St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-10-18

|
action of Friday nights primary, but
what the result would be he did not
dare to anticipate. The whisky forces
were organized alert, aggressive reused
into unusual hatred by the events Of
the last week at the tent and in the
city. Would the Christian force act as
unit against the saloon or would it
be divided on account Of its business
interests or because it was not in the
habit of acting together, as the whisky
powers always did2 That remained to
be seen. Meanwhile the saloon reared
itself about the Rectangle like some
deadly viper, Kissing and coiling ready
to strike its poison into any unguarded
part
Saturday afternoon, as Virginia was
just stepping out Of her house to go
and see Rachel to talk over her new
plans, carriage drove up containing
three of her fashionable friends. Vir-
ginia went out to the driveway and
stood there talking with them They
had not come to make a formal call,
but wanted Virginia to go riding with
them up on the boulevard. There was
band concert in the park. The day
was too pleasant to be spent indoors.
"Where have you been all this time,
Virginia." asked one of the girls, tap
ping her playfully on the shoulder with
red silk parasol. "We hear that you
have gone into the show business, Tell
us about it.
Virginia colored, but after u mo-
ment's hesitation she frankly told some
thing of her experience at the Rectan-
gle. The girls in the carriage began to
be really interested.
"Tell you what, girls let's go SUM
ming with Virginia this afternoon in
stead of going to the band concerto I've
never been down to the Rectangle. I've
heard it's an awful wicked place and
lots to see. Virginia will act as q guide,
and it would be real" fun, she was
going to say, but Virginias look made
her substitute the word interesting"
Virginia was angry. At first thought
she said to herself she would never go
under any such circumstances The
other girls seemed to be of the same
mind as the speaker They chimed in
with earnestness and asked Virginia to
take them down there
Suddenly she saw in the idle curl
osity of the girls an opportunity. They
had never seen the sin and misery of
Raymond. Why should they not see
them, even if their motives in going
down there were simply to pass away
an afternoons
Every well; I'll go with you. You
must obey my orders and let me take
you where you can see the most" she
said as she entered the carriage and
took the seat beside the girl who had
first suggested the trip to the Rectangle.
Hadn't we better take q policeman
along" said one of the girls, with a
nervous laugh. cit really isn't safe
down there, you know"
"There's no danger" said Virginia
briefly.
"Is it true that Rollin has been con-
verted?" asked the first speaker, look
ing at Virginia curiously. 1t impressed
her during the drive to the Rectanglt
that all three of her friends were re
garding her with close attention, as il
she were very peculiar.
Eyes; he certainly is. / saw hin
myself on the night of the first interes
shown, week ago Saturday" replied
Virginia, who did not know Just how
to tell that scene.
81 understand he is going around t,
the clubs talking with his old friend
there, trying to preach to them Doesn
that seem funny" said the girl will
the red silk parasol.
Virginia did not answer, and tn
other girls were beginning to feel sobe
as the carriage turned into the stree
leading to the Rectangle. AS the,
J.. neared the district they grew more an,
more nervous. The sights and smell
and sounds which had become familia
to Virginia struck the senses of thes
refined, delicate society girls as some
: thing horrible. AS they entered farthe
u into the district the Rectangle SCENE,
u u to stare as with one great bleary. bee
soaked countenance at this fine carriag
I with its load of fashionably dresse
young ladies. STUNNING" had neve
, been fad with Raymond society, an
. this was perhaps the first time that tn
: two had come together in this way
: The girls felt that instead of seeing tn
u Rectangle, they were objects of cur
n osity. They were frightened and dil
d gusted.
o Lets go back. I've seen enough,
{ said the girl who was sitting with Vii
Q ginia.
u They were at that moment Just OF
g posite notorious saloon and gamblin
Q house. The street was narrow and tn
Il sidewalk crowded. Suddenly out of til
v door of the saloon young woma
@ reeled. She was singing in broker
o drunken sob that seemed to indicat
that she partly realized her awful col
: dition, "Just as l am, without or
o plea, " and as the carriage rolled pa'
y she leered at it, raising her face so thu
: Virginia saw it very close to her owl
1t was the face of the girl who ha
IS kneeled sobbing that night, with vi
n ginia kneeling beside her and prayin
% for her.
Is "Stopl" cried Virginia motionin
a to the driver who was looking aroun,
a The carriage stopped, and in momei
u she was out and had gone up to IL
: girl and taken her by the arm.
y "Loreen!' she said, and that was nj