The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21


Dallas creed, should know if the friar
Of San Lazzarro had been right, An
hour, and life would be behind him.
with its errors ended. its lonEings
Quenched.
Its largest endeavor had been de-
feated: that was the closest sting. In
his weakness all else sank away beside
the thought that he had tried-and
failed. Even the one blow he might
not strike The nation was in straits.
the loan delayed. the campaign un-
opened. He caught the murmurs of the
crowds in the courtyard. His lips
framed words: My poor Greecei Who
shall lead you now?"
Yet he had done his best. given his
sill even his love. She, Teresa would
know and hold his effort dear because
she loved him. But there was another
Woman-in England-who had hated
and despised him He had piled upon
her the mountain of his curse. and that
curse had been forgiveness. Must her
memory Of him be always bitterness?
In the fraying fringe of life past re-
sentiments were worn pitifully small.
Should he go without one tenderer
word to Annabel2
He tried TO lift himself. Fletcher"
he said aloud.
The old valet, shaken with emotion
came forward as the others turned
away.
Listen. Fletcher. You will go back
10 England. Go to my wife-you will
see Ada-teN my sister-say-"
His voice had become indistinct and
the phrases ran together. Only frag-
mentary words could be distinguished:
"Ada"-"my child''-"my sister
"Hobhouse." His speech flashed into
conference at last as he ended: Now
] have told you all
My dear lord" sobbed the valet. II
have not understood a word."
Pitiful distress overspread Gordon's
features. Not understood?" he said
with ar effort. Then it is too late"
He sank back Fletcher. blind with
grief left the room.
A subdued commotion rose unwonted-
ly beneath the windows. Mavrocordato
spoke hurriedly TO an orderly who had
Just come TO the door. Have thew not
been told?" he whispered. What is
the natter"
Through the closing darkness Cor
don's ear caught a part of the low re-
ply. What did he say?' he asked.
Mavrocordato approached the couch.
Some one has come in a vessel bring
ing a vast fortune for Greece.
The dimming eyes flared up with
joyful exultation. The cause was not
lost then. The armament could go on
the fleet be strengthened. the forces
held together till the loan came-till
another might take his place.
A sound of footsteps fell on the stair
there was a soft knock. The orderly's
voice demanded the password.
If there was reply, none of the watch
ers heard it. Gordon had lifted him
self on his elbow his head turned with
a sudden, strange expectancy. The
password - he said distinctly--'it is
here.'' He laid his hand upon his
heart.
A sobbing cry answered and a wo-
man crossed swiftly to the couch ana
knelt beside il.
A great light came to Gordon's coun-
tenance. 'TeresaT he gasped. ''Te-
resa-my love-"
The effort had brought exhaustion
He sank back, feeling his head pillowed
upon her breast. He smiled and closed
his eyes.
A friar had followed her into the
room MavrOcordato beckoned the Won
dering surgeons to the door. They pass
ed out and young Gambia, after one
glance at his sister, followed. The friar
drew near the couch. cruci1x in hand,
his lips moving silently. The door
closed.
After the ore cry which had voiced
that beloved name, Teresa had made no
sound. She Graded Gordon's head in
her arms, watching his face with
fearful tenderness. From the court
came the hushed hum of many people,
from the stair low murmur of voices;
behind her she heard Padre Somalian's'
breathed prayer. Her heart was bleed
ing with a bitter pain. Now and again
she touched the damp brow, like blue
veined marble, and warmed the cold
hands between her own as she had
done in that direful ride when her arms
had held that body, bleeding from
kriss.
The day was declining and the air
filled with shadows. The storm that
had hung in the sky had begun to NUT
ter in rolling far-off thunder, and the
sun, near to setting, made a lurid flame
at the horizon-bars Gordon stirred
and mutJered, and at length opened his
eyes upon the red glare. He heard the
echoes Of the clouds. like distant artil-
lery.
With the energy of deIirium he sat
up. he began to talk wildly, in a sin
gular tumble of languages: Forward
Forward Courage-strike for Greeeei
1t is victory"
The lallucination of weakness had
given him his supreme desire. He was
leading the assault on Lepanto.
My son''-the friar's voice spoke
there are other victories than Of war.
There is that Of the agony and the
cross"
The words seemed to stri. through
the delirium OF the revered fantasies
ard calm them. The dying mans eyes
fastened on the speaker with a vague
inquiry. There was silence for mo-
InG1ls MDl1c O0lSlQt lnG
zled servant knelt by q group of Off
GERS his scanned face wet with tears,
and from the courtyard rose the plaint
i've howl of a dog.
Through the deepening abyss Of Cor
don's senses the crumbling memory
was cropping for an old recollection that
stirred at the question. Out of the
maze grew sentences which voice like
that had once said: Every man bears
a cross of despair to his Calvary. He
who bore the heaviest saw beyond.
What did he say?-"
The failing brain struggled to recall.
What did he say? lie saw dimly the
emblem which the friar's hand held
an emblem that had hung always
somewhere. somewhere in a fading
Paradise of his. 1t expanded, a sad,
dark Calvary against olive foliage
gray as the ashes of the Gethsemane
agony-the picture of the ternal suffer-
ing OF the Prince of Peace.
Mill 1>..&