Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-21
they carried heavier hearts.

"Jhe environment docs havo good
deal TO do with the character 1t docs
not stand TO reason that these people
can always resist the sight and smell OF
the deviish drink all about them. O
Lord, how long shall Christian people
continue to support by their silence and
their ballots the greatest form of slav-
cry now known in America p
He asked the question, but did not
have much hope of an immediate an
swer. There was "A ray of hope in the
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 did? 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
inst stepping ont of her house to g
and see Rachel to talk over her new
plans, a carriage drove mp 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 mp on the boulevard. There was
a band concert in the park The day
was too pleasant to be spent indoors
"Where have you been all this time,
Nirginia?' asked one of the girls, tap
ping her playfullv on the shoulder with
a red silk parasol. 1--WE hear that you
have gone into the show business. Tel
us about it. y
Virginia colored, but after "a mo-
mont's hesitation she frankly told some
thing of her experience at the Rectan-
gle. The girls in the carriage began tc
be really interested.
Tell you what, girls let's 60 Stun.
ming with Virginia this afternoon in
stead of going to the band concert I've
never been down to the RectanGle. we
heard IT'S an awful wicked place and
lots to see. Virginia will act as guide,
and it would be real''-'fun, she was
going to say, but Nireinia's look made
her substitute the word "interesting. ]"
Virginia was angry. AT first thought
she said TO herself she would never &c
under any such circumstances. The
other girls seemed to be of the same
mind as the speaker. They chimed il
with earnestness and asked Virginia tC
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 goine
down there We're simply to pass away
an afternoonl
Every we'll; I'll go with you. Yor
must obey my orders and let me take
you where you can see the most, - she
said AS she entered the carriage anC
took the seat beside the girl who hat
first suggested the trip to the Rectangle
Hadn't we better take a policeman
along, said one of the girls with ;
nervous laugh. at really isn't SAT,
down there, you know. -
There no danger said Nirginis
briefly.
as it true that Rollin has been con
verified ?" asked the first speaker look
ing at Virginia curiously. 1t impressed
her during the drive to the Rectanglt
that all three of her friends We're 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, a week ago Saturday" replied
Virginia who did not know just how
to tell that scene.
81 understand he is going around e
the clubs talking with his old fniend,
there trying to preach TO them. Doesn'
that seem funny" said the girl will
the red silk parasol.
Virginia did not answer, and the
other girls were beginning to feel soDel
as the carriage turned into the stree
leading to the Rectangle. AS they
neared the district they grew more anC
more nervous. The sights and smell'
and sounds which had become familiar
to Virginia struck the senses Of thest
refined. delicate society girls as some
thing horrible. As they entered farther
INTO the district the Rectangle seemed
70 stare as with one great bleary. beef
soaked countenance at this fine carriag
with its load of fashionably dressed
young ladies. Stunning" had neve
been fad with Raymond society, AM
this was perhaps the first time that tn
two had come together in this way
The girls felt that, instead of seeing TIL
Rectangle they We're objects of curl
osity. They We're frightened and dis
gusted
Let . go back Ivn seen enough.
said the girl who was sitting with Vir
ginia.
They We're at that moment inst op
posite notorious saloon and gamblin,
house. The street was narrow and tn
sidewalk crowded. Suddenly out of tn
door of the saloon young woman
reeled. She was singing in a broken
drunken sob that seemed to indicat
| that she partly realized her awful con
dition ".Just as / am, without on
plea, and as the carriage rolled pas
she leercd at it, raising her face so tina
Virginia saw IL very close to her own