Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-01-06

Louise. But the sister of Stuart had
left an impression of kind heartedness
with tie former society leader, and
Rhena felt, as she said, grateful for
the apparent sincerity which would
recognize her present position in Cham
pion as emitting her to place still in
polite society.
Rhena did not light her lamp after
Louise went out. She sat by the win
dow, looking out on the falling snow.
When the time came to go out for the
meeting, which was held regularly in
the hall instead of the street now that
the nights had become stormy, she
shivered with the cold. Her lips NOV
ed in an audible prayer that some one
going by the passage heard, 20 Lamb
of God that takest away the sins Of
the world, pardon me and help me"'
There were very few out that evening.
A great storm grew with the night,
and in the morning all Champion, with
its setting of pine covered hills, was
deep in the snow that swept past Rhe-
mas windows in drifted pillows high
up against the old storage room door.
That afternoon Stuart came down
through the drifts to meet with An
drew and Eric, as the three had agreed,
to talk over the matter of relief for the
miners and also to arrange for some
thing more permanent than a plan Of
local relief for the immediate distress
of Champion. Eric managed to get
through the snow and insisted that the
struggle did him good. Andrew well
coined them in his hearty fashion and
began to talk roses the first thing.
Look at that! If that isn't beauty,
don't know what it is. Just let me
cut that for you, Mr.. Duncan"
Il won't take it-not with the mis-
ter You have forgotten the bargain"
replied Stuart, smiling.
Andrew looked little confused, then
he said: 81 did not know how VassaIl
here might take it. He is q prior at
tachment"
Eric" said Stuart, laying n hand on
his old friends shoulder, do you OBJ
ject if Burke here calls me Stuart and
call him Andrew? 1t seems absurd
that when n man saves another mans
life he should continue ON such terms
of formality as are used by ordinary
acquaintance"
MY name is Eric, then," replied Eric
frankly. He was a man of many
faults, but littleness of soul and petty
Jealousy were not among them.
70
drew, Eric and Stuart to the end Of the
chapter" assented Stuart eagerly. He
was enthusiastic this afternoon He
had begun to be caught up in the pas
sion of n great idea, and he felt able to
do almost anything. 1t is true that,
woven into all his thoughts of conse-
Grated money and it's wonderful pow
er, there was in Stuart the glowing i'm
age Of Rhena Dwight, and his love for
her was growing in strength and mean
ing every moment. He had not seen
her to speak to since that night in the
army hall. But he did not know how
strong hold his feeling had upon his
whole being until now, as he began to
face great opportunity, perhaps the
greatest in his life, the slight form and
pale face of the Salvation Army leader
seemed to occupy a very prominent
place there.
Andrew was cutting off two of the
choicest roses. He gave one to Stuart
and one to Eric.
'Say, it seems too bad to cut 'em off
the plants that way" said Eric as he
took the blossom and stuck it awk-
wardly into buttonhole.
That's whet I grow them for" re-
piled Andrew.
Flows your church work going on?"
asked Stuart, pulling himself out of his
brown study after thanking Andrew
for the rose.
ooh, don't know yet I'm slow to
get acquainted, and this is a new field
to me. If l can succeed in making
the people believe they like me, l think
we shall have a good time together.
I never saw so many characters as
there are up here"
"Do you count us in?" asked Eric.
"You're the very first ones. If 1
knew how, I'd put you two into
book"
Anybody else?" asked Stuart.
cdr. SaXon-that is, if he would stand
still long enough to be put"
Eyes, the doctor would have to go
in sure" replied Eric. SIS that allY
"The Salvation Army would have to
come in, led by Miss Dwight" replied
Andrew. "Then l would throw in some
specimen miners and mix them up in
various situations, and my book would
be very interesting-that is, it would
If l didn't mix them up so that they
never could get unmixed," added An
drew frankly. 81 never wrote a book
in my life, but believe Champion is
full of material for it,"
perhaps some one will put us into
story some time," said Stuart con-
templatively. Meanwhile, my dear
friends, to the realities Of our present
Il ~