The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-10

tDgother the three discussed their future
1nna Rollin was apparently entirely
1eo from embarrassment in Rachel 4
.urssencc while Virginia was with them
01y his manner with her was almost
vRsciss. II not cold. The past seemed to
- sntirely absorbed In his wonderful
Sunversion. He had not forgotten it..
~ he seemed TO be completely caugln
up Tor The present time in the purpose
- this new life.
After awhile Rollin was called out.
Al Rachel and Virginia began to talk
- oAhr thinga
sBy the way. what has become Of
,oap0 Chassf"
Virginia asked the question limo.
<}uhly enough. bat Rachel blushed, and
Virginia sdded. with q smile ~ sup
pose he n writing another book Is he
6eang 70 put you into this one. Rachel Z
Hou now / always suspected Jasper
1nL Of doing that very thing in his
- story.
''virginia ia"-Rachel spoke with the
Anmes that had always existed be-
ewsen tho two friends-"Jasper Chase
I'D me the other night that he-in fact
~ proposed TO me-or he would IT,
Rachel stopped and sat with her
e2Pds clasped on her lap. and there
wore tears in her eyes.
virginia. I thought little while
go that / loved him. as he said he
1oSed mo. but when he spoke my heart
y4t repelled. and said what I ought
% have said i told him no. have not
ssern him since That was the night of
~ svst conversions at the Rectangle.
"a am glad for you. said Virginia
quietly.
''whyf" asked Rachel. little star.
0sd
Because have never really liked
Jaspcr Chase He is too cold and-I do
,nQt like to judge him. but havo al.
wAys distrusted his sincerity in taking
- pledge at the church with the rest. "
Rachel looked at Virginia thought
fully.
81 have Hcver given my heart to him.
= am sure He touched my emotions,
aad admired his skill as q writer. I
have thought mt times that I cared a
god deal for him think perhaps IL
10 had spoken to me at any other time
than the one he chose ! could easily
have persuaded myself that loved him.
but not now" Rachel paused suddenly.
and when she looked up at Virginia
aGsin there were tears on her face. vir-
einia came to her and put her arm
shout her tenderly.
When Rachel had left the house. Vir-
+. ginia sat In the hall thinking over the
confidence her friend had just shown
IN. There was something still to be
told. Virginia felt sure from Rachel's
manner. but she did not feel hurt that
Rachel had kept back something She
was simply conscious of more ON Ra-
chefs mind than she had revealed.
Very soon Rollin came back. and he
and Virginia. arm in arm. as they had
lately been In the habit of doing. walked
up and down the long hall
It was easy for their talk to settle
anally upon Rachel because of the place
she WIS to occupy in the plans which
were being made for the purchase of
tho property at the Rectangle
Ibid you ever know u girl of such
really gifted powers in vocal music who
was willing to give her whole life TO
tho people. as Rachel IL going to doY
She In going to give music lessons in
the city. have private pupils to make
her living and then give the people in
the Rectangle the benefit of her culture
and her voice
1T II certainly very good example
al self sacrifice. replied Rollin. little
stifiy
Virginia looked at him q little
sharply
''But don't you think il is very
unusual ezamrlcy Can you imagine
here Virginia hained half dozen ia
nous opera singers doing anything
Of this sort3''
mo: l can't Rollin answered
briefly Neither can imagine Miss
--ho spoke the name Of the girl with
The red parasol who had begged Vir
ginia to take the girls to the kectangle
doing what you are doing. Vir-
ginia
ANY more than can imagine Mr.
Virginia spoke the name of a young
society leader-''going abont to the
Clubs doing your work. Rolln.
The two walked on In silence for the
lsngth Of the hall
Coming back to Rachel" began
Virginia. "Rollin. why do you treat
her with such distant. precise man
ncrf ! think. Rollin--pardon me il !
hurt you-that she is annoyed by it,
You used TO be- on easy terms don Z
thlpk Rachel likes this change.
Rollin suddenly stopped. He seemed
deeply agitated He took his arm from
Virginia $ and walked down to the end
Of the hall Then he returned. with his
arms behind him. and. stopping near
his sister. he said
Virginia. have you not learned Inv