Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-01


thought herself into condition that
left her alone in the midst of crowd.
We'll what did you think Of itf'
asked Rose when the sisters had reached
home and were in the drawing room.
Rose really had considerable respect for
Felicia judgment of play
ii thought it was pretty picture Of
real life .
al mean the acting. said Rose, an
noyed
THE bridge scene was well acted.
especially the woman's part | thought
the man overdid the sentiment little.
did yous enjoyed that And
WASH I the scene between the two cous.
ins funny when they first learned that
they were relatedY But the slum scene
was horrible | think they ought not to
show such things in play They are
too painful
too. replied Felicia.
YES but we don't have to look at
the real thing It's bad enough at the
theater. where we pay for it. "
Rose went into the drawing room
and began to eat from a plate Of fruit
and cakes on the sideboard
care you going up to see motherf''
asked Felicia after awhile. She had re-
mained in front Of the drawing room
fire.
"No," replied Rose from the other
room; 81 won't trouble her tonight. If
you 90 in, tell her am too tired to be
agreeable.
So Felicia turned into her mothers
room. AS she went up the great stair
case and down the upper hall the light
was burning there, and the servant who
always waited on Mrs. Sterling was
beckoning Felicia to come in
"Tell Clara to 60 out. exclaimed
Mrs Sterling as Felicia came up to the
bed and kneeled by it.
Felicia was surprised, but she did as
her mother bade her and then inquired
how she was feeling
"Felicia. said her mother. "can
you pray2'
The question was 80 unlike any her
mother had ever asked before that Fe-
licia was startled. but she answered:
"Why, yes. mother. What makes
YOU ask such a question p
Felicia. am frightened Your fa-
ther-I have had such strange fears
about him all day. Something is wrong
with him want you to pray"
"Now3 Here, mother2"
Eyes Pray, Felicia.
| Felicia reached out her hand and took
her mothers. 1t was trembling. Mrs
Sterling had never shown much tender
ness for her younger daughter, and her
strange demand now was the first real
sign of any confidence in Felicia's
character.
The girl still kneeled. holding her
mothers trembling hard. and prayed
It was doubtful if she had ever prayed
aloud before. She must have said in
her prayer the words that her mother
needed, for when it was silent in the
room the invalid was weeping softly
and her nervous tension was over.
Felicia staid some time. When she
was assured that her mother would not
need her any longer, she rose to go.
"Good night mother. You must let
Clara call me if you feel bad in the
night.
81 feel better now." Then as Felicia
was moving away Mrs. Sterling said.
Wont you kiss me, Felicia9:'
Felicia went back and bent over her
mother The kiss was almost as strange
to her as the prayer had been. When
Felicia went out of the room. her cheeks
were wet with tears. She had not cried
since she was little girl
Sunday morning at the Sterling man
sion was generally very quiet. The girls
usually went to church at II o'clock
service. Mr.. Sterling was not a mem
Der. but a heavy contributor, and he
generally went to church in the morn
ing. This time he did not come down
to breakfast and finally sent word by
servant that he did not feel well enough
to 20 out So Rose and Felicia drove
ND to the door of the Nazareth Avenue
church and entered the family pew
alone
When Dr. Bruce walked out Of the
room at the rear of the platform and
went up to the pulpit to open the Bible.
rs his custom was. those who knew
him best did not detect anything un-
usual in his manner or his expression
He proceeded with the service as usual
He was calm. and his voice was steady
and firm His prayer was the first init
nation the people had of anything new
or strange in the service. 1t is safe to
say that the Nazareth Avenue church
had not heard Dr. Bruce offer such
prayer during the II years he had been
pastor there How would Il minister be
likely to pray who had cclne out of
revolution in Christian feeling that had
completely changed his definition Of
what was meant by following JesusS
No one in Nazareth Avenue church had
any idea that the Rev. Calvin Bruce,
D. D.. the dignifed. cultured. refined
doctor of divinity. had within few
days been crying like little child, on
his knees asking for strength and cour-
age and Christlikeness to speak his Sun
day message. and yet the prayer was an
unconscious. involuntary disclosure Of
the souls experience such as Nazareth
Avenue people seldom heard and never
before from that pulpit
In the hush that succeeded the prayer
distinct wave of spiritual power
moved over the CONGREGATION The most