A Mason's Story.

" I have now been at home quite long enough , father , longer than I shoul have been , and longer than is good for me . I think it is hi gh time I looke out for something better to do , ancl something more suited to my taste an disposition . " "Well , myboy , lhaveno objection to your proposition , provided it is feasible ; but first of all I should like to know what has made yon take this idea into

your head so suddenly , when up till now you have seemed contented with your lot ; ancl second , what do you intend doing with yourself when yon leave this place , where you have spent so many happy hours , but which yon have all at once discovered is fraught with so much harm to you ?" " Various reasons , " replied Penhryn , " have influenced me in making this decision , reasons which I cannot impart even to you , father . But I am sure

if you only knew what they were , you would not hold your consent from my going for a single moment . As it is I shall have to ' grin and bear' the inevitable b y myself . That is , I believe , onr best philosophy ; isn ' t it ? " " True , my son , ancl yet it seems to me that I as your father ought to know of your troubles—provided they be troubles—which are sending you off so suddenly . Now let me guess . You have not got into any money difficulties

, I suppose ? " Penhryn shook his head . "Very true , had I paused to think I might have known no son of mine would be troubled in that way , Pen 1 " and his father laid his hand kindl y on his son ' s shoulder . " Tell me what it is . I , your father , have a right to know . You are my only son , and were you to turn out ill , I believe it would

kill me . " There was a pause as his father ceased , traces of the emotion which he felt being plainly visible in his still handsome and intelligent features . At last he broke the silence and said , " A thought has crossed my mind , Penhryn , perhaps a foolish one , I don ' t know , but it has occurred to me that this quixotic idea which you have got into your head may be connected with your friend Miss Morton . "

No need to proceed further ; the tell-tale flush mounts into Penhryn ' s face , and his secret is laid open at once . Bit b y bit his father extracts from him the particulars of his yesternight experiences in the field of Love versus Theology , in which the latter played so important a part , finally winning the victory . " A faulse auld carle , " was his comment , when his son had finished , his indignation causing him to relapse into his native dialect . " A faulse auld

carle , to think mair of his nai-raminded religion , than of his ain doohter ' s happiness . But sae it lies iver been i' this warlcl sen religion was setten up , an sae it will be till tend on ' t . Yan thing , Pen , we nam congratulate oursels on , an that is the exercise of a wee bit o the braw charity they speir upon sae muckle an practise sae lile . " " Yesindeed" replied Penhryn" we do practise more of the charitwhich

, , , y , as their bible says , 'thinketh no evil , ' than they do , but then we make less profession , so that we can with the more ease practice most . " And they were right , these two freethinkers , as they thus sneered at the religion which preaches so much ancl brings forth so little . We cannot wonder at the inability of so many to accept a religion which is so prolific in blame of others , and so meagre in its praise of their virtues and g-ood works . A friend

of mine said to me the other clay , when talking of religion , "You know Mrs . , " naming a lady who gives away large sums in charity , and who is , if anybody is , a true Christian . " Yes ' , " I said , " I know her ; what of her ? " " Well , " he replied , "that lad y has taken a violent dislike to me-because I do not believe that the wicked will burn for ever , and on that account she thinks I am doomed , and has nearly gone the length of forbidding me her house . " This is very wrong , and it appears to me that could onr great Master and