The San Francisco call., 1906-06-24
CHAPTER XVII.
Prometheus.


Il knew how it would be-, she said
softly It made very little difference
what she said, if she could only maintain
that calming. quleting control. Don't
you remember? 1 told you. Life is too
hard. here too exacting, too unideal, for
q man like you"
His eyes came back to hers. For a
man like me?" he repeated. What sort
of a man am u"
She did not answer at once.
II know why you don't answer" he
said mournfully You hate to tell me
that 1 am failure"
"A failure." she exclaimed; in what
way?''
In every way" he returned bitterly
DO you think l cannot see how utterly
inadequate l am to the work here?'
How can you talk like that?" she
cried.
She threw off her heavy flower trimmed
hat and pushed back her soft bright hair
with an impatient gesture Il viii not
let you talk like that" she said earnestly.
power Your influence
He shook his head "A feathers weight
against these forces here. he said de-
jectedly.
Your eloquence, your apostolic firer
she continued.
He scofed. Very pretty. no doubt.
But hardly apostolic.'
''Promethean, then She smiled Il
do think you are more of Olympus than
of Sinai"
How pale he was, How sad the lines
about his mouth, How pathetic the ap-
peal in his eyes. She must give back
the stir, the sparkle he had brought with
him to this dreadful place, Then it had
been the music that enkindled him. 1t
should be again. The song, the song
he must hear the song
You've never asked for the verses l
was to write for your melody she said
flushing.
Did you do them?" he inquired "Whv
didn't you tell me? When was it?"
Almost a year ago. she answered
Haven't 1 kept the secret well? Would
you really like TO hear them?" She went
to the piano and struck a few chords
'B fiat he called. Yes. that's right
that's right He was drumming an ac-
compartment on the arms of his chair
His lips moved with hers, but it was
her voice which sang:
Along the silent ways there came
\ troubadour, troubadour
And in his hand no harp he bore
lie sang of Joy in overflow
ite sang the Pain mankind must know,
And they who listened to that voice
with 1T did mourn, with it rejoice
He was at her side in an instant
They are one" he said excitedly. words
and notes. You nave caught the sound
You have expressed-my meaning, You
have told-my secret,-A troubadour a
troubadour, that is what I am. troubo-
dour. masquerading as a Priest of God"'
Startled, confused. she drew back from
the instrument and looked up at him
He was trembling from head 10 foot.
Il thought the work was making me
over" he painted. q deceived myself I
am the same. unchanged Conservation
endeavor, nothing will change me. I
could be scared with hot irons, could
be rent asunder. But it would avail
nothing Under it all. under the affection
and sympathy l have had for these
people, the desire to help there has been
something in nc"
He broke away abruptly and walked to
the window
She turned toward him imploringly.
Think. think OF the good you hay.
doner' she calculated
What good have / done?" he demand
ed, what real permanent lasting good ,
What saloon have l closed? What den
have cleansed? I'm kind; / mean well:
I'm good nurse: but-do I convict the
sinner? Do / heal the broken-heartedq
Have / sent great searching waves of
penitence and resolve through this unholv
town? No. they come-to hear me saw
startling things! They come-to hear me
sing" He laughed. The bitterness of
that laugh,
Don't, she cried, II can't bear it,"
What single life have / renewed?'' he
went on brokenly, his face still averted.
What one heart have l cfanged?"
Mine" she answered solemnly. Mine.
wait, there is another verse. / have
never sung 1t aloud but / will now. / will
now. You shall see you shall know: it
shall be proved to YOU Tremulously,
catching her breath between the words.
but resolutely, she sang:
But more than this thou gavest me.
O troubadour, o troubadour.
All that / hoped and meant to be
Like flooding wave returns once more.
take the joy,f / dare the pain,
Content to be myself again
Sing on. sing on. as God hath meant:
MY heart shall be thy Instrument
With the last wcsd shs was on her feet.