Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-14

decidedly.
"Will you tell me why2' Tie asked
the question as if he had right to a
truthful answer
II do not feel toward you as wom-
an ought to feel toward the man she
ought to marry.
"In other words. you do not love
me?"
~ do not, and cannot.
"Why?" That was another question:
and Rachel was little surprised that
he should ask it.
Because She hesitated for fear
she might say too much in an attempt
to speak the exact truth.
"Tell me just why You cant hurt
me more than you have done already.
"Wcll I don't and cant love you
because You have no purpose in life.
What do you ever do to make the world
better? You spend your time in club
life, in amusemcnts, in travel, in lux
urv What is there in such a life to at
tract n woman
Not much. l guess. said Rollin,
with little laugh "Still, | don't
know that / am any worse than the
rest of the men around me. I'm not so
bad rs some. Glad to know your rea-
son.
He suddenly stopped, took off his hat,
bowed gravcly and turned back Rachel
went on home and hurried into her.
room, disturbed in many ways by the
event which had so unexpectedly thrust
itself into her experience.
When she had time to think it all
over, she found herself condemned by
the very Judgment she had passed on
Rollin Page. What purpose had she in
life? She had been abroad and studied
music with one of the famous teachers
of Europe. She had come home to Ray
mond and had been singing in the First
church choir now for year. She was
well paid. Up to that Sunday two weeks
ago she he'd been quite satisfied with
herself and her position. She had shared
her mothers ambition and anticipated
growing triumphs in the musical world.
" hat possible career was before her OK
cept the regular career of every singer ?
She asked the question again and. in
the light of her recent reply to Rollin,
asked again if she had any very great
purpose in life herself? What would
Jesus do? There was fortune in her
voice She knew it. not necessarily as
matter of personal pride or profess
sional cgotism, but simply as "A fact
and she was obliged to acknowledge
| that until to weeks ago she had pur-
| posed to use her voice to make money
and win admiration and applause. Was
| that a much higher purpose, after all.
than Rollin Page lived for?
She sat in her room a long time ard
| finally went down stairs resolved to
| have n frank talk with her mother
about the concert company's offer and
her new plan, which was gradually
shaping in her mind. She had already
had one talk with her mother and knew
that she expected Rachel to accept the
offer and enter on successful career as
public singer.
Mother, Rachel said, coming al
once to the point as much as she dread
ed the interview, 81 have decided moi
to go out with the company l have a
good reason for it,
Mrs Winslow was large, handsome
woman, fond of much company, ambi'
tious for a distinct place in society anC
devoted, according to her definitions Of
success, TO the success of her children
Her youngest hoy, Lewis ten year
younger than Rachel, was ready It
graduate from military academy il
the summer. Meanwhile she and Rache
were at home together Rachel father
like Virginia s. had died while the fam
lily We're abroad Like Virginia, sh
found herself under her present rule o
conduct, in complete antagonism will
her own immediate home circle.
Mrs. Winsow waited for Rachel t,
go on.
"You know the promise l made tw
weeks ago, mothery'
"Mr Maxwells promiseY"
"No, mine. You know what it was
mother2''
Il suppose ! do. OF course all til
church members mean to initiate Chris
and follow him as far as is consisten
/
what has that to do with your decision
in the concert company's matter?"
at has everything to do with il
After asking, What would Jesus do
and going to the source Of authority 70
wisdom | have been obliged to say tina
do not believe he would in my cas-
make that use of my voice"
"Why? Is there anything wron
about such carecr?"
"No; | don't know that 1 can sa
there is
"Do you presume to sit in judgmer
on other people who go out to sing i
this way? Do you presume to say tina
they are doing what Christ would nc
do?"
"Mother l wish you to understan
me. l judge no one else. / condemn n
other professional singers. l simply d.
eide my own course. AS look at it,
have conviction that Jesus would d
something else -
"What else?' Mrs. Winslow had M
yet lost her temper. She did not undel
stand the situation or Rachel in IL
midst of it, but she was anxious til;
her daughter $ career should be as di
tinguished as her natural gifts prom
Used, and she felt confident that whe
the present unusual religious exclt
ment in the First church had passe
, away Rachel would go on with h
1