Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-04-26

She had hardly looked at the relig-
.ous side OF the question before; but
now that 1t was brought before her she
ttood, ai IL were, face TO face with her
own soul, with its dark stain OF crime.
and she turned, shudderlng, from IT,,
In the whirl OF dissipation she had
kept such thoughts at bay; in this
sweet solemn time, when the Sabbath
bells were Ginning, she could not
eyade them. The conscience she had
so long dead aned cried loudly ut last,
Leonie drew her veil tightly over her
face and entered the church: IL was not
like y, she though to herself, that any
one here would recognize her; she
was only a visitor, and might never see
the place again. After morning pl ay-
ers the congregation sang sweet old
hymn, q, then a white-haired minis
ter stood up to preach. He was not
eloquent, he was 10 grand orator, but
his lips had been touched by divine
fire. He spoke from the depths OF his
heart, and his words touched the hearts
of others He spoke on a common
theme he told his simple hearers that
no one who persisted in sin could ever
go to heaven. Such plain, earnest
words so true, so strong, no one who
heard could ever forget
Long before he had finished the
fair, stately head was bent, and tears
flowed like rain from the wearied eyes,
No hope, no heaven Was an earthly
crown to be weighed in the balance
with an eternal one? What mattered
it that diadem should shine on her
brow here II her face was never to DO
seen among the angels in heaven?
Gould 1t be possible that the punish
ment of her sin would be 50 terrible, 50
great? She did not fear punishment
in this world. Here she could keep
her ill-gotten goods, here she could en-
joy the wealth for which she had given
so much; but the Justice Of that other
world was inexorable She wept. and
the tears Of pain caused by an awak-
ened conscience were as the cooling
dew to the thirsty flowers.
Suddenly she raised her head and
saw that most of the people had left
the church, and that the white-haired
minister stood in the vestry alone.
Impulsive as she had ever been,
lie ME rose and went to him. AS one
in a dream she saw little square room
with the branches of laburnum-tree
waving against the window, She
turned to the minister neither then
nor afterward did she learn his name.
"You are truthful, earnest man"
she said, "and want to ask you about
a soul that is in trouble-will you an
swer me?"
"To the best OF my power" he re-
piled.
Thus it was--where it happened
matters not, she began. Some time
since there were two claimants for q
large property-one a man, the other a
girl. The girl, by the chief judges in
the land, was pronounced next of kin,
and as such succeeded to the inher-
itance. When she had enjoyed it
long enough to appreciate its value.
she found will, by which the late
owner left all to the man. What was
she bound to do?"
Give up the inheritance to him,
most certainly" replied the minister.
"But she could not she could not go
back to poverty and privation- she
could not give up the wealth and lux
ury. She kept the will and determined
to marry the man whom she had de-
frauded-did not that meet the diff
cuties of the case?" she continued,
eagerly. WAS not that restitution
sufficient? She would give him all in
that way Speak to me tell me- was
not that enough"
mo- he said, that was not enough
either to satisfy the law of man or
the Law of heaven"
She c'asped her hands with passion
ate eagerness and dew nearer,
But do you not ee that by marrying
him she gives him the property just as
though sue had put the will into his
hands,"
NO, f." he objected; at would be hut
left-handed justice after all-not pure
and perfect. The sin of theft and
fraud-of injustice and dishonop-
would still be upon that girls soul"
would there be hope of heaven for
such a soul?" she asked.
81 cannot dare n say; / should
not like to die with The same stain upon
my conscience.
I E"You are a good man." she said,
turning away, pray for a soul in
pain.
Before he could answer her she had
gone; but all day and all night thoao
words rang in his ears-"p.ay for u
soul in pain.
ITO DE CoNTfNuEDl
----=------------------------e---=