The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-10-15

veil; but her step was firm as she
swept downstairs and out through the
hall.
The man under the apple tree rose
hurriedly and came forward.
Helen, dearest-not again today!"
he begged. Darling, it can't do any
good!"
''But she's all alone-all alone. You
don't seem to think! No one thinks
no one knows how I feel. You don't
underestimate you did, you'd come
with me. You wouldn't ask me to stay
-here!" choked the woman.
Il have been with you, DEAR" said
the man, gently. I've been with you
today, and every day, almost, since
since she left us. But it can't do any
good-this constant brooding over her
grave. 1t only makes additional sor-
row for you, for me, and for Bobby.
Bobby is-here, you know, dear!"
"No, no, don't say it." sobbed the
woman, wildly. You don't under
stand-you don't understand And
she turned and hurried away, a tall,
black shadow of grief, followed by the
anguished eyes of the man, and the
wistful, puzzled eyes of the boy.
1t was not a long walk to the tree
empowered plot of ground where the
marble shafts and slabs glistened in
the sunlight, and the Woman in Black
knew the way; yet she stumbled and
reached out blindly, and she fell, as
if exhausted, before little stone
marked Kathleen" Near her grey
haired woman, with her hands full of
pink and white roses, watched her
sympathetically She hesitated, and
opened her lips as if she would speak;
then she turned slowly and began to
arrange her flowers on grave near
by.
At the slight stir the Woman in
Black raised her head. For time
she watched in silence; then she threw
back her veil and spoke.
''You care, too," she said, softly
"You understand. I've seen you here
before, I'm sure. And was yours-a
little grip
The grey-haired woman shook her
head.
mo, dearie, it's little boy-or he
was little boy forty years ago."
Forty years-so long! How could
you have lived forty years-without
him."
Again the little woman shook her
head.
Zone has to-sometimes, dearie;
but this little boy wasn't mine. He
was none of my kith nor kim
But you care-you understand.
I've seen you here often before"
Eyes. You see, there's no one else
to care. But there was once, and I'm
caring now-for her.
6 "For-her?"
His mother
"Oh-h!" 1t was tender little cry,
full of quick sympathy-the eyes of the
Woman in Black were on the stone
marked Kathleen
tits not as if l didn't know how
she'd feel,' murmured the grey-haired
little woman, musingly, as she patted
her work into completion and turned
towards the Woman in Black. "You
see, l was nurse to the boy when
it happened, and for years afterwards
worked in the family; so I know.
I saw the whole thing from the begin
ning-from the very day when the
little boy here met with the accident"
Accident" 1t was a sob of an
guished sympathy from Kathleen's
mother.
Yes. Twas runaway; and he
didn't live two days.
II know know" choked the
Woman in Black-yet she was not
thinking of the boy and the runa-
way.
Things stopped then for my mis-
tress,' resumed the little grey-haired
woman, after moment. 'sAnd that
Ter, but she didn't seem to mind. She
had husband and a daughter, but
they didn't count-not either of 'em.
Nothin' counted but this little grave
out here; and she came and spent
hours over it, trimmin' it with flowers
and talkin' to it."
The Woman in Black raised hel
head suddenly and threw a quick
glance into the others face: but the
grey-haired woman's eyes, were turned
away, and after moment she went
on speaking.
1.-The house got gloomier and gloom
Ter, but she didn't seem to mind. She
seemed to want it so. She shut out
the sunshine, and put away lots OF
the pictures; and she wouldn't let
the piano be opened at all. She never
sat anywhere in the house only in
the boys room, and there everything
was just as twas when he left it.
She wouldn't let thing be touched.
wondered afterwards that she didn't
see where twas all leadin' to-but she
didn't
Leading to-" The voice shook.
yes, wondered she didn't see she
was losin' 'em-that husband and
daughter; but she didn't see it."
The Woman in Black sat very still.
Even the birds seemed to have stopped
their singing. Then the grey-haired
woman spoke
So you see, that's why | come and
put flowers here-it's for her sake.
There's no one else now to care" she
sighed, rising to her feet.
"But you haven't told yet-what
happened" murmured the Woman in