Graham guardian., 1921-01-07
a Now Romorcc Of tho Storm Countru

don't do the things he tells her to ne
beats her, huh?"
There was mute pleading in her e1-
preston az she drew back on the
bench little farther away from him.
An, He might have known that she
had been swept along by the relent-
less tide of brutality. He sighed Il
little. He had seen enough of ignorant
men with their supreme egotism, to
know she told the truth.
Your father is-is-cruel TO your
mother, thenf' he faltered.
She remained in deep thought for
the space Of q few seconds.
"a swat or two, mebbe more. amt
KILN thing to women folks" was
the response she made confuscdly Mt
length.
So unusual had been her answer
that Philip MacCauley gazed at her in
amazement,
"Have you ever heard of-of GodT
he asked finally, his own confusion ap-
parent In the stumble of his tongue.
Tonnibel laughed.
II hear God d-n more'n hundred
times a day." she replied, ''ls that
what YOU menn?'
Not quite" answered Philip, star
tied. NO! Not that"
"Then whatT' demanded Tony.
"What kind of God do you meanT"
Zone that is good" explained Phil
ip. "There isn't any God but the one
who helps"
"My mumnyT' breathed the girl,
misty tears shadowing her eyes.
"Yes."
"Where is he, thenT' The words
shot forth with such insistence that
something within Philip MacCauley
rose 10 its demand.
"Some ones got 70 be good to my
mother" the girl ran on before he
could speak. "She's sick--and lonely.
Oh, I've got to do something for her.
Where's your helpin' God, misterT'
"Risht here In this place. said
Philip, strange emotion sweeping
over him. "In fact there isn't any
place where God Is not"
"He wouldn't come in dirty canal
boat would Her. demanded Tony,
breathlessly.
Astonlshed at such crudsness, Cap
tain MacCauley shifted himself about
80 he faced her squarely. Was 1t pre-
tended ignorance or innocence in the
searching gray eyes7 Then he decided
/ that truth was stamped on every line
| Of the upturned face.
"Of course, everywhere" he ex.
claimed brokenly. "Why, dear child"
Tony Devon interrupted him swift
ly. "Tell me how 10 manage It," she
| pleaded. How can I wheedle your
God to the Dirty Maryf"
"TO the whatT was the question
the boy asked in shocked swiftness.
"The Dirty Nary repeated Tony.
"My mummy and me live on a canal
boat. Once she were just called
Mary But she's so d--d nasty, Eide
calls her the Dirty Mary. She's a
nice boat just the same as long as my
mummy's there. But can't see how q
clean God could come on 'er. . l
guess you're foolin' me, mister"
Philip swallowed hard. Then slowly
and gently he talked to her, trying to
make her understand as best he could
what he meant by God, Spirit.
"And you can help your mother, lit
tle-what's your namep
"Tony, just Tonnibel," she mumbled
Then her voice rose and she uttered
sharply, Nov tell me how to help my
mother"
Philip went to the altar and sorted
out small card,
"This," he said, coming back to her,
'has happy, loving thoughts written on
It.. II you think these things all the
time--oh, how they will help both you
and your mother"
Wonderingly she took II, IN her
fingers. The first thing that met her
eyes was beautiful uplifted face of a
man and In his arms was little lamb
Underneath the picture was printed
Feed my sheep" and directly under