News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-10-17

and he avoided it.
By the time he had finished writing
this letter it was nearly 8 o'clock. Ac-
cording to his regular studious habits,
he pulled his books down and opened
one Of them to begin his evenings
study.
He had just begun to get fairly into
the subject, when some one knocked.
"Come inw cried Edward, with a
feeling of annoyance at the interrupt
ton, and to his establishment who
should come in but Professor Clark.
Two of the professors had called on
Edward since he had been in college,
but each time it had been to see him
about matters connected with his stud
les. Professor Clark lived outside the
row of college professors houses on the
campus front, and Edward had so far
not met him at all except in the class
room where at the beginning of the
sophomore year he had gone into a di-
vision of the class in political economy.
In this division he was just beginning
to hear the lectures that had provoked
the anger of Mr.. Rankin. So far as he
knew Clark he respected him, as the
other students did. But he seemed to
be somewhat reserved man and lack
ing in sociabilfty.
This fact made his present appear
ance all the more astonishing to Ed
ward. He rose hastily and stammered
;y,1 30 L. - 4oJ
seat
81 came in to ask you to go over to
the meeting tonight" said the profess
or as he took the seat offered him.
"The-the- meeting?" stammered Ed
ward, amazed at the invitation.
Eyes. Mr.. Vail, the evangelist, is do
ing a good work in the college. He is a
very sensible, straightforward, Chris
tian man, and the students ought to
hear him as much as possible. | in
quired about you from some of the
men, and they said you had been out to
the meetings only once or twice. So
thought | would call and ask you to go
with me-"
If the professor had come into the
room and proposed to Edward that
they go down and set fire to the chapel
building, it is doubtful if Edward could
have been more overwhelmed with as
constituent. He had never heard of a
professor taking any such interest in a
students religious welfare. That was
not what the professors in college were
for. A vague but growing idea began
to dawn on Edwards mind that posi-
bly, the president had been doing some
missionary work among the faculty.
And yet there were an evident sincerity
and frankness about Professor Clark s
interest in him that were not assumed
nor dictated by the desire Of any one
else.
Il was just beginning my evening
study" began Edward slowly, but as
he spoke he rose and reached after his
hat.
'I'm sure this matter is fully as i'm.
portant as the studies" replied the pro-
fessor quietly. And that was all that
was said by either of them as they
went out and stepped over to the asso-
citation room in the chapel where the
meetings were being held. Edward
was naturally silent, and the professor
seemed to be little embarrassed by
the unusual situation. If his action
had been due to any move on the part
of the president, there was at least no
attempt on Clark's part to attempt
more with Edward than seemed posi-
BILE to do with him. Somehow he knew
that Edward would not be moved to
make a Christian decision by argu-
ments or by much talking. If he ever
decided. it would have to be because he
saw clearly for himself that the only
thing for an educated man to do was to
be Christian.
When they went in, the meeting had
begun, and the audience was singing
Edward noticed the president and sew.