Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-04-17
after, Andrew and Eric pretended 10 be
busy talking at the other end Of the

after, Andrew and Eric pretended TO be
busy talking at the other end Of the
room.
Stuart picked up the carnatlon and
spoke feebly, but the light of life was
in his eyes. ''This blossom is called
the Rhena Dwight, SO Andrew says.
VIII you take 1t because of the love l
bear you?"
Rhena took the flower and kissed 1t.
Then she shyly placed the blossom
against Stuart's lips. Then she laid it
down again in his hand.
e"No," she said; you keep the Rhena
Dwight for the love have for YOU"
Is 1t any wonder Stuart grew well
with great rapidly after that?
In Il week he was almost well. he
was able to take part in the discussions
which forced themselves into that little
room in spite of all Eric could do.
/ There had been three weeks almost n
blank to Stuart, but full of horror and
misery for the miners on all the ranges.
The fire that dreadful night had made
300 or 400 people homeless. The deaths
from fever had lessened some in Cham
pion, but Mt De Mott the daily mortality
had increased. But most of the suffer-
ing came from lack of clothing and
fuel and food. The winter had contin-
Ued with terrible severity. And still
the union held out with remarkable
stuhbornness, although the week of
Stuart's conSalescence there was ru-
NOR that a break would come very
fTl,a ,,,,ip ho6 raO ifc limit
of ability TO help in financial way
long before this.
i Stuart came back to strength and
new vitality with all the force Of the
old problem intensified as he realized
what the three weeks had added to 1t.
He was glorified with the love Of Rhe-
ma, now wholly his, but he knew that
for nothing did she love him more than
for his desire to try to solve the hui
man problem, us 1t touched both their
lives in Champion. With all the added
warmth and enthusiasm of her great
hearted wisdom he now set himself
to the duty before him. 1t was not
alone his desire that Rhena should be
one of the company when Eric and
Andrew came In to talk over, matters
The other men had learned that wo
mans wit very often supplies the nee
essary factor in solution Of practical
relief, and Rhena took her place will
them us Indispensable to their councils
henceforth.
Something has got to be done soor
, for the people who lost everything
in the fire." said Andrew. The little
group of four were In Eric's room
Stuart on the couch, Rhena sitting
near the end Of 1t, Eric pacing thu
room, his dark eyes restless and burn
Ing.
IT understand they have all beel
: comfortably cared for, but don't SCI
; myself what Champion people hav,
been able to do for them in the wa.
= of housing them," said Stuart, looking
!, at Andrew, upon whom large shar,
= Of the work of relief had fallen durinl
Stuart's unconscious condition.
: Heaven knows how all of then
I have been cared for. The Salvation
! Army hall has been turned into bar
\ racks and Miss Rhena here know
how much the army has DONE"
q 'Tt has done'yery little In comparison
). with what 1t would like to do" sal
q Rhena sadly.
do you know what 1t would like t
do?" asked Stuart, who was only jus
q beginning to comprehend how grca
! and pressing was the need since tn
4 fire and three weeks more Of til
strike.
"I'm afraid it's not much use for m
n to say" answered Rhena, with adde
i. sadness.
o "You forget answered stuar
y what is all my money for? Why hav
r you not been spending It all this time?
r he asked almost Aercely, turning I
:. Eric, who still paced the room an
who had not yet spoken.
j. "I've spent plenty of other people
r money In my mind" answered Fri
g as bitterly as. he ever spoke, 'but
r never spent 1t in reality. and when
10 comes to the suffering we face now
wouldn't know where to stop. Wins
d right have people to go on wastin
q Gods property SO wickedly while thel
n Is SO much sufferingT'
IS He loohed at Andrew as he spoke
u and Andrew, who seldom made a n
le tort Of any kind, replied:
.. ASK the devil. He knows mor
y about 1t than do"
, "And then there is the church." cor
. tinued Eric, who WINS irritable an
"a nervous on this occasion. for his Ion
~ watching with Stuart had been grea
- strain on him. what is 1t doing 1
: comparison with what 1t ought to do
Stuart, you asked me quite awhile ag
why Joined the Salvation Army. T.
70 tell you why. There was nowher
~ else could go for the religious expires
= sion of my life. st. Johns church is
curious mixture Of workingmen an
tradesmen, and I'm not saying any
10 thing of its aristocracy. for It hash
NJ any, but II I do say it and am sorr
: to have to say 1t. the whole object Q
70 the church before Andrew came her
!. to, 1t seemed to be to meet togethe
Il for meetings which gave occasion Il
q good deal of feeling and emotion
70 but never realized anything of pra'
NJ teal nature in helping to relieve Ii
~ pressure of the physical needs Of mel
a The whole thing evaporated in feeiin
and psalm singing and prayers ths
never really got much outside the wal
Of the vestry.
C. Tro nv rowrrwr1vn