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of the agnostic。
〃I came here to quit drinking；〃 he said； and tears began to run down his cheeks。 He did not look at Tom Hard； but leaned forward and stared into the darkness as though seeing a vision。 〃I ran away to the country to be cured； but I am not cured。 There is a reason。〃 He turned to look at the child who sat up very straight on her father's knee and returned the look。
The stranger touched Tom Hard on the arm。 〃Drink is not the only thing to which I am ad… dicted；〃 he said。 〃There is something else。 I am a lover and have not found my thing to love。 That is a big point if you know enough to realize what I mean。 It makes my destruction inevitable； you see。 There are few who understand that。〃
The stranger became silent and seemed overcome with sadness； but another blast from the whistle of the passenger engine aroused him。 〃I have not lost faith。 I proclaim that。 I have only been brought to the place where I know my faith will not be real… ized；〃 he declared hoarsely。 He looked hard at the child and began to address her； paying no more at… tention to the father。 〃There is a woman coming；〃 he said； and his voice was now sharp and earnest。 〃I have missed her； you see。 She did not come in my time。 You may be the woman。 It would be like fate to let me stand in her presence once； on such an evening as this； when I have destroyed myself with drink and she is as yet only a child。〃
The shoulders of the stranger shook violently； and when he tried to roll a cigarette the paper fell from his trembling fingers。 He grew angry and scolded。 〃They think it's easy to be a woman； to be loved； but I know better；〃 he declared。 Again he turned to the child。 〃I understand；〃 he cried。 〃Perhaps of all men I alone understand。〃
His glance again wandered away to the darkened street。 〃I know about her； although she has never crossed my path；〃 he said softly。 〃I know about her struggles and her defeats。 It is because of her defeats that she is to me the lovely one。 Out of her defeats has been born a new quality in woman。 I have a name for it。 I call it Tandy。 I made up the name when I was a true dreamer and before my body became vile。 It is the quality of being strong to be loved。 It is something men need from women and that they do not get。 〃
The stranger arose and stood before Tom Hard。 His body rocked back and forth and he seemed about to fall； but instead he dropped to his knees on the sidewalk and raised the hands of the little girl to his drunken lips。 He kissed them ecstatically。 〃Be Tandy； little one；〃 he pleaded。 〃Dare to be strong and courageous。 That is the road。 Venture anything。 Be brave enough to dare to be loved。 Be something more than man or woman。 Be Tandy。〃
The stranger arose and staggered off down the street。 A day or two later he got aboard a train and returned to his home in Cleveland。 On the summer evening； after the talk before the hotel； Tom Hard took the girl child to the house of a relative where she had been invited to spend the night。 As he went along in the darkness under the trees he forgot the babbling voice of the stranger and his mind returned to the making of arguments by which he might de… stroy men's faith in God。 He spoke his daughter's name and she began to weep。
〃I don't want to be called that；〃 she declared。 〃I want to be called TandyTandy Hard。〃 The child wept so bitterly that Tom Hard was touched and tried to comfort her。 He stopped beneath a tree and； taking her into his arms； began to caress her。 〃Be good； now；〃 he said sharply； but she would not be quieted。 With childish abandon she gave herself over to grief； her voice breaking the evening stillness of the street。 〃I want to be Tandy。 I want to be Tandy。 I want to be Tandy Hard；〃 she cried； shak… ing her head and sobbing as though her young strength were not enough to bear the vision the words of the drunkard had brought to her。
THE STRENGTH OF GOD
THE REVEREND Curtis Hartman was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Winesburg； and had been in that position ten years。 He was forty years old； and by his nature very silent and reticent。 To preach； standing in the pulpit before the people； was always a hardship for him and from Wednesday morning until Saturday evening he thought of nothing but the two sermons that must be preached on Sunday。 Early on Sunday morning he went into a little room called a study in the bell tower of the church and prayed。 In his prayers there was one note that al… ways predominated。 〃Give me strength and courage for Thy work； O Lord！〃 he pleaded； kneeling on the bare floor and bowing his head in the presence of the task that lay before him。
The Reverend Hartman was a tall man with a brown beard。 His wife； a stout； nervous woman； was the daughter of a manufacturer of underwear at Cleveland； Ohio。 The minister himself was rather a favorite in the town。 The elders of the church liked him because he was quiet and unpretentious and Mrs。 White； the banker's wife； thought him schol… arly and refined。
The Presbyterian Church held itself somewhat aloof from the other churches of Winesburg。 It was larger and more imposing and its minister was better paid。 He even had a carriage of his own and on summer evenings sometimes drove about town with his wife。 Through Main Street and up and down Buckeye Street he went； bowing gravely to the peo… ple； while his wife； afire with secret pride； looked at him out of the corners of her eyes and worried lest the horse become frightened and run away。
For a good many years after he came to Wines… burg things went well with Curtis Hartman。 He was not one to arouse keen enthusiasm among the wor… shippers in his church but on the other hand he made no enemies。 In reality he was much in earnest and sometimes suffered prolonged periods of re… morse because he could not go crying the word of God in the highways and byways of the town。 He wondered if the flame of the spirit really burned in him and dreamed of a day when a strong sweet new current of power would come like a great wind into his voice and his soul and the people would tremble before the spirit of God made manifest in him。 〃I am a poor stick and that will never really happen to me；〃 he mused dejectedly； and then a patient smile lit up his features。 〃Oh well； I suppose I'm doing well enough；〃 he added philosophically。
The room in the bell tower of the church； where on Sunday mornings the minister prayed for an in… crease in him of the power of God； had but one window。 It was long and narrow and swung out… ward on a hinge like a door。 On the window； made of little leaded panes； was a design showing the Christ laying his hand upon the head of a child。 One Sunday morning in the summer as he sat by his desk in the room with a large Bible opened be… fore him； and the sheets of his sermon scattered about； the minister was shocked to see； in the upper room of the house next door； a woman lying in her bed and smoking a cigarette while she read a book。 Curtis Hartman went on tiptoe to the window and closed it softly。 He was horror stricken at the thought of a woman smoking and trembled also to think that his eyes； just raised from the pages of the book