The San Francisco call., 1904-12-25

x Co
DELIsTIN1 looked up with smile
/ I and the suspicion OF q blush.
M ~Oh. wei. one can't always for
sat them again. she said.
With tie proper assistance"
he agreed smiling. And after all
shes very aoeCumodating- If you
co what she wants, she doesn't care a
hang lbout your private reasons"
"a GAIA that unscgupulous. Christine
oJyectld
Oh. yes. The most immoral old
hussy that ever was" he laughed. 4
loEe her lCr that In her matrimonial
advertisement the woman is always
sich, beautiful, and amiabie,"
And the man handsome, steady,
aLd constant"
30 he pays the fees-2nd sometimes
get the article"
Sometimes" said Christine. OF
course We always suit the description
ourselves"
A faith In ones seif-secure, i'm
pregnable, eternal-is the one really
necessary equipment"
SO you We found 30
Don't be persOnal-or penetrating,
Christine. The forms Of faith vary
The faith remains"
Christine looked up at him again.
her lightly on the shoulder.
oh, it's all very we'll" she mur-
INJURED IN rueful peevishness, but 1
shen't be able 70 stand too much happi-
ness here"
Think Of the others" he advised,
and you'n regain the balance OF your
judgment"
10 think Of the others was decidedly
good thing. Reason dictated the sur
Vey OF a wider field, the discovery and
recognition OF an average emerging
from the inequalities. The result Of
such d proc = should be either q tenn
peIate self-satisfaction or q clear
sighted resignation; you would prob
ably lind yourself not much above nor
much below the level thus scientifically
demonstrated. But the ways Of science
are not always those Of the heart and
that Ne are less miserable than some
people is not a consolation for being
more unhappy than others-least OF
si when the happy are before our eyes
and the AVretched farther of. Neither
the preacher cf Grautieys doctrine
llyr its he2rer was converted. Grantley
stin wanted the best and Christine,
asking nothing SO very great, was the
more aggrieved that she was denied
even what she demanded.
Kate Raymore's day came. Only
Jeremy accompanied the family to
meet the boat Kate said they would
want somebody TO hustle about after
the luggage. In truth Jeremy seemed
u her already as one Of. her own
house. But he did not seem so 10 him.
self Eva had been very wayward, full
Of admiration for Mr.. Mallam, and on
the strict defensive against Jeremy's
approaches. He was so distressed and
puzzled that he might have comforted
even Christine Fanshaw, and that he
was in fact exceedingly bad company
for anybody. But the party did not
ask for conversation. A stiffness fell
or them all as they waited for the boat
Kate clasping her husbands arm tight
while her eyes were fixed on the ap-
preaching ship.
The boy came down the gangway
and saw them waiting. He was d good
Looking young fellow. tall and slim,
with curly hair. Joy and apprehen-
sion, shame and pride, struggled for
mastery on his face. Kate saw. and
her heart was very full. His fault. his
flight, his banishment. were vivid in
his mind. and 10 his insight. vivid in
theirs too. But there was something
else that his eyes begged them to re-
nlember-the struggle to retrieve him
self. the good record overseas, the
thought that they were to be between
Them. Their letters had breathed no
Teproach, and had been full Of love. But
letters cannot give the assurance Of
living eyes He still feared reproach;
he had TO beg for love. and to fear
70 find il not Unimpaired.
NY bcy." whispered Kate Raw
more as she clasped him 10 her arms.
You're looking well. Charley" said
Rsymore, but older. think"
Yes. he was older: that was part OF
the price which had fallen to be paid.
snd the happiness of reunion could not
avail against it. His own hand had
il had died not gradually. but By vio-
lent death; the traces were on his face.
There was a touch OF awe in Eva's
eyes as she kissed her brothsr-the awe
evoked by one who had fallen. endured
and fought He had TO pay the utter
most farthing Of his debt
Yet the JOY rose supreme, deeper and
tendercr for the grief behind 1t. for the
struggle by which II was won, because
II came as a victory after a heavy
fight To Kate Il seemed as though he
had suffered for their sakes as well as
for his own sin. since in sorrow over
him and his banishment their hearts
had come closer together, and love
reisned stronger In their home. A
strange remorse struck her and mingled
with her compassion and her gladness
as she held her son at arms length
and looked again in his eyes. It was
hard 10 keep track Of these things, to
10 understand how no man was unto
himself alone, and not to accuse of in
justice the way by which one paid for
all. while all sorrowed for one.
AS they turned away to the carriage
Eva touched Jeremy on the arm. He
turned to find her smiling, but her lips
trembled.
IF I drive back with them, I shall
cry, and then ] shall look a fright, -
she whispered. Besides they'd rather
have him TO themselves just now. Will
you walk back with me?"
"All right" said Jeremy curtly.
His feelings too had been touched,
so that his manner was cool and mat
fact almost to aggressiveness.
He preferred to make nothing at all of
walking back with Eva, though the
way was long, and the winter sun
shone over the sea and the downs, the
wind was fresh and crisp. and youthful
blood went tingiing through the veins.
It's cold driving. anyhow" he added,
as an afterthought.