The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-07-23

10 us through doing good to1thers;
"Chsrity begins at hong said the
Young man, wiring his Odd headed !
cane. You better make asconyert of
me, though I don't think mach Of your
Roland Fletcher walked homs With,
Marion, expostulating with her and try.
inp to make her promise that she would
never 90 into . tenement house again.
After they had seated themselves in her
fa,ner's parlor, he took the tiny hand
with the diamond ring on it into his own
and said: Esg.g
"The idea of such q beautiful hand as
this is ministering TO sick people in tene-
ment houses, and Juggling fruit, plas-
tiers, and nobody knows what else,
the street for their benefits ''.&%s'
"My hands are not beautiful, Roland
Fletcher" replied the young lady, hasti'
ly Withdrawing her hand from her low.
er's. IL have learned to-day that '
Beautiful hands are those that do 81
Work that Is earnest, brave and true.
Hereafter I shall devote myself to min
istering to those whom God hasnot seen
fit to bless with this worlds goods as
abundantly as He has blessed me-"
"H there is anything l detest," said
Roland, "it's your pious women, your
women's rights women, your self-sup.
porting women, and your fanaticd
women, who think they have mission.
l expect you will be clamoring for the
ballot next. You are my individual
property now, and I wish you, to pre-
serve your true -womanliness and not
overstep the boundaries of propriety by
this nunnery, mission BUSINESS
"You and / differ about the meaning
of the term true womanliness," repeat
ed Marion, in q trembling voice. ~
feel that l have q right to follow the
dictates of my own conscience in such
matters" ,mHl,h
Roland saw that Marion felt hurt,
and, as he did really love her IS much
as his selfish nature was capable OF low
ing any woman. he tried to modify his
rash words. Weeks passed on, Marion
still continued her visits of love and
mercy, but always under protest. Every
day she felt that Roland and she were
drifting farther and farther apart. The
external things of life-the life of pleas.
ure and fashion that had woven such
chains about him-were slowly breaking
in Marion's soul. Her estimate of the
things that bring happiness we're very
different. She was not surprised one
morning to receive a note from Roland
Fletcher asking that the engagement
might be broken. He closed the note
saying: ''It has always been against my
principles to marry any woman with q
mission" ~ = ''-.''t.n' u! rE;l
Years passed away. Roland Fletcher
and Marion Douglass had dritted apart
and lost sight of each other for . long
time. Marion had married . wealthy
gentleman who believed with her thai
our happiness in life comes to us ''wher
we make life less difficult to others. >
They both were Of one mind in theil
ideas of usefulness. Marion's beautiful
hands never tired of doing work tina
was ''earnest, brave and true" Three
lovely children had come to their home
but amid their present happiness thu
sorrows of others were never forgotten
One lovely summers morning Marion
started from the "Flower Mission,
with her basket of bouquets to distribute
| in the hospitals, While passing through
one Of the wards she stopped beside tn
cot of a new patient who had bee1
brought in the night before. =. w.. ~.
"Will you have bouquet, sir?" ask
ed Marion, as she tenderly bent over th
suffering one. ii - a.aal safst. ~
"Thank you, madame, y the sick ma
said, as he reached out his hand an
took the profered flowers. j" Wha
beautiful mission the Flower Missio
is, and how very kind you ladies are
bring them to rs poor sick ones, VIII
are shut out from natures beauties"
eve are very glad to cheer the tic
ones in this, way, " replied Marion, q
she took q stray rosebud out Of the bs'
ket and handed it also to the, patien,
The mans eye fell upon the hand OF II
woman VINO mAn'ssefeo 10 nAm' "a" 2
said: 'att
"Deantitul hands arethose that %
Workthat y earnest, brave anu nue."
. Marion's face had been hidden b
meath her large shade hat, out whon d
lifted her he'd there was 4 mutual re'
ognition. Ew'ss Robert Fletcher. fl.,.
= "Msrion Do.,glass!" he exclaimre,
SHOW often l have longed TO see you On
. take back the 1.ru4 words said't "
. 30 long ago about true womhnlinesb. 81
have tried to bless the name of woman
I have been the recipient Of her Ghri
tan love and Kindness. =. When GA la!ll.o OF \
ers forsook me, 1t IVES s'woman with
mission who, snursed me through
. . death without repentance and forgiy
n nAQa IL WAC a W0m8hA hand tn