Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-10

our great Church opposes the educa.
tion of the young-we who give so
much for the sake of the children?
We are jealous of our own rights, sir,
but we are not enemies to good
works"
The young attorney gasped without
being able to voice retort. This mas
terful man who had come from "the
outside" astonished him. Till then the
,provincialism of Attegat had hedged
Blais. He had never taken broad
views of great questions. lie began
to realize dlmly that he was not the
important figure he had dreamed that
he was. lie was not to be taken into
the councils OF the high ones, so it
seemed.
II am called successful in matters
of discipline" stated the priest, soft
enng his aspect slightly. Il do not
desire TO be too harsh with you, my
son. But 1t seems that we have not
known this parish of Attegat as we
should have understood it. 1t thrived
on love and simple faith in the old
days of peace on earth But it seems
to have come on times when peace
is ruffled by greed and general mis-
understandings. SO there has come a
crisis in Attegat. We must put in
the knife so that we may understand.
1t is painful, is it not? The priest
who has been sent away was a good
man who did not understand that love
and meekness and humility cannot
solve all the human problems. You
cannot make a saint by piling up all
the virtues unless you stick an iron
backbone into the mass. We shall
see here in Attegat. That is all. my
SON."
He resumed his march up and down
the edge of the turf.
Blais was astonished, and he was
Horrigan had completed a few turns.
81 think l am entitled to help, in.
stead of that white.whiskered old
Yankee who wants to sell out this
district and run all those people," he
cried. bracing his courage.
What help?'
Blais hesitated a little while. but
his resentment at the manner in
which his espionage and his reports
"A
81 am fighting for what the Church
wants" he began. you need not
tell me the inside unless you are will.
ing to- am no man to pry. But if
YOU don't back me-"
Father Horrigan tossed away his
cigar when Blais began hotly. While
the young man spoke he moved SLOWLY
toward him. He interrupted the at.
torney by clutchng him suddenly by
the collar and shaking him until Blais
danced on his tiptoes. Then the mill.
tant son of the Church propelled his
visitor. brawny hand twisted in the
fabric of the frockcoat, around the
corner of the stone house and into the
highway.
You'd better rum" the priest sug
gested, when he loosed his captive
He gave Blais a push. I'm generally
successful in matters of discipline, but
sometimes | fell TO control my own
self"
The attorney did not run as directed
but he hurried,
He did not understand at all. His
little mind had been made dizzy BY
this answer to his overtures for help
With the suspiciousness Of small ma
lures he convinced himself that some
strange, deep plot had been hatched ir
high quarters, and his mind picked
at the outside of the thing like g
monkey at a hard nut
He met no one on the street; and ht
was glad OF that, for it seemed al
though that coat had been perman
| entity bumped by the clutch of >tht
priests hand. His cheeks burned. ant
| his soul burned. too. He was in thu
mood to run amuck, to cut and slash
! lie felt tndt ne ldu peeil uSeu dIi'
thrown aside. He had essayed to b,
the leader of his people; he had beer
manhandled like a schoolboy caugh
at stealing apples.
So he trudged to his Office; and OF
the outside stairs, sitting in thu
! shadow, he found David Roi, wht
stated gruff1y that he had been wait
/ ing.
Blais unlocked the door and the.
went in. The attorney did not ligs
his lamp. He stamped up and dowr
the room in the dark, bursting will
bitter words.
CONTINUED TOMORROW