The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-08
which stuart had lately begun to believe

which Stuart had lately begun TO believ'
| I'm.
| But Aunt Royal was not the person e
remain silent after Stuart's use OF th'
| word horrible I'm connection with he'
decorative ideas as they were connected
with social functions. She asked, sharpl,
for her;
| "Do you mean to say, Stuart, that you
think we have no right 10 use flowers II
J giving pleasure TO our invited guests2
mo; did not say that" replied Stuart
dryly.
"What do you mean then?"
'T can't make you or Louise under
stand me-" said Stuart after pause.
mo; Stuart talks In riddles or late. lie
| thinks we are too aristocratio and un-
| Christian" said Louise. There was a
sneer IN her voice which hurt Stuart
keenly.
why do you say that. Louise2 You
know / am thinking of the poor families
who are beginning TO suffer at this time.
Surely we ought TO do as much for them
as for ourselves II we spend a hundred
dollars 20 decorate the rooms with flow
ers for a party. we ought TO give twice
as much 10 help feed the hungry. The
better way would be TO take the money
spent on the flowers and spend II on
food"
WHAT cried Louise angrily. "On the
people who have brought their condition
on themselves by their own foolishness!
Who Is 10 blame for their being hungry
and cold II not themselvesY"
The women and babies are not to
blame, ard they are the ones to feel The
suffering most" said Stuart quietly.
''Well, you can use your money that
way IL you want 10, but I don't waste
mine on people VINO don't know when
they're well of.
Stuart rose and stood with his back
TO tho fire. He was agitated with all
the new IDEAS that had crowded into
his life since the day God had spoken to
him. He felt that the revolution I'm him
would cut square across all the tradi-
tions and usages OF polite society. espe-
cially in the matter OF money and its
personal expenditure.
Finally Louise and Aunt Royal took
up the subject OF the coming party and
began discussing the families who wore
invited.
Stuart still stood silently engrossed In
his own thoughts and hearing only now
and then a word. At last he was reused
by Louise
Stuart, will you sing with Una next
week2 You remember that duo you sang
before you went abroad2'
Yes; I'll sing IL i am here that evan-
Ing" replied Stuart with a feeling that
he was fast losing all his interest I'm the
things that onoe amused him. He had
q splendid baritone voice and was ia
vorite singer with all his friends.
why, are you planning TO be away?"
NO; / did not know what might hap
pen under the condition of the strike
and all"
We've invited the Meltons I'D the
vasplaines. They would be very much
disappointed II you were not here" sam
Aunt Royal.
II xhall probably be here" said stu
art briefly.
Louise rose suddelny and went up to
her brother.
And I invited Miss Dwight. Stuart.
She refused 10 come, but don't you think
/ am too aristocratic for anything to In
vite herr"
Stuart looked at Louise in astonish-
ment. The words sent the color 10 his
cheek and set his pulses beating.
You knew she would not come" he
said in a low voice.
Louise started as II she had been caught
In her lie TO Rhena, She went back 10
! her seat and was silent. II was at times a
mad freak with Louise to say or do the
! unexpected thing. She was not original
but she sometimes took a malicious plea
sure In startling people.
II am glad she refused" said Aunt
! Royal. who sometimes forgot her dipiv-
macy I'm her qualification for things. "She
1
OF place among us."
Yes. that's So" said Stuart, provok-
| ed Into a statement he could easily have
made before his conversion. "She would
have been out OF place among your other
guests because most OF them are un-
educated Doors and clowns In comparison
with lady like Miss Dwight"
Aunt Royal was speechlcss She couio
not find anything 20 say at first. Finally
she began In her usual gentle voice:
II am surprised, Stuart, TO hear you
speak thateway OF common Salvation
Army
That was as far as Aunt Royal could
get. Stuart Interrupted with an EN-
| phasis that petrihed both the women.
Il Will not allow you or any one 70
speak a disrespectful word OF the woman
love and who. II God ls good enough
10 me, Will some time become my Wife,
| With the words Stuart walked out OF
the room. leaving his aunt and Louise
gasping as II pail OF ice water had
been thrown over them. And what they
said when they recovered history saith
not and Stuart never knew nor cared
| He went away 20 his room and sat
there without turning on the lights He
knew that he had prccipitated matters
/ In the home by his brief but outright
declaration OF his purpose lie did not
! regret H. but he was a little afraid he
had shown the un-Christian. spirit IN h!s
words OF manner. The old Adam had d
place In him YETI No. he said TO himself
he was new man. The very best evi
dence Of II was his present action. HC
knelt and prayed 90 be forgiven n he had
spoken wrongly. He was still praying
when servant brought word that he
was wanted at the telephone
He went down end was informed by
the clerk I'm the Office that two OF the
miners had come In. and acting under
Instructions. tho clerk had called ur
/ Stuart 10 come ana rec them Stuart
told the clork % hold the men until 10
could get down. lie went out M once
4 and drove INTO the town.
! The men who had come to the office
were residents of Cornishtown They
had come FOR help In case not their
own but that OF miner who lay sick
and In need AZ the farthest limits OF the
settlement
Stuart hastily loaded hts cutter with
necessarics. and with one OF the men 70
direct the way he started out. The
/ night was dark. and a fine snow wa :
falling. The drifts were piled high on
either side OF tho road. Stuart knew