New-York tribune., 1903-07-15
CHAPTER TX.
TEN MILLION AND A GIRL

and almost simply furnished as the dining
room of the Residuum, but the simplicity
that of cOstliness. Any one may gain reputa-
ton for taste nowadays if he goes to the right
shop. as Murdoch made a habit of doing. The
room was six sided and panened nearly to the
frleze with silver birch. The three windows all
looked out upon the lawn. to the east, two
to the south. Opposite, fastened to the space
above the panelling by some invisible contriv-
ance. hung three pictures all water coors. and
all of Murdoch's woods and river up north"
AIurdoch's face appeared suddenly from a
cloud of Sunday newspaper. Amy he asked.
did you so TO the football game yesterday with
young Bradford2'
Yes Uncle"
Have a good time?"
"oh, yes" She might have answered as en-
Enthusiastically had he asked her if she liked
chocolates or whether it was a fine day.
That's nice boy consented Murdoch. be
ginning to smile. Say. Amy. when I think of
him singing away that night. / love him;
really do"
What makes you think of him now" she
asked
"Oh-here's something about him in the paper.
He's been distinguishing himself again. but he
seems to have made sort of mess of it this
time. I'll back him to be right, though. All he
needs to learn is that there's a time to tell the
ITO lie. Uncle Jack?"
The pickle maker laughed his big laugh, got
up, and tossed her the sheet. Not bit of it;
a time to keep still, that's all. Here: you see.
By the way. you'll have to go to church for
both Of u.s. girIie-Im busy this morning. You
may have a surprise before long-you and Car
fax. I'm not saying anything definite. but I tell
you maybe. I hope you'u like it when IT comes.
Say Amy?"
"Yes?"
I'm all the father and mother you've got. you
know. Is there anything you want that you
haven't got?"
Nothing that you can give me, Uncle Jack"
TRY me and see''
Well" she said, considering. L wish l had
quicker way of drying my hair. it's so thick
She looked at him gravely. Nothing else
That stumps me- he admitted. But Amy
you know I care about you don't you?"
Yes, dear" she answered, a triae surprised
You know that whatever I do TIL be think
ing about you. don't you?"
Amy's caresses were very rare Now she put
her hand on his while he stood by her Yes
dear" she said again and his face cleared
When he had gone, she wondered what was
bothering him; he was seldom so serious. The
thought crossed her mind that he might have
made some mistake in the busness-"the busi-
and she looked after him affectionately In
moment she took up the paper, and read the
account Of Bradford's speech at the mass meet
ing His position was very plainly sneered at
by whoever had written the article: she could
catch the contempt even through the veil OF
technicalities which obscured it She read the
bit over two three times. Then she nodded
decisiveIy, put her elbows on the table and her
chin in her hands and staoe5 for some time
across the breakfast china
Afterward she muffled herself in her furs and
went to church She was a very constant
churchgoer ST Hida's is a CURIOUS structure
to the casual and uninitated stranger. 1t IS
very long. very high. very narrow, very white
There are altars little and big: mysterious
doors. whence unexpected chanting professions
issue: and a profusion Of well meant mortuary
adornment- The acoustics are so bad that
Father Charges has hung over the lectern
old fashioned ungtlded sounding board, which
seems almost the one touch of sodty among
the fHgree OF St Hilda's.
Charges never read his teneminute sermons.
but delivered them with straightforward spon-
taneity. Christ in a crimson robe, blessed the
kneeling John in a stained glass window behind
him: and on sunny Sundays a shaft of crimson
striking down across the minister's shoulder,
splashed his hands red as he laid them fiat be
lips We're almost gloomy as he urged upon his
CONGREGATION the necessity Of sincerity. The
sharp little sentences flashed in and out like so
many needles
Sincerity is life Insincerity is death One
is growth and flow: the other decay and stag
nation. Half loaf is worse than no bread;
and just so half a heart is worse than no heart
Say what you mean; be what you are The re-
ligiou Of Christ began in a small country and
among humble folk. It spread till it hlled the
whole world Why? Because the men who be
lieved in II believed in ii sincerely preached tt
whole heartedIy died for it cheerfully Now
/ they tell US our religion is passing away Sub
stitute religions are springing up. as well as
dull. dreary creeds which substitute religion
Unfaith they tell US, is supplanting faith Is
II soo Perhaps not all; but a part OF II. be-
lieve Has something dropped out of the re-
ligion Of Christ then? Or have we grown so
complex latterly, that the simplicity of Christ
message no longer fits our emotions? No
Jesus is the same yesterday to-day. and Tor
ever, his word is as eficacious. if We accept it
sincerely. But do We? How many Of US live
our religion How many Of US would even die
/ for it, And how many would be dying, not for
their religion but for their prides sake? II is
time for Us TO range ourselves 1t is time for
those who believe heartily 10 show II; ana Tor
those who believe conventionally TO CONFESS IL
openly and without shame. The man who pro-
fesses that which he ought 70 believe. whether
/ he believes it or not. is almost beyond nope
/ There is far more chance Tor the man who non
estly believes nothing al all An open enemy
is respected: a half-hearted friend is desPised'
Amy sat wondering in her pew Father
Clargcs's words for the most part, passed her
uuheeded rue. ne was giving voice to her sen
timents. but words count for little with woman.
who would rather change her opinions TO agree