CHAPTER XIV

selftemporarilyandintenselyasasinnerinthehandsofanangryGod,wasthefinalone.Abelneverwentbeyondit.Hegenerallyfellasleeponhiskneesandawakenedsober,buthehadneverbeen“deaddrunk”inhislife.HetoldMr.BentlythathewasasoundPresbyterianandsureofhiselection.Hehadnosins—thatheknewof—torepentof. “Haveyouneverdoneanythinginyourlifethatyouaresorryfor?”askedMr.Bently. RoaringAbelscratchedhisbushywhiteheadandpretendedtoreflect.“Well,yes,”hesaidfinally.“ThereweresomewomenImighthavekissedanddidn’t.I’vealwaysbeensorryforthat.” Mr.Bentlywentoutandwenthome. AbelhadseenthatCissywasproperlybaptised—joviallydrunkatthesametimehimself.HemadehergotochurchandSundaySchoolregularly.ThechurchpeopletookherupandshewasinturnamemberoftheMissionBand,theGirls’GuildandtheYoungWomen’sMissionarySociety.Shewasafaithful,unobtrusive,sincere,littleworker.EverybodylikedCissyGayandwassorryforher.Shewassomodestandsensitiveandprettyinthatdelicate,elusivefashionofbeautywhichfadessoquicklyiflifeisnotkeptinitbyloveandtenderness.Butthenlikingandpitydidnotpreventthemfromtearingherinpieceslikehungrycatswhenthecatastrophecame.FouryearspreviouslyCissyGayhadgoneuptoaMuskokahotelasasummerwaitress.Andwhenshehadcomebackinthefallshewasachangedcreature.Shehidherselfawayandwentnowhere.Thereasonsoonleakedoutandscandalraged.ThatwinterCissy’sbabywasborn.Nobodyeverknewwhothefatherwas.Cecilykeptherpoorpalelipstightlylockedonhersorrysecret.NobodydaredaskRoaringAbelanyquestionsaboutit.RumourandsurmiselaidtheguiltatBarneySnaith’sdoorbecausediligentinquiryamongtheothermaidsatthehotelrevealedthefactthatnobodytherehadeverseenCissyGay“withafellow.”Shehad“keptherselftoherself”theysaid,ratherresentfully.“Toogoodforourdances.Andnowlook!” Thebabyhadlivedforayear.AfteritsdeathCissyfadedaway.TwoyearsagoDr.Marshhadgivenheronlysixmonthstolive—herlungswerehopelesslydiseased.Butshewasstillalive.Nobodywenttoseeher.WomenwouldnotgotoRoaringAbel’shouse.Mr.Bentlyhadgoneonce,whenhek