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About The Stayton mail. (Stayton, Marion County, Or.) 1895-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 1907)
THE CHARITY GIRL By EFFIE A. ROWLANDS C H A P T E R X X IV . to apeak to you before I leave.” The Qlendurwood earria*«* was stand “ Are you not going with us?” she aak- in g where Jack had ordered it to remain <‘d in surprise. tvhen he arrived. Jack had thrown him- It was Jack’s turn to show astonish • e lf back in his corner and had folded ment. fcis arms across his breast; Audrey sat "W here are you going?" he ask«-d husk bolt upright, her two cold little hands ily. «■inched tight together, her teeth set so Jean in three words, explalnetl what «hat the sobs that rose to her throat had happened, and then sh«* knew aome- •bouid not escape her lips. thing was very wrong, lude«*d, by Che ex Who shall attempt to describe the pression on Ja«'k's face. •tate o f those two hearts, both wounded " l ’«*or < 'onstaiuv !” she heard him mut to the very quick, both heavy with that ter uud«>r his breath; then he gave a sleep sorrow that comes when one has quk'k sigh. " I hop«* things may not be been deceived where one lores best? so had. Miss Thwait. It is quite 1mpos “ W hy did they take me to him? Why sible for me to get to Cronstadt yet.” •was I married to him? I would sooner "l>oee Audrey know you are not going ba ve died than have listened to what with us?" <hose women said to-night, and know " I have not iw n her this morning." was «h a t he has never, never loved me," said the answer, given with much evident -Audrey to herself, passionately. pain. "And so my happiness is over,” ran Jean clasped her hands suddenly. Then Jack's troubled thoughts. "W e ll, it has her worst fears were realised, and some not lasted long. Fopl— fool that I have thing more had, lnd«*«*d. happen«*d; some •been, to believe that any woman could thing, too, very t«*rrible, to work such a b e the angel I have pictured her to be. change as this. a n d that she should love him—him. above "L o rd John,” she said, involuntarily, all other men ! I feel as though his "you must please forgive me. but is your nary life's blood will not give me satis- business so important that you are com ffactian.” pelled to attend to it rather than accom They reache«! the gates of O aiglands pany your w ife on such a journey as • t la s t; a few minutes' drive through the this?" well-kept avenue, and then the d«x>r. Jack "M iss Thw ait.” he said as well as he got out, and then forcing himself by an could speak, “ the business I am going on almost superhuman efFort to appear nat touches that which Is dearer to me than ural before the servants, turned to as life— my honor! I am sure that you at sist her. Audrey put her cold hand in least would not wish me to neglect any his as she stepped out of the brougham. thing with which that is concerne«i." H o w little did either of them think that " I will answer for Audrey ns for my- they would not clasp, or even touch, I self.” Jean said, hurriedly, " I f your honor bands again for many a weary day. is concerned. Lord John, no other reason The fragrance and warmth of her bed is needed ; but is there nothing I can do?” room seemed to choke Audrey. Hastily “ Give this letter to Audrey, Miss flinging off her domino, she passed to the Thw ait.” his voire quivered as he spoke w indow and pushed it open, and then his wife's name. “ It is a sacre«i trust, stood by it, the sound o f her own heart one that I would not give to every one ; beating In her ears like a sledge hammer. but I know you are her friend, you will Would Jack come? She waited several comprehend and sympathize with what I moments. I f he had come to her then am going to do.” she would have done that which would "Stay. Ix>rd John : you must hear m e!” have put matters straight at once, for the Jean's gray eyes were full of tear.». “ I agony in her breast was urging her to love Audrey better than anything on speak out to ask him why he had deceived earth. I do not ask to know the reason, her. why he had married her? The hot but I see. alas ! only too well, that some blood rushed to her cheeks again and thing has arisen between her an«i you. I again, as she recalled toe remarks those ask you now, and It is my love for her «w o women had made, and realized how that urges the question, will you not see «xu eliy the world judged her already. her yourself before you start on this Five, ten, fifteen, twenty minutes went journey?— will you not smooth away the by, and Audrey still stood waiting for quarrel? She is in trouble— will you not the sound of her husband's footsteps on take her to your arms?" the stairs and the passage outside, “ It is impossible,” he said quickly, but i H er happiness was ended; Jack no with such determination in his voice as lon ger loved her— indeed, had never loved made Jean shudder, and sent a thrill of her. She was his wife, that was true, and exquisite torture through Audrey’s aching i t must be her lot to bear with the diffi heart, as she, at that moment, ope-ned the culties as with the joys that fell to her door in time to catch Jean's last words as his wife. and her husband's reply. ■ “ S till,” the child thought sorrowfully By and by, when they were speeding to to herself, “ he has acted w rongly; he has Dover, Jean and W illie Fullerton— who, been cruel to Sheila, to himself, to me. when he found Jack did not join them, X am glad he did not come in just now, insisted on going— in a corner talking ;yes, glad, for it shows that he is tired of earnestly, Audrey drew out her husband's deceit and hpyocrisy, and— and I cannot letter. bear to think that the nature I thought “ Audrey— In future, after the events • o honest should only prove false. What o f last night, it will be impossible for us -was it that those women said? ‘The to live together. This, I take it, wMl be worst day's work Jack Glendurwood did as much your wish as mine. T o cortTlnue when he marrie«! me.’ People should be to live aa we have been doing would be careful how they speak out— the truth.” a mockery of marriage, a disgrace to our /Hsr lips quivered, but her face flamed rare, a dishonor to our name. This, then, ■with proud color. “ The worst day’s is what I propose to do. There shall be work for Jack,” she repeated slowly, “ and no divorce; the pride and honor of the X am the one who has brought that to Harborough family protest against such h im . I — I who would lay down my life a course. A fter all, you are very young, t o r him. Why did I ever meet him? Why a mere child ; you may have erred through •did I ever leave home? Why did not ignorance, bnt be that so or not. from heaven let me die before all this sorrow henceforth you can never be my w ife in • a n e upon him through me? Jack ! My aught but name. My wife must be above «darling ! My darling !" suspicion— pure, sweet, true— not a girl H er hot, tearless eyes stared into the who, before scarcely six months of her flre, as if to seek some solution o f this marriage have gone, encourages a man painfu l problem there. In her loving gen- for whom she openly expresses horror and •srosity Audrey made ail excuses for her contempt. husband now. She no longer blamed; he “ As for Beverley Rochfort, before many w as still to her the dearest creature on earth ; and yet so great was the agony at hours are over— unless he be a cur, which thought of his deceit that, had be held out I take him to be— he will have answered his arms to her and called her tenderly by to me for his own part in this affair. name, she would have turned from him Audrey, I am trying to write k in d ly; I am trying to remember your youth and and stood aloof. the many disadvantages that have b«*en yours since the first, and you— If you CHAPTER XXV. have justice and honesty In your heart— Jean Thw ait was lying in a delicious you will recognize that I am not treating -doze, half waking, half sleeping, on the you harshly. Your future is my care. m orning following the Dinglewood masked This morning I have made my will. I bail, when a sharp tap at the door, fol leave you all the money I possess, to lowed by Audrey's rapid entrance, arous gether with Minster, In Rlankshlre, the ed her completely. property my father has just settled upon “ W hat is it, darling? Something has me. Whether I live or die, I wish you happened?” she cried, hurriedly. to make your home at Minster. I should “ Jean, can you pack up a few things like to think Miss Thwait was with you. end come with me at once?” Audrey Your money will be transmitted through spoke faintly, her face was deathly white, my lawyers. I intend to start at once •he shook in every limb; then before Jean on a tour o f the world, giving the condi could answer, she went on swiftly, “ My tion o f my health as a reason for thus mother is very ill. She has telegraphed relinquishing my parliamentary career. { fo r me. Perhaps even now I may be too shall be absent, perhaps, two years, and Sate ; she may be dead. I have ordered I leave it in your hands to judge whether *h s carriage to be here in an hour, can at the end o f that time your conduct has 3 rou be ready?” been such as to permit me to oecupy the “ Yes," replied Jean, briefly. It nee«led same house as yourself, and appear be mo words to tell her that more was the fore the world in my proper position as m atter than this telegram from Ger your husband. many. Audrey had never spoken like this "J O H N G L E N D U R W O O D .” t o her before, had never looked as she When I>over was reached a telegram looked now. Audrey made no Inquiries about Jack, was brought to Jean. “ For Lady John Glendurwood,” the although she knew she must acquaint him with her journey before she started. Jean waiter said, inquiringly. “ Is that right, found plenty to do in the time allotted to madame?” "Q uite right.” her, but she was wonderfully quick, and Jean hesitated only a moment, and tore was in her hat and coat when she went to the door to open It in answer to s it open. She gave a little sound o f sor sharp summons. It was Jack, also fully row as she read. It was from Marshall sttlrsd in outdoor costume, with a rail —poor, faithful Marshall— and ran thus: “ Mrs. Fraser died this morning. Her w a y rug over his arm. “ Good morning. Miss Thwait,” he said, last wish waa that you should not travel hurriedly. “ Please forgive me for this here, but that she should be csrried home maosrstBonlous intrusion, but I wanted and buried Ln England. I, therefore, beg your ladyship to «they this wish. I have telegraplu-d for my poor mistress’ lawyers. “ 81'H.VN .M A R S H A L L .” l*«K)r little Au«ir«-y ! Robbed already of the mother she hud longed for HO mill'll, lov>*«l so dearly, and possi-sacd so short a w hile! C H A P T E R X X V I. There waa nothing to do. Audrey fell into a sickness that threatened aerious I'onaequencvs. Jean sent at once for Lord Gleudurwood anil Fullerton, and he came .11 hot haete from a vain eeari'h for Bev 3 R E A T N E E D OF W O R L D . erley Rochfort. There was nothing to he B y R ev . H e n ry M arsh W a rre n . done but wait. Audrey had fallen into “ Y e ahull be witness«*« unto Mi*. — a stupor. Her «tear mother was hurled without the presem-«* of her Udov«*«l child. Ai’ts I :H. For three daya and nights Jean sat W hile our I«ord was upon earth the betide Audrey’s bed, watching and dread disciples w ere not asked t«» be wit- ing for the moment when that fair, frail tu*sat*s; they w ere simply to foll«»w fa«*e should grow even whiter, the faint, their Master, to llsti*n to Ills marvelous low breathing even faltiter. Three long, weary days th«*se w ere; but if she found teachings uiul U» observe Ills w on der " Y e are my wltn«*an«**. them terrible, how mueh more so did the ful w o rk * one who had nothing to do put to pace to1 IIi*n*nfter you must stand In my place, and fro in the wet, leafless garden, hit take up my w«>rk, right my battles, hungry eyes fix«*«! always on the low, manifest my love and gather In my square window which hid Ms darling from Jewels.” In other w ord«. He then In- his view? The doctors forbade Jaek Glen trustc«! to Ills disciples and to Ills durwood from entering his w ife’s sick church both the honor o f Ills name room. He had crept in for a few mo and the great work o f redeeming th** ments the night he arriv«*d no argument or threat <*ould keep him o u t; and us he world for God. A witness fo r G« h 1 must live a Christ- had bent over the girl's silent form, call ing to her in his agony to speak to him, like life. It la fa r easier to stand up she had open»*«! her eyes, and at sight of and proclaim that Jesus Is the light o f him she had given one little scream, and the world than It is to live ex em p lify then had relapsed into unconsciousness, ing the saying, " Y e are the light o f in whi«*h condition she hail remained for tlie w orld.” And hy the Chrlst-Ilke life thr«*e days and night*. When reason re- w e mean reprerentlng Christ at all tunieil Audrey was better, and Jean times and In all places, not only In the sought nut Jack and t<>ld the good new*. "A nd may 1 *«*e her -w hen?" he naked, hmis«* o f God on u Hunilay, or In the eagerly. “ When may 1 see her? My darl prayer m«*«*tlng. hut also In the home and In husln«*as and social life. ing ! My da rlin g!” "Th e doctor will tell you. Perhaps to Another way hy which we may be night !” come fa 'th fu l wltn«-ss«<s Is hy dlre«-t and As Jean sat hy Audrey's h<»«|*ide that c«*alous labor to help the tunny unfor evening, resting back wearily in the chair, tunate |H*«>ple about us. 1 believe the now that all extreme anxiety was gone, church fa lls In this n*sjs*ct more than «. small, sweet voire came from the pil any other. Church**« provide well fo r low, and she was alert at onre. “ Jean,” she said, after a little pause, the rem fort o f their members, and o u r preachers are able nisi rensecrated men "Is— Ja— is my husband here?" “ Yes, darling: he ha* been here nearly o f God. but Individual latsir for the In all the time. Do you want to *«*e him?" dividual aoul Is lacking. It la a wrung "N o, no, no! I will not s«>e him, Jean. Idea that porsoual labor and oral w it I f you love me. send him a w ay! I »hall nessing fo r God are fo r ministers only. go mad if he is here! Prom ise! Prom One verae In the Bible lieautlfully de- ise! You must: you s h a ll!" errlties the life o f Christ, v ia .: “ He “ It shall he as you wish, my de*re*t,” Jean said, softly. “ Y« mi can trust me?" went about doing good.” Thla should characterize the life o f “ Yes— trust— you— alway*.” she mur W e should "g o about mured, and in a few seconds she was Ilia follow er«. asleep. doing good.” • s • s s s • "B u t how,” some one may ask, “ are Constance Fra*er had been brought we to do It?” Ix-t me mention tw o or over to England and laid breide her moth er in an oId-fa*hion«xl country church three very simple and practical ways yard. It had b»*en a simple funeral by which we may do gixjd and In m> enough, though flowers had come from doing bring the w orld to know and fo l far and near. High and low, rich and low God, and no prove that we are poor, one and all, had a sorrowful thought fa ith fu l wltn«*aae*. for the swe«-t, g«*ntle woman, who had 1. By helping those who need help. merited a better sojourn on earth. Th ere are hu ml rials and thousan«la o f Hhella was left to h«*rself and her not very agreeable reflertions. The masked otqsirtunltl«-« In thla great city and hall had cost her an enormous sum. Lady o ver the world. W hat they n**ed la the Daleswater had never offered to take her helping hund. I f the church la to give away with her ; she ha«l absolutely no no aalvatlou to the maws-s who are out tion of what had happened to Jack and side uml are living liv e « o f sin and sor Audrey. Beverley Rochfort never made row, site must give her attention to the least sign, and to crown all. Murray, m inistering to the needy. the whilom maid at Craiglands, and her 2. By sym pathizing w ith those who much too clever accomplire, took matters De«-d sympathy. Jesus was a man o f into her own hands and bolted one night with all the available jewelry and lace shs sorrows and ac«|unlnte«l w ith grief. He hud a ts-art o f great sympathy and could lay her hands upon. Enraged beyond all expression at tbs never fulksl to expn*ss It when <**ca- loss of her property, Hhella at once put sloti afforded. Th e w o rld ’s great heart the matter into the hand* o f the polio«, to day longs for expressions o f Chris and, in fact, was far more Interested ln tian sympathy. Oh, the opjsirtuultli** this affair than she was at the death of we huve o f doing good In the w ay o f her stepmother. Sympathy w ith those who ue«*d It. I f But a more disagreeable rendition of things than this awaited Sheila when we w ill put ourselves o r our money at the report of Audrey’s di*app«*aranee H is dlui>osul, God w ill o[>eu some portal spread to Mountberry. She was fairly through which we may enter and tune frightened ; Ignorant of what might really the heart-strings o f some dlacurdunt happen, she renjured up all sort* of evil life to play the mualc o f heaven. that would be visited upon her when thj And then w e may do good by eu- whole truth was given to the world, ns couruglug those who need encourage it most probably would he. She eagerly m ent A few years ago a big hotel searched for Rochfort. to force him to exonerate her from blame in the mischief was burning and a young woman In they had brought about, hut like a reward one o f the upper stories would have perished but fo r the cheers o f encour he was hiding from Its rensequpnee*. Then one day she had a frantic visit agement that went up from the crowd from Alire Fairfax, who was in great and of lookers-on. When the brave fireman terrible fear lest something would hap lauded his prize safely be said: "Y o u pen to her. She had seen W illie Fuller hare no Idea how near I came return ton, who had boldly stated that It was ing without her. It was the cries o f Lord John’s Intention to sift out the encuruagement that nerved me fo r the whole gossip that had been spread about his wife, and clear away much that he task.” could not understand. “ And if ao, we shall be ruined, Sheila," sobbed Alice F a ir fa x ; "but, anyhow, I shall tell the truth, and say you asked me to do------” "Y ou dare to turn on m e!” Sheila flashed, furiously, white with anger, and then she would have proceeded to fur ther ebullitions of wrath had not the door of her room been opened at this moment and Mr. Fullerton announced by the waiter. A glance at the two flushed fares would have satisfied W illie as to their guilt, if he had not, at that mo ment, reposing in his pocket, a complete confession signed by Murray, whom Daw son, the detective, had <*asily found— this had be«-n done at Jean’a suggestion— and who, disrevering that her chan«» of a brilliant career on Sheila's jewels was briefly cut short, eased her conscience and her spite by disclosing the whole plot. W illie's interview with Sheila was short and to the point; and when he left the room he carried with him her signa ture and a few words at the bottom of Murray’s confession testifying that all the maid had written was true. (T o he continued.) God only knows how many falterin g, trembling weak souls there are to-day who nee«J Just such a cheer. H ow many times the clouds hung o ver us, w ith no pillar o f fire to guide. How many times w e stand by the waters o f the Ited Hea, where the angry waves roll and break, and there seems no w ay o f es««]**. Oh, that some strong hand were then outstretched to suve us, and a kind, gentle voice to encourage and com fort us. Th ere are so many wrbo could be save«l from great uilstuk«** and from fallin g If the right thing w ere said and done In the right w ay and at the right time. God help us to be on the alert for such opportunities o f doing go o d W HAT IS VIRTUE f By H s n r y F. C op«. “ Adding on your part all diligence, In your faith aupply virtu e and In your Virtue ki»owle<lge.” — I I . P eter 1 :5 . W ho la the vlrtuoua person? W hat la the vlrtuoua life ? Ia he the b«a rer o f no more than spotless life? Ia v ir f o n v #»nfleit t. tue the leaving undone o f vice? Is It “ So you have three pairs o f glasses, negation and denial? Then Is the pol professor?” ished marble more vlrtuoua than the “ Yes— one pnlr to read with, snothcr fairest saint. You cannot be measured fo r nearsightedness, and a third pair by the things you leave undone. to look fo r the other tw o w it h !” — F lie Ia virtue, then, the clamorous erec gende B latter. tion o f emne standard o f livin g nnd tin* duly advertised attainment thereto? Is It even the s*sTst, modest effort o f conform ity to u llxi*d <»*«le <»r rule o f dally livin g — the doing **f cvrtalu things In «•ertalu ways at «vrtaln times? Is the vlrtuoua life the one that fo l lows precisely the prescribed rul«*e and sc I mh 1 u I«> s o f cuiiiiurt? T h e last la the notion most generally entertained. Yet how falla»'loue It la. It Is th# aecret o f prlgglslm ess; the standard uttaliieil, we have th# aln o f self sutlsfai'tlon. It <*oiiverta tlie man Into a blind m achine; your mechanl«*«! moralist Is no more virtuous than any other machine. He la*’ka Ilf# amt fr*s*- <U’tu o f choice. Virtu e la, first o f all, v it a l; It cannot I hj found with the eyes shut nor with the w ill atrophied. Virtu e la strength ; It Is moral and spiritual health. It la itot In doing or leaving undone; It Is not In feeling either gou«l or b a il; It Is not In senti ments or do«-trlnes, either fslee or true. It Is that iw rfect ordering, adjusting, and outflow ing o f the whole Inner life which In Ra more m aterial and e v i dent nsixx-ta we call health and strength. Tin» doing, feeling aiul think ing flow from this right Inner, deter m inating tone. T h e m orally ht«althy man w ill love the things tlist are go«»d and p u rs; he w ill loathe tlie base and defiling. Only n deprave«! up|s*tlte turns to tlie ga rb age can when there Is a well spread table waiting. Did we but understand It we would d«*splse ami fear still more that rlcluus Inner appetite that turns the w hole life tow ard things corrupt and n>tt«*u wlsm there aw aits on every haitd In this fa ir w orbl so much that Is beautiful and wholesome. H ave you ever thought how largely health ami strength d«-|x*nd on tnatee and appetites? Who can be healthy with a perverted craving to which Its ylekla? Hu«*h fa s t«« deismd on train ing and cultivation. Ho It la w ith v ir tu e; strength o f the eoul, health o f the heart lies on the road o f the choice o f things that are bast. Is acquired by the deliberate and constant choosing o f things that a r« right, pure, elevating. Virtue, then, resta on faith, not blind belief In « » r u i n dogm atic statem en t* but the upward look, the noble aeplra- lon, the hlgh-mlndedness that lifts up the heart. It takes thla spirit, this faith, this confldem-e In things unseen to enable us to choose the best to cul tiva te the taste fo r the true food o f life. O therw ise the Is-srt that waa meant to feed on the Invisible bread onatrhea tlie evldeut busks o f earth and It dies. T h ere Is no virtu e without this faith In high Ideala, In tilings not seen. A man may be Just, be may he houest and upright fo r policy, btswu*« It iwys, but he cannot find virtu e as a m atter o f policy. It la not In the market to be bou gh t It la acquired only aa we set the heart on character, aa we leant to love the good and true fo r Its owu sake. T h is healthfuluess o f soul cocnes also through struggle. Vice Is made to serve virtu e ns we strive ngalnst I t Using moral muscles, we flml and hard en them. H e who fieca temptation, who shrinks from the soul searching crlmw o f life, miss«** the ls*st that Ilfs has to give. In the gymnasium o f temptation and trials the full strength o f character Is woo. Th at does not mean that one must seek out v ice ; It means w e must meet every foe to bis face. Count him vlrtuoua w hose face la set tow ard the lig h t ; who lives on a grade that leads up; who la strong to serve his fellow s, to make a better world, to face and fight all things that spoil and m a r ; w ho lives not fo r meat or money, but fo r manhood, fo r truth and beauty. F or virtu e Is that habit o f the aoul, that heelth that cornea from steadily seeking things good and true, that strength that comes from struggle an«l service; It la the Inner life victorious over the outer temptation. S h o rt M e te r Serm ons. Kindness Is a seed that never finds a barren soil. V irtu e fo r profit w ill become vice fo r more p r o fit T h e best friendship la that which brings out the best In us. W h at w e call destiny often Is only a m atter o f determination. I f you would loae all force think alw ays o f your own feelings. T h e true man fe a r « tlie power o f sin m ore than Its punishment. Mending your w ays Is the best w ay o f mourning over them. I f you cannot hate hypocrisies and evil you are not likely to love virtue. Many a man who la proud o f being wicked la really only weak In the head. I t w ill not give you wings to have your name on the fly leaf of the Bible. An abnormal tense o f your own rights soon w ill hide your neighbor’s righteousness. You oan never meet the needs o f a thirsty w orld by pecking w ater on both shoulder«. I t Is e good deal easier to preach things heroic and divine thaa It la to practice things ordin arily human »**4 decen t.
