The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1901-05-23

club. They had made a tour Of Eu-.
rope together, had slept in the same
bed; in short, were ideal friends.
The afternoon following tile Incl
dent recorded in the foregoing chap
ter Goddard went to visit this priest.
The afternoon was Is cloudy as the
preceding day had been, and Father
Surtees' study was lighted by a green
shaded lamp on his big writing table,
which was strewn with manuscripts
and notes for a book he was writing,
Il hope am not interrupting," said
the major, as he was shown in.
"You can't interrupt me, old man."
said Father Surtees, emphasizing the
first word OF his greeting as he warm
5ly pressed Goddard's hand. 81 am al
ways ready and waiting for you. But
~" as the major sat down before the
glowing CRATE fire and his features
stood out in relief in the light of the
lamp-"you really do not look we'll,
old man."
Goddard smiled and motioned to a
chair. His smile vas a very artificial
affair, his gesture mechanical.
"Sit down." he said, "before I lose
my courage"
Father Surtees complied, wonder
ingly.
"You have been a profound mystery
to me for the last month, Rowland.
Would you believe I was joking if I
were to tell you I 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, sat the idea
some fellow at the CLUB advanced that
there could really be such a thing as
an objectionable sin?"
81 think I agreed with you," said
the priest, stroking his round, beard
less face, while his gray eyes cleaned
in the lightsof the fire.
The major drew a deep breath. It
was like the sigh of a dying man.
"Would you mind lowering that
lamp?" he said.
Certainly not" And Father Sur
tees leaned back in his rocking chair
and turned down the light.
81 like it this way myself" he said.
some can think better in a subdued
light like this from the CRATE"
"Iam not a member of your church,"
began Goddard; "but If I were to
make a special request would you al
low me to make q confession to you
to unburden a conscience that is tot
tering OF the verge of spiritual de-
spair?"
"You know I should listen to any
thing you said, dear friend, as I would
to the trouble of a brother"
Goddard drew himself up in his
chair.
81 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 if
you a 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. "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.
81 am ready to hear it,"
81 dislike to begin it, because I
know that you will never look at me
in the old way again." said the ma
jor; 'but to know that I have con-
fded my agony to some one will help
a little"
Nothing you have done could make
me feel differently towards you, my
old friend, SO go ahead. I feel that
God will let me help you. I think I
have helped every soul that has ever
confessed to me-"
Then in a low, uneven voice Goddard
told the story Of his first love for his
ward, his intention of making her his
wife.
"Ah, I remember that WE'LL" put in
Father Surtees. ct remember when
you first came to me in your boyish
enthusiasm and told ne about her.
Then you remember, when you intro
duced me to her, how her rare beauty,
her wonderful personality swept me
off my feet in admiration. Why, old
man, I felt like shouting for joy when
you told me she was to be your wife"
"Then I met the other" said God
dard.
"Ah, yes, you met the other!" The
eyes of the priest were fixed on the
rug at his feet. And as the major
began the second part of his recital,
and plunged into the details of
Jeanne's plot, Father Surtees' face
seemed to turn to bronze in the ftful
CLEANS of the burning Goals. He sat
listening with clenched hands, his fine
features almost awry from the mental
strain upon him.
'Mercifu1 God!" he exclaimed.
81 knew you would be quite unpre-
pared for my disclosure" said God
dard. "You see, even your church