The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-07-17

quets. One was an enormous bunch
OF violets. The other was OF simple
marguerities She picked up the VIC
lets. There was a card without a
name; but the phrase soribbled across
the face Of II was sufficient She flung
the yiolets far down into the grape
vines below. The action was without
anger, excited rather by contemptu-
Gus indifference. As for the simple
marguerltes, she took them up ginger,
ly The arc these described through
the air was even greater than that
performed by the violets.
I'm silly fool, ! suppose" she
murmured, turning back into the room
again.
II was ten o'clock when the colonel
bade his guests good night as they
tumbled out Of his motor boat. They
were In more or less exuberant spirits,
for the colonel knew how to do two
things particularly We'll: order din
ner, and avoid the many traps set for
him by scheming mammas and eli.
gible widows Abbott, the Barone and
Harrigan, arm In arm, marched on
ahead. whistling one tune IN three
different keys, while Courtlandt set
the pace for the pacre.
All through the dinner the padre had
watched and listened. Faces were gen.
orally books to him. and he read in
this young mans face many things
that pleased him. This was no night
rover, a fool over wine and women,
spendthrift
There has been a grave mistake
somewhere" he mused aloud, thought
fully.
Il beg your pardon" said Court
landt
II beg yours. was thinking aloud.
How long have you known the Har-
riEans?'
The father and mother l never saw
before today"
Then you have met Miss Harrigan?"
Il have seen her on the stage"
81 have the happiness of being her
confessor."
They proceeded quite as far as a
hundred yards before Courtlandt vol
unteered: That must be interesting"
She is a good Catholic"
"Ah, yes; l recollect now"
And your"
"Oh, haven't any religion such as
requires my presence in churches.
Don't misunderstood met AS a boy
was bred in the Episcopal church;
but have travelled so much that l
have drifted out of the circle. l find
that when / am out in the open, in
the heart Of some great waste, such
as aadesert, a sea, the top of a noun
tain, can see the greatness Of the
Omnipotent far more clearly and hum.
bly, than within the walls Of a ca
thedraL"
You believe in the tenets of Chris
tianity?"
Surely! A man must pin his faith
and hope to something more stable
than Humanity"
Il should like to convert you to my
way of thinking" simply
Nothing is impossible. Who knowsr'
The padre, as they continued on
ward, offered many openings, but the
young man at his side refused to be
drawn into any confidence. So the
padre gave up, for the futility Of his
efforts became irksome. His own lips
were sealed, so he could not ask point
blank the question that clamored at
the tip of his tongue.
so you are Miss Harrigan's con-
fessor?'
Does it strike you strangely"
Merely the coincidence.
IF were not her confessor l should
take the liberty of asking you some
questions"
1T is quite possible that 1 should
decline to answer them"
The padre shrugged 1T is patent
to me that you will go about this af-
fair in your own way. l wish you
well"
Thank you. AS Miss Harrigan's
you doubtless know every
thing but the truth
The padre laughed this time The
shops were closed The open res
taurants by the water front held but
few idlers. The padre admired the
young mans independence Most men
would have hesitated not a second to
pour the tale into his ears in hope Of
assistance. The padres ad-
miration was equally proportioned
with respect.
Il leave you here" he said. You
VIII see me frequently at the villa"
Il certainly shall be there frequent
ry. Good night"
Courtlandt quickened his pace which
soon brought him alongside the others
They stopped in front OF Abbotts pen
sion, and he tried to persuade them
to come up for a nightcap.
Nothing to it, my boy" said Har-'
rigan. Il need no nightcap on top of
cognac 48 years old. For me that's
a whole suit of pajamas,"
"You come, Ted"
TO BE CONTINUED)