St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-11-29


was silent The carriage rolled on pa
two blocks of magnificent private res
dences and turned into wide driv
way under covered passage. and I'll
sisters hurried into the house. 1t W,
an elegant mansion Of graystone, ful
nished like a palace, every corner of
warm with the luxury of paintings
sculpture, art and refinement.
The owner Of it all. Mr.. Charles r
Sterling, stood before an open CRATE fir
smoking cigar. He had made hi
money in grain speculation and rail
road ventures and was reputed to b
worth something over two millions
His wife was a sister of Mrs. Winslov
OF Raymond She had been an invalit
for several years The two girls, Ros
and Felicia, were the only children
Rose was 81 years old, fair, vivacious
educated in fashionable college, JUS
entering society and already somewhat
cynical and Indifferent, very hare
young lady to please, her father sale
sometimes playfully, sometimes sternly.
Felicia was 10, with tropical beauty
somewhat like her cousin, Rachel Wins.
low, with warm, generous impulses
just waking into Christian feeling, ca
pable of all sorts Of expression, puzzle
to her father, source of irritation TO
her mother and with great, unsur-
veyed territory of thought and action
in herself of which she was more than
dimly conscious There was that in
Felicia that would easily endure any
condition in life if only the liberty to
act fully on her conscientious convic-
lions were granted her
Here's letter for you, Fell cia, "
said Mr.. Sterling, taking it out of his
pocket.
Felicia sat down and instantly opened
the letter, saying as she did SO, eth
from Rachel
well, what's the latest news from
Raymond ?" asked Mr.. Sterling, taking
his cigar out Of his mouth and looking
at Felicia, as he often did, with half
shut eyes, as if he were studying her
"Rachel says DR. Bruce has been
studying in Raymond for two SUNDAYS
and has seemed very much interested
in Mr. Maxwells pledge in the First
church "
"What does Rachel say about her
selfT asked Rose, who was living on a
couch almost buried under half dozen
elegant cushions
"She is still singing at the Rectangle.
Since the tent meetings closed she sings
In an old hall until the new buildings
her friend Virginia Page is putting uu
are completed
II must write Rachel to come to Chi
cago and visit us She ought not to
throw away her voice in that railroad
town upon all those people who don't /
appreciate her "
Mr.. Sterling lighted new cigar, and
Rose exclaimed
"Rachel is awfully queer, | think.
She might set Chicago wild with her
voice II she sang in the Auditorium.
and there she goes on, throwing her
voice away on people who don't know
what they are hearing
"Rachel won't come here unless she
AN do it and keep her pledge at the
ame time, y said Felicia after a pause.
"What pledge9" Mr. Sterling asked
he question and then added hastily:
'Oh, know Yes; very peculiar
hing that Powers used to be a friend
If mine. We learned telegraphy in the
anne office; made great sensation
when he resigned and handed over that
to the interstate commerce
and he's back at his ia.
egraphy again There have been queer
longs in Raymond during the past
ear | wonder what DR. Bruce thinks
II IT. ON the whole. must have talk
With him about it. "
He breaches tomorrow, said Fell.
ia. Perhaps he will tell us something
bout it -
There was silence for minute. Then
felicia said abruptly, as if she had
one on with spoken thought to some
INVISIBLE hearer "And what if he
hould propose the same pledge to the
Nazareth Avenue church o.
"WhoY What are you talking about9''
sked her father, little sharply
About DR. Bruce say what if he
Mould propose to our church what Mr.
laxwell proposed to his and ask for
olunteers who would pledge themselves
do everything after asking the ques-
ion, What would Jesus dor
"Theres no danger of it, said Rose
lsing suddenly from the couch as the
ga bell rang
Its very impracticable movement
my mind, said Mr.. Sterling sharply.
Il understand from Rachels letter
hat the church in Raymond is going
make an attempt to extend the idea
the pledge to the other churches. If ,
1ey succeed, they will certainly make
reat changes in the churches and in
eople's lives, said Felicia
"Oh, well, let's have some tea first. !"
lid Rose, walking into the dining c
pom. Her father and Felicia followed.
nd the meal proceeded in silence. Mrs J
terling had her meals served in her 6
'om Mr. Sterling was preoccupied. t
o ate very little and excused himself
arly, and, although it was Saturday ,
light, he remarked as he went out that
would be down town late on some :
'ecial business. [