The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-17

I have kept my membership up and an
in good standing III fi.at way. t1y to
be wise ard nos provoke any Hnneces-
s;.rv criticism. bat you would be sur
priscd te, ......ow bow niany of the men
have res,;oaded to by appeal. / coIld
hardly make You believe that only
few NIGHTS ago a dozen men became
honestly and earnestly engaged IN
conversation over religious questions.
I have had the great JOY OF seeing some
Of the men give up bad habits and be-
Gin new life. What would Jesus do?'
I keep asking it. The answer comes
slowly. for an feeling my way along
One thing / have found out-the men
are not fighting shy Of me- think
that is a good sign. Another thing
have actually interested some OF them
in the Rectangle work, and when 1T IS
started up they will give something to
help make it more powerful, and, IN
addition to all the rest, | have found a
way to save some OF the young fellows
from going to the bad in gambling.
Rollin spoke with enthusiasm His
face was transformed by his interest IN
the subject which had now become
part of his real life. Rachel again noted
the strong, manly, healthful tone of
his speech. With it all she knew was
deep, underlying seriousness which felt
the burdea Of the cross even while car
rying it with JOY. The next time she
SPOKE it was with a swift feeling G
Justice due to Rollin and his new life.
ssDo you remember reproached you
once for not having any purpose worth
living for!" she asked, while her beau
tiful face seemed to Rollin more beau
tiful than ever when he had Won sufn-
Gent self control to look up Il want
to say I feel the need of saying, in JUS
tice to you now, that honor you tor
your courage ard your obedience to
your promise The life you are living
now is very noble one. .
Rollin trembled. His agitation was
greater than he could control. Rachel
could not help seeing it. They walked
along in silence. At last Rollin said;
81 thank you It has been more than
I can tell to hear you say that. He
looked into her face for one moment.
She read his love for her in that look,
but he did not speak.
When they separated, Rachel went
into the house, and, sitting down IN
her room, she put her face in her hands
and said to herself: 81 am beginning
to know what it means to be loved by
noble man I shall love Rollin Page.
after all What am sayings Rachel
Winslow, have you forgotten
She rose and walked back and forth.
She was deeply moved. Nevertheless 1t
was evident to herself that her emotion
was not that Of regret or sorrow. Some
how glad, new JOY had come to her.
She had entered another circle OF ex-
perience, and later in the day she re-
ioiced with a very strong and sincere
gladness that her Christian discipleshlp
found room for this crisis IN her feel
ing 1t was indeed a part OF Il, for II
she were beginning to love Rollln 1t
was the Christian man who had Won
her heart The other never would have
moved her to this great change.
And Rollin as he went back i'ea ss.!:--,eet:
hope that had been a stranger to IL.
since Rachol had said no that d:y. /.
that hope he went ON with his wor:-- 9.
the days sped or, and at no ti:..e va.
he more successful in reaching ana say
ing his old acqraintances than IL the
time that followed that chance meeting
with Rachel Winslow.
The summer had gone and Raymond
was once more facing tie rigor OF f.eT
winter season. Virginia had been able
to accomplish! a part Of her plan for
Capturing the Rcctangle as she
called it. bHt the building OF houses in
the field, the Transforming of its bleak.
bare aspect into an attractive park, I'll
OF which was included in her plan. was
work too large to be completed that
fall afte, she had secured the property.
But a million dollars IL the hands OF a
person who really wants TO Go With 1t
as Jesus would ought TO accomplish
wonders for humanity in short time.
and Henry Maxwell. going over to the
scene of the new work one day after
noon hol.r with the shopmen. was
amazed to see how much had been done
outwardly.
Yet he walked home thoughtfully.
and on his way he could not avoid the
question of the continual problem thrust
into his notice by the saloon. How
much had been done for the Rectangle.
after all? Even counting in Virginia $
and Rachels work and Mr.. Gray's.
where had it actually counted in any
visible quantity? Of course he said to
himself that the redemptive work begun
and carried on by the Holy Spirit IN
his wonderful displays OF power in the
First church and in the tent meetings
had had It's effect on the life of Ray
mond. but as he walked past saloon aft
er saloon and noticed the crowds going
in and coming out of them, as he saw
/ the wretched dens as many as ever ap-