El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-02

wretched creature, reeking with the
fumes of liquor, be cared for in Vir-
ginia's own home, instead of being
consigned to strangers in some hospital
or house of charity? Virginia really
| knew very little about any such places
| of refuge. AS a matter of fact, there
were two or three such institutions in
Raymond, but it is doubtful if any OF
them would have taken a person like
Loreen in her present condition. But
that was not the question with Virginia
| just now. "What would Jesus do with
Loreen Pr was what Virginia faced, and
she finally answered it by touching
Loreen again
t'Loreen, comet You are going home
with me. We will take the car here at
the corner"
Loreen staggered to her feet and, to
Virginia s relief, made no trouble. She
had expected resistance or a stubborn
refusal to move. When they reached
the corner and took the car, it was
nearly full of people going up town
Virginia was painfully conscious of the
stare that greeted her and her compan-
ion an they entered, but her thought
was directed more and more to the ap-
preaching scene with her grandmother.
What would Nine. Page say when she
saw Loreen3
Loreen was nearly sober now, but she
was lapsing into state of stupor. Vir-
ginia was obliged to hold fast to her
arm. Several times she 1urched heavily
against Virginia, and as the two went
up the avenue a curious crowd of peo-
pie turned and gazed at them. When
she mounted the steps of the handsome
house. Virginia breathed sigh of re-
lief, even in the face of the interview
with her grandmother, and when the
door shut and she was in the wide hall
with her homeless outcast she felt equal
to anything that might now come.
Nine. Page was in the library. Hear
ing Virginia come in, she came into the
hall Virginia stood there supporting
Loreen, who stared stupidity at the rich
magnifcence of the furnishings around
her
'Grandmother' - Virginia spoke
without hesitation and very clearly
81 have brought one of my friends
from the Rectangle. She is in trouble
and has no home. I am going to care
for her little while
Nine. Page glanced from her grand
daughter to Loreen in astonishment
3'Did you say she was one of your
friends?" she asked in cold, sneering
voice that hurt Virginia more than any
thing she had yet felt.
Eyes; I said So" Virginia's face
flushed, but she seemed to recall the
verse that Mr.. Gray had used for one
of his recent sermons, ga friend of pub
icans and sinnersI' Surely Jesus would,
do this that she was doing
do you know what this girl is?'
asked Mime. Page in an angry whisper,
stepping near Virginia.
81 know very we'll She is an out
cast. You need not tell me, grand
mother. 1 know it even better than you
do. She is drunk at this minute. But
she is also a child of God. L have seen
her on her knees repentant, and have
seen hell reach out it's horrible fingers
after her again, and, by the grace of
Christ, I feel that the least I can do is
to rescue her from such peril Grand
mother. we call ourselves Christians
Here is a poor, lost human creature
without home, slipping into possible
eternal loss, and we have more than
enough I have brought her here and
shall keep her,
Nine. Page glared at Virginia and
her hands. All this was con-
trary to her social code of conduct.
How could society excuse such famil-
larity with the scum of the streets
What would Virginia's actions cost the
family in the way of criticism and the
loss of standing and all that long list of
necessary relations which people of |
wealth and posi- ton must sustain to the |
leaders of society," To Nine. Page so
ciety represented more than the church |
or any other institution. It was pow
er to be feared and obeyed The loss of !
it's good will was a loss more to be |
dreaded than anything, except the loss |
of wealth itself
She stood erect and stern and con- !
fronted Virginia, fully reused and de-
termined Virginia placed her arm
about Loreen and calmly looked her |
grandmother in the lace.
''You shall not do this, Virginia
You can send her to the asylum for
helpless women We can pay all the ex-
peGses. We cannot afford, for the sake
IF our regulations, to shelter such a
person
''Grandmother, do not wish to do
anything that is displeasing to you.
put 1 am going to keep Loreen here to-
night and longer if think it is best
''Then you can answer for the conse-
luences. 1 do not stay in the same
house with a miserable Nine. Page
ost her self control Virginia stopped
Ter before she could speak the next
word
"Grandmother, this house is mine
It is your home with me as long as you
,hoose to remain, but in this matter
,hal act as I fully believe Jesus would