The San Francisco call., 1906-06-24
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Surprise.

ctccp was Oul Ol tIlc question IOT 6llIcT
of these two that night. Nor, it must be
acknowledged did either Cesire it. The
minutes were too precious. Every one
must be watched and counted. The hour
than when they faced each other in Kath-
arines little parlor. nearer than when
they sat, side by side, driving down Eu-
reka streets. TiInidity, reserve, had van
ished with physical conditions. They
clasped and kissed each other They muir
INJURED words of blessing and endearment.
And all the while the song, their song.
went singing its way through heart and
brain. Il take the joy. take the pain"
Katharine repeated. What pain so great
as to be an extreme price for such joy?
To Clement it seemed ulat he could feel
his body lift from the bed where it lay.
At dawn he sprang up. light as air. flung
on his clothes. and. hurrying through the
study into TIE church. sat down at the
little cabinet organ and commenced to
play and sing. The small, sedate instru-
ment, which had never responded to any
notes more profane than those of Amer
ica." gave out a peal of impassoned mel
ody that filed the church. The voice of
the singer. srrcharged with emotion.
thrilled after it, Utterly unconscious was
he of any ones existence save hers to
whom he sang:
Then take the joy and dare the pain,
Content TO be thyself again,
And l win sing. as God hath meant;
Thy heart shall be my instrument
The exultant tones ceased. There was
silence in the church, broken by dry.
ironical voice which seemed to drop from
the ceiling.
rs that hymn?" it asked. Jack Perry
stood in the doorway of the study regard
ing the singer with a keen, searching,
critical glance.
Not exactly" rep.led Clement, laugh
ing boyishly. He arose and stretched
himself. flinging his long arms about like
a child waking from his nap. Where
on earth did you come from, so early in
the morning. Jack?" he inquired lightly.
''I'll tell you, bime-by," said Jack
briefly. Il came over last night. but your
light was out and the door locked"
Il went to bed early" said Clement hur-
riedly. lie was conscious of a change in
Jacks attitude, a widening of the space
between himself and his friend Was it
because Jack had heard him singing in
the church words and music such as no
one had ever heard these before? There
is no mstaking the love-call of the male
of any species. Did Jack detect the ex-
hilaration, stimulating every sense giving
power to see, to hear. to feel as never be-
fore?
Somehow they appeared to have
changed places. 1t was Jack who said
Come into the study" Jack who put
question after question. his gray brows
bent. his steel-blue eyes looking straight
INTO the glowing dark ones before him,
his Jaw set, his lips straight as line
Where was you born, parson?" he
asked abruptly.
"Gainsborough, England was the re-
ply
Did you live there till you come to this
country?"
There and in London What is it,
JacI?"
You was livin' there Iast?" pursued
the cateehist. disregarding the uneasiness
of the catechumen.
Yes Why do you ask? What do you
want to know? Can't you ask me point
blank?"
No. by God. I can't" groaned Jack. Il
thought | could. but l can't I'm hard
hit. lie looked it. He had aged since he
came INTO the room. The lines had deep
ened in his face. He was haggard and
worn.
if It had been anybody else he said
WIN an enort Il know-men. That's
why | thought | knew you Here says
l. is felier thatll show us how the
tnins $ done Not that we'll ever get
where ne IS. but we can foller on An
now it's different"
In what way am 1 different now?', de-
manded Vaughan
70 Lord groaned Jack, and buried his
face in his hands
Vaughan said nothing. Different. AS
different as light from darkness, as life
from death 1t was in the strength of
that direrence that he denied the right of
the Old saloon-keeper to question him,
Oi course we all vary according to our
moods, mo ne said with dignity. I'VE can
.,os pe forever on the heights, at the ex-
IRENE or tension. We must sometimes
descend. relax
his manner touched something in Jack
winch responded like cold iron.
All rignt. SAID Jack grimly rising as
ns snnSa than fhnf Tnrinrton woman