The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-22

"NO!" 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
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, I ask you to be nv
wife. Is there any hope for me that YOU
will ever consent?'
"None in the least" Rachel spoke
decidedly
"Will yor. tell me why?" He asked
the question ..S if he had right to a
truthful answer.
II do not feel toward you as a wom-
an ought to feel toward the man she
ought to marry"
"In other words. you do not love
me?"
II do not, and I cannot"
"Why?" 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
mo more than you have done already. 1"
"Well, don't and can't love Won
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 a life to at
tract a woman?"
mot much, I guess said Rollin,
with little laugh. "Still, don't
know that I 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 gravely 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
life? 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 a 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 singerr
She asked the question again and, in
the light OF her recent reply to ROllin.
asked again if she had any very great
purpose in life herself2 What would
Jesus do? There was fortune in her
voice. She knew it, not necessarily as
a matter Of personal pride or profes-
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.
than Rollin Page lived for?
She sat in her room u lOry time and
finally went down stairs .olved to
have frank talk with her mother
about the concert company's offer and
her new plan. which was gradually
shaping in her mind. She had already
had one talk with her mother and knew
that she expected Rachel to accept the
offer and enter on successful career as
public singer.
Mother, Rachel said. coming at
once to the point, as much as she dread.
ed the interview, II have decided not
to go out with the company. l have a
good reason for it. "
Mrs. WinslOw was large, handsome
woman, fond of much company. ambi-
tious for distinct place in society and
devoted, according to her definitions of
success, to the success of her children.
Her youngest boy. Lewis. ten years
younger than Rachel, was ready to
graduate from military academy in
the summer. Meanwhile she and Rachel
were ut home together. Rachel's father,
like Virginia s, had died while the fam
lily were abroad. Like Virginia, she
found herself, under her present rule of
conduct, in complete antagonism with
her own immediate home circle.
Mrs. Winslow waited for Rachel to
60 on.
"You know the promise I made two
weeks ago. mother?''
"Mr. Maxwel's promise p
"No. mine. You know what it was.
mother?'
81 suppose 1 do. Of course all the
church members mean to initiate Christ
and follow him as far as is consistent
with our present day surroundings But
vxvbn l,ne <l,.,A D. 4 A.