The Washington times., 1906-03-04

"oh. Father X" I broke in. do
you remember Barney Williams
famous line?"
81 do" he laughed, and without
pause and in brogue thick enough
to cut with a knife, he quoted: "Ah
-ah! You're wurlkin for what you'll
soon get, an that's a dash good
iickin', do yur mind.
1t was so beautifully done that I
laughed with delight, then laughed
again at the stricken face of his stu
dent friend, when he heard that
noble brogue-but the finger resum-
ed its wagging: You believe that a
great change will one day come to
my friend, and / was about TO proph-
esy what the actual result of such
change would be. but for your pun
ishment, irreverent one, you must
now guess it for yourself
Good gracious" I cried. 3sbut
don't know you, father-neither YOUR
tastes, preferences tor mode of
thought"
Therein lies the punishment of
your guessing" he blandIy remarked.
Pray, go on, my daughter. get to
your task"
Truly the man loved his joke. and
never have l turned coIdly from one
so / accepted the situation. and no
tOriouS guesser that I am, I obeved
orders and got 10 my guessing. 7 had
declared the result Of a change of
temperament would be augmented
power over the public. Evidently. he
thought differently. l knit nv
bTows in silent thought.
Good" chuckled this priesf1v
tease See the actress guessing the
churchman's thought"
Seeing no light ahead. I tried
TO change my point of view: tried
10 put myself in his place and
think Of the matter from the stand
point of the church adviser and af-
fectionate friend I met his ewes
by chance and hnintentfonaIIv
stared steadily into them, and be-
gan slowly TO argue to myself:
This coldness the critics so de-
cry is a heaven-sent protection 10
the purity Of a young soul. It is
a sort of transparent. magic armor.
IL 1t melts away she will stand
tendeTly sensitive to a thousand
hurts, unfelt before, and and
She My fixed gaze broke-I
gave a laugh of triumph Il nave
guessed your prophecy" I cried.
Let me hear it," he demanded.
you were going TO say that
when this miracle comes to pass;
when this lovely statue comes to
live; when she discovers the Sc
cret of her own softening heart,
she will simply share that secret
with one only person in all the
world, and the public will profit
none at all"
He looked profoundly surprised
for a moment; then said: We'll,
you have done it, -'er-'er-
aren't you a bit of a mesmerist?"
And when l laughingly answered,
Good heavens, no." he went on:
We'll, you'd not be above believ-
ing the Banshee, if you were Irish
for you've a touch of the un-
canny, anyhow"
Then with grave courtesy the
good father asked pardon for so
prolonging his intended brief call,
and as he stood receiving assur-
ances of my respect and gratitude
for his kindness, he offered me with
gentle dignity the blessing he was
empowered to bestow.
Earnestly. l said: Most CRATE
fully will I accept your blessing,
father, after you are informed that,
technically, l am not of your
church" He looked surprised. I'VE
both follow and love the same dear
Shepherd, but we do not rest in
the same fold-I am not a Catho-
lie; do you wish to withdraw your
offered benison?"
He looked silent reproach at me
and raised his hand, while with
bowed head I gratefully and re-
Spectfully received the blessing he
pronounced with a gentle fervor.
In that moment he was changed.
Frolic and laughter had fallen from
him, and in perfect dignity he stood
in that strange combination of au-
thority and obedience. Of student. :
teacher, and orator; in whom the
aloofness of the celibate was soft
ened by the benevolence of a spiT-
itual fatherhood, and all bound to-
gether with that gracious suavity
that plainly spells priest of the
Roman Catholic Church. He took
my hand in a hearty grasp. No,
he could not accept my hospitality,
as he had to catch a train and re-
turn to safekeeping his young SEM
marian. We exchanged a few last,
rather lingering words Of farewell 1