Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-05-21
IN HIS STEPS.
"What Would Jesus DO?"
By CHARLES M. SHELDON.

before the open ire There was Just
enough dampness in the early spring of
the year to make an open fire pleasant.
calvin, you have taken very seri-
GUS step today" he finally said, lifting
his large dark eyes to his old college
classmates face. "I heard of it this
afternoon. I could not resist the desire
to see you about it tonight
''I'm glad you came" DR.. Bruce sat
near the bishop and laid hand on his
shoulder. "You understand what this
means, Edward2"
ST think do-yes; L am sure" The
bishop spoke very slowly and thought
fully. He sat with his hands clasped to-
gether Over his face, marked with
lines of conservation and service and
the love of men, a shadow crept, a
shadow not caused by the freight.
Again he lifted his eyes toward his old
friend
"Calvin, we have always understood
each other. Ever since our paths led us
in different ways in church life we have
walked together in Christian fellow
ship"
t'It is true" replied Dr. Bruce, with
an emotion he made no attempt to con-
ceal or subdue. THANK God for it. I
prize your fellowship more than any
mans / have always known what it
meant, though it has always been more
than I deserve"
The bishop looked affectionately at
his friend, but the shadow still rested
ON his face After a pause he spoke
again:
''The new discipleship means crisis
for you in your work If you keep this
pledge to do all things as Jesus would
do, as I know you will, it requires no
prophet to predict some remarkable
changes in your parish. . The bishop
looked wistfully at Bruce and then con-
tinued: ''In fact, do not see how
perfect upheaval of Christianity as we
now know it can be prevented if the
ministry and churches generally take
the Raymond pledge and live it out >
He paused as if he were waiting for his
friend to say something, to ask some
question, but Bruce did not know of
the fire that was burning in the bishops
heart over the very question that Max
well and himself had fought out
"Now. in my church, for instance,
continued the bishop, cit would be
rather difficult matter, fear, to find
very many people who would take a
pledge like that and live up to it. Mar
tyrdom is lost art with US. Our Chris
tianity loves its ease and comfort too
well to take up anything SO rough and
heavy as cross, and yet what does fol-
lowing Jesus mean? What is it to walk
in his steps?"
- oh 711fxo
and it is doubtful if he thought for the
moment of his friends presence. For
the first time there flashed into Bruce's
mind q suspicion of the truth. What if
the bishop should throw the weight of
his great influence on the side of the
Raymond movement He had the fol-
lowing of the most aristocratic, wealthy,
fashionable people not only in Chicago,
but in several large cities. What if the
bishop should join this new discipleshipl
The thought was about to be followed
by the word. DIR. Bruce had reached
out his hand and, with the familiarity
of lifelong friendship, had placed it on
the bishops shoulder and was about to
ask him a very important question
when they were both startled by the
violent ringing of the bell. Mrs. Bruce
had gone to the door and was talking
with some one in the hall There was
loud exclamation, and then, as the
bishop rose and DR.. Bruce was stepping
toward the curtain that hung before
the entrance to the parlor, Mrs. Bruce
pushed it aside. Her face was white.
and she was trembling.
ooh, Calvin Such terrible newsl
Mr.. Sterling-oh, cannot tell It'll What
fearful blow to those two gir1sl''
"What is it p DR.. Bruce advanced
with the bishop into the hall and con-
fronted the messenger, a servant from
the Sterlings. The man was without
his hat and had evidently run over with
the news, as the doctor lived nearest of
any friends of the family.
''Mr. Sterling shot himself, sir,
few minutes agol He killed himself
in his bedrooml Mrs. Sterling''-
81 will go right over. Edward DIR.
Bruce turned to the bishop-''win you
go with me? The Sterlings are old
friends of yours. -
The bishop was very pale, but calm,
as always. He looked his friend in the
face and answered: "Aye, Calvin I
will go with you, not only to this house
of death, but also the whole way of hui
man sin and sorrow, please God. .
And even in that moment of horror
at the unexpected news Calvin Bruce
understood what the bishop had prom
ised to do.
CHAPTER x