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

this morning she smiled at me. She
| is very beautiful, Edgar, with curly
black hair and eyes as blue as the
sky, and there is such patient ex-
preston in her face. 1t seems such a
pity that she is lame, but God knows
best"
A cool breeze suddenly swept over
| the ocean and Agnes shivered slight
ly. Edgar, ever watchful, brought her
in and she soon retired. He sat up
for while talking to Nan, but before
the clock struck ten the cottage was
shrouded in darkness.
The next morning, after Nan had
returned from early Mass, Edgar went
| to st. Joseph's chapel, leaving Agnes
reclining on a couch near the window
with her rosary and prayerbook in her
hand. The sun had risen luridly and
even so early in the day it was very
sultry. The heat effected Agnes great
ly and she was very pale and languid.
Edgar had been gone about half an
hour when heavy black clouds rising
above the western horizon denoted the
approach of storm. Ever and anon
forked lightning cleaned across the
darkened sky and the distant rumble
of thunder was borne on the still, OPP
pressive air. Agnes was getting anxi-
Gus about her brother when she saw
him coming across the sand assisting
her unknown lame friend. In few
minutes they arrived at the house.
Come right in,'' said Edgar, draw
ing the girl into the room. He had
scarcely finished speaking, when a
binding flash of lightning rent the
sky, followed by a terrific peal of
thunder At the same time the flood
gates of heaven were opened and the
rain fell in torrents.
"How fortunate that you arrived in
time!" said Agnes as Edgar carefully
placed the girl in a rocking chair near
her and then closed the window as the
rain poured in.
But for your brothers assistance
Il would most certainly have been
caught" returned the girl with a
bright smile. Il cannot walk fast by
myself"
81 am glad the storm came" said
Agnes, because it brought you here.
| l have been wanting to make your
acquaintance for some time"
and l yours. Many a time I felt
like stopping to speak to you, but
somehow l didn't know how to go
about it,
And while the storm ragged outside,
three young hearts were drawn into
| the bonds of an eternal friendship The
| lame girls name was Valeria Audrey
and she lived with her widowed moth
er in the little cottage down the beach.
| Her father, a sea captain, had perish
! ed in storm on the treacherous In
dian ocean. An accident in childhood
had injured Valeria and she had been
lame ever since.
| Thus an hour flew by with aston
ishing rapidity and they were sur
prised when suddenly the sun came
out, and looking out of the window,
lthey saw that the storm was over ard
| that, sky of deepest blue now arched
overhead while the tumbling spray
shone with the colors of the rainbow
Valeria took an affectionate leave of
| Agnes, promising to see her the next
day, and was escorted home by Ed
Igar.
The days that followed were very
happy ones for gentle Agnes. Val
eria visited her every day and the
girls became endeared to each other
Agnes generally reclined on couch
or sat in the big rocker with Valerie
at her side. Sometimes they chatted
together, at other times Valeria reac
aloud in her clear, we'll modulateo
voice, and often they sat in silence
hand in hand, gazing across the ever
changing ocean, absorbed in beautiful
and holy thoughts.
! Edgar became more deeply interest
ed in his sisters chum every time hi
saw her and he began to wonder
whether or not her lameness could bt
cured. She had revealed to Agnes the
fact that they could not afford to have
the attention of specialist and the
young man finally decided to ask DR.
Leigh, Agnes physician, and a grea
friend of the family, to give the cir
an examination. Accordingly, wher
the doctor accepted an invitation tt
spend short vacation at the cottage
!, Edgar spoke to him about Valeria
: That afternoon the girl came for he
: daily visit and submitted to an exami
nation.
"My dear Edgar" said DR.. Leigh
| after Valeria, had gone home, 81 an
, almost certain an operation would en-
: tirely cure Miss Audrey. do hop
/, she and her mother will consent t
have it performed"
81 am so glad, DOCTOR" returned Ed
gar. do you very best for her, AM
| send the bill to me-
; 'No bill in this case" returned tn
! doctor. "Great Scott, man, haven't
made enough money in my day t
, afford doing something gratis? Be
r sides, I'm in love with the little lad
: myself" and he looked meaningly a
r Edgar, who actually blushed under hi
. tan.
VI The next day DR.. Leigh paid a visi
: to Valeria's mother and finally oil
tanned her consent to the operation
3 A week later the doctor returned t
8 the city accompanied by Valera.