Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-03-27

mo; did not say that" replied Stu.
art dryly.
"What do you mean then?"
II can't make you or Louise under
stand me-" said Stuart after pause.
"No; Stuart talks in riddles Of late.
He thinks we are too aristocratic and
un-C Christian" said Louise. There was
sneer In her voice which hurt Stuart
keenly.
why do you say that, Louise? You
know I am thinking of the poor fami-
lies who are beginning to suffer at this
time. Surely we ought to do as much
for them as for ourselves. If we spend
hundred dollars to decorate the
rooms with flowers for party, we
ought to give twice as much to help
feed the hungry. The better way
would be to take the money spent on
the flowers and spend it on food"
"What!' cried Louise angrily. ION
the people who have brought their con-
dition on themselves by their own fool
ishness! Who is to blame for their
being hungry and cold II not them
selvesW
"The women and babies are not to
blame, aud they are the ones to feel
the suffering most" said Stuart quiet
ly.
"Well, you can use your money that
way IL you want to, but don't waste
mine on people who don't know when
they're well Off"
Stuart rose and stood with his back
to the fire. He was agitated with all
the new ideas that had crowded into
his life since the day God had spoken to
him. He felt that the revolution In him
would cut square across all the tradi-
tons and usages Of polite society, espe-
cially In the matter Of money and Its
personal expenditure.
Finally Louise and Aunt Royal took
up the subject of the coming party and
began discussing the families who
were invited.
Stuart still stood silently engrossed
in his own thoughts and hearing only
now and then a word. At last he was
reused by Louise.
"Stuart, will you sing with Una next
week? You remember that duo you
sang before you went abroadY
Yes; I'll sing II Lam here that even
Ing" replied Stuart. with a feeling that
he was fast losing all his interest in the
things that once amused him. He had
splendid baritone voice and was ia
vorite singer with all his friends.
"Why, are you planning to be awayY'
"No; did not know what might
happen under the condition of the
strike and ALL"
We've invited the Meltons and the
Vasplalnes. They would be very much
disappointed II you were not here"
said Aunt Royal.
II shall probably be here" said Stu
art briefly.
Louise rose suddenly and went up to
her brother.
"And invited Miss Dwight, Stuart.
She refused to come, but don't you
think nm too aristocratic for any
thing to invite herr"
Stuart looked Mt Louise In astonisil-
ment. The words sent the color to his
check and set his pulses beating.
you knew she would not come" he
said In a low voice.
Louise started as II she had been
caught in her lie to Rhena. She went
back to her seat and was silent. 1t
was ut times mad freak with Louise
to say or do the unexpected thing. She
was not original. but she sometimes
took q malicious pleasure In startling
people.
II am glad she refused" said Aunt
Royal. who sometimes forgot her diplo-
macy in her qualification ut things.
"She certainly would have felt very
much out of place among US"
Eyes, that's so.. said Stuart, provok-
ed into statement he could casily
have made before his conversion. "Shs
would have been out Of place among
your other guests because most of
them are uneducated Doors and clowns
In comparison with lady like Miss
Dwight"
Aunt Royal was speechless. She
could not find anything to say at first
Finally she began in her usual gentle
voice:
II am surprised, Stuart, to hear you
speak that way Of common Salvation
Army
That was MS far as Aunt Royal could
get. Stuart interrupted with an en-
phasis that petrified both the women:
II will not allow you or any ono to
speak disrespectful word of the wo-
man I love and who, II God Is good
enough to me, will some time become
my wife!"
With the words Stuart walked out
Of the room, leaving his aunt and
Louise gasping as II pail Of ice wa.
ter had been thrown over them. And
what they said when they recovered
history saith not, and Stuart never
knew nor cared.
He went away to his room and sat
there without turning on the lights.
He knew that he had precipitated mat
tiers In the home by his brief but out
right declaration Of his purpose he
did not regret II, but he was little
afraid he had shown the un-C Christian
~ III WOEuS Ut Inc
Adam had place In him yeti No, he
said to himself; he was new man.
The very best evidence Of II was his
present action. He knelt and prayed to
be forgiven IL he had spoken wrongly.
Hc was still praying when q servant
brought word that he was wanted at
the telephone.
He went down and was informed by
the clerk In the Office that two Of the
miners had come In, and, acting under
instructions, the clerk had called up
Stuart to come and see them. Stuart
told the clerk to hold the men until he
could get down. He went out at once
and drove into the town.
The men who had come to the office
were residents Of Cornishtown. They
had come for help In case not their
own. but that Of miner who lay sick
and In need at the farthest limits Of
the settlement.
Stuart hastily loaded his cutter with
necessarics, md with one of the men to
direct the way he started out. The
'nt0ht woo dort and 0po onov,, .,,o i.