Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-04-17
EDWARD BLAKE: COLLEGE ;S|i'IIIjDENI
CHARLES NJ. SHELDON

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CHARLES La NJ. SHELDON. 1
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Not at YOU" replied Edward. Rut
as ne spoke he could not look her In
me race as he used to do.
You are not well, Ned Freeda
spoke quietly. "You are having some
trouble
"1'll tell you some time. not now"
he replied, and after a moments hest.
ation he abruptly opened the door and
went out.
He started toward his room, but
when he reached the steps of Rankin
hall he continued on past the building
and went out upon the campus. He
crossed 1t and took a familiar path
that led down past the clubhouse and
then out upon the main street that led
to the city.
~ ~ Once out there by the big gates of
the college grounds he paused again
and then went down into the city. He
walked deliberately and as If he were
going to keep some previous engage
ment.
Soon he was In the midst of the
street traffic down In the center of the
town. On account Of its being Christ
mas day the stores were mostly closed,
but the crowds on the sidewalks seem.
ed larger than usual. He walked on
steadily until he came to the front of
what had grown to be familiar to him
IN very brief time-the arched en-
trance leading up to the box Office of
the principal theater of Raynor.
A great crowd was streaming SLOWLY
up toward the floor entrance. But Ed
ward stopped outside and stared with
peculiar earnestness at the two bill
boards. one on each side of the door,
way facing the sidewalk.
The pictures were such as might be
seen in almost any city where cheap
theatrical representations are common.
They were neither worse nor better
than scores Of others similar to them
which had appeared there regularly for
years. The wonder was, Of course, that
pictures of that character could appear
In any Christian city of this country
and be allowed by Christian people to
remain a constant temptation and men
ace to the purity Of young life.
1t was characteristic of Edwards
stubborn nature that, once having de-
termined on his course, he was resoly-
ed to test his purposes by once more
thrusting himself into the very midst
OF his temptations as If he would make
one final defiance of the worst they
could do. BE mechanically but DELHI
erately went up to the side entrance
and bought the cheapest gallery ticket
to the matinee that was sold. With this
ticket in his hand he went around to
the gallery door where he had gone so
often and stood there minute. Then
he quietly walked out upon the side
walk and turned his face toward the
college, tearing the ticket into pieces
as he climbed the hill.
he was glad it was storming harder.
tearing down the hill, finging pillows
Of fine snow upward. Edward reached
the top Of the hill and entered the col
lege gate with a feeling of exultation
that was partly the result Of what he
had just experienced and partly the
result of his physical contest with the
storm.
died his fire, which had gone out. He
then went to his table and wrote a long
letter to his mother, telling her the
whole story of his temptation and his
final resolve to break with the whole
evil. More than once he laid his pen
down and rose to pace the floor. He
was entirely alone in the building. The
storm had risen now to a majestic
height and roared over the hill, per-
feet anthem Of power. He went to the
window and back again to the table
and finally finished the letter and
thoughhully folded it, put it in the en-
velope, addressed, sealed and stamped
1t, ready for delivery.
Then feeling still high in him the
emotion that demanded more action he
put on his overcoat and went out
again. Should he 60 to Freeda? BE
wanted to unburden himself to her,
and he would have gone if she had still
been In the ladies' hall. But it was
growing late now, and he shrank back
from going to see her in her new sur
roundings. And there was also even
yet a timidity In his thought, even Of
her, that made him willing to wait
little while.
So he went on down into the city
again, carrying his letter with him,
which he put into one of the down
town boxes, where it would be taken
out by the carrier that night some time,
and after looking into the shop win
dows on one of the streets where even
yet few confectionery stores and res
taurants were open he started back
again for his room.
BY this time it was past shutdown,
and the storm was at its height. As he
came up to the steps of Rankin hall he
noticed a light In the room. He sud-
denly remembered that Willis had said
that he might return on Christmas day
In order to take part in some private
theatricals given by the society men in
one Of the houses of q member who
lived In Raynor.
II ought to tell him all about it, l
suppose" Edward muttered to himself
down at the foot Of the steps. And the
: thought almost upset him again. He
was ready to make clean breast of 1t
to his mother. He had already done so,
= 80 e. Eoa 1lf$od n 1ood From hiS hoart
He was going to tell Freeda, and he