The morning call., 1892-04-10


Then Miss Maloney made few other
changes. she frightened up her dingy bar
parlor. made cocoa and coffee there and had
a supply of wholesome food for any crs-
toners who would have it. She provided
also supply of Wholesome literature, but
few OF her customers cared for that. except
sometimes the younger ones. Nevertheless.
Mary found that tie set of men who had
got into the habit of spending their even
ings at "Maloney's" still came. and some
times one would read the newspapers aloud
10 n select few; and often weary workers
would creep into the warm, cheerful room,
and sleep until they were turned cut at clos
ing time.
"rhey want something more rousing than
books" said Mary at last, and she sent for
her piano, and told the barman to find her
a good singer. When he was found, Mary
PLAYED while he sang. and the men and
women came in numbers tn listen to his fine
old sea songs and plaintive ballads: and
Mary grew more and more determined to
keep on her pu blc-house.
The Vicar of st. Matthias-in- the Fields
was Speeding along the streets not far from
"Malaney'S" in passionate haste ''The
Fields" as the title of the parish, was only
a pathetic remembrance of the days when
green meadows and golden grain were to
he seen Instead of squald courts and dingy
blocks OF buildings. A POPULATION of
iBHoTanI anu usually VICIOUS nu-
man creatures crowded the wretched
dwellings; and an almost hopeless
mass of poverty and Indebtedness
weltered and suffered around ST. Matthias
ln-the- Fields. Ii was the lot of the vicar TO
live In this scene of Indebtedness; to COM
bat the vice and Ignorance. and dispel so
far as in him lay, the gross darkness. And
Zeaiousiy-if sometimes with the zeal that
lacketh knowiedge-he threw himself into
his work. He held advanced and rigid
views on church matters; advocated the
celibacy OF the priesthood; loved a ford
ritual, and personally drilled his choir. His
church was crowded on Sundays-n0t by
the people who lived in his parish. but by
fashionable congregation, attracted by the
lne music, the eloquent preaching, the we'll
known saiDtlness Of the vicar, and, perhaps
IN the case of fair deyotees by sanity ad-
mlfation OF the celibate priest.
The Rev. Algernon Lamote was of high
birth. and had ample means. He was tall,
handsome man; he had a beautiful voice,
and the expression of ALI enthusiast. No
wonder he bore the character of saint; no
wonder If he was sometimes tempted TO
think his ways infallibiy right and all who
In manner thwarted him unquestionably
wrong. Bus even saints. 1t may be pre-
sumed, have their bad days, and Mr.. La
mote. as he strobe along the dirty street,
neither looked nor felt as if he deserved
canoniZation. Refined and ascetie features
have tendency to look pinched and meager
on cold day-and 1t was very cold day.
The biting east winds blew the tails of the
wears coat about; be bent his long neck to
keep the low felt hat from being blown off
his head; the haistones made his ears
tngle, and he was thoroughly unc0mfort-
able. But this was nothing TO the bitter
storm which ragged within his breast. If
the Rev. AIgernGn had one vulnerable
point land all heroes have one at LEAST it
was his choir. This was his hobby, his eve
lamb. On it be lavished the tender care
aud affection which mere carnal-minded
men bestow upon wife and children. If
the vicar had one enemy for whom he found
II hard to pray, il was "old Maloney," He
lat been his chief adversary ever since he
came to The parish. And now, though old
MalOney, to Mr. Lamote's great satisfac-
ton, was dead, the evil influence Of his
aboninable publie-nouse seemed 10 be more
potent than ever. This morning the vicar
had heard news which had reused his right
eOus wrath. The daughter OF old Maeney
WAS Keeping on the public-house, and not
content with running the bndes aud souls
Of his flock by her vile traffic was capable
of stretching forth unholy hands TO rob his
most precious and peculiar fold.
Every one has heard of or has met at
some time or other wonderful genius who
ought to have been Landseer, 1enny-
son, an Irving or Mario, but who, through
misfortune or frailty, poses before the world
10 the emo as a melancholy ''might-have-
been" The vicar of ST. Matthias-in- the
Fields has been fortunate CROUCH tn discover
tenor singer, whose voice was unequaIed
In tone and sweetness, tenor afflicted I'M
happily with Panurgic thirst However,
the vicar mad secured him for the choir and
had expended uDheard-Of energy and watch
fulness in cOaXing and preaching Tom
Grindiey into a sufficient degree of sObriety
to wear the White suTplice en- Sundays with
cut scandal. The new tenor had brought
extra fame to the services at st. Matthias,
and the vicar was proud OF his protege.
And now, two days before Christmas. the
awful news had reached the wears ears that
Tom had been decoyed by Miss MaloIey
into singing every evening al her notorious
pubiie-house. The Rev. A lgernOn felt that
such sacriiege could not be tolerated. AS
he sped along the streets his soul Was hot
within him. Though Apollyon him self
withstood him, he fet strong to fight to res
cue this brand. and when he reached "Ma-
loney's" il was as though the spirit of 4
Hebrew prophet had descended upon him,
and he was ready to scorch with his burn
ing words the painted JeZebel who had
dared to tamper with bis precious posses
sion. 1t never occurred to him Tor an in
slant that Miss Maloney could have any
reasonable excuse 10 offer, nor that Tom
Grindley was free TO make any use he chose
of his gift.
When the vicar pushed open the swing
door the outer bar of the public-house was
empty, but for the barman busy behind the
counter anu Two or three ragged children
NdltiBB Win Il ulSH some broken meat.
they Shrank away from the yicar-fOr even
saint looks ugly with the corners of his mouth
drawn down and his eyes fierce; and Mir.
LamOte pushed past them and entered the
parior. An old man, who many times had
taken shelter there from a freless home
crouchad IN warm corner. and muttered
something about "a id parson," as be
caught sight Of the tail, black figure. Mary,
with the food for the children ia her hands
nearly ran against the vicar, and started
and blushed 'guiltlly"-as he noticed, when
he began, Miss MalOney! | have come TO
speak very seriously with you"
His voice was hard and rasping. AS a
rule chivalrous TO a fault in his conduct
toward women, he was just now too fercely
indignant with Miss Maloney to hide his
scorn and anger. He did not remove his
hat as lie spoke. lie looked her full in the
face and made a mental note OF the painted
cheeks and friZZsed hair and bold eyes,
which were what lie had expected to find.
Poor Mary blushed painfully, partly be-
cause II WAS the first time "a gentleman"
had spoken TO her since she began this new
life, and she was conscious all at once that
she was no more to be treated as "a lady"
Her hair was always wavy and Of the color
Rossetti loved TO paint; and her clear, gray
eyes had never learned to droop or finch
for shame or fear. SO she faced the clergy
man, and be, for the first and last time in
his hfe. SO far forget himself in his wrath as
TO be rude to defenseless woman.
MISS Malohey! are you not ashamed Of
yourself to enter upon this vile trade at
your time OF life, and to make a living for
yourself by being a curse to your fellow
creatures? Do you ever think what this
drink traffic means? Do you know that
every penny You take from these ignorant
wretches who crowd your doors is the price
of their misery? Is it not possible to waken
you to the fact that By making this infam-
Gus place attractive you are Turing men and
women TO their ruin, that your very exist
ence here is perpetual blight upon their
existences, that your profit is their eternal
loss ?"
For an instant he paused, and Mary tried
to speak, but he would not listen to one
syllable.
Look at those emaciated, stunted chill