The herald., 1897-12-12

said. "I will reason with him and that
most tenderly."
Nay" she said, taking me eagerly
by the breast Of my coat, Il tell you
he will not listen to word"
"It is my duty" I answered.
"Wherefore?" she cried, sharply.
you are not his minister
NO" said l. but I am more. lam
both his friend and yours"
DO you want to reprove him?" she
| asked.
For that wherein he has given the
unrighteous cause to speak reproach-
fully, I will reprove him. I said.
For the rest, l will aid, support and
succour him in all that one man may
do to another. By confession Of his
fault, such as it has been, he may yet
keep the Cause from being spoken
against"
All! You do not know my father
to speak thus-"Mary Gordon cried,
clasping her hands. when he Is in
his fury, he cares for neither man nor
beast. He might do you hurt even
to the touching of your life. All, do
not go to him! (Here she clasped her
hand and looked at me with such sweet
petitionary graciousness that my heart
became as wax.) Let him come to
himself. What are reproof and hard
words beside the shame that comes
when such a man as my father sits
face to face with the sins Of his own
hearth"
Almost I had given way. but the
thought Of the dread excommunica-
tion, and the danger which his children
must also incur, compelled me.
Hear me, Mary" I said, Il must
speak to him. For all our sakes-yours
as well, / must go to Alexander Cor
DON"
She waved her hand impatiently.
do not go!" she said. Can you
not trust me? 1 thought you-you
loved me! And if you had loved me,
1 do not know, I might"
She paused. A wild hope, warm,
tender, gloriously insurgent. rose-col-
CURED, surged up triumphantly in my
heart. My blood hummed In my
ears.
herself to me. I cannot offend her.
This is my happiness. This only Is
life. What matters all else?
Anu was dDOul " give way. IL
I had so much as looked in her face,
or met her eyes, must have sue
cumbed.
Mary" I said, solemnly, II love you
more than life, more, perchance, than
love God. But I cannot lay aside, nor
yet shut out the doing of my
duty"
She thrust her hand out suddenly.
passionately from her, as if casting
me out of her sight for ever. She set
her kerchief to her eyes.
you have chosen" she cried; go,
them"
Mary" I said, turning to follow
her.
All suddenly she turned upon me
and stamped her foot.
II dare you to speak with mel" she
cried, her eyes flashing with anger,
II thought you were a man, and you
are no better than a machine. You
love! You know not the A B C of It,
You have never passed the hornbook.
1 doubt not that you broke that poor
lassies heart down there by the water
side. She loved a stone and she died.
Now you tell me that you love me,
and the first thing I ask Of you. you
refuse-though it Is for my own faith
er and I entreat you with tears!"
Mary" I began to say quietly, you
do me great wrong. Let me tell
YOU"
But she turned away down the path.
with an eager and intent look into my
eyes.
you must not-you shall not!" she
cried. My father Is not to be spoken
to. He is not himself. He has sworn
that he will answer no man, speak to
no man, have dealings with no man
till the shame be staunched, and
his innocency made to appear!"
But I will bring him to himself"