The San Francisco call., 1906-07-01

minute" She turned 70 her guest. I'm
goin' to see about dinner. He'll tell you
all you wanter know"
A few searching questions brought
out the whole story from Ned. He be-
lieved Vaughan had told the truth, but
of course things were in an awful mess
the church had very nearly gone to
pieces.
You know how people are; they're
like sheep" said Ned. They piled in
there, the church wouldn't hold them.
Now they've all gone the other way.
can understand how Vaughan couldn't
talk about his troubles when he came
here. 1t was perfectly natural for such
a sensitive fellow as he is to say moth
ing, and go along about his business"
His friends at Galena knew nothing
about this" said Harman. They said
they hadn't heard from him or seen
newspaper for a month. / haven't.
There was nothing in the papers,
said Ned quickly. THAT was the way
Penrose showed his friendliness There
are number of us who still believe in
Vaughan-but, of course, this thing is
bad for the Church"
Its ruinousr said Harman.
He ate his dinner in silence. and as
soon as he had swallowed the last
mouthful Immediately left the house.
Vaughan was waiting for him in the
doorway somber figure. with rest
less eyes which burnt themselves into
Harman's memory. He had otulived
the period of heroic endurance, ex-
hausted his patience. He was a man
at bay, fighting with his back against
the wall Harman's first words were
not calculated to soften the situation.
Il am surprised and shocked" he began
weightily, ito find-what do l fnd?'
I'm here" said Vaughan fiippantly
all. Come in" He led the way to the
study Harman followed and seated
himself ponderously in the chair before
the desk. He whrled half way around
and took an ivory paper-cutter from
the desk to occupy his nervous fingers
before he continued. He was not
pleased with Vaughan's manner.
"Of course" he said formally, "yoV
cannot go on like this
What do you want me to do?' in
quired the young preacher. What
do you think 1 should have done in the
first placer
The superintendent cleared his throat
once, twice.
well, as to that, he began hesi-
tatingly. 'The-ah-secrecy-
what secrecy2" demanded Vaughan
mo one asked if / was married. /
did my best to bring about recon
! ciliation. Nothing would serve except
| to throw up my work here and return
| to England"
That" said Harman positively. lis
what you should have done"
| Vaughan stared. Then he burst into
! a loud laugh.
! Perhaps you think I'd better return
| to England. now he queried.
Il do, said the superintendent /
do, most assuredly." He beat the air
with the paper-cutter, measuring off
his words. "The reputation of clergy
man is something that cannot be tam
beat the air. 'Once gone, it is gone
! forever; il cannot be recovered. 1t
| makes no difference how innocent a
man may be, if he has placed himself
or ben placed in a position to bring
disgrace upon the church, there is
/ nothing to do but open the door"
/ And kick him out. finished
Vaughan. II see. But what If l re-
fuse to b kicked out?' There was
an ugly look in his eyes. The super
intendent evaded them. Mr.. Vaughan,
we don't want any trouble with you
he said distantly. If it's a question
of money"
Il don't want cent of money from
the mission" broke in Vaughan. Il
never have wanted il. From the day
| came to this pauperized, impotent or
| ganizat ton I've take care that it should
not come back to the mission. I've
paid off it's debts. made it self-support-
ing-you know what I've done"
"Ye-es. l know that you've done re-
mark bly, WELL" said the superin-
tendent. But now
Now, I'm under a cloud said the
young preacher earnestly But you
know how these people are. They
change in moment. They are
liable to come trooping back tomor-
row. It's the fashion just now to stone
me- 1t has been the fashion to make
an idol of me-" He smiled. actually
Harman shook his head. 1T would
not be well for the church." he said
magsterially, Ito hold lightly a mat
ter of this kind. We cannot ignore
pass over this-complication. 1t would
have bad effect upon your authority
1t would never do
The ugly look came back intc
You mean that you want me to-
get out?' he inquired harshly. rs
that it?"
Harman nodded, once, twice. thrice
That's it, he said coolly. For the
good of the church.
For the good of the church," re-
peated Vaughan desperately. 1T il
I for the good of the church that sor
who has loved and served her with
all his heart shall be disowned anC
exiled because, forsooth, he has loved
and served her above all else and tt
his own undoing? Is that for the goot
of the church?'
Something must be conceded TO ap
pearances," said the superintendent
sharply.
"Concede 1t. then, by all means-
cried Vaughan, towering above him
and lifting his long arms as if to cal
the unseen hosts to witness. "Conced
it! Concede me, But when we NEE
before high heaven, John Harman, yol
will have to concede something t,
J reality, and it's pretty sure to be th
small. skulking, pettifogging soul ii
that big, cmofortable body of yours
Harman started up in alarm. Hat
his troubles driven the young maj
! mad? Like maniac indeed Vaughan
J seemed his thick. black hair tosse,
! about his white face, the unfathomahl
depths of his large, dark eyes openin,
: like the pit of remorse into which h
, would plunge his companion.
Self-control returned as suddenly a
; it had left him. Il beg your pardon,
t he said coldly. Il forgot myself.
will return to England, as you sug
gest. There are certain matters to b
! arranged with my-successor If yo
: will send him here upon your return