Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

and pointed toward the door Then his hand dropped
to his side, and he said, " No, sit down, please
The young man was deadly pale. and looked
furtive. As he went to chair his movements were
almost cringing. But when he spoke there was
determined sound in his voice.
You surprised to me, Father Sebastian,
aren't you? You thought was in Naples with
with my wife
Il did not expect to you, certainly
MY wife-1-we not together any
Probably she II write and tell you If she does
you can tell her that told you first"
What do you wish to tell me?" the father asked
quietly
The young man leaned forward in his chair, then
back, then forward again, if trying to find a
posture in which he could be at You We
heard hundreds of confessions, supposed" he said
at length
Have you ever been shocked by one? Have you
ever-have you ever felt inclined to strike the
penitent instead of absolving him.
Never" said the father earnestly"
The man looked little less furtive. Can you
understand impulses, however-however terrible
however impossible they are?" he said
Can you make allowance" -
Didn't Christ make allowance" yess
Father Sebastian interrupted. why am G%E<SsS
l priest, if l cannot?"
"'Then-then, Father Sebastian, I've
done a thing l can't understand
thing would cut any man for doing-a
thing l should not have believed any
could do-a thing that the greatest y
backyard living would be ashamed to
do. I've done it. l couldn't do it again
That know as know that some day
shall die l could never do it again
What was it,? ..You
I've were in Naples He paused
if the words stuck in his throat I'VE were
in Naples. We were at the theater in the stalls. |
was sitting on the outside next to the aisle" He
paused again piteously.
Don't be afraid" Father Sebastian said with
a sort of gentle but deep emphasis
The mans face got scarlet, but he went on now
without hesitation. In the middle of the plav
there sudden
but it got under control. cloud of smoke came
from behind the scenes; There shrek:
'Fnoco! Fnoco! l heard it. l saw the smoke
1-I-something seemed to take me by the shoulders
"a devil-to force out of my seat, to force me
out of the theater. Father 1 was possessed-good
God! father, l must have been possessed! There
are such things There are possessions In the
Bible it says So found myself in the street. the air
on my face. And then suddenly it was gone
was free. l knew what l had done. l tried to go
back to herIl fought to go back to her. But it
impossible. All the entrances were choked
with bowling mob Then seemed to 60 mad
ced don't know And then ' a last almost n
the people were out, and l went again to force nv
way in: And then met her, and She
Suddenly he dropped his head down almost
between his knees and began to Sob She hates
me- She hates mel he muttered. "She always
will hate mel
Father Sebastian said nothing at first did not
try to comfort him. But presently, when the man
recovered himself little and looked up the
father said, You have played the coward physi-
cally.
The man nodded, without looking up.
Now can you play the mentally morally"
The-what do you mean"
Will you do what advise you?"
The man looked up at last. Yes he said.
Father Sebastian got up, went to the door,
and called out something to a waiting figure in the
dark passage.
A monk shufled away while Father Sebastian
returned to his room
Come with to Hammersfield, he said to the
young man.
ITO Hammersheld? Why father?'
Your wife is there. am going to take you to her +"