The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-10-19

faces in the crowd were sympathetic.
They were not all cruel or brutal Tho
Holy Spirit had softened q good deal Of
the Rectangle.
"Where does she liver asked vir-
ginia.
No one answered 1t occurred to Vir-
ginia afterward when she had time to-
think it over. that the Rectangle showed
q delicacy in its sad silence that would
have done credit to the boulevard.
For the first time it flashed upon her
that the immortal being who was flung
like wreckage upon the shore Of this
earthly hell called the saloon had no
place that could be called home.
The girl suddenly wrenched her arm
from Virginia's grasp In doing it she
nearly threw Virginia down
lyon shall not touch me- Leave me!
Let me go to hell That's where be-
long, The devil is waiting for mel See
himl" she exclaimed hoarsely. She
turned and pointed with shaking fin
ger at the saloon keeper. The crowd
laughed.
Virginia stepped up to her and put
her arm about her.
"Loreen, she said firmly. ''come
with me- You do not belong to hell
You belong to Jesus. and he will save
you. Come.
The girl suddenly burst into tears
She was only partly sobered by the
shock of meeting Virginia
Virginia looked around again
where does Mr.. Gray liver" she
asked. She knew the evangelist board
ed somewhere near that tent
A number of voices gave her the d.
rection.
Come, Loreen. want you to go
with me to Mrs Gray's. she said. still
keeping her hold of the swaying. trem-
bling creature, who still moaned and
sobbed and now clung to Virginia as
before she had repulsed her.
So the two moved on through the
Rectangle toward the evangelist's lodg-
ing place. The sight seemed to impress
the Rectangle seriously. 1t never took
itself seriously when it was drunk. but
this was different. The fact that one of
the most beautifully dressed girls In
Raymond was taking care Of one Of the
Rectangle's most notorious characters,
who reeled along under the influence OF
liquor. was fact astonishing enough
to throw more or less dignity and i'm
portancs about Lorean herself. The
event of Lorecn stumbling through the
gutter dead drunk always made the
Rectangle laugh and jest. but Loreen
staggering along with young lady
from the society circles up town sup
porting her was another thing. Tho
Rectangle viewed 1t with soberness and
more or less wondering admiration.
When they reached Mr.. Grsy's board
ing place, the woman who answered
Virginis's knock said that both Mr.. and
Mrs. Gray were ont somewhere and
would not be back until 8 O'Clock.
Virginia had not planned anything
further than possible appeal to the
Grays either to take charge Of Loreen
for awhile or find some safe place for
her until she was sober again. She stood
now at the lodging after the woman
had spoken, and she was really at loss
to know what to do. Loreen sank down
stupidity on the steps and buried her
face in her arms Virginia eyed the
miserable figure with feeling that she
was fearful would grow into disgust.
Finally thought possessed Virgins
that she could not resist. What was to
hinder Loreen from going home with
herr Why should not this homeless,
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 charityY 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 q person like
Loreen in her present condition. But
that was not the question with Virginia
just now. "Whst would Jesus do with
Loreen" was what Virginia faced. and
she finally answered 1t by touching
Loreen agaiA
"Loreen. comei You are going home
with me- We will take the car here at
the corner
Loreeu staggered to her feet and. to
virginia's relief. made no trouble She
had expected resistance or q stubborn
refusal 10 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 as 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 Lorsenf
Loreen was nearly sober now. but she
was lapsing into a state Of stupor. Vir-
ginia was obliged TO hold fast to her
arm. Several times she lurched heavily
against Virginia. and a. the two went
mp the avenue curious crowd Of peo-
ple turned and gased at them. When
ohx y,,nvnxaI <ho ,<a,>. - A., l.. l.o,n,