Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-04-10

THANK you. No, you'can'i help me
any In this except" continued Nr.
Hardy, with faint smile. except you
solve this trouble between you and
my daughter"
There 10 no trouble between us, sir"
replied James simply. You know
love her and have loved her for a long
time. and l believe ! am able TO sup
port her and make her happy. Won't
you give your consent, sir? We are
not children. We know our minds"
James was beginning to speak very
earnestly. He was beginning to hope
that the stern. proud man who had so
curtly dismissed him little while be-
fore would In some unaccountable
manner relent and give him his hearts
desire.
Mr.. Hardy walked along In silence a
little way. Then he said almost
abruptly:
James. do you drinkT
mo. sir"
"Or gambler
"You forget my mother, Mr.. Hardy"
The reply was almost stern.
Mrs. Caxton's younger brother had
been ruined by gambling. He had
come 10 the house one night. and In a
ft Of anger because his sister would
not give him money TO carry on his
speculation he had threatened her lie.
James had lnterposed and at the risk
OF his own life had probably saved his
mothers. Mrs. Caxton had been so un-
nerved by the scene that her health
had suffered from II seriously. All this
had happened when James was grow
ing out OF boyhood. But not day had
passed that the young man did not see
sad result Of that great gambling
passion In his own mothers face and
bearing. He loathed the thought Of
vice so debasing that IL ignored all the
tender ties Of kindred and was ready
to stop at nothing In order to get
means for It's exercise.
Mr.. Hardy knew the story, and he
exclaimed: Forgive me, James. did
not think" Then, after pause: Are
you a Christian? l mean do you have
a faith In the revelation Of God to men
through Jesus Christ. and do you try to
live according to his teachings. with
supreme love for God controlling lifeT
Do you live every day as II 1t might be
the last you would have to liver
szI
of his mind? He had never heard him
talk like this before. The idea Of Mr..
Hardy caring about his religious char
acter In the event of his becoming
son-in.law was an idea too remote for
occurrence. He could see, however.
that some very powerful change had
taken place in Mr.. Hardy's usual de-
meanor. His words also produced
strong effect upon the young man. He
was like thousands Of young men
temperate, honest, industrious. free
from vices. strictly moral, but without
any decided religious faith.
Am l a Christian" he asked him.
self, echoing Mr.. Hardy's question.
No; he could not say that he was. He
had never said so to any one. He had.
In fact, never been confronted with the
question before. So he replied to Mr..
Hardy:
mo, sir; don't think am what
would be called Christian. AS for hv-
ing as II every day were to be Ty last
do you think that Is possible, sir?'
Mr.. Hardy did not answer He walk
ed along thoughtfully. In the course OF
the conversation they had reached the
corner where the young man turned
down to his Office. and the two paused.
Il want to have another talk with
you," Mr.. Hardy said. To-day Is Tues
day; say tomorrow evening. want to
see your father also. and Mr.. Hardy
was on the point of saying that he
wanted to ask the elder Cations for
giveness. but for some reason he stop
ped without doing so.
James exclaimed eagerly - Mr.. Har.
dy turned to 60:
"Then you don't forbid my entertain
Ing some hope of your good will In the
matter of my love for Clarar He low
cred his voice and spoke very strongly.
"You don't forget your own youth and
the way In which you yourself began
your homer
Mr.. Hardy answered never Q word
to this appeal. but looked into the
young mans face with q gaze be did
not forget all day, then wrung his hand
and turned on his heel abruptly and
walked rapidly down the street
James looked after him a. he disap-
peared among the crowds Of people go
ing to their business, and then turned
to his OWE tasks. But something In
him gave him hope. Another something
appealed Ill day to hls inner nature.
and he could not shake OF the impress
sion Of Mr.. Hardy's question, "Ars you
ChristianY And even when he went
home at night that question pursued
him more strenuously than any otbee
and would not Sivs him psacA