People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-11-16

Al
we felt for ourselves to be Christlike
am having a harder time than you
are, dear, to decide what he would do. ="
care your" 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 doI
1t maddens me to think that the society
In which l have been brought up, the
same to which we are both said to be-
long, is satisfied, year after year, to go
on dressing and eating and having g
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. | 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 a very enviable position. I'm per-
fectly well. l can travel or stay at
home, l can do as l please, can crafty
almost any want or desire, and yet
when / honestly try to imagine Jesus
living the life have lived and am ez-
pected to live and doing for the rest of
my life what thousands of other rich
people do l am under condemnation for
being one Of the most wicked, selfish,
useless creatures in the world. l have
not looked out of this window for weeks
without feeling of horror toward my
self as see the humanity that pours by
this house.
Virginia turned away and walked up
and down 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 songH Was the best she
could do to sell her talent for 50 much
month, go on concert company's
tour, dress beautifully, enjoy the ex-
element Of public applause and gain a
reputation as a great singerf Was that
what Jesus would dof
She was not morbid. She was in
sound health, was conscious of great
powers as singer and knew that If she
went out into public life she could
make a great 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 Virginia's
grandmother, Nine. Page a handsome,
stately woman of IS, and Virginia.
brother, Rollin, a young man who
spent most of his time at one of the
clubs and had no particular ambition
for anything but growing admiration
for Rachel Winslow, and whenever sfo
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
lily. Virgin;l's father had been bank
er and grain Spectator. Her mother
had died ten years before, her father
within the past year. The grandmother,
southern woman in birth and train.
ing, had all the traditions and feelings
that accompany the possession of wealth
and social standing that have never
been disturbed. She was shrewd, care
full business woman of more than aver.
age ability. The family property and
wealth were invested. in large measure,
under her personal care Virginia por-
ton was, without any restriction. her
own She had been trained by her IA
ther to understand the ways of the
business weld. and even the grand
mother had been compelled to acknowl-
edge the girls capacity for taking care
Of her own money.
Perhaps two persons could not be
found anywhere less capable of under
standing a girl like Virginia than Nine.
Page and ROllin- Rachel, who had
known the family since she was girl
playmate of Virginia's, could not help
thinking of what confronted Virginia
in her own home when she once decided
on the course which she honestly be-
lieved Jesus would take. Today at
lunch, as she recalled Virginia's out
break in the front room, she tried to
picture the scene that would at some
time occur between Nine. Page and her
granddaughter
81 understand that you are going on
the stage, Miss Winslow. We shall all
be delighted. I'm sure" said Rollin
during one Of the pauses in the CONVEX.
sation. which had not been animated
Rachel colored and felt annoyed
"Who told your" she asked. while
Virginia. who had been very silent and
reserved. Suddenly reused herself and
appeared ready 30 join In the talk.
"Oh, We beer a thing or two On the
street Besides, e%epg one saw Gran
dali, the manager. OF church two weeks
ago BE doesn't 90 10 church 10 hear
the preaching. In fact I know other
people who don't eithee, not when