Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13
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other purposes Perhaps because you
owe me grudge for what once said to
you. 1t does not matter.
Yes. it does matter" she exclaimed.
fiercely. and then. as though ashamed
of raising her voice. she dropped it to a
whisper. Il want you to know that l
am acting justly and that my actions
will need no forgiveness.
Perhaps you have your own ideas of
Justice.
Has it never occurred to you said
Mrs. Lampirthy. slowly. that the mex
orable laws of the universe are just, and
that as man has sown so shall he reap.
Have you never been afraid that one day
a dead and perhaps forgotten sin may
rise UP against the man who committed
1t. and in spite of all repentance and
prayer. may destroy the work which he
looks upon as an atonement? Has this
never occurred to you. Father Francis?"
There is forgiveness for sins he re-
piled. in a low voice.
Yes. perhaps-in the hereafter. But
we are taught that the laws of nature
are memorable, that a mans sin will find
him out. that the wages of sin is death.
/ do not know my Bible very WELL Henry
Rankin. but many texts occur to me.
He was silent and scrutnized her face
with his fierce, dark eyes. He under
stood.
against me and my work. he said. after
a pause. "Have you known all along?''
Il did not know until your illness. >
she replied. Il asked to see you while
you were unconscious. But for your
threats to me I should not have asked to
see you. You aroused my curiosity You
have only yourself to thank. OF course
l recognized you at once when you were
clean shaven One does not so easily
forget. Only one thing has forced me to
disregard my husbands wishes. and that
is the knowledge that l am Furnishing Sir
Richard Gaunt for his past sins
May God forgive you" he said,
hoarsely.
His instrument of justice. To crafty
your own passions you ruined a young
and innocent girl. 1t is fitting that she
should rise up again from the past and
destroy your work. l shall have no pity.
And 1 shall not rest until 1 have ruined
you
What do you intend to do?'
My first act" she said, calmly. will
be to give all the newspapers their free
dom. You can then see how long they
will let you have their support. l shall
also refuse to pay you and your preach
ers. You will all have to work or starve.
But / shall do more than this. / shall be
actively hostile to your cause l shall
past have them published in the papers.
Doubtless many of your other victims
will come forward and join their voices
to mine. | shall not rest till l have
ruined YOU
Have you no shame he exclaimed
mo respect for the dead, that you dare
to harbor such thoughts at such time
as this?"
Il do not speak for myself she re-
Piled gravely. Il am the instrument of
justice. l shall carry out the 1neXorabl
law-the law that you have broken.
Father Francis looked at her steadily
and though her claims were ridiculous he
did not smile. The thought struck him
that this fragile. fair-haired little woman
was a small enough item in the great
scheme of eternal justice; but he knew
that she had it in her power to do him
much harm. if the weight of her great
wealth were used against him as an
active and hostile force.
Il shall endeavor to make you under
stand your position she continued.
You will be forced to realize that your
swork only exists by the support of the
money which you affect to despise. Per-
personality, your life of self-denial have
raised you to the position in which you
stand. But you will soon know that only
one thing has lifted you out of obscurity
pleasant thought for one who is preach
ing the gospel of poverty. But it is the
truth. And now that you are deprived of
his wealth you will learn how weak you
are
II know my weakness he replied
humbly. But God will fight for me and
l will finish the work l have begun. l
will not even answer your taunts. You
cannot sting me with your words. l
shall not lift my hand against you-for
the sake of the child The world will
never know your story
Il do not mind if it does.'' she replied.
quickly. II can defy it. No one can
take my money from me now
''What shall it profit a man." said
Father Francis, :" If he gain the whole
world and lose his own SOUL? You are
not lifting your hand against me. Mrs
Lamprthy. in this wicked act of VEN
geance: you are lifting your hand to de-
stroy the work of God. But you will
learn how feeble you are. / can stand
and fight alone. l had already decided
to do so. A fortnight ago Mr. Lam
pirthy threatened to withdraw his sup
port. He asked me to go to the south
of France till the summer for the sake
of my health. 1 felt bound to refuse.
He gave me fortnight to decide. You
have done no more than he himself would
have done. though you have acted from
less worthy motives. But l am strong
enough to fight and stand alone
VERY we'll said Mrs Lampirthy,
there is no need to prolong the inter-
view. 1 suppose you won't believe me
when 1 say that 1t is painful to meat
such time as this. You don't believe
that I am acting from sense of duty"
Father Francis was silent. Then he
walked slowly to the door and placed his
fingers on the handle
Il am strong enough to fight he said,