The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-02-11

everything arranged as you wish. If
the ladies will come to the sitting
room all will be ready in very short
time"
So the friendship began with Mrs
Newton and her daughter. They We're
Professionals and English. Hugh and
his mother were Catholics and Irish.
Alice Newton was even more beauti.
full than her mother. She was only
10, and very frank and straightfor.
ward. She had lived many years in
India, and told with much spirit of
hairbreadth escapes and rare alven.
lures. Her father, an English officer,
had died two years before, leaving his
wife and child very wealthy. In few
days, Alice was Hugh's partner at ten.
mis-. Mrs. Newton had joined Mrs.
[O'Donnell at bridge, and before fort
night had elapsed the two families
were on an intimate footing.
Hugh was master of large for
tune; he had considerable property, a
beautiful country house, a famous
stud of racers; but he came of an old
Catholic stock. His eldest brother,
who had Joined strict religious or.
der. had given up his right to the es,
tate, and his only sister was nun in
India. A mixed marriage was unheard
of in his line. Ancestors HAD died for
the Faith. There was the legend of
Maureen o'Donnell, girl of Is, who
knew where a. priest was hidden.
When questioned by the pursuivants
she absolutely refused to betray him,
and preferred to stand on rock as
a. target for the bullets-such was the
story of Maureen's Rock and Hugh
Dhuv. Maureen's grandfather, the
head of the clan, had refused to at
tend the Concerned Church, and, al 1
penalty, had been cast into a vile dun
geon, and there had given his life for
the Faith, and Dom Hugh, the Cister-
clan, had won the martyrs crown at
Mallifont, and Father Colombia, the
franciscan, had laid down his life at
Drogheda; and yet, Hugh found that
Alice Newton was everything to him.
His heart was given to her; yet she
was Protestant-one of that creed
whose first followers had done his
kith and kin to death.
Mrs. O'DonnelI saw clearly how
things were and sought help in pray
er; to put obstacles in Hugh's way
would but precipitate matters. She
wrote to the monastery at RI to
her eldest son, told him the state of
the case and asked him to have pray
ers offered for her intention. His an
swer gave her much hope. Fear not,
mother" he wrote, 81 know all will be
well. As prayed after the Eleva-
ton at my Mass yesterday, convic-
ton, an absolute certainty, was given
me that when Hugh marries, his bride
will be a Catholic. Doubt not, but
trust all to the Master, for Whose min
lister Maureen O'Donnell braved a
cruel DEATH"
Some weeks later, Mrs. Newton and
her daughter were guests at Knock
maura. the O'Donnell's beautiful home,
and Alice was welcomed as the fiancee
Of its young master. The day after
their arrival, a telegram was handed
to Hugh during luncheon time. He
opened the yellow envelope. and, AS
he read its contents, his face length.
ened, and his voice sounded harsh and
strange as he told the butler there
was no answer, but he remained at
table and talked as usual. though his
thoughts at times seemed far away.
AS Mrs. Newton passed from the din
ing room to the hall, he begged her
TO, go with him to the library, and
there told her that the wire was from
the Abbot at r. Abbey, and tcld of
the sudden death Of Nal, his only
brother. 1t would be terrible blow
to his mother, he said. Mai was her