The herald., 1896-08-31

the representatives Of the press with
smiles and kind words. but she shook her
head and sighed as she remembered the
| fiinty intellectual qualities of her pro-
tege. Mrs Hilbish is the kind hearted
manager of the home.
Mr.. Charles N Crittenton, the evan
gelist, Is Il life member of the Los An
geles home. A circle of his converts sat
upon the finely upholstered seats of
his palace car Good News. and his busi-
ness manager and co-worker, Mr.. Chas.
$. Morton, was entertain ining them as
the writer awaited Mr.. Crittenton's ap-
pearance. Mr. Morton was relating a
sotry that will. perhaps. bear repetition.
Directly under the portrait of the la =
mented little Florence Crittenton n
small maiden, with golden hair and
flushed checks, sat with folded hands.
She rolled her eyes triiie anXiously as
the story progressed. but as the racon-
teur concluded and was rewarded with
general laugh, she smiled and set her
mouth in Cupid's bow. but managed to
look as If she had left all childish things
far behind her, along with the broken
toys flung out beside the pathway as
useless membranes. for this maid was
the subject of the tale.
She had passed the third milestone of
life, and upon a certain morning some
Few weeks thereafter had insisted upon
GA tptippi ltt l'pil VI SHOHDldCkI1lE ID1
some fresco " ork of an original ana
elaborate. design. In an argument that
followed her mother reminded her that
she had asked the good God to make her
an obedient little girl only that morn
ing.
Me go talk to the Lord" the work
err had said, retiring to convenient
corner with the bottle of shoeblacking
illmly clutched in one dmpled hand
She made her petition in a mumblnG
tone and then paused After a little
silence she cried, in clear, bell~lilSe tones:
What that you are saying, Lord?
ON! Baby's to play with the shoeblack-
inG all day long? Yes, Lord Amen. ,
a Few minutes after the conclusion
of this story Mr.. Crittenton was saying
that he considered Miss Overman true
penltent. He affirmed that she had sent
nef confession to the committee as a
proof of her repentance and as an act
of reparation. He emphatically declared
that God would never allow DIR. Brown
TO preach again. MIR. Morton owned that
MISS OVerman went through Il terrible
struggle that nearly broke her heart be-
fore she arrived a a state Of grace that
gave her strength enough to insure her
souls salvation by this public confess
sion. He whipped out his Bible and
read an underscored passage that he
construed as promising salvation to
lboHt HpulS IlGNe tllOuSl To l1uS prove
lasting repentance. He finally said:
Miss OVerman's father and mother
have been smitten to the heart by this
act of reparation. The girl is sewing for
her board out at the home. She works
from morning until night at her task
without faltering."
Mr.. Morton intimated that her life
had its trials and hardships, and that
there was little or no alienation. She
is simply working out her own saliva
ton, according to his ideas, and relying
upon the promises of God.
Both Mr.. CrittentOn and Mr.. Morton
are extremely affable gentlemen, but
they seem to have imbibed some of Miss
OVerman's preiudices regarding the
hard working scrbblers who are ambi-
tious to interview her, and are undoubt-
edly pleased with her infieXibility at the
present crisis.
Miss Lille has repeatedly declared
that Miss Overman cared nothing for
any statements that DR.. Brown might
make and would refuse to answer any
of his accusations. Consequently a
note was addressed to Miss Overman,
and she was requested to deny that she
had sold her confession for either $500
or $1,000, as DR.. Brown affirms in his
statement to the Associated Press. But
Miss Overman has refused to do this
She neglected to keep the appointment
with lne reporter laSI evening, ana lett
word that she had nothing to say and
would not commit any statement to pa
per
This is a puzzling attitude, and the
reason for such a course is not at once
apparent. But the conundrum can be
safely left in the hands of those who are
experts in solving such mysterious
problems
Following is Miss Overman's ultima
tun. as given over her own signature
to The Herald reporter:
My Dear Miss -: L appreciate en-
terprise in any capacity and trust that
you may receive such promotion as you
merit. I have fully committed my cause
to my advocate Christ Jesus, and in his
hands it rests. In his name,
MATTIE OVERMAN."