The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1913, Page 5

The Storyteller

THE DREAM-FACE _ Dr. O'Donnell had been wondering if he were really in love, and had reached the negative conclusion For a considerable time now he had had a lucrative practice in the West End of London, and was in a position to marry, but the finding of a wife proved a matter dirncult in his case, for he was determined to marry a Catholic, and all the charming ladies of his acquaintance chanced to be orthodox Protestants—with one exception. The solitary exception was Miss Laving Jane Cavenought, who did not profess any religion in particular and who would not for a moment allow any scruple regarding creed to stand in the way of her worldly interests. She would have burnt incense before a pagan god or sung hymns in the street with the balvation Army if either suited her purpose. She- liked the Catholic Church least of all churches. Nevertheless, if Doctor O'Donnell, whose acquaintance she had recently made, and in whom she was taking a considerable degree of interest, proposed to her, she would certainly not allow the fact that he was a Catholic to stand in the way. w° rie d i^ y She 1 had occasion to consult the doctor JSfISSS ly i- and^ hen her cure was com P leted *** -2hJ g K S advice ~ reasonin no doubt, that he It t I lT\ S ° SUCCeSsful in restori "g her health might also be skilful in preserving it. a ffai,?lf°i Ctor ' S P™ Ct ? ed e ? e saw the true state 'of t Ce ? «KWBkbut he was the most chivalrous of men, and as the girl was really charming, he allowed Wan rtl n i h -T to . gr ° W t 0 SUcll an exfc cnt that SIV 11 l l { extremel y Possible that one day he might ask her to be his wife. But he never wavered in his determination to marry a Catholic. Lavinia Jane guessed as much from certain remarks which the doctor had purposely dropped and that artful lfttle person 1 forthwith pretended that She had very marked Waning / cZtr hOhClSm - Very frequently now she attended £r relak? hT' "* made opportnniiS toi relating her impressions to the doctor dav Dnrtnr' e fl SeiViCe l i ] ' 1 ° ne ° f y our churches on Sunday Doctor, she would say, 'and I enoyed it very much. It was nice and bright and the flow,, and candles were lovely.' tI„J I™'" Il 6 T g,lt in the mes of Rome one of y-fes t^ tm mm ">** '- ** would

The doctor was not too well pleased with the word 'suited.' He would see a good deal more of Lavinia Jane before taking any step in the direction of matrimony, he decided. If married people should keep their eyes shut once the irrevocable step has been taken, it is all the more necessary that they be kept wide open before marriage. He would wait and see. In order to give himself an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with Lavinia Jane he now took her for an occasional walk on Sunday afternoons—his only free time. It was one one of these occasions that they happened to meet Father Temple, who looked interested when he saw that the doctor had a lady companion, and immediately drew conclusions. A few days later the priest called at the doctor's office. ' I'm glad to see, Maurice, that you're going to settle down at last. I thoroughly approve of matrimony for anyone living in the world. It is as true now as it was in the beginning that "it is not good for man to be alone." I hope the young lady is a Catholic.' ' I suppose you mean, Father, the young lady you saw me with on Sunday. Well, she is not my fiancee, at least not yet, and she is not a Catholic, but at all events she is no bigot. I don't think she really believes in or cares much about any religion.' ' Well, I had far rather have heard that she was a sincere, even a bigoted Protestant, than such a one as you describe. Remember, my boy, that marriage is not for to-day or to-morrow only, but for a lifetime, and that nothing is so essential to its happiness as religion. Religion alone can make its trials and sorrows bearable. And it will have its trials and sorrows as well as its joys.' ' I think, though, that Miss- Cavenought has leanings towards Catholicism, judging by certain of her remarks. At all events I shalf never make any woman my wife who is not a Catholic or who does not become one from sincere conviction.' Father Temple smiled approvingly. That is the right spirit, my boy. Faith is a priceless inheritance and no earthly consideration should be allowed to endanger it. Bequeath it to your children as fair and bright as you inherited it yourself from generations of saints and martyrs.' Soon after the doctor and Lavinia Jane were walking in Hyde Park on a Sunday afternoon, and tho young lady suggested that they attend the afternoon service at Farm street. They arrived early and the doctor proposed that to fill in the interval they view the various altars. It was before the altar of our Lady that he discovered that he was not in love with Lavinia Jane. That young lady's supercilious sneer, directly as she glanced at the altar, was not lost on him. ' One thing I don't like about your religion is the way you worship the Virgin,' she said. 'We don't worship her,' answered the doctor. 'We honor her.' ' Yes, but don't you think you overdo it a lot?' ' No, I do not,' answered the doctor with emphasis. ' We could not honor her as much as God Himself did when He became her Son.' ' Oh, but all the same, I think it's fearfully overdone.' Ignorance was to a great extent responsible for Lavinia Jane's words, but there was a spice of malice also in them, for our Blessed Lady was not the type of woman she admired most. Had she known, however, the train of thought which her words would awaken in the doctor's mind she would certainly have left them unspoken. His memory went back to the days of his childhood and to the dead mother who had taught him to love and reverence the Mother of God. Before his mental vision came the picture of an old-fashioned garden in which stood an image of our Blessed Lady embowered in roses, and he saw himself, a little boy again, taking off his cap to salute the dear image as the dead mother had taught him to do. Could Lavinia Jane ever teach her children that love and reverence ? One Sunday not long after this incident he again walked across Hyde Park, this time without a companion, and again he met Father Temple. The priest

smiled significantly on seeing him alone, whereupon the doctor told him of the closing of the chapter in which Lavinia Jane had figured. ' I believe I was meant to live and die in single blessedness,' he added in conclusion. 'Nonsense!' said Father Temple, smiling. 'What nonsense when there are crowds of nice girls only waiting to be asked. You must make a JN'ovena to our Blessed Ladyyou are particularly devout to her I know—and I promise you that if you pray with confidence your prayers will be answered. Nine days from now will be Christmas Day, and if you begin your Novena to-day it will end then. I predict you will soon be among the benedicts !' Both laughed, but they were at heart serious. Two days later as old Mrs. Musgrave, the doctor's housekeeper, was carrying in the breakfast tray she saw him standing by the fireplace, an open letter in his hand, and heard him utter an exclamation of consternation. ' I hope you haven't any bad news, sir,' she said. 'Nothing very tragic, thank you, but I'm in the deuce of a fix. I'll have to clear out of this flat before Christmas as the people who let it to me, the Staff or you know, are coming back unexpectedly and will require it for themselves.' ' What a shame to put you about like that, sir. It is very inconsiderate of them —and just at,Christmas, too.' ' Well, I can't complain, Mrs. Musgrave. I took it with the understanding that I should vacate it whenever they required it, though they thought that would not be for a considerable time. The only thing for me to do is to move into another flat at once—a furnished one to save time and trouble. I'll just have a look at the advertisements in the morning papers. I think we ought to find a furnished fiat to suit without much difficulty.' ' Here is one which I think ought to do,' he continued presently. ' Perhaps you could find time to look it up during the day and report this evening.' Mrs. Murgrave read the advertisement to which the doctor pointed, took a note of the address, and promised to find out during the day what it was really like. Her report was satisfactory and arrangements were made that the doctor should move into it on Christmas Eve, since it could not be made ready for him earlier. Doctor O'Donneli had had several invitations to spend Christmas with friends but, as it happened, one of his patients was in a critical condition at the time, and he wished to be at hand in case of emergency. He would remain in his own quarters for Christmas. There was every prospect of a cheerless Christmas indeed, as he would be alone in the new flat, having given Mrs. Murgrave permission to spend the day with her friends. ' After all it's only this once,' said the doctor to himself by way of consolation, ' and if my Novena is answered as Father Temple so confidently predicts, I may be looking forward to a very happy Christmas next year.' The doctor had begun the Novena when Father Temple spoke to him, so it would end on Christmas Day with Holy Communion. He had prayed with a fervor which surprised himself, and on the very first night of the Novena he had had a dream in which he seemed to see the face of a young girl so clearly and distinctly that when he awoke the impression of it remained with him. Nor did it fade with the morning light. Again and again during the nights that followed he saw the same face, until at last it became so familiar to him that he could recall its very lineament. And with the dream-face the doctor fell in love. It was not a handsome face—but its expression, so pure, so gentle, revealed a beautiful soul. Christmas morning came and the doctor completed his Novena by approaching the Holy Table. Before leaving the church he knelt for a few minutes at the altar of our Blessed Lady, and as he rose to go his eye fell on a young lady who was praying there. Her face seemed strangely familiar but he could 'not recall her identity. Try as he might he could not remember

where he had seen her before, and at last he began to wonder ■ at himself for the degree of interest he was taking in one whose name even he did not know. - The whole incident was forgotten on reaching home, as there was an urgent summons for him to attend the patient for whose benefit he had remained in town. As the doctor had calculated, the crisis had been reached and nothing but the ministrations of one who knew the case thoroughly could save his life. Before the doctor left him he had the satisfaction of knowing that his patient was on the way to recovery. Returning fatigued, he threw himself on a sofa to rest. He _ felt disappointed, for the Novena on which he had built such hopes had apparently borne no fruit. Of course,' he said to himself, 'I had no right to expect that my prayer would be answered on the exact day I finished the Novena—but somehow I did! What a romantic fool I am—for my age!' The words were hardly spoken when the door opened without ceremony and a gentleman entered the room. Directly he did so his features assumed an air of surprise, and catching sight of the figure on the sofa he said: 'Pardon my intrusion, sir, but I thought these rooms were empty. I was under the impression that they were to remain vacant over Christmas, and I came to borrow a chair, as our party upstairs is larger than we expected. The people who occupied the flat before you came were friends of ours.' ' Oh, you are quite welcome to the chair,' said the doctor rising. ' You see lam in solitary state and shall be for the remainder of the holidays, so pray borrow anything you want. You will be v most welcome.' 'Many thanks,' answered the visitor and, as his eyes fell on the doctor's face, 'Pardon me, but am I not speaking to Doctor O'Donneli?' ' The same,' answered the doctor. ' Then I am very glad to know you, Doctor, for you have just saved the life of a very dear friend of mine. It was at his house that I saw your portrait by which I recognise you. I came from there a moment ago and the whole family were loud in their praise of. your skill and your attention to the patient. They tell me all danger is.past, Doctor. I hope that is so.' ' Yes, Mr. Herdman is on the road to recovery now. The crisis is over.' " ■ ...-.. 'l'm so glad. He's a fine chap. But, Doctor, you should not be alone here on Christmas night. Do come and join us upstairs. My wife and I rent the flat above this, and she will be delighted to welcome a Friend of Mr. Hardman's. They have known each other from childhood.' Among the guests the doctor was surprised to discover the young lady who had knelt beside him that morning before the altar of our Blessed Lady at Farm Street Church, and whose face puzzled —it was so strangely familiar. Suddenly the reason of this lamiliarity flashed upon him, with an electric thrill. It was the face which had haunted him in his dreams! Yes, it was exactly the same pure, sweet expression which he so loved to recall in his waking moments. His hostess, seeing that he was interested in Miss Whitehead, for his eyes constantly wandered in her direction, volunteered some information concerning he.*. ' A very charming young lady, Doctor,' she said. ' But unfortunately she is in trouble just now. Her parents, Church of England people, sent her over to Belgium to be educated in a Catholic convent, and as a result she became a Catholic herself. This step angered them very much and they made matters so unpleasant for her at home that she came to London to earn her living as a governess. It appears that she lives by herself in a boarding-house in Bloomsbury, but, fortunately, I met her in the street this morning and insisted on her coming here, at least for Christmas. And,' continued Mrs. Glendinning, smiling, it is to her that we must regard ourselves as indebted for the pleasure of your acquaintance for it was her arrival that made an extra chair necessary.' ' Then I owe her a deep debt of gratitude,' said the doctor gallantly, ' if she was the cause of my introduction to you.'

W y The doctor paid on the instalment plan. He began that very evening by making himself as agreeable as possible to Miss Whitehead. In the ensuing spring there was a very pretty wedding at Farm Street Church. On that occasion the doctor and the girl with the dream face played leading parts.— The Magnificat.