The Washington times., 1903-01-25

You see don't your she said. gent
| ly. You must see all that your pro
posed settlement Of the matter would
bring with it. Scandal would be Just
as busy with your name as with mine.
There would be endless discussions
about you among your clergy in Okla
no. The other bishops would like
wise talk you over, and perhaps It
might happen that you would lose
your office in the church
q could not be deposed from my
position for a sin committed before
my entrance into the ministry sin,
too, which I had repented Of and
atoned for as far as possible" repeat
ed the bishop, slowly, and as If the
words hurt him in the saying.
"Of course you know best about all
that" she responded: "but could YOU
endure to have it said that the Bishop
OF Oklaho had married in order TO
/ legitimatize his soa?"
At this sternly truthful putting Of
{
shuddered. How hard IT all seemed!
No. Of course you could not" she
went on, answering her own question.
Then, why place yourself in a posi-
ton to have It said of you?"
Better have this said Of re than
have It known that I had son that
would not acknowledge" ulUrmured
the bishop, but she did not seem to
/ heed, for She continued:
MY boy and are happy here. We
+ have enough to support us comfort
ably, and, now that you and have
met and understand each other, We
can go our own ways as before. Had
1 not perceived that you recognized
me this morning, should never have
sent for you nor let you know Of my
. existence. But, since we have met
once more, you VIII know that my
feelings toward you are only the most
friendly ones"
But listen to me. Helen" exclaimed
the other. The matter must not end
thus. can resign my bishopTic. Then
we can marry and live where no one
has ever heard of me. I can do this
whenever you will consent to marry
me. An. Helen think what a happy
future there may be for the three Of
is III some other country t5an this"
But he did not say 81 will" only I
can, and this she noticed. Just then
the lad returned to the house and en-
tered the room where they were.
DO you know. mother" he began,
after the conversation had become
general. something 50 odd happened
just now. Mason. the carpenter down
the road, saw me with the bishop on
the ferryboat, and, meeting me a few
moments ago, askeI me who he was.
and said I looked enough like him to
be his son It was queer thing to
say, but fancy it was all because
my hair is like yours" he added, turn
ing toward his mothers guest : he
spoke s!
THE man was not st far wrong"
remarked the bishop, after a pause.
for I think you do look like me, my
boy"
Mrs. EccIeston said nothing. but the
boy blushed with pleasure again, not
only by reason of what had been said,
but because of the lingeriE- tender
ness he detected in the voice that had
called him my boy
In d few moments the bishop arose
to take leave, and asked the lad to
accompany him 10 the ferry. While
the boy was absent from the room in
search of his hat, the bishop said in
a low tone:
Helen. cannot consent to let you
and the boy go out of my life.
But you must. Ernest" she an
swered. sadly.
No he pleaded, 81 must not. You
will see me again before I leave Port
Euron for Chicago on my way to Ok
laho And then you must tell me that
you will consent"
do not come" she began, and then
the boy joined them.
AS the bishop and his COMPANION
went on to the ferry the former ex-
erted himself to t. utmost in talk to
please the young fellow by his side,
and when they parted the latter said,
timidly, Yet not without decision;
Il am sure that you are the best
man have ever known. and I am
going to-try to be like you IN every
thing"
What reply could the right reverend
shepherd make TO this? And how
could the lad know that his words
pierced like "A sword the heart of the /
man before him. the man whom he so
adored? InvoIuntarily his hear re- +
called a passage read long ago and
little needed then; but now its full
meaning was revealed as by a fash /
Of lightning:
There are natures in which, If they |
love us, we are conscious of having a |
sort Of baptism and conservation.
They bind US over to rectitude and
purity by their pure belief about us.
and our sins become the worst kind
of sacrIlese which tears down the in /
%