Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-11-08
I'M HIS STEPS.
'T1t1at runa1d gesna 2n?"
BY CHARLES N. SHELDON.
Copyrighted and published in book form
by the Advance Publishing Co. of Chicago ]
[CoNT1NUEn]
CHAPTER VIII.
Bv CHARLES N. sHEInn.
What ia that m thon? Eollo

[CONTINUED
CHAPTER VIII
What is that to thee? Follow thou me.
When Rollin started down the street
that afternoon that Jasper stood looking
out of his window, he was not thinking
of Rachel Winslow and did not expect
to see her anywhere. He had come sud-
denly upon her as she turned into the
avenue, and his heart had leaped up al
the sight of her. He walked along by
her now rejoicing, after all, in q little
moment of this earthly love he could
not drive out of his life.
II have just been over to see Vir.
ginia, said Rachel "She tells me the
arrangements are nearly completed fo1
the transfer of the Rectangle property.
Eyes; it has been a tedious case in
the courts. Did Virginia show you all
the plans and specifications for build
ings?'
1--WE looked over a good many It is
astonishing to me where Virginia has
managed to get all her ideas about this
work.
Virginia knows more now about
Arnold Toynbee and east end London
and Institutional church work in Amer
lea than good many professional slum
workers. She has been spending nearly
all summer in getting information
Rollin was beginning to feel more at
ease as they tailed over this coming
work for human: y. It was safe com.
mon ground.
"What have you been doing all sum.
mer? | have not seen much of you,'
Rachel suddenly asked, and then hel
face warmed with it's quick flush Of
tropical color, as if she might have i'm.
piled too much interest in Rollin or toe
much regret at not seeing him oftener
II have been busy" replied Rollin
briefly
Tell me something about it, " per.
sisted Rachel "You say so little Have
| right to ask2'
She put the question very frankly.
turning toward Rollin in real interest.
eyes, certainly" he replied, with a
grateful smile. II am not so certain
that can tell you much. l have been
trying to find some way. to reach the
men l once knew and win them into
more useful lives
He stopped suddenly. as il he were
almost afraid to go on. Rachel did not
venture to suggest anything
II have been a member of the same
company to which you and Virginia be-
long, - continued Rollin, beginning
again. II have made the pledge to do
as believe Jesus would do, and it is
in trying to answer this question that
| have been doing my work. y
'"That is what do not understand
Virginia told me about the other It
seems wonderful to think that you are
trying to keep that pledge with us But
what can you do with the clubmen?"
"You have asked me a direct ques-
ton, and l shall have to answer it
now replied Rollin, smiling again
"You see, l asked myself after that
night at the tent, you remember he
spoke hurriedly, and his voice trembled
a little-'what purpose l could now
have in my life to redeem it, to satisfy
my thought of Christian discipleship
and the more l thought Of it the more I
was driven to a place where knew l
must take up this cross Did You ever
think that Of all the neglected beings
in our social system none are quite so
completely left alone as the fast young
men who fill the clubs and waste their
time and money as l used to? The
churches look after the poor, miserable
creatures like those in the Rectangle,
they make some effort to reach the
workingmen, they have a large con-
stituency among the average salary
earning people, they send money and
missionaries to the foreign heather. but
the fashionable, dissipated young men
around town, the clubmen, are left out
of all plans for reaching and Christian
izing, and yet no class Of people needs
it more. said to myself: 4 know these
men, their good and bad qualities. ]
have been one Of them. am not fitted
to reach the Rectangle people. do not
know how But think could possibly
reach some Of these young men and
boys who have money and time tc
spend So that is what l have been
trying to do. When l asked, as you
did. What would Jesus do?' that was
my answer It has been also my
cross.
Rollins voice was so low on the last
sentence that Rachel had difficulty in
hearing him above the noise around
them, but she knew what he had said.
She wanted to ask what his method.
were, but she did not know just how tt
ask him Her interest in his plans was
larger than mere curiosity. Rollin Page
was SO different now from the fashion
able young man who had asked her tt
be his wife that che could not hel1
thinking of him and talking with hin
as if he were entirely new acquaint
ance.
They had turned off the avenue ani
were going up the street to Rachel
home It was the same street wher,
Rollin had asked Rachel why she coult
not love him They were both stricken
by a sudden shyness as they went on
Rachel had not forgotten that day. ant
Rollin could not forget it. She finally
broke long silence by asking him wha
she had not found words for before.
"In your work for the clubmen, will
your old acquaintance, what sort O.
reception do they give you? How d,
you approach them? What do the,
say?'
Rollin was silent when Rachel spoke