Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-02

There had been three weeks almost blank to Stuart, ,-buts 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 at 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 stubbornness, although the week of Stuart's consalescence there was ru- nor that break would come very soon. The union had reached it's limit of ability to help in financial way long before this.
 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 it. He was glorified with the love of Rhe- na, now wholly his. but he knew that for nothing did she love him more than for his desire to try to solve the hu- man problem, as it 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 Erie 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 a solution of practical relief, and Rhena took her place with thnp in6iSnnnsa to hoi henceforth.
 Something has got to be done soon for the people who lost everything in the fire," said Andrew. The little group of four were in Fries room, Stuart on the couch, Rhena sitting near the end of it, Eric pacing the room, his dark eyes restless and burn ing.
 T understand they have all been comfortably cared for, but 1 don't see myself what Champion people have been able to do for them in the way of housing them," said Stuart, looking at Andrew, upon whom a large share of the work of relief had fallen during Stuart'S unconscious condition.
 Heaven knows how all of them have been cared for. The Salvation Army hall has been turned into bar racks, and Miss Rhena here knows how much the army has done''
 Ut has done very little in comparison with what it would like to do,' said Rhena sadly.
 Do you know what it would like to do?' asked Stuart, who was only just beginning to comprehend how great and pressing was the need since the fire and three weeks more of the strike
 I'm afraid it's not much use for me to say,' answered Rhena, with added sadness.
 You forget'' answered Stuart What is all my money for? Why have you not been spending it all this time?" he asked almost fercely, turning to Eric, who still paced the room and who had not yet spoken.
 i've spent plenty of other peoples money in my mind," answered Eric as bitterly as he ever spoke, "but never spent it in reality, and when it comes to the suffering we face now wouldn't know where to stop. What right have people to go on wasting Gods property so wickedly while thers is so much sufferingE
 He looked at Andrew as he spoke, and Andrew. who seldom made a re- tort of any kind, replied:
 Ask the devil. He knows more about it than I do."
 And then there is the church, con- tinued Eric, who was irritable and nervous on this occasion for his long watching with Stuart had been a great strain on him. What is it doing in comparison with what it ought to do? Stuart, you asked me quite awhile ago why joined the Salvation Army I'll tell you why. There was nowhere else l could go for the religious eXpres- sion of my life. St. Johns church is q curious mixture of workingmen and tradesmen, and I'm not saying any thing of it's aristocracy, for it hasn't any, but if 1 do say it, and I am sorry to have to say it, the whole object of