St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-10-25

song had not diminished. Rather with
each night it seemed to add to the in
tensity and reality Of the Spirits pres
ence.
Gray had at first hesitated about
having meeting that night, but he
had a simple rule of action and was al
ways guided by it.. The Spirit seemed
to lead them to continue the meeting,
and so Saturday night he went on, as
usual.
The excitement all over the city had
reached it's climax when the polls closed
at o'clock. Never had there been such
a contest in Raymond The issue Of
license or no license had never been an
issue under such circumstances. Never
before had such elements in the city
been arrayed against each other. 1t was
an unheard of thing that the president
of Lincoln college, the pastor of the
First church, the dean of the cathedral,
the professional men living in the fine
houses on the boulevard, should come
personally into the wards and by their
presence and their example represent
the Christian conscience of the place.
The ward politicians were astonished
at the sight. However, their astonish-
ment did not prevent their activity.
The fight grew hotter every hour, and
when 6 O'Clock came neither side could
have guessed at the result with any GER
tainty. Every one agreed that never
had there been such an election in Ray
mond, and both sides awaited the an
nouncement of the result with the
greatest interest
1t was after 10 o'clock when the
meeting at the tent was closed. 1t had
been strange and in some respects a
remarkable meeting. Henry Maxwell
had come down again at Gray's request
He was completely worn out by the
days work, but the appeal from Gray
came to him in such form that he did
not feel able to resist it, Donald Marsh
was also present He had never been to
the Rectangle, and his curiosity was
aroused from what he had noticed of
the influence of the evangelist in the
worst part of the city. DR.. West and
Rollin had come with Rachel and Vir-
ginia, and Loreen, who had staid with
Virginia, was present near the organ,
in her right mind, sober, with humil-
ity and dread of herself that kept her
as close to Virginia as faithful dog.
All through the service Loreen sat with
bowed head, weeping a part of the
time, sobbing when Rachel sang the
song, 81 was wandering sheep"
clinging with almost visible, tangible
yearning to the one hope she had found,
listening to prayer and appeal and con-
fession all about her like one who was
part of new creation, yet fearful of
her right to share in it fully.
The tent had been crowded AS on
some other occasions, there was more
or less disturbance on the outside of the
tent. This had increased as the night
advanced, and Gray thought it wise
not to prolong the service Once in
awhile shout as from large crowd
swept into the tent The returns from
the election were beginning to come in,
and the Rectangle had emptied every
lodging house, den and howell into tho
streets.
In spite of the distractions, Rachel's
singing kept the crowd in the tent from
dissolving. There were dozen or more
conversions. Finally the crowd became
restless, and Gray closed the service
remaining little while with the con-
verts
Rachel, Virginia, Loreen, Rollin and
the doctor, President Marsh and Henry
Maxwell went out together, intending
to go down to their usual waiting place
for their car. AS they came out of the
tent they at once were aware that the
Rectangle was trembling on the edge of
drunken riot and as they pushed
through the gathering mobs in the mar
row streets they began to realize that
they themselves were objects of great
attention.
''There he is, the bloke in the tall
hat He's the leaderl" shouted rough
voice. President Marsh, with his erect
commanding figure, was conspicuous in
the little company
"How has the election gomez It is
too early to know the result yet, isn't
itY" He asked the question aloud, and
a man answered: "They say second
and third wards have gone almost solid
for no license. If that is so, the whisky
men have been beaten"
"Thank God hope it is true" ex-
claimed Henry Maxwell. Marsh, we
are in danger here. Do you realize our
situation2 We ought to get the ladies
to place of safety"
''That is true" said Marsh gravely.
At that moment a shower of stones and
other missiles fell over them. The mar
row street and sidewalk in front of them
were completely choked with the worst
elements of the Rectangle.
This looks serious" said Maxwell.
With Marsh and Rollin and Dr. West
he started to go forward through the
small opening, Virginia, Rachel and
Loreen following close and sheltered by
the men, who now realized something
of their danger. The Rectangle was
drunk and enraged. 1t saw in Daniel
Marsh and Henry Maxwell two of the
leaders in the election contest who had
perhaps robbed them of their beloved
saloon
down with the aristocratsl" shout
ed shrill voice, more like woman's
than mans.
A shower of mud and stones followed