New Britain herald., 1921-11-02

cended the steep stairway The prles
 pushed open the door of room nes
 Its top.
 'Is that you already. sister?
 drawled a aweet, childish voice fror
 the darkness.
 It's only ould Father Denny com to see ye, darl.n'; and toine sintle
 man I've brought to make ye
 Gr-r-rand call. And ye resaves u
 fa,t aslape In bed! shame on yc mannersr'
 "Oh. Father Denny, is that you
 I'm glad. And will you light tn lamp. please? It. on the table by tn Inov. And quit talking like Mothe 9eehsn. Father Denny"
 The priest lit the lamp and Lori son saw . tiny. tousled. hair boy with thin. delicate face, sitting ul In | small bed in corner. Quick, also. his rapid glance considered tn room and Its contents. t was fur rtshed with more than comfort. an' It's adornments plainly indicated woman's discerning taste, An ope' door beyond revealed the blacknes of an adjoining rooms interior
 The boy clutched both of Fathe Rogan's hands I'm so glad yo, came" he said; but why did yo, come In the night? Did sister sent you?'
 of wid ye. Am to be sint about at me age. as was Terence McShane Of Ballymahone? l come on me owi responsibility"
 Lorison had also advanced to thc boys bedside. He was fond of child ren; and the wee fellow, laying him. self down to sleep alone in that dark room. stirred his heart.
 Aren't you afraid. little man." he asked, stopping down beside him.
 Sometimes" answered the boy with q shy smile, "whon the rat. make too much noise. But nearly every night when sister goes out Mother Geehan stays a while with me, and tells me funny stories. I'm HOk OlleH dlldlu, Sll.
 This brave little gentleman" sad Father Rogan. lis a scholar of mine. Every day from half-past SIX to half. past eight--when sister comes for hlm--he stops in my study, and ws And out whats in the inside Of hooks. He knows muitrlcation, al. vision and fractions: and he's trou- bling me to begin with the chruni- cles of Claran of Clonmaenoise. Co. rurac McCullenan and Cuan O'Lo- chain. the sr-r-reat Irish historians.' The boy was evidently accustomed to the priests Celtic pleasantries. 4 lttle, sppreciative grin vas all the attention the insnuation Of pedantry received.
 Lorison, tc have saved his fife, could not have put to the child one of those vital questions that were wildly beating about unanswered, in his own brain. The little fellow was very like Noreh; he lad the same shining hair and candid eyes.
 "oh. Father Denny" cried the boy. suddenly, T forgot to tell you! Sis ter is not going away st night any more! She told me so when she kissed me good night as she was leav- ing. And she said she was so hap py, and then she cried. Wasn't that queer? But I'm glad, aren't you?
 Yes, lad, And now. ye omadhaun, trh must be going
 Which shall do first Father Denny"
 Faith, he's caught me again. Wait till get the sassenach into the annals of Tag eruach, the hagios- .apher: I'll give him enough of the Irish idiom to make him more re- 'pectful."
 The light was out and the small ,rave voice bidding them good night rom the. dark room. They gropcd downstairs, and tore away from the rarrulity of Mother GeeEcn.
 Again the priest steorcd them trough the dim ways but this time
 
 sas serenely silent ami Lorison fol- owed his example to the extent of eldom speaking. Serene he could ot be. His heart beat suffocatingly n his breast. The following of this lind. nenacins trail was pregnant rith he knew not what humiliating evelation to be delivered et it. end They came into more pretentious trert, where trade. 1t could be sur ,ised. nourished by day. And again he priest paused; this time before a 'fty building, whose great doors and 'indows in thv lowest floor were care ally shuttered and barred. Its igher apertures were dall;. save in 1e third story the windows of which ere brilliantly lighted Lorison's ar caught a distant. regular, pleas ,g drumming. as of music above. hey stood at an angle cf the build ik. Up. along the side nearest them, an iron sts'rway At Its top as m unrirht, illuminated parallel gram. Father Rogan had stopped. Id stood, musing.
 "1 will say this much" he re- arked thcurhtfully. "I believe you } be better man than YOU think )urself to be, and better man than thought some hours ago. But ,ln nt take this" hr added with nile. 'as much praise. I promised ,u possible deliverancc from an ,hapy perpleNity. will have to odify that promise. I can only re- ove the mystery that enhanced that ,rpleXity. Your deliverance depends ,on yourself. Come"
 Tie led his companion up the stair. ay Half way up Lorison caught m by the sleeve. Remember he lsped. q love that woman" You desirel to know
 "I-- Go on"
 The priest reached the landing at Q top of the stairway, Lorigon, be- nd him, saw that the illuminated ace was the glass upper half of or opening into the lighted room. ,e rythmic music increased as they ared it, tn, stairs shook with thu allow vibrations.