Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-05-22

form. hut could not prevail on him to
offer any remarks
I'm no speaker. Don't ask me,
Stuart. If any of the audience are
sick or feel bad after you and Eric
and Andrew have talked to 'cm. I'll |
do my best for 'em; but would only |
perform an operation on their skulls |
without using an anmsthetic IL tried
to talk. 1t would be too painful for
us all. I'll agree to yell Mt any good
points the rest of you make. If can
see 'em without n microscope"
Andrew spoke briefly on the value of
the building and its opportunities for
Christian service. dwelling ON the fact
that ii was not money that would make
the plan successful, but live Christian
men and women. who put their hearts
into the work that the hall was to
represent.
Eric followed with very strong
speech. He was coming out of his dis
appointment and bitterness. and was
almost as popular with the men as be-
fore. If he develops he will be stron-
ger leader than he once ever thought
of being. He declared his intention Of
still remaining where he was in the
mines. AT the close he took adyan-
tage of his opportunity to say some
beautiful things Of Stuart.
Stuart was the last speaker. and It
was an occasion of lifetime for any
man. He was profoundly moved us
lie faced that audience. II was the
same audience lie had seen ut the meet
ngs in the square, at the railroad sta
ton, Mt the park and In the hall at De
Mott. the same rough. stoHd. impas-
sive crowd. with here and there face
that lighted up ut some human touch
as Andrew and Eric had moved 1t. 1t
was the same, and yet 1t was different.
To Stuart 1t spoke of opportunities. He
saw humanity so differently now.
He spoke well; very simply and in
manly fashion. Rhena. proud and hap
py, felt that admiration for this strong,
llandsor,~ 'nan, her husband, which
always adhl to the depth and beauty
Of the love of man and wife. More
than once the tears came US she lis
tened to the way Stuart talked, voicing
in very plain fashion his great desire
for the common brotherhood. The men
listened with the most brcathless inter-
est. When lie finished, there was
hearty cheer. which was caught up
again and again, while Stuart, over
come by his feelings, sat back and COW
| cred his face with his hands.
1t seemed very natural thing then
for Rhena to ask all to bow their heads
during prayer. 1t seemed to the
people that nothing could more fifty
close such day and such an occasion
than Rhena herself kneeling there,
with all the Salvation Army kneeling,
as they used to do, around her. She
had never prayed SO earnestly and
truly for the life abundantly to be
given to them all. Even while Rhena
was still upon her knees. the audience,
without knowing oil the reason for 1t,
fell, that this building was consecrated
In a very solemn and profound sense
to the humanity In honor of which 1t
was named. And Andrew, seeing that
the time had come to close the services,
pronounced. the benediction.
At the same hour In which Rhena
had knelt down before that great silent
crowd of miners the doors Of the draw
Ing room In Aunt Royals mansion in
New York were being thrown open to
enc of the first events of the society sea-
ON. There were gathered the butterflies
of the world. diamonds and silks, sweet
music. and laughter; vanity Of vanity,
adorned with the impressive power al
ways apparent In display of rich
leisure. danced and ate and drank and
gossiped us If the world was all play
and the main business Of every man
and woman was to be rs free from
trouble and sacrifice as possible. Aunt
Royal was Mt her best: the trip abroad
had given her jadcd nerves needed
rcposc and she was ready now for an
OTHER season Of gayety.
"By the way" asked a young man
during the evening. who had been
abroad several months, 'where Is that
charming niece of yours, Louise Dun
can. who used to visit you occasion
allyn
Aunt Royal paled little. you did
not know she Is quite IN invalid? Yes.
She is living with her brother In Cham
p,on. 1t IS doubtful If she survives the
winter. The winters In Champion are
| horrible. spent one there and 1t
nearly killed me-"
"Ah. we are thankful 1t was only
one winter. How could we have spared
you here in New York;" was the gal
liant reply.
Aunt Royal smiled at the compli-
ment. and the gay company. Its ele-
gance, Its flowers. Its perfume. Its hap
by carelcssness of the worlds woe, al
most shut out the picture of that ago.
n:zlng figure that kneeled one night over
there close l,y that beautiful woman at
'.c piano and begged for But strike
up the music faster, faster; let us eat,
lr!nl. md he merry. for tomorrow we
| lie.
H:'he musicians at Aunt Royals had
i,c=un tlc soft. dreamy waltzcs Just as
Stuart and thcna came into the library
i. the Duncan house nj Champion.
they had been sent for In haste by the
arrse. who ..:.,! noted serious change
n Louise ~ Ike evening drew on. They
vent at once into the bedroom.
1t did not need the Doctors presence
.lrcady there. nor the stern look on his
face. to tell them that the end was
scar. Louise was partly raised on pill
| lows. and her eye glowed with the fe-
| vcr Of madness that had all along been