The San Francisco call., 1905-01-01

WHAT penance musl peai'
fathers"
HSuch. souls as yours infiict their
own penance. The saints forbid that
I.should add to it, was the gentle an
swer.
Then with a lightened heart God
win returned to the altar rails, while
his brother Wulf was summoned TO
take his place in the confessional. OI
the sins that he had to tell we need
not speak. They were such as were
common. to young men and none Oh
them very grievous. Still, before he
gave him absolution, the good Prior
admonished him to think. less of his
body and more of his spirit; less
of the glory of the feats of arms
and more to the true ends to whicn
he should enter on them. he Daoe
him, moreover, to take his brotner
Goodwin as an earthly guide and ex-
wiser man of his years. and finally dis
missed him, prophesying that II ne
would heed these counsels he would
come to. great glory on earth and In
heaven.
Father, I will do my best" an
swered Wulf humbly, but there can
not be two Godwins. and, father, some
times l fear me that our paths. Will
cross, since two men cannot win one
woman
II know the trouble" answered the
Prior anxiously, land with less noble
natured men it might be grave. But
if it should come to this, then must
the lady judge according to the wishes
OF her own heart, and he who loses
her must be loyal in sorrow as in JOY.
But be sure you take no base advan-
tage of your brother in the hour of
temptation and bear him no bitterness
should he win the bride"
Il. think l CAN be sure of that, ;.
said Wulf: "alsQ that we, who have
loved each other from birth, would
die before we betrayed each other.
II think so also;" answered the Prior,
but Satan is very strong"
Then Wulf also returned to the altar
rails, and the full mass was sung, and
the sacrament received by the two
.neophytes, and the offerings made all
in their appointed order. Next they
were led back to the priory to rest and
to eat a little after their long nights
vigil in the cold church, and here they
abode awhile, thinking their own
thoughts, seated alone in the Prior's
chamber At length Wulf. who Seemed
to be i'll at ease, rose and laid his hand
upon his brothers shoulder, saying:
Il can be silent no more: it was ever
thus: that which is in my mind must
out of it. Il have words to say to you-'
.Speak ON, Wulf,' said Goodwin.
.Wulf sat himself down again on his
stool. and for a while stared hard at
nothing, for he did not seem to find it
easy to begin this talk. Now Goodwin
could read his brothers mind like a
book, but Wulf could not always read
Godwin's, although, being twins who
who had been together from BIRTH
their hearts were for the most part
open to each other without the need Of
words.
.'It is of our cousin Rosamund, is it
not?" asked Goodwin presently.
AYE. Who else?"
And you would tell me that you
love her, and that now you are a
knjght-almost-an hard on five and
twenty years of age, you would ask her
to become your affianced wife?"
ayes: it came into my heart when
She rode the gray horse into the water,
there upon the pier. and l thought that
should never see her any more. say
that it came into my heart that. life
was not worth living nor death worth
dying without her"
"Then. Wulf," answered Goodwin
slowly. what more is there to say?
Ask on, and prosper. Why not?. We
have some lands, if not many, and
Rosamund will not lack for them; nor
do / think that our uncle would say
you nay, if she wills it, seeing that you
are the propereSt man and the bravest
in all this country side.
Except my brother Goodwin, who is
all these things, and good and learned
to boot, which am not" replied Wulf
musingly Then there was silence for
a while, which he broke.
Goodwin, our ill-luck is that you love
her also, and that you thought the
same thought that l did yonder on the
quay-head.''
Goodwin flushed a little and his long
fingers tightened their grip upon his
knee.
1T is so,' he said quietly. "To my
grief it is so. But she knows nothing
of this, and should never know 1t If you
will keep watch upon your tongue.
Moreover, you need not be jealous of
me, before marriage or after
What, then, would you have me
do?" asked Wulf hotly. Seek her
heart. and perchance-though this 1
doubt-let her yield 1t to me. she think
ing that you care naught for her?'
':Why not?" asked Goodwin again,
with a sigh: ''it might save her some
pain and you. some doubt, and make
your own path more clear. A marriage
is more to you than to me, Wulf, who
think sometimes that my sword shall
be my spouse and duty my only
crown"
who think. having a heart of gold,
that even in such a thing as this you
will not bar the path of the brother
whom you love. Nay, Goodwin, as am
sinful man, and as / desire her above
al, things on earth, / will play no such
towards game, nor conquer one who
will not lift his sword lest he should
hurt me. Sooner would l bid you all
farewell, and go to seek fortune or
death 'in the wars without work
spoken"
Leaving her to pine, perchance. oh,
could we be sure that she had no mind
toward either Of us, that would be best
to begone together. But, Wulf, we
cannot be sure, since at times, to be
honest, / have thought she loves you. :"
And at times, to be honest, have
been sure that she loves you, although
/ should like to try my luck and hear 1t
from her lips, which on such terms /
will not do"
What, then, is your plan, Wulf?"
my plan is that if our uncle gives us
leave, we should both speak to her
you first, as the eldest, setting out your
case as best you can, and asking her to
think of it and give you answer within
a day. Then, before that day is done
also should speak, so that she may
know all the story, and play her part
in it with opened eyes, not deeming, as
otherwise she might. that we know
each Others minds. and that you ask
because / have no win that way"
''It is very fair said Goodwin. "and
worthy of you, who are the most hon
est Of men. Yet wuIf, my heart is
troubled. See you, my brother. have
ever brethren loved each other as we
do? And now must the shadow of a
woman fall upon that love and blight