The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-31
IN HIS STEPS.
"iL1i,at Ttlnuln
Jrsus Du?"
BY Charles M. Sheldon.
CoptriDhted and published ta bool; form bu ths
Adrdnee Publishing 20. Of Chicago.

uacneA won come mere unless she
can do 10 and keep her pledge at the
same time" said Felicia after a pause.
"What pledgef',' Mr.. Sterling asked
the question and then added hastily
''Oh. I know Yes; a very peculiar
thing that. Powers used to be friend
OF mine. We learned telegraphy in the
same o6ice; made q great sensation
when he resigned and handed owe. that
evidence 20 the interstate commerce
commission. and he's back at his te-
1egraphy again. There have been queer
doings IN Raymond during the past
year. ] wonder what DR.. Bruce thiu
ct it. on the whole ! must have a talk
with him about 1t.
''He breaches tomorrow. 1" said Fell
Ga perhaps he win tell rs something
about It,"
There was silence for minute. Then
Felicia said abruptly. a. IL she had
gone, on with spoken thought to some
invisible hearer. "And what IL he
should propose the same pledge to the
Nasareth Avenue churchf"
"Whof What are you talking abouti"
AoA nCk AotA0Is - nktl0 au6Iply.
about Dr.. Bruce. say what If he
should propose to our church what Mr..
Maxwell proposed to his and ask for
volunteers who would pledge themselves
TO do everything after asking the ques-
tion. What would Jesus dor" 4"
There's no danger of 1t. said Rose,
sising suddenly from tho couch as the
tea bell rang
'It's q very impracticable movement
TO my mind. >. eaid Mr.. Sterling sharply.
81 understand from Rachels letter
that the church In Raymond is goinc
TO mako an attempt to extend the idea
OF the pledge to the other churches. II
they succeed. they will certainly, make
great changes in the churches and in
peoples lives" said Felicia.
"Oh. well. let's have some tea first
said Rose. walking into the dining
room Her father and Felicia followed,
and the meal proceeded in silence. Mrs.
Sterling had her meals served in her
room. Mr. Sterling was preoccupied.
He ate very little and excused himself
early. and. although IL was Saturday
night. he remarked as he went out that
he wonld be down town late on some
special business.
Don't you think father looks very
much disturbed latelyf" asked Felicia
little while after he had gone out.
"Ohs don't knowi hadn't noticed
anything unusual. replied Rose. After
Q eilence she said: "Are you going to
the play tonight. Feliciaf Mrs. Delano
win be here at half past z. I think you
ought to 60 She will feel hurt il You
refuse
"I'n 60. don't care about it. I can
see shadows enough without going to
the play.
''That's doieful remark for a girl
10 years old to make" replied Rose,
"but then you're queer in your ideas
anyhow. Felicia. II you're going up TO
see mother, tell her I'll run in after the
play IL she Is still awake.
Felicia went up to see her mother
and remain with her until the Delano
carriage came. Mrs. Sterling was wor-
ried about her husband She talked in
cessantly and was irritated by every re.
mark Felicia made. She would not list.
eo to Felicia's attempts to read even
part Of Rachels letter. and when Fe-
hcia offered to stay with her for the
evening she refused the offer with a
good deal OF positive sharpness.
&c Felicia started off to the play not
very happy. but she was familiar with
mat feeling. only sometimes she was
more unhappy than at other times Her
feeling expressed itself tonight by
withdrawal into herself When the
company was seated in the box and the
curtain was mp. Felicia was back of
the others and remained for the even.
ing by herself Mrs. Delano as chaperon
for half dozen young ladies under.
stood Felicia we'll enough to know that
she was queer. as Rose so often said,
AMI she made no attempt TO draw her
eut OF the cccner. and so Felicia really
experienced hat night by herself one
lof the feelin;s that added to the mo.
mentum that was increasing the coming
on OF her great crisis
The play was IN English melodrama
ull OF startling situations. realistic
scenery and unexpected climaxes There
was one scene In the third act that i'm.
pressed even Rose Sterling
IL was midnight on Blackfriars
bridge. The Thames flowed dark and
forbidding below st Paul's rose
through the dim light. imposing. its
dome seeming to float above the build
ings surrounding IL The figure of
child came upon the bridge and stood
there for moment. pcering about as
~ looking for some one Several persons
were crossing the bridge. but in one of
the recesses about midway of the river
q woman stood. leaning out over the
parapet with strained agony of face
and figure that told plainly OF her in.
tentions just as she was stcalthily
mounting the parapet to throw herself