The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-09-13
CHAPTER XII
A CONFERENCE AND HOW IT WAS INTER
RIlPTED

n >CNr ThfNNE AM NOW IL WAS INTEL
RUPTED
Rosalind Valdai and Zenobie wer
together in their sitting room, an
the former had been weeping. Sh
looked paler than when we saw he
before, and her brow was heavy
Smiles no longer crept about The
dimples of her cheeks, and her eyes
had sad, mournful look. Her face
plainly showed that she had suffered
much.
my dear MISTRESS" urged the
faithful Zenobie, throwing her arms
about Rosalind's neck and drawing
her head upon her bosom, weep
no more. Oh, there must be some
hopel Surely God will not suffer
such an unholy work to be done"
"Ah, Zenobie," returned the fair
maiden in a futtering, melancholy
tone, "where can l look for hope ?"
81 say in God. You have told me
we must look to him, and l have be-
lieved you. Have you not always
been good to God ?"
81 have been as good as l knew
how, though have sinned."
GLOW sinned? Oh, my mistress,
If you have sinned, then who is
pure? Tell me-"
eve all sin, Zenobie. 1t is our
nature"
$50 have often heard, but |
hardly think you have sinned. What
have you done which you knew to
be wrong?"
Nothing, nothing"
"Then how have you sinned ?"
"Ah, Zenobie, we all do things
which we ought not to do. But vet
L mean to do as near right as l
can"
"Then leave the rest with God.
Oh, when poor mortals do as near
right as lies in their power, surely
they may leave the rest with God
without fear. And now, if God is
GUST, as you tell me, why should
he allow the wicked duke to triumph
over you? What justice would there
be in that when you are all good
ness and he is sin itself ?"
Rosalind was puzzled. She had
tried to teach her attendant to love
and honor God, and she had SO far
succeeded that Zenobie understood
all the principles of Christianity
and embraced them gladly and Joy
fully. But now how should she
make this point understood? How
should she reconcile this apparent
injustice with Gods universal mer-
cy and justice?
Can you not tell me ?" the young
girl asked again. "Why should God
allow such thing? You say he is
all powerful and can dc, what he
wills" /
'zenobie," returned the maiden
after pondering for awhile, "you do /
not look at the subject in proper
hight. God does not operate by pet
ty, individual decisions, as an en-
peror does. He sees that certain
laws are necessary for the good of !
mankind, and not single law of all I
his code is there but is very good. /
Last night your head ached, and ,
you suffered, and, of course, you had
violated some natural law. 1t was
your own fault. And SO this suf-
Fering which is now come upon me
s the result of violation of one of
Gods laws"
"Ah," cried Zenobie eagerly, 'sbut
7ou are the one who suffers while
mother violates the law. In nv
ase did both and do not com
,lain"
but listen," pursued Rosalind,
nth Frightening countenance, for
he true idea had come to her mind
1T would not be just for a person
o enjoy all the good of a law and
cave others to suffer all the evil.
'od has established in us social
and through that part of
ur nature come the sweetest of our
arthly enjoyments, Such a law
he law of sociality-must be univer-
al, and if men break that law they
aust suffer, and the only just way
n which God could shield me from
nffering would be to release me
rom the effects of the law. Then |
hould be poor, lonesome outcast,
orced to live all my days alone like
barren rock upon the top of some
leak mountain. But l would rath-
live among people and enjoy the
ompanionship of my fellows.
ave freely accepted the boon, and
ow, when its evils come, l must
uffer. Had Gods intent been fol-
owed out there would have been no
offering. 1t is not his fault that
ne duke sins. Do you understand
ne ?"
81 don't know" murmured the
Dung girl obviously.