Middletown transcript., 1899-12-23
CHAPTER III.

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CHAPTER III.
II any man cometh unto me and hateth not his
| own father and mother and wife and children and
brethren and sisters-yea, and his own life also
| he cannot be my disciple. - And whosoever
forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my
disciple.
When Rachel Winslow and Virginia
Page separated after the meeting at the
First church on Sunday, they agreed to
continue their conversation the next
day Virginia asked Rachel to come
and lunch with her at noon, and Rachel
accordingly rang the bell at the Page
mansion about half past II. Virginia
herself met her, and the two were soon
talking earnestly.
''The fact is" Rachel was saying
after they had been talking few min
utes. ST cannot reconcile it with my
Judgment of what he would do. I can
not tell another person what to do, but
| feel that ought not to accept this
offer"
"What will you do, them" asked
Virginia, with great interest.
II don't know yet, but have decid-
ed to refuse this offer. y
Rachel picked up letter that had
been lying in her lap and ran over its
contents again. It was a letter from
the manager of a comic opera Offering
her place with large travelling COM
pany for the season. The salary was
very large figure, and the prospect held
out by the manager was fattering. He
had heard Rachel sing that Sunday
morning when the stranger had inter-
rupted the service. He had been much
impressed. There was money in that
voice, and it ought to be used in comic
opera, SO said the letter, and the man.
ager wanted reply as soon as possible
'HThere's no virtue in saying No to
this offer when I have the other one, !"
Rachel went on thoughtfully. '"That's
harder to decide, but I've made up my
mind To tell the truth, Virginia, I'm
completely convinced in the first case
that Jesus would never use any talent
like good voice just to make money.
But, now, take this concert offer. Here
is a reputable company to travel with
an impersonator and a violinist and a
male quartet, all people of good repu-
tation. I'm asked to go as one of the
company and sing leading soprano The
salary q mentioned it, didn't I y is to
be guaranteed $500 a month for the
season. But I don't feel satisfied that
Jesus would go. What do you think2"
stYou mustn't ask me to decide for
you," replied Virginia, with a sad
smile. ST believe Mr.. Maxwell was
right when he said we must each one
efe decide according 10 Il the judgment
we felt for ourselves to be Christlike
/ am having a harder time than you
are, dear, to decide what he would do.
"Are your Rachel asked. She rose
and walked over to the window and
looked out. Virginia came and stood |
by her. The street was crowded with |
life, and the two young women looked
at it silently for moment. Suddenly |
Virginia broke out as Rachel had never
heard her before
'tRachel, what does all this contrast |
in conditions mean to you as you ask
this question of what Jesus would dol |
It maddens me to think that the society |
in which have been brought up, the |
same to which we are both said to be-
long, is satisfied, year after year, to go
on dressing and eating and having a
good time. giving and receiving enter
spending its money on
houses and luxuries and occasionally, |
to ease its conscience, donating, with
out any personal sacrifice. q little
money to charity. l have been edu-
Gated, as you have, in one of the most
schools of America, launched
into society as an heiress, supposed to
be in very enviable position. I'm per-
tectly well, ! can travel or stay at
nome, can do as please, ! can crafty
almost any want or desire, and yet
when I honestly try to imagine Jesus
living the life I have lived and am ex-
pected to live and doing for the rest of
ny life what thousands of other rich
people do am under condemnation for
,eing one of the most wicked, selfish,
Useless creatures in the world. have
lot looked out of this window for weeks
without feeling Of horror toward my
elf as see the humanity that pours by
his house.
Virginia turned away and walked up
md down the room. Rachel watched
Ter and could not repress the rising tide
f her own growing definition Of -disd-
,leship OF what Christian use was her
'wn talent of song? Was the best she
.ould do to sell her talent for SO much
! month, go on concert company's
our, dress beautifully, enjoy the ex-
itement Of public applause and gain q
equation as great singerf Was that
What Jesus would dof III
She was not morbid. She was in
ound health, was conscious of great
owers as a singer and knew that if she
vent out into public life she could
nake great deal of money and become
veil known. It is doubtful.if she over
stimated her ability to accomplish all
be thought herself capable of. And
Eirginiar-what che had just said smote
sachel with great force because Of the
imilar position in which the two q
riends found themselves
Lunch was announced, and they 9
rent out and were Joined by Virginia's I
randmother, Nine. Page. handsome, g
lately woman of 65, and Virginia's t
rother, Rollin, q young man who
pent most of his time at one Of the j
lubs and had no particular ambition G
Constipation, /
Headache, BilIousness, :