brought home
! an unexpected guest, and the unp1eas
ant scene that had followed his de-
parture, which took place somewhat
| earlier than courtesy would ordinarily
have demanded. Ed had severely crit
| iciZed her management, her dress, the
| conduct of the children. And she had
retorted with bitter words. 1t was their
first real quarrel. Afterwards, Nora had
commanded him never again to bring
an unexpected guest and Ed had heed
ed her command. This had been
Nora's first intimation that she had
slipped into careless ways. The i'm
preston, unfortunately, was not last
ing. Martha's gentle query revived it
painfully.
| well, suppose we do fix the DRESS"
she said, finally, ungraciously.
So the garment was brought down
and they looked it over. When, after
the renovation was completed, they
proceeded to a thorough examination
of her wardrobe, Nora felt quicken
ing of her blood and return of the
old desire to charm and please. Once
she stopped, laid down her needle and
gave Martha a questioning look that
soon changed to one of deep and SOL
emn conviction.
| Martha" she said, and there was a
! touch of sadness in her tone, you
surely have noticed the change in
Ed?"
why, what do you mean?" asked
Martha.
| Haven't you noticed a difference
in his manner toward me-" Nora Quer,
| led in a small voice that was touching
in it's pathos.
| Martha stopped her cutting, laid
down her scissors and placed two
plump, affectionate arms about Nora's
dropping shoulders.
! my dear:" she calculated. What
do you mean, silly"
| But Nora was not to be put off. She
caught Martha's downcast eyes and
| held them with the intentness of her
gaze. A tell-tale flush covered Mar
tha's face. Nora read her answer, and
did not wait for her to speak. Her
golden head slowly dropped to her
hands and she began to cry-a little
hurt cry, weak and historical.
Martha gazed in pity at the unat,
tractive figure before her--the untidy
hair, with its tints of Titan red, that
a little care would have made beauti-
full, the silk kimona and the soiled
apron that Nora seemed to have adopt
ed for general wear. She longed to
speak clearly and explain to Nora the
reason of her husbands growing in
difference, yet she felt instinctively
the hopelessness of any words. Nora
must learn her lesson. The tragedy
of it affected her deeply. She, too felt
like crying. But she shook off the
morbid helplessness that was slowly
enveloping her and smiled bravely at
Nora, who was now drying her eyes.
eff there is any change in Ed said
Martha with conviction, cts up to you
to rout it, Nora
Nora raised a quivering face. But
how can I?'
by simply ignoring it, she an
swered Martha in a matter-of-fact
tone. with your beauty, Nora, you
could win over anybody"
She continued her sewing, leaving
Nora to digest this remark. Nora rose
lquickly, seeing in it challenge.
walked to the mirror and gaZed long
and carefully at her reflection, ending
the scrutiny with satisfied sigh.
Martha noted that after that she
worked over her gowns feverishly and
excitedly and needed no urging. At
her suggestion seamstress was hast
lily called in for the rest of the week.
At its close they had not only several
new and pretty dresses for Nora, but
also a number of simple slip-ons for
the babies that simplified washing and
kept them clean and cool.
The burden lessened visibly after
that. Her interest in dress awakened,
Nora followed it up with increased in
terest in her home. Order and sys-
tenn were gradually introduced into the
household management. New cur
tains were added, cool linen slips for
the chairs, touch of paint where it
was most needed, with results wholly
out of proportion to the cost. Little
by little a new atmosphere was Gre
ated.
Through all this Martha led and
Nora followed. But it was not all
smooth sailing. There were times when
the brave girl felt her courage sinking,
!, when a sharp retort rose to her
tongue, when doubts of the possibil-
| ity of bringing about any permanent
change arose in her mind. But
, through it all the little sentence
framed and hung in her room
strengthened her-"Bear Ye One An
, others Burdens" One evening when
Nora was upstairs putting the chill
dren to bed, Ed leaned over Martha {
, shoulder as they sat on the low porch
step and smiled into her eyes.
1T has been wonderful since you
came" he said simply. 1T has done
Nora such world of good. She was
not we'll before, I'm sure She is