The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-02-26
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
A ROOM FOR COUSIN IRENE.

After many weeks of illness there
was no doubt that Cousin Irene had
started on the long, uphill way to
health. The letters which had
brought such distressing news for SO
long, now bore cheerful tidings.
Irene had sat up for an hour. She
had eaten bit of chicken. She had
been promised a short drive by the
end of the week. And then the let
tiers slipped back into their normal
vein, instead of devoting themselves
solely to the discussion of Irene's
health.
And then one morning at break
fast letter was brought in which
Mrs. Conway read with more than
ordinary attention. And when she
had finished it she read it aloud and
the unusual gravity of her expires.
sion was explained. For Uncle John
wished to send his daughter to his sis.
ter's southern home for the winter
"It's a good deal of responsibility
for you, my DEAR" said Mr.. Conway
"But I've no doubt that it would be an
excellent thing for Irene"
"And Irene is the person to be con
sidered," said Mrs. Conway. Then
she looked at her daughter, Diantha
and smiled as she added, "It may be
little hard for you, having semi
invalid of your own age in the fam
lily. That is the only thing thai
makes me hesitate"
'Why, mother" Diantha cried, and
drew herself up. "I'd simply love
to have Cousin Irene here. Suppose
I do have to give up some little things
You don't suppose I'd mind that, DE-
you?"
Mr.. Conway looked at his daugh
ter approvingly. That's the way
like to hear you speak, my dear.
agree with you that your mother
ought/not to make all the sacrifices.
Diantha glowed at her father:
praise. "After Irene has been 81
SICK" she exclaimed, sit doesn't seen
as if anything we could do for he
| would be too much
So the question was settled as IA
as the Conways we're concerned, ant
letter was written assuring Uncle
John that his little invalid would b.
welcomed with open arms. In boil
homes preparation went on swiftly
and then one morning at the break
fast table Mr.. Conway said to hi
wife, "By the way, my dear, I thinl
that while Irene is here, she had bet
4 ter have Diantha's ROOM,
"Diantha's room,'' Mrs. Conway re
peated in a rather startled tone. A
for Diantha she did not speak, but he
eyes were large and round.
'Tt's the only bedroom in tn
house with southern exposure" ea
planned Mr.. Conway. "And in Irene
state of health, she can't get to-
much sunshine. You can put Dianth
into the little blue room," he ende
casually.
If he had taken a good look at d
antha, he would have seen at ono
that something was wrong. But b
was eating a rather hurried meal wit
his thoughts on his days work, and h
merely threw out the suggestion tina
had occurred to him overnight. Mrs
Conway who knew Diantha's. dispos
ton better than her husband did an
: perhaps even better than Dianth
herself knew it-smiled a little ner,
ously.
at is a beautiful, sunny room," sh
, said, 'and if Diantha is willing
''Of course Diantha is willing" M
Conway interposed. 'Diantha, like a
! the rest of us, will put her cousin
welfare above everything else thi
winter"
D Diantha choked down mouthft
: of toast, and gave her attention
: her bacon. Her hands were trembling
: her cheeks were flushed.
|, Her fathers off-hand suggestio
: had unwittingly touched her wea