The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-04-10

VI all the sermons on CHRIST ana
modern society which Philip had thus
far preached none had hit so hard or
was applied so personally as this. The
Goldens went home from the service
in towering rage. That settles Cal
vary church for me!' said Mrs. Golden
as she flung herself out of the building
after the service was over. Il consid-
er that the most insulting sermon l
ever heard from any minister, 1t is
simply outlandish, and how the church
can endure such preaching much Ion
ger is wonder to me. l don't go near
it again while Mr.. Strong is the minis
terri Philip did not know it yet. but
he was destined to find out that society
carries a tremendous power in its use
of the word ''outlandish' applied Ell
ther to persons or things.
When the evening service was over,
Philip. as his habit was, lay down on
the couch in front of the open fire un-
til the days excitement had subsided a
little. 1t was almost the only evening
in the week when he gave himself up
TO complete rest of mind and body.
i1e Dtcu lying u
quarter Of an hour when Mrs. Strong,
who had been moving a plant buck
from one of the front windows and had
been obliged TO raise a curtain, stepped
back iuto the room with an exclama-
ton.
Phillip, there is some one walking
back and forth in front of the house!
/ have heard the steps ever since we
came home And just now l saw a
man stop and look in here. Who can
it be?'
"Maybe it's the man with the bur-
glars lantern come back to get his
knife" said Philip, who had always
made a little fun of that incident as
his wife had told it. However, he rose
and went over TO the window. Sure
enough, there was a man out on the
sidewalk looking straight at the house.
He was standing perfectly still.
Philip and his wife stood by the win
dow looking at the figure outside. and,
as it did not move away, at last Philip
grew little impatient and went to the
| door to open it and ask the man what
| lie bS SIdlluS IIlO pSODAG
| houses in that fashion.
"Now. do be careful. won't you?" en-
| treated his wife anXiously.
Eyes l presume it is some tramp or
other wanting food There's no dan
| ger, know"
| He flung the door wide open and call
| ed out in his clear, hearty voice:
| Anything you want friend? Come
| up and ring the bell if you want to gel
| in and know us instead of standing
/ there on the walk catching cold anG
| making us wonder who you are"
In response to this frank and inform
al invitation the figure came forward
and slowly mounted the steps of the
porch AS the face came into view
more clearly Philip started and fel
back a little.
1t was not because the face was tha
of an enemy nor because it was re
DuIsive nor because he recognized al
old acquaintance. 1t was a face HI
had never to his knowledge seen be
fore Yet the impulse to start back be
fore it seemed to spring from the rec
objection of just such a countenanc
moving over his spirit when he was il
prayer or in trouble. 1t all passed in
seconds time, and then he confronte'
the man as complete stranger.
There was nothing remarkable abou
him. He was poorly dressed and cal
ried a small bundle. He looked col
and tired. Philip, who could never rt
sist the mute appeal of distress in an
form. reached out his hand and sal
! kindly: "COme in, my brother; 20
look cold and weary. Come in an
sit down before the fire, and we'll hav
bite of lunch. l was just beginnin
to think of having something to ea
myself"
Philips wife looked little remor
STRANGE, but Philip did not see it, an
wheeling an easy chair before the fiji
. he made the man sit down, and, pul
ing up a rocker, he placed himself OF
posite.
The stranger seemed a little surpri
ed at the action of the minister, bu
made no resistance. He took off h
. hat and disclosed head of hair whit
as snow and said in a voice tn;
sounded singularly sweet and true:
you do me much honor, sir. III
!, fire feels good this chilly evening, an
}, the food will be very acceptable. All
o l have no doubt you have a goo
r warm bed that l could occupy for Il
, | night"
Philip stared hard at his uneXpectt
guest, and his wife, who had startt
out of the room to get the lunch, shoe
her head vigorously as she stood b
hind the visitor as sign that her hu
band should refuse such strange I
quest. He was taken aback littl
and he looked puzzled. The wor'
were uttered in the utmost simplicit
"Why, yes, we can arrange that {
right" he said. There is a spa
room, and-excuse me for nome
while l go and help to get our lunch
e, Philips wife was telegraphing to hi
to come into the other room, and
obediently got up and went.
"Now, Philip she whispered VIII
they were out in the dining room, ''y
Z know that is a risky thing to do. Y
are all the time inviting all kinds
Is characters in here. We can't Ike
~ this man all night. Who ever heard
such a thing as perfect stranger CO
ing ont with a repupSt like that?