Out of the Past — page 21: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER II. “Whatever in your life you have thought unchangeable, shall change; whatever you have thought to change, shall remain. So run the cards.” Twenty-one years had passed over the head of Bene- dict, graving his face and hands with traces of hardship and struggle, but leaving few lines of gracious joy. He had been strong and intractable. He still wore his san- dals and his robe of low station, while others mounted beyond him to the vantage of ecclesiastical success. Mas- terful and able though he was, he looked gravely for- ward to ending his life in cheerless days of ceaseless work. He loved the pulpit and those moments rarely vouchsafed him when he looked down into the eyes of the people and spoke to them from the knowledge won by his sorrow and sacrifice. But those were most rare moments, accorded with such niggardly hand, that when the news ran among the people that Father Benedict would preach to them they crowded the edifice as though bidden to a feast. While his life had been hardening to its crystal form: Robert Dinsmore had been born to the care of strangers, EONNICOOO KS ACO)