Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-28

plcship with humble heart, knowing
for almost the first time in his life this
special kind Of sacrifice, for never be-
fore had he denied himself his regular
summer trip away from the heat Of
Raymond. whether he felt in any great
need Of rest or not
at is fact, he said in reply to Sow
eral inquiries on the part of his church,
II do not feel in need Of vacation this
year. | am very well and prefer to stay
here" 1t was with feeling Of relief
that he succeeded in concealing from
every one but his wife what he had
done with this other family He felt
the need of doing anything Of that sort
without display or approval from Others.
| SO the summer came on, and Henry
Maxwell grew into larger knowledge Of
his Lord The First church was still
swaye1 by the power of the Spirit
Maxwell marveied Mt the continuance
Of his stay. He knew very well that
from the beginning nothing but the
Spirits presence had kept the church
from being torn asunder by this re-
markablc testing it had received of its
discipleship. Even now there were
many of the members among those who
had not taken the pledge who regarded
the whole movement az Mrs Winslow
did, in the nature of fanatical inter
probation of Christian duty, and looked
for return of the old normal condi-
ton. Meanwhile the whole body of dis
ciplcs was under the influence of the
Spirit, and Henry Maxwell went his
way that summer doing his parish work
in great joy, keeping up his meetings
with the railroad men, as he had prom
iscd Alexander Powers, and daily grow
ing into a better knowledge Of the
Master
Early one evening in August, after
day of refreshing GOODNESS, following a
long period Of heat, Jasper Chase walk
ed to tho window Of his room in the
apartment house on the avenue and
looked out
On his desk lay pile of manuscript
Since that evening when he had spoken
to Rachel Winslow he had not met her
His singularly sensitive nature sensi-
tive to the point of irritabihty when he
was thwarted, seemed to thrust him
into an isolation that was intensified
by his habits as an author
All through the heat of the summer
he had been writing. His book was
nearly done now He had thrown him
self into its construction with feverish
strength that threatened at any moment
to desert him and leave him helpless.
He had not forgotten his pledge with
the other church members at the First
church. 1t bad forced itself upon his
notice all through his writing and ever
since Rachel had said no to him. He
had asked a thousand times, would
Jesus do this2" "Would he write this
story?" 1t was a society novel, written
In style that had proved popular 1t
had no purpose except to amuse. Its
moral teaching was not bad, but nei-
Their was it Christian in any positive
way. Jasper Chase knew that such a
story would sell He was conscious of
powers in his way that the social world
petted and admired What would Jesus
do? The question obtruded ON him at
the most inopportune times. He be-
came irascible over it. The standard of
Jesus as an author was too ideal. Of
course Jesus would use his powers to
produce something useful or helpful or
with q purpose. What was he, Jasper
Chase, writing this novel for? Why,
what nearly every writer wrote for
namely, money and fame as q writer.
There was no secret with him that he
was writing this new story with that
object He was not poor and 80 had no
temptation to write for money, but he
was urged on by his desire for fame as
much rs Anything. He must write this
kind of matter But what would Jesus
do? The question plagued him even
more than Rachel's refusal. Was he
going to break his promise?
AS he stood at the window Rollin
Page came out of the clubhouse just OPP
posite. Jasper noted his handsome face
and noble figure as he started down the
street. He went back to his desk and
turned over some papers there Then
he returned to the window. Rollin was
walking down past the block, and RAJ
chel Winslow was walking beside him.
Rollin must have overt-Ken her as she
Was COuiliito ilOul 4lIid Nllot
noon
Jasper watched the two figures until
they disappeared III the crowd on the
walk. Then he turned to his desk and
began to write. When he had finished
the last page of the last chapter of his
book, it was nearly dark What would
Jesus do? He had finally answered the
question by denying his Lord. 1t grew
darker in Jasper room. He had delb-
erately chosen his course, urged on by
his disappointment and loss.
"But Jesus said unto him, No man,
having put his hand to the plow and
looking back, is fit for tho kingdom of
heaven.
CHAPTER VIII
What is that to thee? Follow thou mo.
When Rolliu started down the ctrpat