People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-11-23
BY Charles NJ. Sheldon.

It'll IGAIC q 4AlLAGs 1AD4l441 cEClAEu htlNl-
mined to say something, and Rachel
seemed helpless to prevent him After
all. she thought, he might as well know
the truth ore time as another.
"You know well enough, Rachel,
how l feel toward you. Isn't there any
hope? l CO ID make you happy. I've
loved you a good many years -
"Why, how old do you think l ann
broke in Rachel, with a nervous laugh
She was shaken out of her usual poise
of manner.
"You know what l mean. went on
Rollin doggedly, land you have 10
right to laugh at me just because l
want you to marry me. y
"I'm not, but it is useless for you to
speak-Rollin, said Rachel after lit
| tie hesitation and then using his name
in such a frank, simple way that he
could attaCh no meaning to it beyond
the familia y Of the family acquaint-
ance ut is impossible" She was still
little agitated by the fact Of receiving
a proposal of marriage on the avenue,
but the noise on the street and side
walk made the conversation as private
as if they were in the house.
Would yOu-thGt is-do you think
if you gaze me time l would"
"No" said Rachel She spoke firm
ly. Perhaps, she thought afterward, al
though she did not mean to. she spoke
harshly.
They walked on for some time with
out word. They were nearing Rachels
home, and she was anxious to end the
scene.
As they turned off the avenue intn
one of the quiet streets Rollin spoke
suddenly and with more manliness than
he had yet shown There was a distinct
note of dignity in his voice that YVES
new to Rachel
Miss Winslow, l ask you TO be n!
wife. Is there any hope for me that you
will ever cOnsent?"
"None in the least. Rachel spoke
decidedly
"Will you tell me why2" He asked
the question as if he had a right to a
truthful answer
81 do not feel toward you as a WON
an ought to feel toward the man she
ought to marry"
I'm other words, you do not love
NET"
II do not, and cannot"
"Why?" That was another question,
and Rachel was a little surprised that
he should ask it.
Because She hesitated for feal
she might say too much in an attempt
to speak the exact truth.
Tell Inc Just why You can't hurt
me more than you have done already.
Vel, | don't and cant love you
because you have no purpose in life.
What do you ever do to make the world
betterS You spend your time in club
life, in al usements, in travel, in lux
ury. What is there in such a life to at
tract a woman
Not much. l guess, said Rollin,
with q little laugh. "Still, l don't
know that l am any worse than the
rest of the men around me. I'm not SC
bad as some. Glad to know your rea-
son.
| He suddenly stopped. took off his lat,
bowed gravely and turned back Rache'
went on home and hurried into hel
room, disturbed in many ways by the
event which had so Unexpectedly thrust
itself into her experience.
When she had time to thin: it al
over, she found herself condemned by
the very Judgment she had passed OF
Rollin Page. What purpose had she il
lifeH She had been abroad and studied
music with one of the famous teacher.
of Europe. She had come home to Ray
mond and had been singing in the FRS
church choir now for a year. She wa
well paid Up to that Sunday two week
ago she had been quite satisfied witt
herself and her position. She had shared
her mothers ambition and anticipated
growing triumphs in the musical world
What possible career was before her ex
cept the regular career of every singer
She asked the question again and. il
the light of her recent reply to Rollin
asked again if she had any very grea
purpose in life herselfs What woult
Jesus doI There was a fortune in he
voice She knew it. not necessarily a
a matter of personal pride or PROBES
siOnal egotisnl but simply as q fact
and she was obliged to acknowledg
that until two weeks ago she had pur
posed TO use her voice to make none,
and win admiration and applause Wa
that much higher purpose. after all
than ROllin Page lived forl
She sat in her room a long time an
finally went down stairs resolved I
have a frank talk with her mothe
about the concert company's offer en-
her new plan. which was graduall
shaping in her mind She had alread
had one talk with her mother and kne1
that she expected Rachel to accept tn
offer and enter on q successful career a
public singer.
"Mother. ;" Rachel said. coming a
. once to the point, as much as she dread
, ed the interview, II have decided nc