The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-05-16


men.
Mr. Burns reported everything quiet,
and the manager, with sigh OF relief.
proceeded with the routine duties of
the business. Nothing Of any special
interest occurred through the after
noon. The storr had ceased entirely,
and the sun had come out clear and
warm People were clearing Off the
walks. and the ringing Of sleigh bells
was distinct In the office, even over the
incessant hum OF the big engine
Toward 3 O'clock one OF Mr.. Hardy's
old friends, IN officer OF the road, camo
In and said there was Il general move
ment on foot through Barton TO hold a
monster mass meeting in the town hall
Tor the benefit of the sufferers, both In
the railroad accident and in the eXplo-
sion of the sunday before In tie shops
1t was true the company would settle
for damages, but in many cases
through Barton the adjustment OF
claims would not be made until much
suffering and hardship had been en-
dured
There was q common feeling on the
part of the townspCoplc that n meet
ing for public conference would result
in much good. ana there was also, az
has been the case in other large hor-
rors, Il craving to relieve the strain of
feeling by public gathering and con
sultation.
"Can you come out to the meeting,
Hardy" asked his friend
Mr.. Hardy thought a minute and re-
piled, Yes; | think | can" Already
an idea had taken shape in his mind
which he could not help feeling was
inspired by God.
Might be n good thing If YOU could
come prepared TO make some remarks
l find there is n disposition on the part
of the public To charge the road with
carelcssncss anu mismanagcmcnt"
"I'll say n word or two" replied Mr..
Hardy, and after Il brief talk OH bust.
ness matters his friend went out.
Robert Immediately sat Gown TO his
desk, and for an hour. interrupted on
ly by an occasional item Of business
brought to him by his secretary, he jot-
ted down CopiouS notes. The thought
which had come to him when his
friend suggested the meeting was this:
He would go and utter a message that
burned Sin him, Il message which
the events Of the past few days made
imperative should he uttered He went
home absorbed in the great idea. He
had once ia his younger days been ia
| nous for his skill in debate He had
no fear of his power to deliver 4 mes
| sage Of life at the present crisis in his
own. He at once spoke OF the meet
| ing to his wife
Mary, what do you say? l know ev-
cry minute is precious. / owe to you
| and these dear ones ut home q very
| sacred duty. but no less, it seems to
me, is my duty to the society where |
have lived all these years, doing literal
! ly nothing for its uDlft toward God,
| who gave us all life and power. l feel
as If he would put message into my
mouth that would prove blessing to
this community. 1t seems to me this
special opportunity is providential."
Robert replied his wife, smiling at
him through happy tears, ''it is the will
Of God. Do your duty as he makes it
clear to YOU"
1t had been an agitating week to the
| wife. She anticipated it's close with a
| feeling akin TO terror. What would
| the end be? She was compelled to say
to herself that her husband was not
insane, but the thought that he was
really to be called out of the world .n
some mysterious manner ut the end Of
the rapidly approaching Sunday had
| several times come over her with Il
| power that threatened her own reason
| Nevertheless the week so far in
spite of its terror and agitation, had a
sweet JOY for her. Her husband had
| come back to her. the lover as he once
had been, only with the added tender
ness OF all the years OF their compan-
| ionShip She thanked the Father for
1t, and when the hour came for Rob-
crt to go down to the meeting she
blessed him and prayed heaven to
make his words to the people lin
words of God.
Father, what do you want me to
do? Shall stay hcrc!" asked George,
who had not stirred ont OF the house
all day. He had watched by Clara
faithfully. She was still in that mys-
| teriouS condition Of unconsciousness
which made her case so puZZling to the
doctor.
Mr.. Hardy heSitatcd u moment, then
said: mo, George. would like to
have you go with me. Alice can do all
that is necessary But let us all pray
together now before we go out. The
Lord is leading us mystcriously, but
we shall some time know the reason
why
So i'm the room where Clara lay they
all kneclcd down except VIII, who lay
upon lounge near his unconscious
sister. Mr.. Hardy as he clasped his
wifc's hand In his own poured cut his
soul in this petition:
Dear Lord, we know thou dost love
us, even thour' we cannot always
know why thou dost allow suffering
and trouble, and we would thank thee
for the things that cannot be destroy.
ed, for the loves that cannot suffer
death, for the wonderful promises OF
the life to come. Only we have been
so careless Of the things that belong &c
thy kingdom. We have been SO selfish
and forgetful OF the great needs and
sufferingS and sins of earth. Pardon
us. gracious Redecmer. Pardon me
for am the chief offender. Yea, Lord
even as the robber on the cross was
| welcomed into DDra1iSp Welcome thor