Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-16
lou speak as Il I wash't one.

-
'Are you. LouiSeE' asked Stuart gen
tly. Put the question provoked her as
be had mol foreseen He wished strong
Is efterward that he had not put it. 1t
seemed as If he WAS judging her from
his own Christian experience. not We, a
day OLD.
Yes, | am. What am /? A heather z"
Louise stamped her foot, as she always
did when angry. Stuart saw that her
thought of the word was not his. He
remained silent, and Louise turned
about Oh the piano stool and struck a
few chords fitfully. Then she wheeled
back and said bluntly: What are you
going to do? Join the Salvation Ar
my?"
Stuart shrunk back as if from a blow.
1t was all so contrary to his experience
that he was entirely unable to shape
his speech as usual. He was silent I'M
til Louise repeated her question.
Il shall join the st. Johns church.
And | may join the army too. | I'M
derstand people can do that without
belonging to the ranks in one way
Louise rose to her feet with a look of
Z.
''Well, father ought to be here to see
all this. He would want to know if
this is Stuart Duncan, his son.
at is true he would not see the old
Stuart Duncan replied Stuart, with
a noble dignity that even Louise could
not help noticing. but he would find
better one, | hope. Louise. dear. | wish
you could understand just what I've
felt. 1t is impossible for me to look on
very many things as l did once. l
want to say this to you now, SO that
you will not be surprised at certain
events which may take place in the
future
ITO what do you refer? To your
joining the army? l suppose the lead
er is an attraction just now. | hear
Miss Dwight has been sent up to take
charge"
1t was as cruel and harmful fling
as Louise could be guilty of. But she
was stung into bitterness by many
events Of the past few days, and her
selfish, narrow nature had more than
once delighted to make Stuart suffer.
Stuart was pale to his lips. His
Christian experience, his conversion"
as he could call it, was not more Sa-
cred to his thoughts than the memory
of the army leader and the thought of
her sacrifice and surrender of all that
most young women count dear.
''Louise"' he cried, and if he had not
been in the grasp of better strength
here he would have been swept into
one of his old time bursts of passion.
Louise, YOU do not know what you
wound. You must not harm my con-
ception Of Christ or cast any dishonor
on his work in my forgiven soul. You
have no right
He spoke Gu sternly and yet with SO
much evident right defense of his in
ner motives that Louise was frighten-
ed. She might perhaps have asked
Stuart's pardon, but he, fearing to
prolong the conversation. went out of
the room and in to see Eric. Louise,
after standing idly by the piano a few
minutes, at last went up stairs TO heI
own room.
Stuart sat down by Eric and asked
the nurse 70 leave them alone a little
while. He was suffering from his in
terview with Louise. but he wanted tc
tell Eric his experience. 1t seemed to
him necessary before he we1t on with
his life another day.
In a few sentences he told Eric his |
experience Of the morning. Erie lis |
tened in wonder. He was very weak. |
He grasped Stuart's hand and pressed |
it feebly when he paused in his nara
tive.
81 never had any such leading as
- 80, 81, l.
cause | believed it was the only kind |
of Christianity that can really help |
things much"
But how is it, Eric? Do you feel |
q personal relationship to Christ as a
Saviour"
Yes. l think l do. But it is not so
plain to me as would ike
THAT is the most astonishing thing
to me- replied Stuart thoughtfully. |
''You know | never had any idea OF
ever talking about salvation or a
Saviour. You don't remember. do you.
that we ever talked on this subject be-
fore?'
Eric shook his head.
And yet. now" continued Stuart
reverently. Il seem to feel as l never
felt or expected to feel less than day
ago. | can't explain it, Eric. but Christ
seems the most real of all realities in
my life. | can put it in this way:
Henceforth do not feel able or willing
to do anything without first asking,
Would Christ approve this? Would
be say. DO it?"
Does that apply to your use of prop
arty and money and the present mine
Wi
"Yes." The answer came with a