Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-06-13

BY CHARLES. M. SHELDON,

Azth Il IA His Steps," "Maeom Kirk" THE crucdxien d
sRobet Hardy's Seven DayA"



1. was at this point that EDWARD
showed the better side Of his char
acter. especially in the matter OF bis
truthfulness. He sat down that night
and frankly wrote Mrs. Preston full
account of bis leaving Willis. He did
not attempt In this letter to hide the
fact that 1t was largely on his own
account. for the sake Of his own
peace and quiet, that he had left Willis.
An answer came promptly that
week. 1t was In some particulars ex-
actly what he had anticipated In
other ways parts Of the letter sur
prised him.
It vas q matter Of great surprise to me-Ars.
Preston wrote-that you had left Willis. He
writes me every week, and he said nothing about
It in his letter that received yesterday. ! am
more grieved and panied than can tell you. OF
course ! do not excuse Willis for his conduct II
ID what has been breaking my own heart tor
wears now He knows full well the consequences.
and yet he chooses his course. ] never told you
thst his grandfather q drinking man. He
used to boast Of his temperance in drinking and
said any man was q fool to let the habit get the
better Of him. He also claimed the liberty. as
he called It, to do 90 he pleased. and on several
occasions that ! know Of he resented attempts to
restrain the liquor drinking in hi: own neighbor'
hood His son. Willis father. wal born without
sny taste Tor liquor. and think he never touched
drop. but Willis 10 suffering from the sins Of
his grandfather. Willis 10 apparently victim OF
the passion that bis grandfather INDUCED in 50
boastingly and without any apparent personal
harm. Oh, when will men learn the terrible truth
that what they do or are will be repeated some
where. some time in the third or fourth genera
tion and II they don't suffer some one will in
the future? It seems to be one Of the memorable
laws OF God. But what have you done. Dir.
BlakeY Are you sure you have acted In the best
way9 Was there no other way for you to do but
to leave my son alone? What influence will you
have now? Did yon plead with him as you
might or did you leave him in anger9 Suppose
l. his mother. had abandoned him after all the
times he has annoyed and disappointed and even
ignored me and my prayers For more than seventy
times seven have forgiven him my knees before
God. That Is because am his mother. while you
were only his friend. But did you do all that
friend ought to do? God help not to be I'm.
just to you. have tried to realize the position
in which you were placed. Pvt il our Father in
heaven dealt with too severely how many OF us
would ever into the kingdom? What fear
for Willis now is that he will 60 down faster. lie
will become more and more re1less and make
his friends more among the fast set than hereto
pray God you will do SO. do not know any
other student in college who has any power over
him. have thought to write the president, but
know he is burdencd with great load, and
hesitate II have said in this letter things
should not, pardon me. You never can know the
heartache Of a mother for her Hrstboru and only
son. The Lord bless you and give you success.
Your friend. LUCILLE PRESTON.
Edward reread this letter gravely.
The last part Of it added to his self
accusation. At one time that same
evening he was almost on the point of
going over to see Willis and talk over
matters, But his pride and also his
natural obstinacy in keeping at thing
he had once decided upon kept him
back. He answered the letter. after a
fashion. and said in it that he would
serve Willis In any way he could If
opportunity offered. All the time he
was writing 1t he felt more or less like
hypocrite. Was this friendship? Had
he done all that friend could do? The
questions faced him repeatedly as he
tried to 60 on with his college work
aud were seldom out of his mind.
Along with 1t all was present that
tinge OF jealousy and bitterness to-
ward Willis that dated their real be-
ginning from his talk with Freeda.
So the winter term went on. rather
unsatisfactory for him. He was dis.
contented from a number Of causes
and was not getting out Of the course
what satisfied him. He had real pride
In keeping up his rank In class, how.
ever. and In spite Of his troubles he
managed to retain interest enough in
his regular work to do his best.
There was another matter. also. that
began to interest him. and. for time
at least. 1t drew his mind away from
thoughts Of Willis.
His paper route was in the heart Of
the city and took him into stores. bust.
ness offices Of lawyers and doctors and
into some places that he knew were
evil There was pne place. especially.
large room at the top Of an Office
block. that he very soon came to under
stand was nothing more nor less than
q professional gamblers resort. Gen.
orally he simply opened the door and
flung the paper In without stopping.
He had too many stairs to climb and
too big load Of papers to stop any.
where on the route. But occasionally,
as men were going In and out, as he
came up to the door. instead Of throw.
Ing the paper down inside where they
would step on 1t. he walked In and put
the paper on a table. The proprietor
Of the place one day asked him to do
SO every time. as his customers care
lessly kicked the paper on the floor If
1t was thrown down there.
So, after awhile. us Edward fell into
the habit Of entering the room regu.
larly. he gradually came to understand
just what was going on there. There
was an ordinance In Raynor that win
ter against gambling devices; but It
appeared to be a dead letter. and there
was hardly pretext Of secrecy about
the matter Of running the machines
and the tables. In this particular
place the violation of the law was
open and bold. Crowds of young men
thronged 1t every night. One evening,
when the paper was delayed by an &c.
cident and the carriers were all two
hours late, Edward noticed when he
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