The Spectator. (Ozark, Ark.) 1911-1916, 1914-10-02

anger. excited rather by contemptu.
GUS Indifference. AS for the simple
marguerites, 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
rnurmured, turning back into the room
again.
1t was ten o'clock when the colone,
babe 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 well: order a din
ner, and avoid the many traps set for
him by scheming mammas and eli
glble 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 padre.
All through the dinner the padre had
watched and listened. Faces we're 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, a
spendthrift.
There has been a grave mistake
somewhere" he unused aloud, thought.
fully.
Il beg your pardon" said Court
laudt.
i beg yours. | was thinking aloud.
How long have you known the Har-
rigans?"
The father and mother l never saw
before today"
Then you have met Miss Harrigan?"
Il have seen her on the stage"
Il 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, | recollect now"
And YOU"
"Oh, l haven't any religion such as
requires my presence in churches.
Don't misunderstood me, AS boy
| was bred in the Episcopal church;
but | have Travelled so much that I
have drifted out Of the circle. find
that when | am out in the open, in
the heart Of some great waste, such
as desert. a sea, the top OF a noun
tain. can see the greatness Of tho
Omnipotent far more clearly and hum
bly, than within the walls OF q ca
thedral."
You believe in the tenets Of Chris
tianity?"
Surely! A man must pin his fg!th
and hope to something more stable
than humanity"
X should like to convert you to my
way of thinking" simply.
Nothing Is impossible. Who knows?"
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 lrksome 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 csn-
fessor?'
Does 1t 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 l should
decline to answer them"
The padre shrugged. 1T is patent
to me that you will go about this az
fair in your own way. | wish you
we'll"
Thank you. AS Miss Harrigan's
confessor 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 second to
pour the tale into his ears in hope OF
material assistance. The padres ad-
miration was equally proportion ed
with respect.
Il leave you here" he said You
will see me frequently at the villa
Il certainly shall be there frequent.
ly. Good night"
Courtlandt Quickened his pace which
soon brought him alongside the others.
They stopped in front Of Abbott's pen.
sion. and he tried to persuade them
to come up for nightcap
Nothing to 1t, my boy" said Har.
rigan. Il need no nightcap on top OF
cognac As years old. For me that's
whole suit Of pa1amas."
You come. Ted"
ITO RE CONTINIrEDl