Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-02-27
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all he recalled wildly the effect the
news had on her brother. who ut the
! time was classmate of Stuart. He
could also remember talking it over
with Louise when he came home for
his Christmas vacation.
Louise was shocked as deeply as 1t
was in her capacity to be shocked to
think girl who had such career be-
fore her. gifted with such talents, mu-
steal and social, should give them all
mp to fling her life away in the slums
over horrid, dirty, drunken, miserable
people. "She must be crazy" said Lou
Use. "Her father was right in saying,
IL the report was true, that Rhena new
err should come into his home again as
his daughter" His aristocratic family
connections were very deeply disgraced
by the event. His own standing in So
ciety was under a cloud. He felt the
shame of 1t with great bitterness and
never alluded to it.
All this Stuart called up as he neared
home. He had never met Miss Dwight
before and knew nothing Of her rea-
sons for the complete change in her
life. He wondered thoughtfully il 1t
Ind not been something like the expe-
rience that had come to himself that
morning.
Louise met him with the news that
his Aunt Royal, who had been expected
on the noon train, had telegraphed that
she had waited over day on account
of the troubles liable to follow the
bringing Of the troops. Ross Duncan's
sister had planned for some time to
come and make Louise visit and be
with her through the winter II Louise
wished.
eric has been calling for you. He is
very nervous. Life isn't worth living
with all this excitement over these la
Dor troubles" said Louise sharply.
when Aunt Royal comes, mean to
plan for something besides all this"
Stuart did not reply and went in to
see Eric, while Louise walked into the
parlor and began to thump the piano as
hard as she could. She was angry with
Stuart and vexed with everything in
general.
"Well, old fellow" said Stuart cheer
fully, I'VE had an exciting time. but no
one killed yet. and think the worst is
over"
"Tell me about it." Eric tried to sit
up little and nervously moved his fin
gers over the bedclothes.
Stuart briefly described the scene at
the train. and Eric listened with frown-
ing brow and strained muscles.
1 Gal L. v,, n
one. Who did you say she was"
miss Dwight. She has just come up
here, understand. within q day or
two" And Stuart went on to tell Eric
her story as he knew 1t. Eric listened
with great eagerness. Then he inquired
about the men; how they had behaved,
what they were planning to do, what
the next move would be. whether the
men who had gone on down to the low
cr range would probably so into the
mines or whether they would be pre-
vented by the miners.
81 tell you. Stuart" said Eric after
question and answer had been going
for several minutes in this way, II
must get up out of this, and very soon
too. The doctor can't keep me here two
weeks. because mean to be carried
down to the square II l can't walk. Now
is just the time when ought to be
with the men. IL they once begin to
break over the law the cause of labor
will suffer setback that 1t cannot re-
cover from for years."
"That's true. But there is a lawless
element already reused that is growing
worse every day. If a gun had gone off
this noon doubt IL a soldier of the en-
tire number of troops would have left
the spot alive. The men would have
climbed over 100 dead bodies to tear
the soldiers in pieces. think never
came SO near to seeing the claws of the
wild beast in the mob in all my life"
"Ah," replied Eric sadly, 81 have seen
them more than once. Heaven grant
you don't see what have" He refer
red to scenes which had occurred when
he was boy In the coal regions Of
England. Stuart had often talked them
over with Eric.
"Amen," answered Stuart. He re.
NAMED silent then, his thoughts busy
with the events of the morning. He
was casting about for good opportu.
nifty to tell Eric his experience at the
beginning of the day. In the midst Of
all the perplexing and complicated sit.
uation in which he was now placed
Stuart went back repeatedly to his
change Of attitude toward all the facts
Of his own life. That must have been
tremendous event to hold SO supreme
q place in his mind as 1t did.
Just then Louise went by the door
and called out, as she went on into the
dining room, Luncheon is ready!' Stu
art had forgotten all about eating, but
he left Eric to go in and keep Louise
company.
All the time he was eating he felt
that he must tell his sister the facts
about his-what did he call 1t? The
word conversion" had always been
distasteful to him, but what had hap
pened to him? Something very remark.
able and SO remarkable that 1t seized
him and held him in a loving and joy
full grasp. making him feel that all 9th
er matters were as nothing compared
with this. He was not of an emotional
nature. Ills whole education and train.
ing were of such nature that he had
always prided himself on being a re-
fined, self possessed man of the world
telling the truth, living purely, being
strictly honest and brave, but without
exhibition of passion or feeling, except
at rare intervals when strange, hered.
itary outburst would sweep away all
traditions as II he were mad.
But now he felt as IL a new passion
had caught him up and held him; q
new life swayed his whole being; he
was calm, and yet he felt thrilled with
this new existence. There was no yes
terday any more. Everything was to
day and tomorrow. Jesus was the one
great central, throbblng, pulsing, NOV.
ing impulse with him. He was new
man. And yet men say, specifically,
sometimes In these days, that the times
of miracles are gone by. Is there q
greater miracle in all the earth than