St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-12-13


low the conventional thought of years
as to the meaning and purpose of church
membership it was such a sermon as
man can preach once in lifetime and
with enough in it for people to live on
all through 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 peo-
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 same
manner on other occasions and knew
that Felicia 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 a flush of anger on her cheeks,
"this is folly. What can you do2 You
will bring disgrace upon the family.
What will father say2 Come.
Felicia looked at her, but did not an
swer at once. Her lips were moving
with a petition that came from depth
of feeling that measured new life for
her. She shook her head.
"No; am going to stay. l 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 acquaintance. Mrs.
Delano was going out of the church
just as Rose stepped into the vestibule.
$50 you are not going to join the
doctors volunteer companyE' Mrs. De-
lano asked in queer tone that made
Rose redden
ono Are you? 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
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 t so. There
are scores of people in the church who
are so situated that they can t take such
a pledge and keep it. l am one Of
them. added Mrs. Delano as she went
out with Rose.
When Rose reached home, her father
was standing in his usual attitude be-
fore the open fireplace smoking cigar
"Where is Felicia2 ?" he asked as Rose
came in alone
"She staid to an after meeting" re-
piled Rose shortly. She threw off her
wraps and was going up stairs when
Mr. Sterling called after her:
IAN after meeting3 What do you
mean2"
CDR Bruce asked the church to take
the Raymond pledge"
Mr. Sterling took his cigar out of his
mouth and twirled it nervously be-
tween his fingers
81 didn't expect that of DR.. Bruce
Did any of the members stayf"
81 don't know didn't" replied
Rose, and she went up stairs, leaving
her father standing in tho drawing
room
After few minutes he went to tn,
window and stood there looking out 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 up anC
down the room. A servant stepped
across the hall and announced dinner
and he told her to wait for Felicia
Rose came down stairs and went int
the library, and still Mr.. Sterling pace
the drawing room restlessly.
He had finally wearied of the walking
apparently and, throwing himself int
o chair, was breeding over something
deeply when Felicia came in.
} He rose and faced her Felicia wa
evidently very much moved by tn
meeting from which she had just come
At the same time she did not wish t
talk too much about it, Just as she er
tered the '@lwing room Rose came i
3 from the library.
"How many staid?" she asked. RIOS
was curious, AT the same she was skeI
1 teal of the whole movement in Ray
l 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 tb
pledgeP" he asked.
Felicia colored Over her face an
neck the warm blood flowed as she al
swered, lyon would not ask such
question, father, if you had been pre-
ent at the meeting" She fingered
Q moment in the room, then asked to |
excused from dinner for awhile an
u went up to see her mother.
!, No one ever knew what that int
u view between Felicia and her moth,
d was. 1t is certain that she must ha,
told her mother something of the spi
u itual power that had awed every perso