The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-12

serious-his retrospective melancholy had
q dash OF amusement in il. He bad
grown used 10 the idea OF himself and the
rest OF humanity squirming beneath the
dissecting knife OF malignant destiny.
Been preaching long about here?" he
went on.
The preacher looked up half nervousIy.
mo. Why do you ask"
Not staying long. are your
NO" said the preacher with quiet
sound In his voice. NO, think 1 shall
not stay very long"
Jeff sprang to his feet and then sat
down again. He looked hard at the man's
white face and it looked back at him.
There was no fear IL Il. and the sad eyes
met his steadily.
"You-you must go away" said Jen.
The preacher smiled little.
"Yes-where-to the south OF France
My dear doctor, that's not for meat
least not now. Once'-he stopped. and
his eyes grew dreamy. Not now" he
said again.
Jen did not speak at once.
You must leave London, then
1T is hardly worth while"
You're fool, and an enthusiast" said
Jef, roughly. yet with a sharp catch in
his voice, but you're good stun I've
seen you when-man. you're killing your
selsr
The preacher never WINGED. The smile
sun fingered on his lips, though they We're
set tight.
II can't run away. doctor" he replied.
Il never did that, and / can't do 1t now. ."
You weren't meant for this. work-do
you think ! have no eyes? Write 10
your people and tell them
Il have no people, answered the
preacher. and his face was very stern.
Jeff tilted his chair. waiting. II came
az last The preacher caught his eye,
and hesitated for a moment
i told you lie then" he said.
Go on"
They threw me over My father is a
clergyman. l was 20 have gone into the
church. / wanted to-you don't know
how much! But could not accept every
thing they told me. / suppose was an
unorthodox-"
he stopped. JEFF nodded mute encour-
agement.
They rejected me-" said the preacher,
slowly.
Because you were honest. Yes. And
this was
The only other way"
You are priest all the same" said
Jeff through his teeth.
The preacher stood I'D.
Without due authority" he answered.
as he held out his hand
Authority" said the little doctor. wasp
!shly, is not always given TO the right
man-nor by the right man"
But the preacher went away silently. He
was not one Of those who speak evil OF au-
thorities.
II was a month or two later. and Ion-
don was in the grip OF black. bitter frost.
IN a doorway IN one OF the slurns, behind
the Salamander Music hall, JEFF haggard
and anxious. stood looking at the preacher
with something like despair In his face.
m stone broke" he said. and the girl
must have nourishment or she'll die.
There's no time TO apply to anyone Good
God! What are we 10 doe'
tie stamped desperately on the floor and
then remembered his patient and stopped.
The preacher did not stamp.
TN get you some money" he said .I
think I can. Yes''-he shiyered little in
the cold draught-'Im sure ! can"
Tn an hourf"
within an hour. I'll go now"
You're n brick" said JET. Is he turned
on his heel Then the professional ela-
ment in him asserted itself. Have some
thing 20 eat before you come out into this
cold again, mind" he comma ndef
The preacher nodded and went away
with a dreary smile on his face Perhaps
there was a hidden irony IN the situation
which be alone could perca1ve for he
smiled more than once as he hurried
through the aarkenIng streets 70 the house
where he had harhorage. Once. "a ne
passed A lighted church where the choir
was praeticing for the morrow and his
eyes feI on the notice board the ssaiie
very nearly became a laugh T. there
was nothing laughshle IN sight The no.
tice board merely bore the sufficiently So
Der Information that the Rev. John AIllng-
ham Taylor would preach next day in that
church.
The preacher hurried on md climbed %
his rooms with a white face and iuttering
breath. Arriving there. he sat down on
= broken chair snd painted. The room was
almost as bare as those cells wherein the
hermit 6welt of ola. All the little per
sonai POSSESSIONS which had adorned 4
once had vanished IN that dreadful winter
AL the little money which had been paid
20 the preacher by the family which had
discarded him was Eor-. The only TWO
things which remained we're a large eud
handsomely bound family Bible ly1ng on
the foot q me bed, ard q little ivory cru
Ctffx hanging against the bare wall Tire
preachers eyes fell or these ard BE sighed
Then he got up resolutely. took down the
cruciax and opened tire Bible. on TIE
fyiesf was an inscription. lie tore the
Eake Cafc1GtAN Guy ana 80 pred y tnt1 tla
breast pocket % bis th4n coat Than he
took u9 the Bible ard cTue!fx and vent
GU
Not an hour later JeT. &c a wrstched
attic bent over q shruuken figure sd
forced brandy between It's lps A. the
further eud 81 the room two chlldreu-
small starv a. woltSh-eyess-zat cvr< the
remnants q meal Ike via beasts over
g bono Presently the little doctor gave
= muttered exclamation q relief. TIE
children glanced. Up. and thea returned
Faveno1siy - their food. Their mothers
Cygs opened for moment upon JerTs
face. and she whispered a wore of thanks.
Ara wel she might. fc- ~ had drasEe4
her cut of ghe Jaws - death
Meanwh5,a The preacher ploadef YEARLY
hack again 90 the shelter q the fo1v bare
wzlls be called aoraa He dl1 ret hurry
th,s tine Xery SloEly Be climbed JHs
cseak1ag stairs. ard almost stasgeTed into
TIE room Il WAS growirg dark. ana taa
ccfd was intense. The preacher sat
dcwn. ard ats eyes iavoiuat2Ftiy solEnt
the nau waeEs TIE little cract1z hal
huzE. Iav5iuztArily. teo. his hard
drew car the paEe wA,eh ne h@d tor-a
from ths Elale. he hens oTeg Sc ard
rea6 The tascFfFtlaH-was Z tAs twilight
vAlch GnaAa the letters d&Ecs &u2 s~@g