Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-22

4 SoUutciuHCe MIS- liiluc LOT SInliCS, nOl
for woe. He busted the pews with an
inept clumsy hand.
You've been quarreling with your
wife again. said Father MacNeirs ac-
cusing voice. from the vestry door.
'Nawthin' much, your reverence
said Reddy sullSily. What did a boy
like that know about women, even
If he was priest?
| The reverend father came down the
aisle. He might know little abou,
women; hut he knew much about dust
and his caretalters brush flourished
with renewed energy. thin. other
worldly looking young fellow was
, Father MacNeil, with pair of soft
misty. dark eyes, and voice TO wllo
a bird from bush-a voice that did
not seem TO lie made entirely for the
recitng Of Latin services
"Mahoney," he began in those win
ming tones which Reddy had learned
could convey as sound a reproof a
the bishop'h rasping bass-"Reddy
your wife is Il good woman. Your
Jealousy is disgrace to You, and an
insult to her The whole parish is
talking OF it,
| INV uOto YOUR reverence KNOW
that same?" inquired the servitor
cooking a rebcllious blue eye at his
| superior
The young priest suppressed a
smile, and fingered the small bool
In his hands. IL don't mean that They
all have come to me and gossipeo
about it, he amended 81 should MOI
permit that; but very worthy per
son who knows tells me that It is so
shall not be able TO go into the con
fessional for half an hour" Fathe,
MacNeil said as he turned away. dc
You bid anyone who comes to watt
The priest had been gone for few
moments. Mahoncy was behind the
one small confessional which tho
church contained, rubbing some
brasses about picture. when he
heard light football Peering eau.
,iously round the corner of the ward
robe like structure. he saw his wife
Kate approaching He would hay,
gone on sullenly with his work; but
tho sight of Katy's beaming face
choked him with Jealous rage. Fo,
what was she grinning like that Sht
tossed her graceful head. and SET he,
nat In place with Il gesture so familiar
to the watching man that he choked
again with something that was not
all rage. For whom had she put on
her gay clothes? Not to charm tho
eve Of her lawful spouse,-of that
aeddy was sure; for she well knew
that he could not be off duty till late
that night. Well. she had come to
confess-perhaps she would tell the
priest what it was that she had been
doing which had set barrier between
her aud her husband of six months
A sudden thought came into the
mans head and made him gasp. Why
not? Katy was keeping secrets from
him. growing over something she re,
fused to tell him. now pleased about
Heaven knew what. In his absence
and putting on her fine clothes to
dazzle-whom? Even Father MacNei'
would not help him. Well. then, he
Reddy would help himself
The girl had stepped lightly inside
the curtains of the confessional. Find
Ing no priestly voice come out to greet
her, she waited with her forcnrad
upon the sill of the little window be
tween the two compartments. The
temptation was too strong. Here was
the whole thing laid bare before him,
Tor only the courage to ask aud have
the Information Reddy looked wistful
~ toward the vestry. Taer'i hung the
cassocks; but even his Jealous mad
ness would not countenance such sac.
rilege with shaking hands he snatch,
cd the dark embroidered cover from
Ia stand that sometimes supported a
few OF Father MacNeirs bonks, pulled
1t over his llue denim wori;ing suit
and slipped into the priests compar,-
ment OF the confessional. ensccIcing
himself out of sight of tie penitent.
I'm waiting. my daughter" he muir
INJURED In voice sufficiently unlike his
own.
Katy evidently recognized that II
was rot the voice of Father MaoNei.,
Il have committed SIM" she mnrmur-
ed. running through the opening
phrases of her confession, ana trying
TO catch glimpse of her cnlfessor.
For the life OF him. the Injured hus.
band could not get together The ques
tons which We're to satisfy his burn,
ing Jealous curiosity. HIS mind WIS
in whirl. Suddenly ne became aware
thai the girl had dropped he. formal
sNoech, and was addressing Father
MacNcil, evidently with Inc b.,'I"f that
she had been pistal-en in supposias
IN voice was not his
Oh your reverence she c,icd. IN
tones bnbbling with JOY 1--WE seen the
l;.an aeain-and it's oil right! Now
Il you'll absolvo me for telling my
husband an untruth and say what
romance | should do Tor Geccvirg of
Elm, why, I'll be the happirSt woman
in the town this night"
"Deccivin' your hushnnds' saspcd
| Ready Another mal-.what other
inah?"