The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-11-26
THE COST OF A SOUL.

small pipe organ when enflcneQ
his music room. His thoughts were
/. elsewhere and cast tone of involun-
tary sadness into the rolling splen-
doris of his improvisation
Lost sculs!" he murmured. How
4 many, Lord, how many! Yet they
are Thine, Blessed Jesus! Oh, save
them for Thy mercy's .sake!"
/ Before his ardent vision loomed up
the immense throng of his concert
audience the evening before. He was
a musical genius, of profound learning
in his own profession, and so finished
in his renderings of the great master
works that his piano and organ recit-
ais not only drew the public, but held
it, as with a magnetic spell. Those
swelling crowds, that sea of upturned
faces! Oh! if he could charm some of
them into the Kingdom-a few, even
a very few-his gift of sweet music
would not be in vain! The power was
his-this he knew-and he said aloud:
20 Jesus, give me Thine own conse-
Grating unto its more effectual usen
Even as he breathed the prayer, he
caught the sound of approaching foot
steps His door was half open, and,
looking up, he perceived two younS
women at the threshold One, plainly
the elder a smart, aggressive girl,
looked very mannish in her tailor-made
suit and sort of SLOUGH hat, yet be-
hind her came little Aphrodite whose
witchery he knew. There were the
deep eyes, blue as the sea, which al
ways made him think of an unawak-
ened soul. 1t was Constance Files
mont
He came forward to greet her with
a distinct sense of satisfaction.
This is simply delightful, Miss
Constance" he exclaimed. Il am only
too happy to meet you again. But,
prayA where did you come from? Did
you not drift down from the skies?"
The smile that came in response to
this was simply delicious in it's frank
mess. The girl had not yet reached
the age of suspicion, when compl1,
; ments weary. Moreover, her old
teacher, this very Herr Mittelsstrom,
had been stern, yes, often severe, in
her callow days of piano playing. She
had been decidedly afraid of him.
Now she merely looked up at him III
:. unconcealed gladness, and it was the
smart girl beside her who answered
the question.
I'VE came over from Brooklyn
. where live, this morning, Herr Pro
= fessor. Miss Ellesmont is my far-otl
- cousin, and my guest also, just at pres
emit Then the tailor-made girl rush
ed on into a discussion of matters
:, musical, in which Herr Mittelsstron
- bore his part, as duty bound, yet
- mechanically and with. his thought
" fixed all The while upon his forme,
, pupil. How beautiful she had grown
: The years since he had seen her las
= had wrought magical changes. Ye
- there was still the same soft, misty
unawakened look in her eyes tina,
E. used to puzzle him. Her soul has NJ
E. home. On. the pity Of iti'' and, a!
c he whispered this within himself, hi
1t face fell. "She is, even yet, astray il
r Gods universe!''
Y, Then he asked her to play. Sh,
Is did so, with the simple obedience 0
;e a little child. At the first notes h
lie started in pleased surprise. Finish
n execution, and certain attractive in
b. dividual style she had certainly al
" tanned. Yet, much as she had game,
~ during her stay upon the Pacific coas
Of and excellent as her San Francsc
ell training had evidently been, there re
e. manned the old lack of spiritual quail
p ty. Whatever Of perceptiveness nov
rs marked her work was not her owr
st but put into it by some musical
N whose teaching possessed power
1t The tailormade girl, Miss Ethe
at Schwartz, was by this time gettin
IS impatient and fastened to breach he
u errand. Could not he, Prof. Mittels
IS, strom, get them couple tickets TO
s. the first public presentation of the ne,
IS, opera in which the great Bavaria
Sc prima donna was to take part Blu
G. alas, that very morning he had give
of away the last of several tickets place
lg by the manager at his disposal. Poo
re Mittelsstrom! He would have bee
es overjoyed to do the young ladies thi
st. service, but fate decreed otherwise.
u Miss Schwartz hardly listened t
lie his explanation, but, rising wit
of promptitude, summoned her compar
is ion with a glance. Again, the appal
a ing blue eyes! And this time the
IS, gave the professor an inspiration
Id Let me tell you,' he interposed
n. eagerly, Il had nearly forgotten il
so but Madame Makzinski is to sing mex
lie Sunday at the Cathedral. If you shout
IS go-and go early-you would have
ir fine opportunity to hear her. She i
bonnie Catalogue, Penfant adorable
| love her voice myself
When they had gone the professo
n shook his head soberly. "They ar
i Protestant" he murmured. Il doub
lg if they will CO.
Fl Nonetheless, however, he sought th
Mother of Mercy and her dear Sol
for these two souls, precious in Cod
sight, that they might be led into way
Is of salvation and paths of peace
he He had slight faith that his prave
S would win answer; yet, at the Cattle