The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-11-17

porting her was unpther thing rbe
Rectangle viewed it With soberpess hrd
more or less wondering fdnira tion,s n
When they reaehed.hf. GfaYss boSrtf
ing place, the woman who answered
Virginia's knock said that both Mr. ana
Mrs. Gray were out somewhere and
would not be back until 8 o'clocl. II
Virginia had not planned anything.
further than n possible appeal to the
Grays either to take chargeiof Loreen
for awhile or find some safe place for
her until she was sober again. She stood
now ut the lodging after the woman
had spoken. and she was really at a 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 Virginia
that che 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
vi houSC VI CnuIlty
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 n person like
Loreen in her present condition. But
that was not the question with Virginia
just now. What would Jesus do with
Lorecn2" was what Virginia faced, and
she finally answered it by touching
Loreen again.
"Loreen, comet You are going home
with me. We will take tho car here at
the corner.
Loreen staggered to her feet and, to
Virginia's relief, made no trouble Sho
had expected resistance or stubborn
refusal to movc. Wien they reached
the corner and took tho car, it was
nearly full Of people going up town
Virginia was painfully conscious of tho
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 Loreen
Loreen was nearly sober now, but she
was lapsing into state of stupor. Nir-
ginia was obliged to hold fast to her
arm. Several times she lurched heavily
against Virginia. and rs the two went
up the avenue 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 tho
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
magnificence of the furnishings around
her.
Grandmother = Virginia spoke
without hesitation and, very clearly,
81 have brought ono of my friends
from tho Rectangle. She is in trouble
and has no home I am going to care
for her little while"
Nine. Pago glanced from her grand
daughter 10 Lorccn in astonishmcnt.
"Did you say sic was one of your
friends" she asked in cold, sneerirg
voice that hurt Virginia more than any
thing she had yet felt.
Eyes; 1 said So" Virginia s face
flushed, but sho seemed to recall tho
verso that Mr. Gray had used for one
Of his recent sermons "a friend OF pub
licans and sinners" Surely Jesus would
do this that she was doing.
"Do you know what this girl is"
oc1ya1 MYrn IN, ~ xuhiSrp-
stepping near Virginia.
~ know very we'll. She is an out
cast. You need not tell me, grand
mother. / know it even better than YOU
do. She is drunk mt this minute. But
she is also child of God have seen
her on her knees repentant, and. have
seen hell reach out its horrible fingers
after her again, and, by the grace Of
Christ, feel that the least can do is
to rescue her from such peril Grand
mother. wo call ourselves Christians.
Hero is poor. lost human creature
without home, slipping into possible
eternal loss, and we have more than
enough. have brought her here and
shall keep her.
Nine. Page glared at Virginia and
clinched her hands All this was con-
trary to her social code of conduct.
How could society excuse such famil-
iarity with the scum Of the streets?
What would Virginias $ 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 position must sustain to tho
leaders of society? To Nine. Page So
cicty represented more than the church
or any other institution. 1t was pow
or to be feared and obeyed. The loss Of
its good will was u loss more to be