Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-05

Come in, tcon't voue"
ence, distorting her face. I'D look fine
in there. What should l do there:'
And she walked quickly away, keeping
close to the houses.
Mrs. Ventnor was thoroughly en- rap
port with her surroundings now. This
was lola outside the yellow covers of
novel. She looked after the woman, and
a plying chuckle left her lips.
Poor devil! Did you ever see such
face: Upon my word, if it were not for
the smells, this adventure would be
mere risque and entertaining than Il
French ball from behind mask Eli,
Marian?'
It's horrible said Marian clearly.
and Hugh, who knew all her moods SO
we'll. saw the cynicism that panied him
stealing over her. These people do not
seem human.
PITY them-pity them," Mark whis-
pered, with soft vehemence, as he went
up the steps beside her.
II can wonder at and shrink from
them, but can't pity them, for don't
believe they know how wretched they
are
Don't you think there may be roses
even in this mire? Yes, though they
look only fit for the mire, little fra
GRANGE still turks in some of them
around the folded inner heart. But only
those who can pity will ever find it ont. ~
Marian felt the fatherly reproof in
the words, hut there was not time to
say more, fer his friend had come into
the hall and was vigorously shaking
them all by the hand.
Follow me, and I'll give the ladies'
seats mt the sides kept for visitors. But
| / wish, Thorne. that you and DIR. Lar
reniore woEld co..c On the platform.
| We have q mighty poor showing there
| tonisht
He ushercd them into a narrow, low
ceiled room, with benches down the
center. and to Il corner where row Of
chairs were raised above these. But
there WIS no room for Hugh, and, obey
ing gesture frcm Mark, he found him
self on a small platform, gazing at the
preacher s back as he stood up facing
the congregation, and with a wave OF
his hands inviting them all to pray.
Mrs. L&rrcDore bowed her head with
the air Of n deyotec. Mrs. Ventnor hall
covered her eyes with her gloved fingers
and sfyIy ieered through them. Marian
alone male no feint at praying. She
lowered her head little. her deep, darl
eyes sweeping thoughtfully over the
place and lingering on every detail II
was a scene. she was never to forget.
Those of the women who were inmates
OF the mission sat III front. They were
bareheaded and wore clean white
aprons. while those who had straved in
that night in their rags and misery KEEP,
near the door. Hero and there among
the crowd figure abjectly kneeinf
could be seen.
A hymn was sung, and during j,
Mark and the preacher went among tn,
crowd and talked to the newcomers
who for the most part answered then
only in sullen whispers.
( One woman who sat just below Mari
an soon attracted her attention wholly
She was young and decently dressed
pretty, too. in a dark, bold style. de
spite the sinister lines ON her face Pres
emily Mark found his way to her. Sh,
listened to his whispered admonition
then slowly turned her bright eyes Oh
him and shook her head.
Its too late, mister"
kneel down and let us pray togeth
err"
Quit prayin for me. It's an ole
story. Tain't any use,'' she said dis
tlnctly IN harsh voice that still had ;
trace OF culture lingering in it. "It'
too late for prayer, tell you
But it's not too late" pleadet
Marx. since you come here. 1t IS neve
too late If you feel the ned
"And if you don't. feel the need: ~
came to Marian's ears in the same leve
tones. If you try to and can't an,
wonder why you can't. what are yc,
going to do them
1t was an unanswerable question
Even Mark was silent When he wen
back to the platform, he prayed alnu,
and fervently for that woman, and tn
outcast. listening, smiled.
Marian had watched this failure close
y. For the first time . strenuous feel
ing stirred her heart in a new way. TIL
women, kneeling in their rags, seDdinl
mp choking prayers, had held no mean
ing for her beyond the revolving pictur
they presented, but this woman, VIII
felt nothing, who knew her vilenesl
yet could summon up no shadow Of n
net for it, she somehow understood
with faint, trembling horror thsuugl
al beg blood
] his vas moral shipEEsck This "A