The San Francisco call., 1906-09-09

Maybe 1t would make him really
good to hear you say that, like that"
ana thus Alva grew to know the
voice, until one night as she fretted
alone in her room, listening to the
drench OF the summer rain and pictur-
ing the deserted bench by the Hlacs.
she suddenly knew with pain that she
must make the promised theft then
or never So she CROPPED toward Sister
Annas room. shrinking from each dis
tant sound. and at the keys clink her
heart beat horribly: yet she felt no
Sin, but only the sweet pang of self
sacrifice.
The next night when the Voice
greeted her she silently held forth
when the Voice next spoke it was
with the old tang of bitterness.
The hour had grown late when the
Voice said:
Perhaps I'll be back some day: that
scar might wear off Maybe il you
wished it woulds or If you thought
about me in church something's
The words ceased abruptly, and Alva
knew that the Voice was creeping
away with an unspoken good-by. She
rose, reached forth her hands to blind
ness, and then, with an impulsive
moan. tore the bandage from her eyes.
The retreating figure turned upon
the moonlit sward an arm out
stretched. the ghostly glamour falling
full upon his pale, set face, his close
ly cropped crown and his hideous uni
form Of black and white stripes.
With scream Alva shrank back.
covering her eyes. but blindness had
fled forever. She heard the Voice cry
out bitterly. then all was silent save
for the patter OF steps on the walk and
the timid call. What is It. Alva?"
When the sisters had heard all. ex-
claiming the while In frightened
amazement. they told Alva she had sin
ned. though half Willingly. and bade
her pray for forgiveness. and this she
did. saying over to herself daily. Il am
Gods child; my service is his alone"
until 1t last her life became again
quiet and unsullied. save for the mem-
ory of one bold figure breasting the
clamor and dangers of the outside
world.
But before all noise had quite passed
there came three men who. having spo-
ken with Sister Anna. walked in the
garden. examining each foot of it's soil
and walls. then crossed to the yards
opposite to find the striped clothes of
the convict where he had lain day after
day in among the iumber's black
depths Then they spoke further with
Sister Anna.
You had better wear yoar banda ge
STILL" she said when they had gone.
Your eyes are not yet strong And
Alva wondered why the sister turned
away so quickly.
That evening Alva was led onco more
to her seat by the lilacs. and there she
sat alone. night after night until it
seemed as IL the Voice were only
dream which had come and gone while
she drowsed in the darkness. Yet
often she could almost believe that she
dreamed afresh. when she would tear
off her bandage to stare fearfuIly into
the distant shadows. Sometimes she
saw three figures lurking about the
gate, anG then she knew why she was
still allowed to sit by the lilacs and
why Sister Anna asked her each even-
ing II all had been quiet. Surely the
Voice would never return, Yet, If it
should! Alva repeated TO herself the
sisters words: II am Gods child; my
service is his alone
But at last the dreaded footsteps
di ewf wariiy near once more and halted
Lcside her Alva dared not speak she
bowed her bandaged forehead and wait
co. Then said the Voice bitterly: