The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-04-25
Salvation Army lass would Be ssady \
n,,t nm 9TH alu,n naH anO<hea0W

-
put up with almost anything" \
"Stuart"-Rhena spoke with real :.
riousness-"I could be happy with NJ,
In one Of the cottages down there. ana
you and I know that together. Tns|
army Is very dear to me. l canpo,
leave It,"
II do not ask you to-" replied Stuart
smiling. II 1rst fell In love with you,
bonnet, and hope you will wear il AL
the wedding"
Il am thinking Of the poor men anal
women I have been living with N
long" continued Rhena. Her grest|
eyes filed with tears. II can't bear n
have them think that because am 20.
ing to be the wife Of the mine owpe,
and live in his house am going to bs
lifted so far away from them that they
will Stuart. you know what mean
II didn't believe so completely in you
and your thought Of stewardship of|
Gods property. would never dare
marry you. n man with all this money
and master Of such a house. | cannot
even think Of the selfish surroundings
Of my life without shudder.
I'VE need great wisdom to use Godrs
blessings. II will be a Joy to us 10
work out the problem together. won,
itT
Stuart said something so softly that
with the exception Of Rhena, only {,
snowbird on a fir tree near by heard
1t, and the snowbird never told.
They talked for awhile about theli
approaching marriage. 1t was to b
the following week.
Louise and Aunt Royal are going I'd
New York the first of the week. Nv
only regret, Rhena, Is In being unable
to reconcile them to US. We move In
different world from theirs"
"You have done all you could, am
sure. Stuart" replied Rhena gently,
She was thinking Of another matter
Finally she asked. almost timdly: "Tb{
army has asked me II | expected to h
married in the church. Would 20,
mind, Stuart. If we were married In th
old hall?
NO." said Stuart. He was and al
ways had been indifferent to th
particular forms and ceremonies o
life, even the old life from which b,
was now emancipated. and he under
stood Rhena's reason for this request
She belonged to the army. and th(
little squad Of officers and privates wa
very dear to her. She longed to a.
sure them in every way possible tha
her marriage had not In any way re
moved them from her In sympathy.
So one evening about a week aftel
the departure Of Louise and Auu
Royal Stuart went down to Eric
cottage and met Andrew and the doc
tor there. Together they went over
Rhena's lodging. and presently Oh
came out dressed in the army costume
that Stuart said was the best and mos
becoming for her to wear. She tool
his arm. and. with Eric and the doctc'
and Andrew marching behind. the1
stepped over to the hall.
The army was In great excitement
1t had paraded the streets. held 1t
outdoor meeting and was back at tn
hall to welcome the bride and groom
The little band stood just outside, any
what 1t lacked In numbers II made y
in muscle. The big drum had ne7s
received such vigorous beating as
received that night. The tambourn'
would certainly have been knocked u
to small pieces II they had not bed
made Of very tough material an
"Scaly joe" now known as Witness
ing Joseph" would surely have blow
himself through the holes Of bis dut
II he had not been possessed Of
pair of lungs that could be almost 10
definitely expanded.
Outside the hall, standing about IN
great crowd. were the miners Of Cham
plon. They greeted the little brlday
party with hearty cheers as II camp
up, and as soon as the band had hnlsn
ed and Stuart and Rhena. Andrew ano
Eric and the doctor had gone In theY
crowded after. filling up the old room
until 1t could not hold another person.
There were a good many prey
prayers and several rousing songs as
the army took its place on the pla''
form. The major. also carried away
by the greatness Of the occasion maus|
q rattling speech. punctured with ne|
Quent amens and halleluiahs from 'ns
rest Of the army. The collection vi.
not forgotten. and as 1t was an ~..
sion out Of q lifetime and the me'
were getting wages again the u
bourines were heavy with silver
the major began to think OF pu'''
up suitable headquarters at once
Finally the noise ceased, and ApO..
read the marriage service. Rhen.
Stuart standing in the middle o. ~,
platform. Eric and the doctor :"
one side and behind Stuart lnn
of the ceremony was not strieu'
cording to Salvation Army rules sr
Everything goes tonight" ~
Messing Joseph" said in few feuS
after the collection. Andrews p ~"
was full Of beauty and power
was almost as good q prayer ~
we have here In the hall eopl.n
nights" said the major after~NS