Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-06-12
Father surtees compiled, wonder.

"8Ays
'"'You, have. been a profound mystery
to me for the last month, Rowland.
Would you believe was Joking il I
were to tell you have lost sleep wor-
rying over you lately? When I close
my eyes at night I often see your face
and its awful gloom and mystery
drives my rest away. I am glad you
came. I was going to look you up if
you hadn't
"Do you remember how I laughed
once" said the major, "at the idea
some fellow at the club advanced that
there could really be such thing as
an objectionable SIM"
II think I agreed with you," said
the priest, stroking his round, beard
less face, while his gray eyes CLEANED
in the light of the fire.
The major drew a deep breath. Il
was like the sigh of dying man.
| "Would you mind lowering that
lamp" he said.
''Certainly not" And Rather Sur
tees leaned back in his rocking chair
and turned down the light.
81 like it this way myself" he said.
! zone can think better in a subdued
light like this from the CRATE"
liam not a member of your church, -
began Goddard; "but if I were to
make a special request would you al
low me to make confession to you
to unburden a conscience that is tot
tering On the verge of spiritual de-
spair?"
"You know I should listen to any,
thing you said, dear friend, as would
to the trouble of brother.''
Goddard drew himself up in his
chair.
II am hungering for something
else," said he. II have heard that a
confession made in due form under
the rules of your church really does
help men maddened by the conse-
quences of-of their crimes. I want
that aid-whatever it is. I want it il
you can by any hook or crook get it
for me-"
IF you have done wrong, God will
pardon it," answered the priest, bend
ing forward and alphabetically look.
ing into the face of his visitor. 1.-The
pardon of God is the most beautiful
law of the universe. You can get it.
You have it now, for I see that YOU
have already repented as deeply as
man can"
Goddard laughed harshly.
"Wait until 1 tell you my story he
said.
II am ready to hear it,
II dislike to begin it, because ]
know that you will never look at me
in the old way again. said the ma
jor; ''but to know that I have con
fided my agony to some one will help
little"
} Nothing you have done could make
me feel differently towards you, my
old friend, so go ahead. I feel thai
} God will let me help you. I think
: have helped every soul that has eve1
confessed to me-
Then in a low, uneven voice Goddard
/ told the story OF his first love for hi
ward, his intention of making her hi
, wife.
"Ah, remember that WE'LL" put il
Father Surtees. II remember wher
you first came to me in your boyisl
enthusiasm and told me about her
Then you remember, when you intro
duced me to her, how her rare beauty
her wonderful personality swept MI
off my feet in admiration. Why, oil
man, felt like shouting for joy whe,
you told me she was to be your wife,
''Then I met the other" said God
dard.
"Ah, yes, you met the other!" TIL
eyes of the priest were fixed on tn,
rug at his feet. And as the maio
began the second part of his recital
and plunged into the details O
Jeanne's plot, Father Surtees' fac
seemed to turn to bronze in the titfu
CLEANS of the burning Goals. He sa
listening with clenched hands, his fin
features almost awry from the menta
strain upon him.
''Merciful God!" he exclaimed.
II knew you would be quite unpre
pared for my disclosure" said God
dard. "You see, even your churc]
can't undertake to palliate such stu
pendous offenses against human la,
and order.'
"And you say you now Low
Blanche?" said the priest.
. "As I never dreamt I could love-
it has been a revelation of all tn
1 forces of tenderness which lay dol
Z. mant in me. There is but one solu
ton can make of it, and that is tina
God has visited this love upon me a
the only adequate punishment for m
crime. I tell you there is a hell.
am in it. I had rather undergo tn
> physical pangs of an eternity in burn
4 ing flames than to bear this a mont
1 longer"
Father Surtees clasped his quiverin
u hands between his knees.
: rSGod have mercy on you," he sale
y 'tPoor, poor Blanche! L have neve
seen creature nearer to God, m
7 friend"
> For about FIVE minutes nothin
. more was said. Then Goddard brok
the stiffness
&: " have thought of suicide" he sale
"That could not possibly help yo
e or her." declareA the priest. 49,.
= II am withheld even from that COW
: ardly act because the shock would xii
: her. Don't you see how am buffete
a about by the consequences of m
: crime?"
$ II see I see. And for the same rea
: son you cannot tell her that she is nc
S your wife,"
- stNo. that would kill her. DR.. Flen
: ing said she would not be able to bea
e the slightest shock or excitement"
"When did YOU see him?'