The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-11-26

tone" what sort of song is that?"
| A flush of scarlet mantled the
delicate face Il am not to blame.
Professor. That song was given me
to learn. | had no choice"
| He locked down upon her with a
supreme pity. Beneath that gaze
which she understood only too WE'LL
her restraint gave way. The ice
was broken. A burst of confidence
came, whose sincerity swept away
every barrier to a perfect under
standing between them "Herr Pro-
lessor, l do not like this thing
| "Of course not. I was sure of
that" A look of relief illuminated
the mobile face. She had not for
feited his respect, he still had faith
| in her. Then he motioned her to
a seat. Now let us talk it over.
my child
Through her fresh, vivid express.
sions he beheld the whole case, as
| it were, mapped out before him.
Levaseur had begun with deferen-
tial attentions, aided by flattery,
then interested and fascinated her
with accounts of European theaters
and foreign singers, exciting her
curiosity, stirring her Imagination,
picturing glories and triumphs which
had crowned others, and might one
day be all her own. His indigna-
ton rose at the cunning of the man.
Yet he spoke with quiet solemnity.
"Once in the history of the world
Cur Savior was taken up into an
Exceedingly high mountain and
shown all the kingdoms Of the world
and the glory of them; then one
said to Him, All these things I will
give Thee if Thou will fall down
and worship me-"
The girl shuddered. "Is it as bad
as that" She fixed the blue eyes
on him with startled gaze. Can
lit be? A Satan-offer! God forbid
This is fearful
| II am reasona BILE, my dear child.
If you were forced into this by
poverty, by any dire extremity, you
might take your soul in your hands,
beseeching God and his holy angels
to guard you. But if you go will
fully, in defiance of warning, is It
not tempting Him? If you cast
yourself down from the pinnacle
wherein you stand, at the bidding
of an evil, can you ask Him to save?
| There is a price to pay for all the
| Evil Angel gives. For worldly sue
cess you will sacrifice your peace
of mind, your independence-for you
will be 4 slave to the public-your
beautiful white purity which wraps
you round now like a snow-wreath,
for it will be soiled, of necessity, by
contact with evil. Nay, perhaps your
love and worship of the Divine will
be swept away with the rest. Dare
you risk this?"
II will consider what you have
said, PROFESSIONALLY l will l am
rot sure, though. If I have any
musical gift it is the gift of God; why
should lose faith in him by using it?''
ut is given you only in trust, to
be used in His service. Why not
l
and glory? For example, why not
study the great music? Why not learn
the organ? Why not sing in church
or in the great oratories?"
"Signor Levaseur says I have nov
the talent-that l am only fit for
light operetta."
| Again Prof. Herman groaned in
spirit. The sweet humility of the
girl only made her the more help.
less, more of q mere bleating lamb
in the hands. of this hireling who
cared not for his victims. Could no
one lead her to the Good Shepherd?
Besides" she continued, 81 have
no time. I cannot-unless I leave
Herr Baumbach"
Leave him, then, my child; and
| Like Mary, choose the better part
Which shall not be taken from you"
The bright hesitating face uplifted
so eagerly, gave him many rays of
hope. But the opposing force retain
ed it's grasp. She spoke slowly, he
thought with reluctance,even.
ut would be hard breaking my
word. Consider, Professor! Signor
Levaseur has my promise. But
will reflects. He may be willing to
release me, but l fear not" Then,
with hurried good-day, she disap-
peared.
The next Wednesday she failed to
present herself. in the music room,
and yet a friend had informed the
professor that M. Adolph Levaseur
had changed his plans, and was on
| the point of sailing for Italy; and
a fine opening which he had not ex-
tpected now lay before him in Florence,
and that he might even remain abroad
for some years. This intelligence the
professor communicated to Mother
Mary, and bott had rejoiced, but, as
chance would have it, in the midst OF
| his joy he came upon Levaseur him.
self at one of the hotels. The mana.
ger greeted him with hooking SMILE
Sorry for you, Professor" he cried,
and for your lost game! You have
been working upon the tender con.
science of my little debutante. Never
mind that, though. Every man to his
trade. But now am going to take
her away from you. We sail next
Saturday, and I shall bring her out
+ in Florence"
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