Middletown transcript., 1899-12-23
very wen as boy and girl, but we al

older now.
Rachel still spoke in the light, ca,
way she had used since her first ammo
ance at seeing him. She was still som
what preoccupied with her plan, whit
mad been disturbed by Rollins appea
ance.
i They walked along in silence lit
way. The avenue was full of peopl
| Among the persons passing was Jaspt
Chase. He saw Rachel and Rollin an
bowed as he went by. Rollin ws
watching Rachel closely.
81 wish I were Jasper Chase. Mayt
I'd stand some show then he sal
moodily.
Rachel colored in spite Of herself
She did not say anything and quickene
her pace little Rollin seemed deter
mined to say something, and Racht
seemed helpless to prevent him Afte
all, she thought, he might as well knoy
the truth one time as another.
"You know well enough, Rachel
how I feel toward you. Isn't there an,
hope2 ] corld make you happy. Pv
loved you good many years
why, how old do you think I am Z
broke in Rachel, with nervous laugh
She was shaken out Of her. usual pois,
of manner.
"You know what I mean, " went OF
Rollin doggedly, land you have M
right to laugh at me just because
/ xuopt va17 ~ m ovrv mo
"I'm not, but it is useless for you tc
speak-Rollin, said Rachel after lit
tie hesitation and then using his name
in such a frank, simple way that he
could attach no meaning to it beyond
the familiarity of the family acquaint-
ance. 1T is impossible = She was still
a little agitated by the fact Of receiving
proposal Of marriage on the avenue,
but the noise on the street and side
walk made the conversation as private
as if they were in the house.
Would you-that is-do you think
If you gave me time would'-
''Nor" said Rachel. She spoke firm
ly. Perhaps, she thought afterward, al
though she did not mean to. she spoke
harshly.
They walked on for some time with
out word. They were nearing Rachel's
home, and she was anxious to end the
scene.
As they turned off the avenue into
one Of the quiet streets Rollin spoke
suddenly and with more manliness than
he had yet shown. There was distinct
note Of dignity in his voice that was
new to Rachel
''Miss Winslow, ask You to be my
wife. Is there any hope for me that you
will ever consentf"
''None in the least. . Rachel spoke
decidedly.
"WiI you tell me why3" He asked
the question as If he had a right to a
truthful answer.
''I do not feel toward you as wom-
an ought to feel toward the man she
ought to marry"
"In other words, You do not love
me2"
81 do not, and I cannot:
"Whyf" That was another question,
and Rachel was little surprised that
he should ask it.
Because = She hesitated for fear
she might say too much in an attempt
to speak the exact truth.
"Tell me just why You can't hurt
me more than you have done already"
'Well, I don't and can't love you
because you have no purpose in life
What do you ever do to make the world
betterf You spend your time in club
life, in amusements, in travel, in lux.
ury. What is there in such life to at
tract woman2''
tNot much, guess, = said Rollin,
with little laugh. "Still, I don't
know that am any worse than the
rest of the men around me. I'm not so
bad as some. Glad to know your rea-
SON.
He suddenly stopped, took off his hat,
bowed gssve1y and turned back Rachel
went on home and hurried into her
room, disturbed in many ways by the
event which had so unexpectedly thrust |
itself into her experience.
When she had time to think it all |
over, she found herself condemned by |
the very judgment she had passed on |
Rollin Page. What purpose had she in |
life2 She had been abroad and studied /
music with one of the famous teachers
Of Europe. She had come home to Ray
mond and had been singing in the First |
church choir now for year. She was
well paid. Up to that Sunday two weeks
ago she had been quite satisfied with
herself and her position. She had shared
her mothers ambition and anticipated
growing triumphs in the musical world.
What possible career was before her ex-
cept the regular career Of every singerf
She asked the question again and, in
the light Of her recent reply to Rollin,
asked again il she had any very great
purpose in life herself2 What would
Jesus do3 There was a fortune in her
voice. She knew it, not necessarily as
a matter Of personal pride or profess
sional egotism, but simply as a fact,
and she was obliged to acknowledge
that until two weeks ago she had pur-
posed to use her voice to make money
and win admiration and applause. Was
that much higher purpose. after all.
5han Rollin Page lived fort
She sat in her room long time and
inally went down stairs resolved to
nave a frank talk with her mother
about the concert company offer and
1er new plan, which was gradually
shaping in her mind. She had already
lad one talk with her mother and knew
hat she expected Rachel to accept the
,ffer and enter on successful career as
public singer.
'sMother, Rachel said, coming at
,nce to the point. as much as she dread
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