The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-10-27

Harry Fawcett came out of the dining
room and fingered irresolutely in the hall
1t was Sunday morning. He had break
lasted late, as usual, on that morning. On
other days he was at his office before nine.
GA young lawyer he said, ''must lool
as if he had business, if he meens to have
any," and Harry, though a rich man wa:
ambitious to do good work in his profession
He took out his note book and glanced
over his engagements for the day and week
dinners, breakfasts, balls, theater parties
Harry was favorte in society.
Somehow to-day, these things bored him
1t suddenly flashed on him that his life was
poor, and filled with trihes.
"There is some stuff in me fit for better
work than this!' he thought, as he Stood in
the hall hesitating.
There was picture by Corot in the draw
ing room. He looked at it.
''lf could paint something that would
last, or write book! Something that would
give thousands of people comfort and happi-
ness when l am gone"' he thought
On the other wall was copy of Vibert' S
picture of the returned missionary shown e
to his superior his scars given by the savages.
Harry's blood warmed. 81, too, could sacri-
fee myself for great cause" he said. ''But
what cause do l Gaze for? There is not a
single great purpose or meaning in my life. -
He looked out at the sunny street, down
which the people were fastening to church.
He grew grave and thoughtful, He remem
bercd how, when he was a little fellow, his
mother took him to church. Her religion
bad been her life. She had died when he
was still boy.
''Is her faith what need?' his soul asked,
cropping in the darkness for something live
and real.
His sister was professedly a religious girl.
She was very active in church. But he had
never spoken to her of her religion. She
was coming now, on hei way TO church.
She came down the stairs buttoring her
glove. Something in her brothers. face
startled her. Could Harry be unhappy? If
they were more intimate, she would ask him
what troubled MIN. She hesitated, and he
came quickly up to her.
"Going 10 church, Alice?"
eyes, of course"
''It-counts for good deal to you, Ell?
Church, | mean it is a help-a-kind of
life, l suppose?"
''Therc is not much help in Doctor Rays
sermons she said ale has no ability.
And the soprano has a wretched voice.
He walked with her out of the door. There
was a hunger in his soul that mus; be stay
cd. Even her testing tone did not drive him
back.
''She has the secret My mother had it.
might learn it, There, perhaps-in the
hymns or prayers-somewhere.''
But Alice joked about the hats and gowns
Of the women they passed. eff you will
come to church you will see such guys" she
exclaimed. sit is a perfect study on cos
tune
'sThank you. will not go. He left her
at the corner and sanntered down to the club.
That night when they met at dinner he was
his usual gay self.
.'Are you quite well, Harry" she asked
81 thought you looked pale and troubled
this morning"
81 fell into an anxious mood. and was in
clined to take life Seriously" he said. some
what bitterly. 'Bnt nobody else does it,
and why should I?''
''Your trouble is gone then?'
s.Oh, quite gomez he said.
She was silent, for in spite of his light
tone she felt that he blamed her. What
he'd she done?
She puzzled ABOUT it during dinner, but
soon af,erward forgot it Harry and she
ourned side by side through life's years. But
between them there was great gulf, and
she never tried to cross it. She had lost her
- Youths Companion.