Middletown transcript., 1899-12-23
mia Dotore she sald anything.

g1n1a before she said anything.
'sOf course understand Mr.. Max
wells statement. It is perfectly i'm
practicable to put it into practice. I
felt confident at the time that those
who promised would find it out after q
trial and abandon it as visionary and
absurd. / have nothing to say about
Miss Winslow's affairs, but"-she
paused and continued with sharpness
that was new to Rachel-''I hope you
have no foolish notions in this matter.
Virginia. +"
II have great many notions, re-
piled Virginia quietly. whether they
are foolish or not depends upon my
right understanding of what he would
do. As soon as find out I shall do it. "
Excuse me, ladies" said Rollin,
rising from the table. tsThe converse
tion is getting beyond my depth. I
shall retire to the library for cigar. =
He went out Of the dining room, and
there was silence for moment. Mime.
Page waited until the servant had
brought in something and then asked
her to go out She was angry, and her
anger was formidable, although checked
in some measure by the presence of
Rachel
81 am older by several years than
you, young ladies, she said, and her
traditional type Of bearing seemed to
Rachel to rise up like a great frozen
wall between her and every conception
of Jesus as sacrifice "What you have
promised in spirit of false emotion, I
presume, is impossible of performance. =
''Do you mean, grandmother. that
we cannot possibly act as Jesus would,
or do you mean that if we try to we
shall offend the customs and prejudices
of society?" asked Virginia
SIT is not required. 1t is not neces-
sary. Besides. how can you act with
any
Mime. Page paused, broke off her SEN
tence and then turned to Rachel
'sWhat will your mother say to your
decision2 My dear. is it not foolishf
What do you expect to co with your
voice anyway"
81 don't know what mother will say
yet, Rachel answered. with a great
shrinking from trying to give her moth
er's probable answer. If there was o
woman in all Raymond with great am
bitions for her daughters success as
singer, Mrs. Winslow was that woman.
"Oh, you will see it in different
light after wise thought of It'll My
DEAR" continued Nine Page, rising
from the table, ''you will live to regret
it if you do not accept the concert COM
pany's offer or something like it. "
Rachel said something that contained
a hint of the struggle she was still hav-
ing, and after little she went away,
feeling that her departure was to be
by a painful conversation be-
tween Virginia and her grandmother.
As she afterward learned, Virginia
passed through crisis of feeling during
that scene with her grandmother that
FASTENED her final decision as to the use
Of her money and her social position.
Rachel was glad to escape and be by
herself. A plan was slowly forming in
her mind, and she wanted to be alone
to think it out carefully. But before
she had walked two blocks she was an
noyed to find Rollin Page walking be-
side her.
''Sorry to disturb your thought, Miss
Winslow, but / happened to be going
your way and had an idea you might
not object. In fact I've been walking
here for whole block, and you haven't
objected.
81 did not see you, :" replied Rachel
ST wouldn't mind that If you only
thought of me once in awhile" said
Rollin suddenly. He took one last nerv-
ous puff of his cigar, tossed it into the
street and walked along with pale
'ace
Rachel was surprised, but not star
led She had known Rollin as boy,
and there had been a time when they
,ad used each others first name famil-
arly. Lately, however, something in
aachel's manner had put an end to
hat She was used to his direct at
empts at compliment and was some
lines amused by them. Today che hon
'stly wished him anywhere else.
''Do you ever think Of me, Miss
Tinslowf" asked Rollin after pause.
"Oh, yes, quite often' said Rachel,
With smile.
care you thinking of me nowH'
Eyes, that is-yes, I am. !"
"Whatf p
".Do you want me to be absolutely
ruthfulf'
stOf course.
"Then I was thinking that wished
ou were not here
Rollin bit his lip and looked gloomy.
.achel had not spoken anything as he
rished.
"Now, look here. Rachel-oh, know
hats forbidden, but I've cot to speak
ome time-you know how feel What
lakes you treat me so hard7 You used
, like me little, you know"
! "Did II Of course we used to get on