The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-11

wish to speak so that you may all hear, ana
like well to be among you. Truly have
much to say and may the Lord indeed
bless the words"
1.-THE lieutenant Is pretty" whispered
Kennedy as, raising her bonnet and throw
ing back her head, she began the address.
"She Is very pretty. wonder We did not
notice her before. What do you think Of
herr"
For time gazed down the aisle 10 the
girl and listened to her words. She was
moce than pretty; she was beautiful. The
black oval bonnet was setting for finely
formed face, made bright by earnest eyes
looking from the shadow Of dark waving
hair. The rudely cut serge gown could not
triumph over the grace of the slender fig
ure, but fell closely and was servant to 1t.
The hands that moved to and fro In gesture
ard persuasion were small and very white.
Like an ideal of gentle puritanism she
stood and spoke, and her voice was sweet
to hear, and her words were clear and
forceful.
"She is, indeed, good to see, I answered
Kennedy. II, too, wonder why we did not
notice her before. There Is nothing like
her In your book Is she an exception"
He made no reply, and saw that her
words had moved him to interest, and
that he was smiling and leaning forward.
The thought came to me that he was
studying his third chapter and added to
my dislike Of all that he had written.
The minutes passed, and her speaking
grew very eloquent. The people ceased
their "Gloriesl" and hearkened In silence
The smile left the face Of Kennedy, and his
breathing became more quick and his eyes
more earnest Though less moved than
soms, felt upon my cheek the flush Of
excitement
Still she spoke on, and her words were
fast and high, as Of one who wrestled with
souls unto prevailing. And now saw
that the girl in the corner had forgotten
her boy lover and was crying silently And
now saw that Kennedy's lips were clos
ing and unolosing, and that his hands
were gripped together and were trembling
In the grip.
There was sob In the woman's throat
and stay in her words, and then the sob
was gone, and again she spoke. Now she
made passionate entreaty that the sinner
In the hall would repent that very night
and give up his soul at the penitent form.
And now II seemed to me that with eyes
the room to the eyes Of Kennedy.
"This night, sinner, this night and here,
cast off your loadl Kneel at this form,
and pray for help and pardon Then
stand and give thanks for the mercy. We
will pray with you, sinner. We will praise
with you, saved one. Oh, let not the time
go Repent this night--this night and
here, were the words of her entreaty, and
ct their end che still gazed along the room
and waited for an answer. There came
the answer. Fore moment Kennedy stood
at my side, bowed and trembling. Then
in quick steps he went toward the plat
form, his hands outstretched and his face
broken like the face of woman in hys-
terra of shock With look of joy and tri-
umph, she came to meet him and took his
hands In hers and led him to the form to
which she had pointed. Together they
knelt, and she prayed aloud for mercy up
on him and for the lifting of his sins, and
with her prayers went up his sobbings and
the amens Of the men and women.
They stood again and faced the room,
and saw that he, the scoffer Of an hour
before, now shook and wept. And she,
the girl, too, saw md laid her hand upon
his arm and looked to him In beautiful
compassion.
"Will you speak, brother" she said soft
ly. 'Will you testify to the change you
feelp'
He covered his face with his hands, and
for Il time was silent. Then suddenly he
lifted his head and began to speak. Upper.
most in his mind was tho memory of the
book, and in voice that sometimes broke
and sometimes was clear he told the story.
How that for months he had labored to
win fame for himself by bringing shame
upon the Army, he told ;-how that his eyes
had ever been blind to the good, his under
standing ever sleeping; how that on this
night he had come to scott, but had merci-;
fully been led to repentance
"What shall / do-what shall do to
show this repentance" he said and looked
appealingly to the girl.
Brother, she said, with smile of re-
joicing, let the destruction of the book be
your act of faith. Together we will burn
it at the pentent form. Will it not be
well, brother"
Eyes, yes, oh, yes" ho said in wild
earnestness, II will get it, and we will
burn it.. Yes, yes, oh, yes.
Hurriedly ho left her and walked to
where the book lay at my feet. Giving me
neither word nor glance, he lifted 1t in his
two hands; then turned and carried 1t up
the room. With quick touch he unloosen-
ed the tape and spread tho bundle about
the form, then paused as If he needed some
thing.
Here, brother, hero" said bandsman
and leaned from the platform and gave
him a lighted match Once more he bent
to the form, with the flame he touched an
overhanging sheet and another and an
other. His book began to die. A mood
came to me, and I covered my eyes that
might not see.
Again looked along the passageway.
Many Of the sheets were black and broken;
the rest were burning to blackness. A
fragment still white, floated across the
people and fell by my side. Unreasoningly
l lifted 1t and placed 1t in my pocketbook.
The mood returned, and looked from the
group by the platform to one and another
about the room, and then to the boy and
girl lovers In the corner, For moments
watched them as they leaned, then turned
and went through the doorway and along
the street. From the open windows there
followed an uproar of praise. The book Of
Alistair Kennedy was dead.-Pearson'
Weekly,