The San Francisco call., 1903-01-11


gaze was altogether too strong for
her, 80 the lashes fell. She flushed and
said with a smile that brought the dim
pies:
II thank you: that is q real compIi-
ment-" Then laughingly: Much better
than eXtravagant comments on ones skin
and eyes and hair. We are going 10 the
take a walk with us. sir?" And they
strolled away together, while the other
girls followed IN q whispering, laughing
group.
Was there ever so glorious a calm after
Then those mythological compliments, .
continued Mary, don't you dislike them?"
i can't say that l have ever received
msny-none that recall replied Bran
con, with a perfectly straight face, but
with smile trying its best to break out
On. you have notf Well! how would
you like TO have somebody always telling
you that Apollo was humpbacked and
misshapen compared with you; that En-
oymiOn would have covered his face had
he but seen yours, and so oi2"
Il don't know, but ! think I should Ike
it-from some persons he replied. look
This savored' Of familiarity after so
brief an acquaintance and caused the
Princess TO glance up in slight surprise:
but only for an instant, for his innocent
''I have a mind to see" she returned.
laughing and throwing her head back, as
she looked up at him out OF the corner OF
better compliment 59I5 positiTeiy thank you
for the rebuke. I DO many things like
that, for which I am always sorry. Oh!
you don't know how difficult IL is>tO be
good Princess" And she shook her head.
with a gathering Of little troubled-wrin-
kles IN her forehead, as much as to say,
There is no getting away from il.
though" Then she breathed soft little
sigh OF tribulatiOn as they walked on.
Il know # must be a task to be good
when everybody hatters even ones short
rpr,af % said BRA nHOn and then P0nfiD-
ued In q way that. l am free to confess,
was something priggish. 1T is almost im-
possible for US 10 see our own faults, even
when others are kind enough to point
them out, for they are right ugly things
and unpleasant 10 look upon. But lack
ing those outside monitors. one must all
Unlocking and determination. If are
only grave enough to confront our faults
and look them in the face, ugly as they
are we shall be sure TO overcome the
worst Of them A striving toward good
viii achieve at least a part OF It"
"OhP' returned the Princess, but what
is good and what is wrong7 So often we
can not tell them apart until we look
back at what we have done and then II is
Ru too late. truly wish to be good more
than ] desire anything else In the world.
am so ignorant and helpless and have
such strong inclinations TO do wrong. that
sometimes seem to be almost all wrong.
The priests say so much. but tell us so
little. They talk about St. Peter and ST.
Paul, and a host Of other saints and holy
fathers and what nots, but fail to tell us
what we need every moment OF our lives;
that Is, how to know the right when we
see Il, and how 10 90 Il; and how 10 know
the wrong and how avoid It. They ask us
10 believe SO much and insist that faith
IS the sum OF virtue and the lack of II the
sum Of sin; that TO faith all things are
added; but we might believe every sylla-
bic Of their whole disturbing creed. and
then spoil Il all through blind ignorance
OF what IS right and what Is wrong"
AS 70 knowing right and wrong" re-
piled Brandon, Il think l can give you a
rule which. although IT may not cover the
use. It IS this: Whatever makes others
unhappy is wrong; whatever makes the
world happier Is good. AS TO how we are
always TO DO this. I cannot tell you. One
has to learn that by trying. We can but
Try. and II we fail altogether, there is still
virtue in even futile effort toward the
right"
Mary bent her head as she walked along
What you have said is the only ap-
proach 20 e rule for knowing and doing
the right have ever heard. (Now what
do you think Of me as q flattererD But it
Will do no good; the bad in me IS too
strong; II always does Itself before can
apply any rule, or even realize what Is
with bewitching little look OF trouble.
Pardon me, your Highness; but there
is no bad IN you. Il has been put on you
by others and Is all on the outside; there
is none OF IL In your heart at all. That
evil which you think comes out Of you
simply falls OF you; your heart is all
right, or have greatly misJudged you"
He was treating her almost as If she were
Il fear. Master Brandon, you are the
most adroit fatterer OF ALL" said Mary,
shaking her head and looking up at him
with side glance. People have deluged
me with all kinds Of fiattery-I have the
different sorts listed and labeled-but no
one has ever gone to the extravagant
length OF calling me good. Perhaps they
think ! DO not care for that, but like IL
besr. I don't like the others az all. II
am beautiful or not, IT is as God made
me, and have nothing 10 DO with Il and
desire no credit, but II I could only be
good. II might be my own doing, perhaps,
and ought TO have praise. I wonder II
there is really and truly any good in me
and II you have read me Alright" Then
looking up at him with touch OF conster-
nation: "Or are you laughing at me?"
Brandon wisely let the last suggestion
pass unnouced.
j am sure that am right; you have
> rious ca apacities for good but alas
corresponding possibilities for evil. It viii
eventually all depend upon the man you
marry. He can make out OF you q perfect
woman. or the reverse" Again there was
the surprised expression in Mary's face.
but Brandons serious look disermed her.
II fear you are right, as TO the reverse
at any rate; and the worst OF IL is I shall
but shall sooner or later be compelled to
marry the creature who will pay the
greatest price"
God forbid" said Brandon reverently.
They were growing rather serious, so
Mary turned the conversation again into
the laughing mood and said. with a half
sigh: "Ohi I hope you are right about
the possibilities for good, but you do not
know. Wait until you have seen more OF
me"
Il certainly hope shan not have lons
70 wait"
The surprised eyes again glanced quick
ly up 70 the serious face, but the answer
came: THAT you shall not-but here Is
the Queen, and I suppose we must have
the benediction." Brandon understood
her hint-that the preaching was over
and taking It for his dismissal. playfully
lifted his hands IN imitation OF the old
Bishop OF Canterbury and murmured the
first line Of the Latin benediction Then
they both laughed and courtesied and
Brandon walked away
CHAPTER w.
A LESSON IN DANCING.
] laughed heartily when Jane told me
Of the tilt between Brandon and Princess