The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-15

| not tell announcer person WIdG W OO, Out
I feel that I ought not to accept this
offer. .
..What will you do, them" asked
Virginia. with great interest.
"I don know yet, but have decld-
ed to refuse this offer.
Ra.hel picked up letter that had
been lv:ag in her lap and ran over It's
,:gain 1t was letter from
the manager of a comic opera Offering
her a place with a large travelling COM
pany for the season. The salary was a
very large figure and the prospect held
out by the manager was fiattering. 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 a reply as soon as possible.
There'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 a good voice just to make money.
But, now, take this concert offer. Here
is a reputable company to travel with
an impersonator and 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 ~ is to
be guaranteed-s200 a month for the
season. But I don't feel satisfied that
Jesus would go. What do you think? p
s'You mustn't ask me to decide for
you" replied Virginia, with q sad
smile. 81 believe Mr.. Maxwell was
right when he said we must each one
Of us decide according to the judgment
we felt for ourselves to be Christlike.
I am having a harder time than you
are dear, to decide what he would do ("
care you?" 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.
"Rachel, what does all this contrast
in conditions mean to you as you ask
this question Of what Jesus would do?
It maddens me to think that the society
o1, r 1rrcf ho
same to which we are both said to be-
long, is satisfed, year after year. to go
on dressing and eating and having a
good time, giving and receiving enter
tainments, spending its money on
houses and luxuries and occasionally,
to ease its conscience, donating, with
out any personal sacrifice, a little
money to charity. I have been edu-
Gated, as you have in one of the most
expensive schools Of America, launched
into society as an heiress. supposed to
be in very enviable position. I'm per-
fectly well, can travel or stay at
home, I can do as please, I 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
my life what thousands of other rich
people do I am under condemnation for
being one of the most wicked. selfish,
useless creatures in the world. | have
not looked out of this window for weeks
without feeling of horror toward my
self asI see the humanity that pours by
this house.
Virginia turned away and walked up
andadown the room. Rachel watched
her and could not repress the rising tide
of her own growing definition Of disci-
pleship Of what Christian use was her
own talent of song? Was the best she
could do to sell her talent for SO much
a month. go on a concert company's
tour. dress beautifully. enjoy the ex-
citement of public applause and gain a
reputation as a great singer Was that
what Jesus woald do?
She was not morbid. She was in
sound health. was conscious Of great
powers as a singer and knew that if she
went out into public life she could
make greas deal of money and become
well known. 1t is doubtful if she over
estimated her ability to accomplish all
she thought herself capable of. And
Virginia-what she had just said smote
Rachel with great force because of the
similar position in which the two
friends found themselves.
Lunch was announced. and they
went out and were joined by Virginias
grandmother. Mime. Page, handsome,
stately woman Of 65, and Virginia, s
brother, Rollin. q young man who
spent most Of his time at one of the
clubs and had no particular ambition
for anything but q growing admiration
for Rachel Winslow. and whenever she
dined or lunched at the Page mansion,
if he knew of it. he always planned to
be at home.
These three made up the Page fam
ily. Virginia father had been a bank
CT and grain spcculator. Her mother
had died ten years before, her father