Page 13 (1/1)
"Is Father Mahon at home?" he asked, as he halted a e, where stood the little tin church, not a hundred yards froie went on Sundays
The housekeeper turned fro beyond the fence, and told hiatepost, and went in
Ah! what an antipathetic little roo fetched froraph of Leo XIII, in cope and tiara, blessing with upraised hand and that eternal, wide-lipped srasses; a briar pipe, redolent and foul, lay between theht Brussels carpet, pale and worn by the door, covered the floor; cheap lace curtains were pinned across the s; and over the littered table a painted deal bookshelf held a dozen voluy; and by the side of that an illuilt, and so on
Laurie looked at it all in duain, but had never realized its horror as he realized it now from the depths of his own ion could emit such results?
There was a step on the stairs--a very heavy one--and Father Mahon cae, crimson-faced man, who seemed to fill the room with a completely unethereal presence, and held out his hand with a certain gravity Laurie took it and dropped it
"Sit down, ently to a horsehair-covered arm-chair
Laurie stiffened
"Thank you, father; but I mustn't stay"
He fumbled in his pocket, and fetched out a little paper-covered packet
"Will you say Mass for my intention, please?" And he laid the packet on the mantelshelf
The priest took up the coins and slipped them into his waistcoat pocket
"Certainly," he said "I think I know--"
Laurie turned aith a little jerk
"I ," he said "I only looked in--"
"Mr Baxter," said the other, "I hope you will allow me to say how much--"
Laurie drew his breath swiftly, with a hiss as of pain, and glanced at the priest
"You understand, then, what my intention is?"
"Why, surely It is for her soul, is it not?"