Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-19
man can preach once in a lifetime and
with enough in it for people to live on
all through a lifetime.

man can preach once In q lifetime and
with enough in it for people to live on
all through a lifetime.
The service closed in hush that was
slowly broken. People rose here and
there few at time. There was re-
luctance in the movements Of the PEG.
pie that was very striking.
Rose, however. walked straight out
the pew. and as she reached the aisle
she turned her head and beckoned to
Felicia. By that time the congregation
was rising all over the church.
Felicia instantly answered her SIS
ter's look.
"I'm going to stay" she said, and
Rose had heard her speak in the game
manner on other occasions and knew
that Felicia's resolve could not be
changed. Nevertheless she went back
into the pew two or three steps and
faced her.
Felicia, she whispered, and there
was flush of anger on her cheeks,
"this is folly. What can you dot You
will bring disgrace upon the family.
What will father say7 Come. .
Felicia looked at her. but did not an
swer at once Her lips were moving
with petition that came from depth
Of feeling that measured q new life for
her. She shook her head.
"No: ! am going to stay. | shall
take the pledge. am ready to obey it
You do not know why am doing
| this. :"
Rose gave her one look and then
turned and went out Of the pew and
down the aisle. She did not even stop
to talk with her acquaintances Mrs
Delano was going out Of the church
just as Rose stepped into the vestibula
$50 you are not going to join the
doctors volunteer company Mrs. De-
lano asked in queer tone that made
Rose redden
NO Are your 1t is simply asburd
have always regarded the Raymond;
movement as fanatical You know
Cousin Rachel keeps us posted about it.
Eyes; | understand it is resulting in
q great deal of hardship in many cases
For my part. believe DR.. Bruce has
simply provoked disturbance here. 1t
will result in splitting Nazareth Avenue
church. You see if that ISM So There
are scores of people in the church who
are so situated that they can t take such
q pledge and keep it. am one Of
them. added Mrs Delano as she went
out with Rose.
1 When Rose reached home. her father
was standing in his usual attitude be-
fore the open fireplace, smoking cigar.
Where is Felicia ?" he asked as Rose
came in alone:
"She staid to IN after meeting, 3 re-
piled Rose shortly She threwsoff her
wraps and was going up stairs when
Mr.. Sterling called after her
IAN after meeting? What do you
meant
cdr Bruce asked the church to take
the Raymond pledge.
4 Mr.. Sterling took his cigar ont Of his
mouth and twirled it nervoasly be-
A tween his fingers
!. "a didn't expect that of DR. Bruce
4 Did any of the members stayg''
4 II don't know ! didn't. replied
Rose and she Went up stairs. leaving
1er father standing in the drawing
:oonl.
| After a few minutes he went to the
window and stood there looking out at
A the people driving on the boulevard.
His cigar had gone out, but he still fin
| gered it nervously Then he turned
from the window and walked mp an6
down the room. A servant stepped
across the hall and announced dinner.
and he told her to wait FOR Felicia
Rose came down stairs ard went into
the library, and still Mr.. Sterling paced
the drawing room restlessly.
4 He had finally weafied of the walking
apparently and. throwing himself III;
a chair. was breeding over something
deeply when Felicia c:.me in.
He rose and faced her. Felicia wa
evidently very much moved b. TIT
meeting from which she had Just corae
At the same time she did not wish II
talk too much about it. Just as she, en-
tered the drawing room Rose came il
from the library.
Flow many staid?" she asked. Ros
was curious. Attic Same she was skep
tical Of the whole movement in Ray
mond
About hundred, !" replied Felici
gravely. Mr.. Sterling looked surprised
Felicia was going out of the room. H
called to her.
do You really mean to keep tn
? pledgef" he asked.
; Felicia colored Over her face an
, neck the warm blood flowed as she an
! swered. ..'You would not ask such
question, father, if you had been pres
! snt at the meeting. She fingered
, moment in the room, then asked to |,
, excused from dinner for awhile an
, went up to see her mother.
; No one ever knew what that inter
view between Felicia and her mothe
was It is certain that she must hav
told her mother something Of the spii
. itual power that had awed every perso
, present in the company of disciples fror
!. Nazareth Avenue church who faced Dl
Bruce in that meeting after the morn
ing service It is also certain that BE
: licia had never known such an expert
anra and pavar vyouJ6 have fhoY rht n