Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-03-06

Louise turned about ON the piano stool
and struck a tetu chords
better IL / should use the old word con-
version and say had an experience
this morning that has converted ME to
q Christian life?"
"No; l don't know that would" Lou
Use replied coldly. She had gone over
to the piano and sat down on the stool
facing Stuart, but not looking into his
face.
Cant you understand me, Louisew
cried Stuart. His disappointment was
very great, although he had been pre-
pared for something of this kind before
he spoke.
s'No, don't understand, Stuart. 1t is
very strange. You seem to think you
haven't been Christian all this time.
You speak as If wasn't one"
care you, Louise?" asked Stuart gen.
tly. But the question provoked her us
he had not foreseen. He wished strong
ly afterward that he had not put 1t. 1t
seemed as If he was judging her from
his own CHRISTIAN experience, not yet a
day old.
Eyes, I am! What am I? A heathenT
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 on 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
myT
Stuart shrnnk back as If from blow.
It 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.
II shall join the st. Johns church.
And l may join the army too. l I'M
derstand people can do that without
belonging to the ranks in one way"
Louise rose to her feet with a look of
scorn that Stuart could not endure.
well, father ought to be here to see
all this! He would want to know If
this is Stuart Duncan, his son."
ut 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 q
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 I did once.
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 refer7 To youl
joining the army? suppose the lead
er is an attraction just now. heal
Miss Dwight has been sent up to take
charge"
1t was US 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 hel
selfish, narrow nature had more thar
once delighted to make Stuart suffer.
Stuart was pale to his lips. Hi.
Christian experience, his Conversion,
as he could call it, was not more So
cred to his thoughts than the memory
Of the army leader and the thought Of
her sacrifice and surrender Of all tina
most young women count dear
"Louise!" he cried, and If he had no
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 dishonol
on his work in my forgiven soul. You
have no right"
He spoke on sternly and yet with 81
much evident right defense of his in
ner motives that Louise was brighten
ed. She might perhaps have asked
Stuart's pardon, but he, fearing II
prolong the conversation, went out Of
the room and in to see Eric. Louise
after standing idly by the piano few
minutes, ut last went up stairs to hel
own room.
Stuart sat down by Eric and asked
the nurse to leave them alone a little
while. He was suffering from his in
terview with Louise, but he wanted tt
tell Eric his experience. It seemed t.
him necessary before he went on with
his life another day.
In d few sentences he told Eric his
Jexperlence Of the morning. Eric lis