The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-17
CHAPTER XIV.

In the first place the minority In the
church held meeting and voted TO ask
Philip to remain, pledging him their
hearty support I'm all his plans and
methods. The evening paper. In its re-
port OF this meeting msde the most OF
the personal remarks that were made
and served up the whole affair I'm SEN
sational items that were eagerly read by
every one I'm Milton.
But the most important gathering OF
Philips friends was that Of the mill men.
They met In the hall where he had 80
often spoken, and. being crowded out
or that by the great numbers they nm
ally secured the use OF the courthouse.
This was crowded with an excited as
sembly, and In the course OF the very
many short speeches, in which action OF
the church was severely condemned. n
resolution was offered and adopted ask
ing Mr.. Strong To remain I'm Milton and
organize an association or something OF a
similar order for the purpose of socio-
logical study and agitation, pledging
whatever financial support could be OBJ
tained from the working people. This also
was caught up and magnfied In the pa
per. and the town was still reused TO eX-
citement by all these reports when Philip
returned homo late Saturday afternoon
almost reelng with exhaustion and his
heart torn with the separation from his
old chum.
However he tried to conceal his wea-
riness from Sarah and partly succeed
ed. After supper he went up TO his study
10 prepare for Sunday. He had fully
made up his mind what he would do. and
he wanted TO do II In a manner that would
cast no reproach on his ministry, which
he respected with sensitive reverence.
lie shut the door and began his prepa-
rations by walking up and down. as his
custom was thinking out the details OF
the service. his sermon. the exact word
ing OF certain phrases he wished TO make.
He had been walking thus back and
forth half dozen times when he felt
the same acute pain In his side that
had seized him when he tainted in church
at tht~ evening service. II passed away.
and he resumed his work. thinking IL
was only a passing disorder. But before
he could turn again In his walk he felt
n dizziness that whirled everything In
the room about him. He clutched at a
chair and was conscious OF having missed
IL. and then he fell forward in such way
that he lay partly on the couch and on
the floor and was unconscious.
How long he had been in this condi-
tlon he did not know when he came TO
himself He was thankful. when he did
recover sufficiently to crawl 10 his feet
and sit down on the couch. that Sarah
had not seen him. He managed TO get
over To his desk and begin 10 write some
thing as he heard her coming up staire
He did not intend TO deceive her. His
throught was that he would not neces-
sarlly alarm her. He was very tired.
much urging 10 persuade
him to get 10 bed
He awoke Sunday morning feeling
strangely calm and refreshed. The morn
ing prayer with the Brother Man came
like a benedction to them all Sarah.
who feared for him owing TO the severe
strain he had been enduring. felt relieved
he bAvx ha al n
prepared to go to church. the Brother
Man and William going out for the first
time since the attack.
We have mentioned Philips custom of
coming into his pulpit from the little
room a the side door OF the platform.
This morning he went i'm at the side
door OF the church after parting with
Sarah and the others. He let Brother
Man and William go on a head a little,
and then. drawing his wife TO him, he
stopped and kissed her. He turned at
the top OF the short flight OF steps lead
up the side entrance and saw her still
standing I'm the same place. Then she
went around from the little court to the
front OF the church and went In with the
great crowd already beginning to stream
toward Calvary church.
No one ever saw so many people In
Calvary church before. Men sat on
the platform and even In the deep win
DOW seats. Inc spaces unuer the large
galleries by the walls were filed mostly
with men standing there. The house was
crowed long before the hour OF service.
There were many beating. excited hearts
IN that audience. More than one member
felt shame at the action which had
been taken and might have wished IL re-
called. With the great number of work
ingmen and young people In the church
there was only one feeling: II was feei-
ing OF love for Philip and of sorrow for
what had been done. The fact that he
had been away from the city, that he
had not talked over the matter with any
one owing 10 the absence. the uncertain
" as to how he would receive the whole
thing. what he would say on this firN
Sunday after the letter had been written
this attracted a certain number OF per-
sons who never go inside n church ex-
cept for some extraordinary occasion or
In hopes OF sensation. SO the audience
that memorable day had some cruel peo-
pie present people who narrowly watch
the faces OF mourners at funerals 10 see
what ravages grief has made on the coun-
tenance.
The organlst played his prelude