Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-02-12


0<94<a9aa3%ss: H3<aa:sa.'
"Rachel, what does all this contrast
Ia conditions mean to you as you ask
this question of what Jesus would do?
It maddens me to think that the society
ia which / have been brought up, the
same to which we are both said to be-
long, is satisfied, year after year, to &C
On dressing and eating and having
good time, giving and receiving enter
tainments, spending its money on
houses and luxuries and occasionally,
to ease its conscience, donating, with
out any personal sacrifice, a little
money to charity. 1 have been edu-
cated, as you have, in one of the most
Expensive schools of America, launched
Into society as an heiress, supposed to
be in a very enviable position. I'm per-
fectly well, / can travel or stay at
home, can do as please, can crafty
almost any want or desire, and yet
when l honestly try to imagine Jesus
living the life 1 have lived and am ex
pected to live and doing for the rest Of
my life what thousands of other rich
people do l am under condemnation for
being one of the most wicked, selfish,
Useless creatures in the world. l have
not looked out of this window for weeks
without feeling of horror toward my
Felf as 1 see the humanity that pours by
this house.
Virginia turned away and walked up
and down the room. Rachel watched
her and could not repress the rising tide
bf her own growing definition of disci-
bleship. Of what Christian use was her
pwn talent of song? Was the best she
could do to sell her talent for so much
month, go on a concert company's
our, dress beautifully, enjoy the ex-
fitement of public applause and gain
reputation as a great singer, Was that
What Jesus would do?
She was not morbid. She was in
ound health, was conscious of great
bowers as a singer and knew that if she
vent out into public life she could
make great deal of money and become
well known 1t is doubtful if she over
Estimated her ability to accomplish all
he thought herself capable Of And
Firginia-what she had just said smote
Rachel with great force because of the
imilar position in which the two
friends found themselves.
Lunch was announced, and they
vent out and were joined by Virginia's
GRANDMOTHER, Nine. Page, a handsome,
lately woman of 65, and Virginia's
|rother, Rollin, young man who
pent most of his time at one of the
lubs and had no particular ambition
pr anything but growing admiration
br Rachel Winslow, and whenever she
ined or 1unched at the Page mansion,
he knew of it, he always planned to
e at home.
These three made up the Page fam
y. Virginia's father had been a bank
and grain speculator. Her mother
ad died ten years before, her father
Tithin the past year. The grandmother,
southern woman in birth and train
hg, had all the traditions and feelings
Pat accompany the possession of wealth
nd social standing that have never
cen disturbed. She was a shrewd, care
ll business woman of more than aver
ge ability. The family property and
Fealth were invested, in large measure,
hder her personal care. Virginia S por-
on was, without any restriction her
Hn. She had been trained by her ia
her to understand the ways of the
1siness world, and even the grand
other had been compelled to acknowl
ige the girls capacity for taking care
her own money.
Perhaps two persons could not be
und anywhere less capable of under
anding girl like Virginia than Nine.
age and Rollin. Raclssl, who had
nown the family since she was a girl
aymate of Virginia's, could not help
linking of what confronted Virginia
her own home when she once decided
the course which she honestly be-
eyed Jesus would take. Today at
nch, as she recalled Virginia's out
Feak in the front room, she tried to
cture the scene that would at some
me occur between Nine. Page and her
granddaughter.
81 understand that you are going on
e stage, Miss Winslow. We shall all
delighted, I'm sure said Rellin
tring one of the pauses in the CONVEX
ton, which had not been animated.
Rachel colored and felt annoyed.
"Who told your she asked, while
rginia. who had been very silent and
served, suddenly reused herself and
peared ready to join in the talk.
ooh, we hear a thing or two on the
eetl Besides, every one saw Gran
II, the manager, at church two weeks
%. He doesn't go to church to hear
preaching. In Fact, 1 know other
mOple who don't either, not when
eres something better to hear -
Rachel did not color this time, but
answered quietly:
"You're mistaken. I'm not going on
, stage"
It's great pity. You make hit.
IL