The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-10-06
as if they were in the house.

if you gave me time l would'-
"Nol" 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 a word. They We're 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 a distinct
note of dignity in his voice that was
new to Rachel.
"AIiss Winslow, l ask you to be my
wife. Is there any hope for me that you
will ever c%onsent9"
''None in the least" Rachel spoke
decidedly.
"Will you tell me why9" He asked
the question as if he had a right to a
truthful answer.
81 do not feel toward you as a wom-
an ought to feel toward the man she
ought to marry"
Sin other words. you do not love
me?"
81 do not. and cannot"
WHY" That was another question,
and Rachel was a 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 han you have done already"
"Well, l don't and can't love you
because you have no purpose in life.
What do you ever do to make the world
better? 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?"
"Not much, l guess" said Rollin.
with a little laugh. "Still, l don't
know that l 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
SNSA1U hiiiSli lielNA SO ollC PCSUCSl1J jill 81
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 singer2
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 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 age she had pur-
posed to use her voice to make money
and win admiration and applause. Was
that a much higher purpose. after all,
than Rollin Page lived for2 =
She sat i'll her room a long time and
finally went down stairs resolved to
have a frank talk with her mother
about the concert company's offer and
her new plan. which was gradually
L 80, l., l,, .s-l Cl- IA 1--l-
had one talk with her mother and knew
that she expected Rachel to accept the
offer and enter on a successful career as
a 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. | have a
good reason for it.
Mrs. Winslow was a large. handsome
m fond of much company. ambi-
tious for a 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 a military academy in
the summer. Meanwhile she and Rachel
were at home together. Rachel's father.
like Virginia's, had died while the fam
lily We're 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
go on.
"You know the promise l made two
weeks ago, motherY"
"Mr. MaxwelIs promise2"
"No, mine. You know what it was,
mother 2"
81 suppose l Go. OF course all the
church members mean to initiate Christ
and follow him as far as is consistent
with u present day surroundings. But
what has that to do with your decision
in the concert company's matter?"
cit has everything to do with it
Affar ocEinp SWbo+ would Too,, 100