Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-05-07


with him about it >
''Re breaches tomorrow, said Fell
! cha perhaps he will tell US something
about it
There was silence for minute Then
Felicia said abruptly, as if she had
| gone on with spoken thought to some
invisible nearer, "And what if he
should propose the same pledge to the
! Nazareth Avenue church p
"Who? What are you talking about?''
asked her father, little sharply
about DR.. Bruce. l say what if he
should propose to our church what Mr.
Maxwell proposed to his and ask for
volunteers who would pledge themselves
to do everything after asking the ques
ton, What would Jesus do?'
There's no danger Of it, said Rose.
| rising suddenly from the couch as the
tea bell rang.
Its very impracticable movement
to my mind, - said Mr.. Sterling sharply,
81 understand from Rachel's letter
that the church in Raymond is going
to make an attempt to extend the idea
of the pledge to the other churches. If
they succeed, they will certainly make
great changes in the churches and in
peoples lives, said Felicia.
"Oh, well, let's have some tea first, "
said Rose. walking into the dining
room. Her father and Felicia followed,
and the meal proceeded in silence. Mrs.
Sterling had her meals served in her
room. Mr.. Sterling was preoccupied.
He ate very little and excused himself
early, and. although it was Saturday
oo yoH bnx hot
he would be down town late on some
special business.
Don't you think father looks very
much disturbed lately?' asked Felicia
little while after he had gone out.
''Oh. I don't know l hadn't noticed
anything unusual. replied Rose. After
a silence she said: care you going to
the play tonight, Felicia? Mrs. Delano
will be here at half past 7. think you
ought to go. She Will feel hurt if you
refuse
''I'n go. 1 don't care about it. l can
see shadows enough without going to
the play.
''Thats a doleful remark for a girl
10 years old to make. replied Rose.
''but then you re queer in your ideas
anyhow, Felicia If you going up to
see mother, tell her I'll run in after the
play if she is still awake.
Felicia went up to see her mother
and remain with her until the Delano
carriage came. Mrs. Sterling was wor-
ried about her husband She talked in
cessantly and was irritated by every re-
mark Felicia made She would not list
en- to Felicia's attempts to read even
part of Rachel's letter, and when Fee
Hcia offered to stay with her for the
evening she refused the offer with a
good deal of positive sharpness.
So Felicia started off to the play not
very happy, but she was familiar with
that feeling, only sometimes she was
more unhappy than at other times. Her
feeling expressed itself tonight by a
withdrawal into herself. When the !.
company was seated in the box and the /
curtain was up, Felicia was back Of
the others and remained for the even
ing by herself Mrs DelanO as chaperon
for half dozen young ladies under !;
stood Felicia well enough to know that
she was 'queer. as Rose so often said,
and she made no attempt to draw her
out of the corner. and SO Felicia really /;
experienced that night by herself one
of the feelings that added to the mo-
mentum that was increasing the coming !
On of her great crisis.
The play was an English melodrama |
full of startling situations. realistic |
scenery and unexpected climaXes There !
was one scene in the third act that i'm
pressed even Rose Sterling
It was midnight on Blackfriars !
bridge. The Thames flowed dark and |
forbidding below ST Pauls rose !
through the dim light, imposing, its !
dome seeming to float above the build .
ings surrounding it. The figure of .
child came upon the bridge and stood .
there for moment, peering about as
if looking for some one Several persons
were crossing the bridge but in one of !
the recesses about midway of the river
woman stood leaning out over the
parapet with a strained agony of face
and figure that told plainly Of her in
tentions Just as she was stealthily
mounting the parapet to throw herself
into the river the child caught sight of
her. ran forward, with a shrill cry more
animal than human, and, Selling the
woman's dress, dragged back upon it
with all her little strength. Then there
came suddenly upon the scene two other
characters who had already figured in
the play, tall. handsome, athletic gen
tleman dressed in the fashion, attended
by slim figured lad, who was as re-
fined in dress and appearance as the lit
tie girl clinging to her mother was
mournfully hideous in her rags and re-
pulsive poverty. These two, the gentle
man and the lad, prevented the at
tempted suicide. and after tableau on