The Newtown bee., 1899-11-10

welcome for me. Gentlemen, love my
dog
But surely you do not believe in any
future state for him? He has no SOUL
mot as we have, [ grant you; yet so
good man as John Wesley believed in-
plicitly in the future state of animals
they, too he said, ARE immortal And
why notF Ii am made happier here by
the wealth Of love in this little breast,
shall [ be happier there missing it?
Isn't Heaven large enough to hold all
this fidelity and nobleness of heart?
Shall we place bounds to Gods good
ness Pie paused abruptly; by light.
nlng's flash of intuition the reason of
their coming was made clear to him. A
wave of color surged into his face.
81 said something like this to little
Tony Dana yesterday" he added simply.
1.-THE whole town knows it, the whole
town ia shocked by it. Your motive was
undoubtedly prompted by kindness, but
it was nl-adyised-it was begging the
question. 1t was comforting the boy at
the expense Of his spiritual welfare-n
"Stop!" thundered Parson Medlicott ;
lit was no such thing. He came to me
in great distress and be lped him as far
as lay in my power. People laugh at
and minimize the sorrows of childhood,
but they are as often as hard to bear as
those which are fitted upon older shout.
ders. Besides, this was no trifiing sor-
row, it was real grief, such as would
have laid my own heart bare had it be-
fallen me. Tony had lost a friend,
though you and others say he was only a
dog"
"Admitted that the dog suffered" MI
Loring interposed shrillv, shut that was
no reason why you should give him the
impression you did. 1t was pernicious-
there is no other word 1t pains me, sir,
to take this stand against one whom for
years | have deeply admired, but +"
The minister pushed back his chair and
rose to his feet, cutting short the others
eloquence; without wcrd of apology
he crossed the room. Four pairs of won
dering eyes were turned upon him as he
opened the door of the cabinet above the
mantel and took out small vase, then
he returned to the table carrying it care.
fully against his breast. 1t was bit of
Salviati glass that had been brought him
from Venice by parishioner, and all
Broadmeadows had laughed at the incon-
gruity OF the gift. He held it close to
the lamp, letting the light accentuate the
exquisite shape with its delicate coloring
Of rose and green and amber and the
cleaning incrustations of gold. For the
moment he seemed oblivious TO hia guests.
who looked first at him as If they doubt
ed his sanity and then at one another in
confederation of the theory.
"Beautiful," he murmured half aloud,
"beau tiful, and yet the slightest jar
would shiver it to atoms" He raised his
head and regarded his companions with
something like sternness in his benlgnant
face. sit ia not so beautiful as child's
faith, nor so frail. II break this I am
a hln fa mr. np1k g
my own. IL L break the other by whom
shall I stand arraigned? What can [ say
In excuse Of my careless Stewardship?
You do not think it foolish ia me because,
knowing how brittle this bit OF glass Ia,
put it out of harms way, do you? That
Ia all did with Tony Dana's faith.
put it into the hands of God for safe keep
ing, out of the reach of doubt that
might have crushed it irreparably." He
shook back his hair, slow smile gather
ing in his eyes. 81 know no more than
Tony in this matter, friends; we are
both OF us little children trusting
Fathers love-"
He restored the vase to it's shelf, then
he came back to his chair and stood look
ing down gravely.
'1IheY say no two persons see the same
thing exactly alike" he went on after an
appreciable interval; sits what each
brings to the seeing, think, as we'll as
the angle Of vision, that makes the differ
ence. And we all have our ideas of
Heaven-you yours, I mine; 'twould be
fclly to quarrel about 'em. Fer myself,
iG is not SO much the golden streets that
hope to see as it is the f1owers-such
flowers as have known here, the little
common ones that make glory of way
sides and gardens-and the faces of my
friends, not one alone. but ALL" He
stopped as he spoke and touched the dog
fondly, then he raised his head and look
ed directly at his Judges.
VI was not quite honest when brought
John Wesley's name into this discussion"
he said with Glow flush. ut la true I
hoped to impress you and disarm criti-
cism because worthier man than I had
had the courage to express his convic-
tions, needless of the worlds approval
III beg your pardon and his as we'll.
What are John Wesley, Charles Kinsley
and the rest OF those fearless thinkers to
mey | am willing to stand alone in this
matter without the support of any man
living or dead, and I ask no one to share
this belief with me-"
This is sadly unorthodox," murmured
Mr. Ioring, while his companions sat
with down-cast eyes, blind to his mute
appeal for support; sssadly. It was
partly because OF these-ah these
views Of yours that we are here tonight.
You cannot imagine the CONSERVATION
hey have caused throughout the town.
The parson Lot his glance stray for
moment to the thrilling romance upon
ne table, and from Ii to the excited face |
opposite. I'm sorry, !" he said gently, |
sbut ! cannot change 'em.''
ssMr LOring 10 right In saying they
ave disturbed u.s. Squire Poindexker |
lassened 10 bridge oyer the AWKWARD |