Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-05-16
CHAPTER l.

Ton. lie was uOl III lue udpll VI dllShu
ing the evening service, but something
said by his minister in the morning
had impelled him to go out. The even
ing had been little unpleasant, and
light snow was falling, and his wife
had excused herself from going tc
church on that account. Mr.. Hardy
came home cross and fault finding.
Catch me going to evening service
again! Only 80 people out. and 1t was
a sheer waste Of fuel and light. The
sermon was one of the dullest l evel
heard. | believe Mr.. Jones Is growing
too old for our church. We need
young man. more up with the times
He Is everlastingly harping on the ne
cessity Of doing what we can in the
present to save our souls. To hear him
talk YOU would think every man who
wasn't running round to save souls ey'
cry winter was robber and an enemy
of society. He is getting off, too, on
this newfangled Christian sociology
and thinks the rich men are depressing
the poor and that church members
ought to study and follow more closely
the teachings Of Christ and be more
brotherly and neighborly to their fel
low men. Bah. am sick Of the whole
subject of humanity. shall withdraw
my pledge to the salary if the present
style of preaching continues"
what was the text Of the sermon to-
night?" asked Mrs. Hardy.
ooh. | don't remember exactly. Some
thing about This night tiny soul shall
be demanded or words like that.
don't believe in this attempt to scare
folks into heaven"
at would take a good many sermons
to scare you, Robert"
"Yes: more than two week" replied
Mr.. Hardy. with dry laugh. He drew
Off his overcoat and threw himself
down on the lounge In front Of the
open fire. "Where are the girls?"
"Alice is up stairs reading the morn
ing paper. Clara and Bess went oyer
to call on the CaXtons."
How did they happen to 60 over
there?"
Mrs. Hardy hesitated. Finally she
said, james came over and invited
them"
"And they know I have forbidden
them to have anything to do with the
Caxtons, When they come In, / viii
let them know mean what / say. II
is very strange the girls do not appear
to understand that"
Mr.. Hardy rose from the lounge ano
walked across the room, then came
back and lay down again and from hi:
recumbent position poked the fire say
agely with the shovel.
Mrs. Hardy bit her lips and seemed
on the point Of replying. but said moth
ing.
At last Mr.. Hardy asked, "Where are
the boys?"
"Will is getting out his lessons fol
tomorrow up in his room. George wen
out about s o'clock. He didn't say
where he was going
"It's a nice family. Is there one
night in the year. Mary. when all oul
children are at home?"
almost as many as there are wher
you are at home" retorted Mrs. Hardy
What with your club and your lodge
and your scientific society and youl
reading circle and your directors meet
Ing the children see about as much Of
you as you do Of them. How many
nights in a week do you give to US
Robert? DO you think 1t is strange
that the children 60 outside for theil
amusements? Our home"-Mrs. Hardy
. paused and looked around at the costly
interior Of the room where the two
were-"our home Is well furnished
with everything but our own children
The man on the lounge was silent
He felt the sharpness Of the thrus
made by his wife and knew it was to-
true to be denied. But Mr.. Hardy was
above all things else, selfish. He hat
not the remotest intention Of giving VI
his club or his scientific society or hi
frequent cozy dinners with bushes
men down town because his wife spen
80 many lonely. deserted evenings a
home and because his children were al
most strangers to him. But it annoye
him, as q respectable citizen. to hav
his children making acquaintances tina
he did not approve. and it grated on hi
old fashioned, inherited New Englan
ideas that his boys and girls SHOULD
be away from home so often in tn
evening and especially on Sunda
evening. The maxim of Robert Hardy
life was Self interest first" AS Ion
rs he was not thwarted in his ow
pleasures he was as good natured a
Che average man. He provided liberia
ly for the household expenses. and hl
wife and children were supplied wit
money and travel as they requisite
It. But the minute he was crossed
his own plans or any one demanded 9
him a service that compelled some SCI
denial he became hard. i'll natured an
naughty.
He had been q member Of the churc
at Barton for % years, one of the trus
tees and a liberal giver. He prlde
himself on that fact. But so far as SlE
ing any of his time or personal serrlc
was concerned, he would as soon hay
thought Of giving all his property ava
to the first poor man he met. Ills mlI
lister had this last week written him a