The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-02-12
IA ROSE OF YESTERDAY.
: I. CONTINUED from page g.


IA Rose OF YESTERDAY.
Continued from page g.
Look higher" cried Brenda, her
voice vibrant with emotion, .over the
earth the shadows may rest, but see
the glory Of the stars" and she point
ed to where in the horizon the evening
star cleaned in fitful splendor. A
long low cry broke from the others
lips, and ere Brenda could stop her
she had gone.
Day after day passed, and she had
made no sign, and in short time
now all opportunity would be gone.
In vain Brenda haunted the beach;
the. slender black robed figure never
appeared, and it was with sinking
heart she turned homeward on her
last evening. Tomorrow she would
be back in the city, and she longed
so to see her friend once more be-
fore leaving, yet she could not bring
herself to break the silence first.
When she entered the cottage where
she was staying, a note was handed
her, and her heart bounded with joy,
for, though she had never seen 1t
before, she felt sure the delicate char
acteristic writing must be that Of Miss
Fortescue. She was not mistaken,
and though it was but a short note
lasking her to call at "Rose Cottage"
that evening, she felt that all would
come right AS she paused at the
gate, she noted the fragrance Of the
roses, whose abundance gave the tiny
cottage its name, and as she fingered
along the path, her hostess came to
greet her.
II fear I behaved very badly that
evening and since; but you must par
don me, dear; was more moved than
I care to confess, and though have
been trying to shut my heart against
what you said I find cannot. Let us
sit here on the veranda. I want to
tell you about myself, and I prefer
the friendly darkness"
"If you would rather not" began
brenda.
"Ah, but must, only very briefly
though. 1 have eaten out my heart
in silence too long. The profession
you aspire to was mine. My voice
was marvellous, SO every one said,
and a golden future lay before me,
II loved; was loved; all life was
fair; then the mists fell, and all was
II blotted out. I listened to the mali
cious gossip of one I deemed friend
listened and believed, and quarreled
with Leonard. He left in anger, and
), never saw him again, for he went
to Western America, and died there
, I was miserable when he went away
and grew careless. One night, or
!. leaving the concert hall, contracted q
!, cold and, neglecting it, became Sc
riously ill., My recovery was slow
and then the blow fell-my voice was
gone; all my dreams of triumph fad
! ed as utterly as my dreams of love
was persuaded to try a milder eli
mate than that Of Europe, and came
out to Australia some twelve years
; ago. Since then I have drifted from
city to city, until found this havel
of grace. am still young woman
. but hope is dead. for my life has moth
, ing but WEAKNESS. / have had m!
day, though it was short enough, ant
!. you know how the poet, says:
! Each morn a thousand roses brings
II you say, .si t+--e Is. .s2S
!. Yes, but where leaves the rose o
yesterday?
> / 5.5 = ~. 81 ..- + s.. 4
81 "The rose OF yesterday! How trul,
+ that describes my hopes, myself"
Ell do you not think" said Brenda
: striving to find some means to brin,
g comfort to this stricken heart, ''tha
vi your past is too bitterly sad? A goo,
}. and learned friend Of mine told m
a once to read two chapters of tn
;. Imitation for every verse of his"
II maybe you. are right, but hav
the bitterness, at least I did. bu
g since you spoke that evening I, hav
}. been thinking deeply of what you said
O A mothers love-that have neve
known, and when you spoke of Mary
our Mother, of help and strength an
comfort, my heart cried out in it
loneliness for all you had and I ZACH
ed. Your holiday is up soon. Tomol
row! Well, at least you will writ
!. me and tell me more of this beautiful
;, faith that seems the branch of healin
!. for every Marah. 1t is strange for
Christian to say, but I've never know
!. God as you seem to know Him, an
:, yet If could know and love-"
!. "Ah, pray to the Sacred Heart O
, Our Dear Lord; He will help yor
i He will guide. See, I'll give you thi
: Rosary; it was mothers. I will teac
" you how to say it, and then say
every day, call every day on Hir
!" who has said, Come unto Me, all y
that labor and are burdened."
It was some six weeks later tina
!, Brenda. on opening the usual week.
: letter from her friend by the sea
y found only a few words written O
the sheet: II was received into tn
Church today and know now Wit
God nothing is impossible, and bu
and blossom may return even to tn
rose of yesterday"
"a letter in strange hand fror
the South Coast" said Brenda on
day, less than month after;
= wonder has anything happened t
Rosemary" The smile faded as sh
d read the note from the good prizes
ehn ho6 Innrun Aouu tbor1 N6;c