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

believe the man is crazy. 1t certainly
will not do to let him stay here all
night
Philip looked puzzled.
81 declare it is strange! He doesn't
appear like an ordinary tramp. But
somehow | don't think he's crazy.
Why shouldn't we let him have the
bed in the room off the east parIor. 1
can light +he fire in the stove there
and make him comfortable"
But we don't know who he is. You
let your sympathies run away with
your Judgment"
''Well. little woman. let me go in and
talk with him awhile. You get the
lunch, and We'll see about the rest
So he went back and sat down again.
He was hardly seated when his visitor
said:
'If your wife objects to my staying
here tonight, of course, 1 don't wish to.
don't feel comfortable to remain
where I'm not welcome"
ooh. you're perfectly welcome" said
Philip hastily, with some embarrass-
ment, while his strange visitor went
on:
I'm not crazy, only a little odd, you
know Perfectly harmless. 1t will be
perfectly safe for you to keep me over
night"
The man spread his thin hands out
before the fire, while Philip sat and
watched HIM with certain fascination
new to his interest in all sorts and
conditions of men.
Mrs. Strong brought in substantial
lunch of cold meat, bread and butter,
milk and fruit and then placed it on
a table in front of the open fire, where
he and his remarkable guest ate like
hungry men.
1t was after this lunch had been eat
en- and the table removed that a scene
occurred which would be incredible if
it's reality and truthfulness did not
compel us to record it as a part of the
life OF Philip Strong. No one will wish
to deny the power and significance of
this event as it is unfolded in the
movement of this story.
CHAPTER NJ.
"I heard your sermon this morning"
said Philips guest while Mrs. Strong
was removing the small table to the
dining room.
"Did you?' asked Philip, because he
could not think of anything wiser to
say.
"YeS," said the strange visitor sim
ply. He was so silent after saying this
one word that Philip did what he new
er was in the habit of doing. He al
ways shrank back sensitively from
asking for an opinion of his preaching
from any one except his wife. But now
he could not help saying:
'VNhat did you think of it?
''It was one Of the best sermons
ever heard. But somehow it did not
sound sincere"
"What?' exclaimed Philip almost an
grily. If there was one thing he fell
sure about, it was the sincerity of his
preaching. Then he checked his feel
| ing as he thought how foolish it would
| be to get angry at passing tramI
who was probably a little out of hi:
mind. Yet the mans remark had 6
strange power over him. He tried tt
shake it off as he looked harder a
him. The man looked over at Philip
and repeated gravely, shaking his head
Not sincere"
Mrs. Strong came back into the room
and Philip motioned her to sit dow
near him while he said, "And wha
| makes you think was not sincere"
"You said the age in which we Hve'
demanded that people live in far sim
pier, less eXtrayagant style"
Eyes, that is what l said. 1 believ
it, too" replied Philip, clasping hi
hands over his knee and gazing at hi
| singular guest with earnestness. TIL
! mans thick white hair glistened in tn
open freight like spun glass.
"And you said that Christ would nc
approve of people spending money 70
flowers, food and dress on those VIII
did not need it when it could more wise
ly be expended for the benefit of thos
who We're in want"
"Yes. Those We're not my eXaC
words, but that was my idea
''Your idea. Just so. And yet W
have had here in this little lunch, o
as you called it. bite OF something
three different kinds of meat. two kind
of bread, hothouse grapes and the ricl
est kind of milk"
The man said all this in the quietes
calmest manner possible, and Phil
stared at him. more assured than eve
that he was a little crazy. Mrs. Stron
looked amused and said, You SCENE
to enjoy the lunch pretty we'll I'll
man had eaten with-a zest that wa
redeemed from greediness only by
delicacy of manner that no tramp eve
possessed.
My dear madam" said the ma
! perhaps this was n case where tt
food was given to one who stood real
+ in need of it."
, Philip started as if he had sudden
, caught meaning from the man
, words which he had not before heal
in them.
, do you think it was an eXtravagal
+, lunch then?" he asked, with a vel
! slight laugh.
f The man looked straight at Phil
D and replied slowly, Eyes, for the tim
f in which we liver
: A sudden silence fell on the group
I three in the parlor of the parsOnag