The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-10-19
By CHARLES n. SHELDON.
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sCoNTINUED.J Nt1sSf
Suddenly she saw in the idle curl
osity Of the girls m opportunity. They
had never seen the sin and misery Of
Raymond Why should they not see
them. even if their motives in going
down there were simply to pass away
an afternoons
Every well: I'll go with you. You
must obey my orders and let me take
you where You can see the most. she
said as she entered the carriage and
took the seat beside the girl who had
first suggested the trip to the Rectangle.
Hadn't we better take a policeman
along" said one Of the girls. with a
nervous laugh. ut really isn't safe
down there. you know"
"There's no danger. said Virginia
briefly.
.'Is it true that Rollin has been con-
vertedf" asked the first speaker, look
ing at Virginia curiously. 1t impressed
her during the drive to the Rectangle
that all three Of her friends We're re-
garding her with close attention, as il
she were very peculiar.
"Yes; he certainly is I saw him
myself on the night Of the first interest
shown. week ago Saturday." replied
Virginia, who did not know just how
TO tell that scene.
~ understand he Is going around to
the clubs talking with his old friends
there. trying to preach to them. Doesn't
that seem funnyH" said the girl with
the red silk parasol.
Virginia did not answer. and the
other girls were beginning to feel sober
as the carriage turned into the street
leading to the Rectangle As they
neared the district they grew more and
more nervous. The sights and smells
and sounds which had become familiar
to Virginia struck the senses Of these
refined. delicate society girls as some
thing horrible. As they entered farther
into the district the Rectangle seemed
to stare as with one great bleary. beer
soaked cuuntenance at this fine carriage
with its load Of fashionsbly dressed
young ladies. STUNNING" had never
been fad with Raymond society. and
this was perhaps the first time that the
two had come together In this way.
The girls felt that, instead Of seeing the
Rectangle, they were objects Of curl
osity. They were frightened and dis
gusted.
"Let's 60 back. I've seen enough, ="
said the girl who was sitting with Vir-
ginia.
They were at that moment just op-
posite notorious saloon and gambling
house The street was narrow and the
sidewalk crowded Suddenly out Of the
door Of the saloon . young woman
reeled She was singing in broken,
drunken sob that seemed to indicate
that she partly realized her awful con-
dition, "Just as am. without one
plea" and as the carriage rolled past
she leered at 1t. raising her face 50 that
Virginia saw it very close to her own.
1t was the face Of the girl who had
kneeled sobbing that night, with Vir-
ginia kneeling beside her and praying
for her.
"Stop" cried Virginia, motioning
to the driver. who was looking around.
The carriage stopped, and in moment
she was out and had gone mp to the
girl and taken her by the arm
''Loreenl" she said. and that was all.
n The girl looked into her face. and her
own changed with a look Of utter hor-
ror. The girls in the carriage were
Smitten into helpless asbonishment. Tho
saloon keeper had come to the door Of
the saloon and was standing there look
ing on. with his hands on his hips. and
the Rectangle from its windows, its
saloon steps. its filthy sidewalk. gutter
and roadway paused and with undis-
guised wonder stared at the two girls
Over the scene the warm sun Of spring
poured its mellow light A fsint breath
Of music from tho band stand in the
park Aoated into the Rectangle. The
concert had begun. and the fashion and
wealth Of Raymond were displaying
themselves up town on the boulevardA
CHAPTER VI
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