The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-03-27

IN yo,lr heart of hearts that the saloon
is so evil in it's effects that man who
loves his home and his country must
speak out against it? And yet 1 love
you. That is possible because you are
human. Oh, my Father" Philip con-
tinued, changing his appeal to the
man by an almost natural manner into
petition to the Infinite, make this
soul dear to thee, to behold thy love
for him, and make him see that it is not
against me, a mere man, that he has
sinned, but against thyself-against
the purity and holiness and affection!
Oh, my God, thou who didst come in
the likeness of sinful men to seek and
save that which was lost, stretch out
the arms of thy salvation now to this
child and save him from himself, from
his own disbelief, his hatred of me or
of what l have said! Thou art all
merciful and all loving. We leave all
souls of men in the protecting, infold
ing embrace of thy boundless compass
sion and infinite mercy"
There was a moment of entire quiet
in the room, and then Philip said faint
ly: Sarah, l cannot say more. Only
tell the man l bear him no hatred and
commend him to the love Of God"
Mrs. Strong was alarmed at Philips
appearance. The scene had been too
much for his strength. She hastily
commanded the officer to take his pris-
oner away and with the help of her
T,.:x
after the first faintness, rallied and
then gradually sank into sleep that
proved more refreshing than any he
had yet enjoyed since the night of the
shooting.
The next day found Philip improv-
ing more rapidly than Mrs. Strong had
thought possible. She forbade him the
sight of all callers, however, and in
sisted that he must keep quiet. His
wounds were healing satisfactorily,
and when the surgeon called he ex-
pressed himself much pleased with his
patients appearance.
"Say. doctor, do you really think it
would set me back any to think lit
tleY'
''No. 1 never heard of thinking hurt
ing people. 1 have generally consider
ed it healthy habit"
''The reason asked" continued Phil
ip gravely, twas because my wife alb
solutely forbade it, and l was wonder
ing how long could keep it up and
fool anybody"
''That's a specimen of his stubborn
ness, DOCTOR" said the minister's wife,
smiling. "Why, only q few minutes
before you came in he was insisting
that he could preach tomorrow. Think
of it, man with shattered shoulder,
who would have to stand on one leg
and do all his gesturing with his left
hand; a man who can't preach with
out the use of seven or eight arms and
as many pockets and has to walk up
and down the platform like lion
when he gets started on his delivery!
And yet he wants to preach tomorrow!
He's that stubborn that l don't know
that can keep him at home. You would
better leave some powders to put him
to sleep, and we will keep him in g
state Of unconsciousness until Monday
morning."
"Now, doctor, just listen to me
awhile. Mrs. Strong is talking for
two women, as she agreed to do, and
that puts me in hard position. But l
want to know how soon 1 can get to
work again."
''You will have to lie there a month" !"
said the doctor bluntly.
Impossible! 1 never lied that time
in my life" said Philip soberly.
'It would serve him right to per-
form a surgical operation on him for
that, wouldn't it, Mrs. StrongY' the
surgeon appealed to her.
81 think he deserves the worst you
can do, doctor"
But say, dear people, 1 can't stay
here a month. 1 must be about my
Masters business. What will the
church do for supplies?"
Don't worry, Philip. The church
will take care of that"
But Philip was already eager to get
to work. Only the assurance of the sur
geon that he might possibly get out in
a little over three weeks satisfied him.
Sunday came and passed. Some one
from a neighboring town who happen
ed to be visiting in Milton occupied the
pulpit, and Philip had a quiet, restful
day. He started in the week determin-
ed to beat the doctors time for recov-
cry, and, having a remarkably strong
constitution and tremendous will, he
bade fair to be limping about the
house in two weeks. His shoulder
wound healed very fast. His knee
bothered him, and it seemed likely that
he would go lame for long time. But
he was not concerned about that if on
ly he could go about in any sort of
| fashion once more.
Wednesday of that week he was sur
prised in an unexpected manner by an
| event which did more than anything
| else to hasten his recovery. He was
| still confined to bed down stairs when
| in the afternoon the bell rang, and Mrs.
| Strong went to the door, supposing il
| was one of the church people come to
| inquire about the minister. She found
| instead Alfred Burke, Philips old col
| lege chum and seminary classmate
| Mrs. Strong welcomed him heartily
and in answer to his eager inquiry con-
cerning Philips condition she brought
| him into the room, knowing her pa
tient quite well and feeling sure the
| sight of his old chum would do him