The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-20

the last week at the tent and in the
city. Would the Christian force act as
q uni against the sale on, or would it
be divided on account Of its business
interests or because it was not in the
habit Of acting together, as the whisky
powers always did9 That remained TO
be seen. Meanwhile the saloon reared
itself about the Rectangle like some
deadly viper. Kissing and coiling. ready
to strike its poison into any unguarded
part.
Saturday afternoon. as Virginia was
just stepping ont of her house to 60
and SEQ Rachel to talk over her new
plans. carriage drove up containing
three OF her fashionable friends. Vir-
ginia went out to the driveway and
stood there talking with them. They
had not come to make formal call,
but wanted Virginia to go riding with
them up on the boulevard. There was
band concert in the park. The day
was too pleasant to be spent indoors
"Where have you been all this time,
Virginiaf" asked one Of the girls. tap
ping her playfully on the shoulder with
. red silk parasol. 1--WE hear that You
have gone into the show business. Tell
rs about it,
Virginia colored, hut after mo-
ment's hesitation she frank told some
thing Of her experience at the Rectan.
gle. The girls in the carriage began to
be really Interested
"Tell You what. girls, let's 60 slum-
ming with Virginia this afternoon in
stead OF going to the band concerti I've
never been down to the Rectangle. I've
heard it's an awful wicked place and
lots to see. Virginia will act as guide,
and 1t would be al"--''fnn. che was
going to say, but virginia's look made
her substitute the word interesting"
Virginia was angry. At first thought
she said to herself she would never go
under any such circumstances. The
other girls seemed to be Of the same
mind as the speaker. They chimed in
with eGrnestness and asked Virginia to
take them down there.
Suddenly she saw In the idle curl
osity Of the girls an opportunity. They
had never seen the sin and misery of
Raymond. Why should they not see
them. even II their motives in going
down there were simply to pass away
an afternoonS
VERY well; I'll &c with you. You
must obey my orders and let me take
you where you can see the most, I" she
said as she entered the carriage and
took the seat beside the girl who had
first suggested the trip to the Rectanglc.
Hadn't we better take q policeman
along" said one Of the girls. with a
nervous laugh. "IN really isn't safe
down there. you know"
There's no danger" said Virginia
briefly.
''Is it true that Rollin has been con-
vertedY" asked the first speaker, look
ing at Virginia curiorIsly. 1t impressed
her during the drive to the Rectangle
that all three of her friends were re-
garding her with close attention. as if
she were very peculiar.
Eyes; he certainly is. I saw him
myself on the night of the first interest
shown. week ago Saturday." replied
Virginia. who did not know just how
to tell that scene.
II understand he ia going around to
the clubs talking with his old friends
there. trying to preach to them. Doesn' t
that seem funny?" said the girl with
the red silk parasol.
Virginia did not answer, and the
other girls were beginning to feel sober
as the carriage turned into the street
leading to the Rectangle AS they
neared the district they grew more and
more nervous The sights and smells
and sounds which had become familiar
to Virginia struck the senses Of these
refined. delicate society girls as some
thing horrible. AS they entered farthe z
into the district the Rectangle seemed
70 stare as with one great hleary. beer
soaked countenance Mt this fine carriage
with its load of fashionably dressed
young ladies' "Slumming" had never
been fad with Raymond society, and
this was perhaps the first time that the
two had come together in this way.
The girls felt that, instead Of seeing the
Rectangle, they were objects of curl
osity. They were frightened and dis
gusted
Lets go back. I've seen enough,
said the girl who was sitting with Vir-
ginia.
They were at that moment Just op-
posite notorious saloon and gambling
house. The street was narrow and the
sidewalk crowded. Suddenly out Of the
door OF the saloon u young woman
reeled She was singing in a broken,
drunken sob that seemed TO indicate
that she partly realized her awful con-
dition. Just as l am, without one
plea, " and as the carriage rolled past
she leered mt it. raising her face so that
Virginia saw it very close to her own.
IL was tho face of the girl who had
kneeled sobbinS that night, with Vir-
ginia knoelins beside her aud praying