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

habit Of acting together. as the whisky
powers always did? 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 out of her house to go
and see Rachel to talk over her new
plans. carriage drove up containing
three Of her fashionable friends Vlr-
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
s.Where have you been all this time
Virginia % asked one Of the girls, tap
ping her playfully on the shoulder with
q red silk paraso. 1--WE hear that you
have gone into the show business. Tell
US about it. .
Virginia colored, but after a mo-
ment's hesitation she frank2stoid some
thing of her experience at the Rectan-
gle. The girls in the carriage began to
be really interested.
SsTell you what, girls, let's go slum-
ming with Virginia this afternoon IN
stead of going to the band concert! 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 a guide,
and it would be real fun. she 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 earnestness 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 if their motives in going
down there were simply to pass away
al afternoon?
every well: I'll go with you. You
must obey my orders and let me take
Won where you can see the most, " she
said as she entered the carriage and
took the seat beside the girl who had
first suggested the trip to the Rectangle.
Hadn't we better take a policeman
along" said one of the girls, with a
nervous laugh. ''ItN really isn't safe
down there, you know
There's no danger" said Virginia
briefly.
els it true that Rollin has been con-
verted?' asked the first speaker, look
inc at Virginia curiously. It impressed
her during the drive to the Rectargle
that al three Of her friends We're re-
garding her with close attention. as if
she We're very peculiar.
Eyes; he certainly is. I saw MIN
myself On the night of the first interest
shown, week ago Saturday. replied
Virginia, who did not know Just how
to tell that scene.
Il understand he is 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 cid 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 farther
into the district the Rectangle seemed
70 stare as with one great hleary. beer
soaked countenance at this fine carriage
with is load of fashionably dressed
young ladies. Stunning had never
been y 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 so 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 w2s marrow and the
sidewalk crowded Suddenly cut of the
door of the saloon a young woman
reeled. She WIS singing IL a broken.
drunken sob that seemed to indicate
that she partly realized her awful con
dition Just as a1E. without one
plea. +" and as the carriage rolled past
she leeled at II, raising her face 50 that
Virginia saw it Very close TO i I own.
1t was the face o. the GIRL Who had
knnc!ed soos,ine ;ha1 NIGHT. with Nlr-
gilia i,,!oc!lnssss oesis,a ler and praying
ffor. l:e:.
stop, c.io6 5-iiz..i,1ia 1notio,la4
to tilc driver. VINO NSs laa3.;lis around.