News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-05-22


naturally turned to her in the hour of
her trouble. She was probably at that
time well nigh crazed with the success,
sion of blows that had fallen upon her.
1t seemed to Stuart incredible at first
that Vasplaine in so short a time could
get possession of Louise's money and
squander it. But the more he learned
of his career the less he wondered.
Louise had trusted him, fascinated by
a certain attractiveness such men of
ten possess. And when he finally left
her she found herself alone in a great
city, ruined.
Her aunts refusal to receive her add
ed the final stroke to the weight of her
shame andimisery. Stuart never knew
what Louise had done after leaving
her aunt's house before she appeared
so Unexpectedly in Champion. There
were at least two days when he sup
posed she must have wandered about
or taken the wrong train to get home,
all that time fast losing her reason
and yet with enough left to shape her
way back to the old home. The shock
of her experiences told the story Of
her condition as Stuart found her when
he lifted her up from the doorstep
that rainy night.
All this gave Stuart bitter thoughts
as he hurried back to Champion. He
almost dreaded to get off the train for
fear the doctor would meet him, as he
did before when his father had died,
but no one was there with any news,
and when he reached the house he was
surprised to find Louise sitting up and
looking no worse than when he went
| away. He tried to take courage for
her. The doctor said she might linger
on through the summer, but gave no
hope of mental recovery. With this
constant shadow of death in their
home, therefore, Stuart and Rhena,
with thoughtful and serious hearts,
| their love for each other refined and
strengthened by this affection, went
forward with their great plans for the
brotherhood OF Champion.
The Hall of Humanity was going up
rapidly now. Stuart had determined
to have it ready for dedication before
winter set in if possible. He had en-
ployed a very large force of the best
workmen he could find. All this, OF
| course, meant that he and Andrew
Eric and Rhena and the doctor. togeth.
er with other good people in the town.
| had given vast amount of thought to
| the plans and purposes OIL the building
| At the same time Stuart was beginning
| the foundations of his own home down
in the town. The Hall of Humanity
stood on one side of the square nearly
I opposite st. Johns church. Stuart had
owned sev""al small buildings there
and had torn them down to make room
for the new building. His own house
was to be near by.
A few days after Stuart's return
| Eric and Andrew had come up at
| Stuart's request and with him and
Rhena were sitting in the library at the
| Duncan mansion discussing the plans
that were now beginning to take WISH
| the mines with the other men and
seemed to be passing through an eX-
| perience Of bitterness. He had not
| yet recovered from his humiliation at
| the loss Of his influence over the men,
| He was able to be present at the con-
| ference on this occasion, owing to a
half holiday which the miners were
celebrating in one of the numerous
! lodges.
81 don't understand this arrangement
here" said Andrew, who was examin-
ing the plans of the hall, which lay
spread out on the table.
Stuart explained the particular point,
and then they all began to talk about
the building.
"What is your exact idea about the
use of the big hall?" asked Eric as he
| pointed at the diagram marking the
| place of an immense auditorium.
81 don't know that have very many
exact ideas about any of the uses of
the building except that l want it to
represent in general the great word
helpfulness. | have thought of great
singers and players and lecturers who
could be induced to come up here at
moderate prices, understanding our OBJ
| ject, and then pack the hall full of men
and women and children at a small
| sum within their reach to pay. | be-
| lieve we could attract up here some
| of the best talent in music and speech
| in all the world and give the miners
| of Champion a taste of some of the
worlds best beauty. Then / would
have a week or two Of fine picture eX-
hibitions or fine art exhibits and so on,
| with, say, four times year a great
| flower exhibit. | am a convert to your
| idea, Eric, of music and flowers for
everybody. We could let Andrew here
have charge of the flower show if he
would promise not to ruin us with
dollhouse eXtravagances."
Andrew was so excited over the
thought that he got up and began to
pace the room.
"My!' he exclaimed. "Just think OF
a hall the size of that lined all the way
around with chrysanthemums or callas
or orchids! You'll allow me few or
chids, won't you. Stuart"
'But, look herew cried Rhena. Don't
let Andrew spend all our money on or
chids the first thing, the extravagant
fellow! Think of all the dollars it will