The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-09-07

unison in fancy: God bless dear,
good, kind Mr.. Brangwyn." The men,
ory fell on his heart as the words
themselves had fallen like dew upon
parched ground. Lisle came over to
ask for game OF chess, which was
now played twice q week, and found a
certain indefinable change in him. He
made no approach to an understanding
OF 1t until Brangwyn commenced by
telling him what had befallen.
1t touched me, Lisle," he said. In a
voice which had a slight tremor in It..
1T touched me deeply. I have not
found the world rich in gratitude so
far as have travelled through it."
"You find it sometimes" said the
parson," and when you do it IL a pleas
ing thing. But It's thing to be too
sanguine in hoping for. Do you mind
our talking together? Stop me If l
bore you"
Let us play our game" said Alloy
sius. Lisle assented with a cheerful
alacrity.
Your turn for white tonight. Do
you mind trying that gambit again? I
think have an answer to it,"
Aloysius advanced his man without
answering. His wits were not on the
game, and the parson scored q some
what easy victory.
There was something you wanted
to say to me, think" said the host,
leaning back in his chair as If he was
fatigued, and shading his eyes with his
hand.
"Yes," answered Lisle. II was going
to ask you IL you have any definite
reasons for staying away from
church. Brangwyn dropped his hand
and looked at him. Are you a church.
MANI"
They put me down for one in the
census, suppose" said Aloysius, with
a clouded and fleeting smile. But
the fact is, I'm a nothingarian.
That's pity" said Lisle, gravely.
tits dreadful pity" said Aloysius,
taking shelter behind his hand again;
"but what is man 20 do? You can't
make yourself believe thing against
your own judgment"
"Have you tried?" asked Lisle.
"Yes," Aloysius answered. II gave
away that last game. Have you time
for another?"
Lisle nodded assent. He was begin
ming to know something OF his man,
and he had more than begun to con-
ceive warm regard for him.
ell tell you what 1t is, my friend"
he said, voicelessly as he opened the
game. II mean to get inside that
fence of yours. l think there's good
man behind 1t. I'm sure there's a
great grief behind It. I'm going to
know you we'll beforo I've done with
you, but shall travel into your good
graces very, very slowly"
He had travelled faster than he knew
The lonely mans heart had already
warmed to him. There was not anoth-
er man alive to whom he would or
could have told that story OF the chill
dren's prayer. Aloysius, not dream
ing how his companions thoughts
were occupied, concentrated his
thoughts upon the game, and Lisle set
him SO stiff a task that when at last
the final move was played they were
both astonished to hear the mantel
clock sound midnight.
II must run or l shall catch it" said
Lisle. Good night, Brangwyn."
Good night" said Aloysius. He
held out his hand for the first time in
the history of their acquaintance.
The parson gripped it heartily and
looked as If he were about to speak.
He thought better of it, and with rep
etition of his good night" fastened
away, drawing the hall door to it's
place behind him.
That's a good fellow" said Alloy
sius. as the sound of Lisle's rapid foot
steps died away. "A good fellow. He
carries his certificate in his face. And
a little human companionship is worth
something after all"
When he went out next night he
timed himself to arrive an hour later
at Harvey's cottage. The patient was
downstairs, and crutch was leaning
against the wall beside him.
Come" said Aloysius, "this Is bet
ter"