Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-06-11

Wheaton came in one forenoon. anu
Mrs. Blake Went into the little bedroom
to lie down awhile.
"Tm awfully thankful to you. Wheat.
on. for your Kindness during my sick.
ness. about the paper route and all
that. Mother has told me. ! won't
forget It,"
Wheaton looked somewhat haggard:
but he was naturally thin and some.
what consumptive In general appear.
ance.
That's all right. Blake. was right
here and haven't had much to do this
summer. You would have done the
same for me-"
do you think so?"
"Of course | do. Why not?" asked
Wheaton. who was not one Of the thin
skinned students and complacently
took any quantity Of snubbing and
scorn from the smart set In college.
Or perhaps his real anxiety for the
souls of other men made him indffer
ent to their Sights. Edward could
never quite make up his mind which Of
the two was more probable.
Mother says I've been really very
ILL.," said Edward, just to say some
thing. Wheaton was poor talker
when 1t came to general topics Of
everyday interest.
YES" said Wheaton gravely. you
came very near going into the other
world" He paused. and then added SOL
emily: Il wondered good many
times. Blake. If you were ready to 60
l wondered If you had accepted Christ
as Saviour"
Edward shut his lips. and kept still
Wheaton went on.
"Were you ready to 60 before the
Judgment seat of Christ. Blake?"
Edward felt an unreasonable wave Of
anger go over him. And yet this other
man had perhaps saved his life.
II try to live a good life don't feel
afraid of dying" he said shortly
But the personal acceptance Of
Christ as a Saviour is a different thing
from that" persisted Wheaton, who
unwisely argued in the face
Of apparent opposition. And yet is
even little unwise zeal as bad as
good deal Of proud Indifference?
II don't feel able to talk about it to.
day" said Edward. as he closed his
eyes and pretended to be In need Of
rest
pardon me-" said Wheaton quick.
ly. LET me pray for you. Blake. !
want to see you Christian"
Edward did not reply to him. and he
sat quietly reading the rest Of the
time, until Mrs. Blake came In again..
sad then Went away. Edward had
little twingt of rrmorse afterward as
he went over the interview He had
Teen unnecessarily short in his replies
to Wheaton AT the same time his
moral standard seemed sufficient to
him. His thought of Wheaton, how
ever. was necessarily more just. and
there was a respect for him that might
on better acquaintance possibly deepen
into friendship of certain kind The
only difficulty in that was the strong
prejudice that Edward still held to.
ward Whpaton's habit of speaking 80
often about his Christian faith. And
yet. why not. Edward Blake? Is it
a thing to rouse your anger or the
scorn of half the smart set in college
when student talks as much about
his Christian faith and life as you
talk about football and war and
amlIsements? Are these things more
important as conversation than the
subjects Mr.. Wheaton finds worth
while? May it not be possible that the
judgment of eternity will reverse your
Judgment of the man who wanted to
telk so much about the other world?
When college opened again in the
fall, Edward had fairly recovered. al
though he was still weak and wholly
Unable to go on the football team.
This was a great disappointment to
him, because matters were getting into
better shape from an athletic point Of
view. and he was. In spite of all draw
backs. n great lover of the sport, and
had planned to enter into it under new
conditions.
His enforced withdrawal from the
football practice and play started his
mind in another direction. and he be-
gan to ask himself If there was not
some plan of general athletic training
that would include practically the
whole college.
The president stopped one day as
he was passing through the hall and
had little chat with Edward. That
was a few days after the fall term
opened, and Edward was feeling rath-
er blue over the prospect and still
somewhat depressed owing to his phys
icnl weakness.
well. you're getting on all right,
Blake, now? Sorry | WAS away all
summer. You had a severe illness?"
"les. sir. I'm getting on as fast as
could expect. am not able to do
much in athletics this year."
"rell you what. Blake. There Is
chance for some good. honest work to
be done along the line of general re.
vival Of athletics for the average stu.
dent. Now. football does not engage
more than two dozen men for n small
part Of the year, and they are the rug
gedest. stockiest men Of all. Baseball
takes few more, perhaps, but after
we have counted out the football and
baseball men the great majority of the
@ nd EsaSy lnsS tsn- a.