People's voice., 1900-01-04

earthly hell called the saloon had nc
place that could Be called home
The girl suddenly wrenched her arm
from Virginia's grasp In doing it she
nearly threw Virginia down
"You shall not touch mel Leave me-
Let me go to hell That's where be-
longl The devil is waiting for mel See
him. she exclaimed hoarsely She
turned and pointed with shaking fin
ger at the saloon keeper. The crowd
laughed
Virginia stepped up to her and put
her arm about her,
'Loreen, she said firmly, "come
with me You do not belong to hell
You belong to Jesus, and he will save
you. Come
The girl suddenly burst into tears.
She was only partly sobered by the
shock of meeting Virginia
Virginia looked around again
Where does Mr.. Gray liver" she
aske& She lnew the evangelist board
ed somewhere near that tent.
A numberOf voices gave her the d.
rection.
"Come, Loreen. want you to 60
with me to Mrs Gray's. she said. still
keeping her hold of the swaying. trem-
bling creature, who still moaned and
sobbed and now chung to Virginia as
before she had repulsed her.
SO the two moved on through the
Rectangle toward the evangeliSt's lodg.
ing place. The sight seemed to impress
the Rectangle seriously. 1t never took
itself seriously when it was drunk, but
this was different. The fact that one of
the most beautifully dressed girls in
Raymond was taking care of one of the
Rectangle's most notorious characters.
who reeled along under the influence If
liquor. was a fact astonishing enough
to throw more or less dignity and i'm.
portance about Loreen herself Tie
event Of Loreen stumbling through the
gutter dead drunk always made the
Rectangle laugh and jest, but Loreen
staggering alcng with a young lady
from the society circles up town sup
porting her was another thing. The
Rectangle viewed it with soberness and
more or less wondering admiration.
When they reached Mr. Gray's board
ing place, the woman who answered
Yirginia's knock said that both Mr.. and
Mrs Gray were out somewhere and
would not be back until 6 O'Clock.
Virginia had not planned anything
further than a possible appeal to the
Grays either to take charge of Loreen
for awhile Or find some safe place for
her until she was sober again. She stood
now at the lodging after the woman
had spoken, and she was really at a loss
to know what to do. Loreen sank down
stupidly on the steps and buried her
face in her arms. Virginia eyed the
miserable figure with feeling that she
was fearful would grow into disgust.
Finally a thought possessed Virginia
that she could not resist. What was to
hinder Loreen from going home with
her? Why should not this homeless.
wretched creature, reeking with the
fumes Of liquor, be cared for in Viz
ginias own home, instead Of being
consigned to strangers in some hospital
or house Of cha1ity2 Virginia really
knew very little about any such places
Of refuge. As a matter of fact. there
were two or three such institutions in
Raymond, but it is doubtful if any Of
them would have taken a person like
Loreen in her present condition. But
that was not the question with Virginia
just now. What would Jesus do with
Loreen?' was what Virginia faced, and
she finally answered it by touching
Loreen again
"Loreen, comel You are going home
with me. We will take the car here at
the corner.
Loreen staggered to her feet and, to
Virginia S relief, made no trouble She
had o.roc.ei resistance or a stubborn
refvfel 20 move When they reached
,thc c,.ncr and took the car. It was
nc9t.y tul Of people going up town.
Ficc.1:a was painfully conscious of the
stare that greeted her and her colnpan-
ion as they entered, but her thought
was directed more and more to the ap-
preaching scene with her grandmother
What would Mme. Page say when she
saw Lorecn?
LOreen was nearly sober now, but she
was lapsing into a state Of stupOr. Vir-
ginia was obliged to hold fast to her
arm. Several times she lu-ched heavily
against Virginia, and as the two went
up the avenue a curious crowd Of peo-
pie turned and gazed at them. When
she mounted the steps Of the handsome
house, Virginia breathed sigh of re-
lief, even in the face of the interview
with her grandmother, and when the
door shut and she was in the wide hall
with her homeless outcast she felt equal
to anything that might now come.
Nine Page was in the library. Hear
ing Virginia come in, she came into the
hall Virginia stood there supporting
Loreen, who stared stupidity at the rich
magnifcence of the furnishings around
her
Grandmother" - Virginia spoke
without hesitation and very clearly
81 have brought one Of my friends
from the Rectangle. She is in trouble
and has no home | am going TO care
fnr- bov . l.f~la r-l,1o