Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-08-04

three times a week. It was different
with her. She knew that her station in
life was far above his, that such a thing
as a possible union with him must never
be considered until he had lifted himself
far above his present sphere, and yet
the more she heard his voice the more
she became aware that the one hope of
future happiness lay in just such
union. To be lifted out of this condition
of things entailed on his part Chris
tian spirit and positive belief in all that
the term implies, added to a relinquish-
ment of his Ubiquitous trade. But the
more Jack studied the Bible-and he
was now cOnversant with every chapter
of 1.-THE further away did he appear to
be drawn from the goal to which she
would have led him if she only dared.
No student of Holy Writ ever toiled
over it more faithfully than he, and yet
his mind could not separate parable from
narrative, prophecy from history. He
tried to accept it all literally and found
/ himself more and more confused the
| further he progressed. Two or three
times he visited Mr.. Sampson, with a
view tO-aS he enthusiastically ex-
pressed it" getting some Of the kinks
| smoOthed out.
But that narTow-minded, gentle-na-
| tured bigot met with indignant rebuke
any attempt on the part of the searcher
after truth to question the absolute and
the Bible. 1t was the word of God, he
said, and must be accepted without argu-
ment.
This Jack could not find it in his
] power to do and so he tried to smooth
out the kinks himself, for Helen's sake.
One word from her, the slightest intima-
ton that he could win her by embracing
l idff ~ nd ho do
clared himself an unprejudieed believer
and joined the church without delay.
But the intimation never came; so the
organ lessons went on as usual, he
happy, she wretched.
Little Helen in her new life was a
perfect dream of golden sunshine. She
conquered the hearts of all who came in
contact with her. The ~Hopkinses,
who demurred at first at the thought of
accepting the ward of Jack Bowdoin as
a member of their household, grew so
deeply attached to her that their affec-
ton plunged more than one Jealous
shaft into the heart of Helen Charles,
who, aside from the love that grew out
of sympathy, lavished upon her all the
force of girls first passion, which she
could not betray to the man she loved.
The child attended school regularly,
and teachers and pupils alike regarded
her as veritable prodigy. Even the fact
that that her guardian was a gambler did
not initiate against her in the least, so
captivating was Her manner, so indie
scribable her baby magnetism.
On her way to and from school it was
always her custom to pause on the Lit
tie Casino" corner long enough to kiss
Jack, and never once had he failed tC
be there. No matter how busily he
might be employed at the time, even
when in the midst OF an exciting game
of cards. he knew the precise moment
she would be waiting for him, and was
: always there to meet her and receive hel
kiss and earess.
One morning, after she had kissed
) him, instead Of the usual -GoOd-by
: papa" she said:
[ Papa, I want you to give up gam.
t blingl"
[ who told you to ask me that, baby2'
. Miss Charles"
/ What did she say, chr"
r she said she'd love you ever so mucl
more If you would"
{ she didP She said that? Then, b,
thunder, I'll do it, Run along nov, and
when you come back from school wei
i go home together and tell her the news.
/ She kissed him again and tOddled of
+ to school. He watched her out Of sigh
: and entered his saloon for-as he ha,
t but a moment before resolved-the las
I time.
Boys" he said. I'm goin' to qui
yer"
There were few incredulous laughs
: but he was not in the least disconnected
and continued:
I Its fact. I'm goin' to leave of gam
T blin', for good, and all. I've felt j
comm for some time, and Just now m,
Q little girl decided me.
i What you amt got religion. 70
Q sure?"
We'll. I've been on a still hunt ate
: it for three months, and though ain
f hitched onto it yet, so to speak. that's
o comm, too, I guess. lean tfind wor