The City of Fire

real in the sound, in the utter stillness of the background of Sabbath Valley atmosphere that made him think, almost, just f

like or what would be going on there, but there was something still and holy between

he get landed on this couch with a world of books about him and a thin muslin curtain blowing into the room, and fanning the cheeks of a lovely rose in a long stemmed clear glass vase? Did he try to start and have a smash up? No, he remembered going down the steps with the intention of starting, but stay! Now it was coming to him. He fell off the porch! He must have had a jag on or he never would have fallen. He did things to his ankle in falling. He remembered the gentle giant picking him up as if he had been a baby and putting him here, but where was here? Ah! Now he remembered! He was on his way to Opal Verrons. A bet. An elopement for the prize! Great stakes. He had lost of course. What a fool! If it hadn't been for his ankle he might have got to a trolley car or train somehow and made a garage. Money would hav

the desk was a telephone! Could he get to it? He

hrough an

ought us o

d the

ow a bles

His court

nd had no idea what the bells were seeking to get across to

rest and

the bells

of joy a

or care a

tiful, mo

otel in a fashionable resort. And when he finally

til tomorrow night. Yes, she would tell Mrs. Verrons that he had met with an accident. Mrs. Verrons would be very sorry. Number one-W Sabbath Valley. Yes, she would write it down. What? Oh! The gentleman Mrs. Verrons was walking with? No, it was not anybod

inge of his ankle added to his discomfort. He gave an angry snarl and pushed the

edding that would be, canopy over the broad walk from the street, charming architecture, he liked the line of the arched belfry and the slender spire above. The rough stone fitted well into the scenery. The church seemed to be a thing of the ages placed there by Nature. His mind trained to detect a sense of beauty in garments, rugs, pictu

ard the roll of a deep thro

in white with hair of gold, and a golden window somewhere back of her across the church, made a background of beaten gold against which her delicate prof

of the way place like this? His theory of a great estate and a rich man's daughter with a fad for music instantly came to the front. What a lucky happening that he should

se. This was meltingly lovely. The girl had fine appreciation and much expression, even when the medium of her melody was clumsy things like be

a tap on the door, followed by the

see you're up. How is the sprain? Bette

n the tray on which was beautifully

nt much, for we have dinner immediately after church. I

ung man drawled a

n. Would you care to go o

of mine running. By the way, I've been doing some telephoning"-he slung a ten dollar note on the desk. "I didn

fore the guest realized what was doing, and then turned and took the ten dolla

d briefly, "It's

ined the guest loftily, "It'll be

rs and his Bible. "Now, would you like me to look at that ankle before I go, or will you

ed the insolent note again, "and by the way, I wish you'd

to help you out with those bearings is Carter. He has a car, or had one, of that make. He might happen to have some

can mend a broken machine around this forsaken dump? Where's your nearest garage? Send f

u were still sleeping, but there was nothing doing. The truth is the people around this region are a little prejudiced against working seven days out of the week, although they will help a man out in a case like yours when they can, but it seems the repai

sed to being treated in this off-hand way. He could hardly belie

e door was about to close

garded his guest qui

mpse of the white and gold saint framed in the ivy. Severn gave a swift cold glance at the insolent youth an

s my da

r had closed the door and was already on his way to church. Then the youth pulled bac

omfort. There was nothing showy or expensive looking but everything simple and good. One or two fine old pictures on the wall gave evidence of good taste. The only luxury seemed books, rows and rows of them behind glass doors in cases built into the wall. They lined each space between windows and doors, and in several spots reached to the ceiling. He decided that these people must have had money and lost it. These things were old and had perhaps been inherited. But the girl! She teased his curiosity. She seemed of a type entirely new, and most attractive. Well, here was good luck again! He would stay till church was out and see what she might be like at nearer view. It m

suddenly drowned i

Father, and to th

t was in the beg

-world withou

riously alone. There was an atmosphere in the little house of everybody being gone to church. They had all gone and left him alone. It amused him. He wondered about this odd family wh

ght be,-well almost anything-even a gentleman. But if he was a clergyman, why, that of course explained the ascetic type, the nun-like profile of the girl, the skilled musician. Clergymen were apt to educate their children, ev

to have his flask filled at the drug store before he went to his old service, but consoled himself

ng. And the choir too sang with great sweetness and expression. They were well trained. But what a bore such a life must be to a girl. Still, if she had never known anything else-! Well, he would like to see her at clos

a man are clean i

eigheth th

always did about as he pleased, and he had never asked himself whether his ways were clean or not. He hadn't particularly cared. He supposed some people would think they were not-but in his own eyes, well-was he clean? Take for instance this expedition of his? Running a race to get another man's wife,-an alleged friend's wif

ntence cau

please the Lord,

be at peace

his way. He would probably crush them like ants, if he were Lord. But the Lord-taking any notice of men's ways, and being pleased by them and looking out to protect him from enemies! It certainly was quaint-a qu

Opal? He hobbled to the desk painfully, half annoyed that she had called him from the contemplation of this n

world. The little ivy leaved church with its Saint Cecilia at the organ, and its strange we

e girl had closed the window. It annoyed him. He did not know how

in most of them. And then came the minister, lingering to talk to one here and there, and his wife-it was undoubtedly his wife, even the hare-brained Laurie knew her, in the gray organdie, with the white

hide therein, and she was immediately surrounded by half a dozen urchins. One had brought her some lilies, great white starry things with golden hearts, and she gathered them into her arms as if she loved them, and smiled at the boys. One could see how they adored her. She lingered talking t

she called as they turned to g

grass, a song on her lips. Some gi