River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-12-29
The Conversion
Of Bentley
BY LINCOLN 3. HARTMAN

copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col

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Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col
IT HE man stood watching the motley
procession pass in ana out OF the
place where the sacred relics" were de-
posted. Curiosity and amusement were
depicted on his face, and just shade
OF contempt He was a thorough-golng
man of the world, this Harold Bent
ley and long since had ceased to believe
in anything in particular, including
himself. Years of travel and pleasure
seeking, made easy by his ample for
tune, had satiated his palate and
numbed his senses.
He had come to the shrine this
bright summer day more TO escape
from himself and his fastidious sur
roundings than from any particular In
terest. The papers had been full OF
the miraculous cures wrought by the
bone of the good saint and he had telt
q languid curiosity to see the kind OF
people who would seek such cure.
1t was good deal as he expected. Inc
faces were mostly those Of the more
credulous and inefficient, but all were
go terribly in earnest and displayed such
perfect faith that Bentley soon ceased
to smile at them. He marveled that
men could be so thoroughly impreg-
mated with absolute faith and belief,
qualities almost unknown in his world.
He noted that most of the seekers
were of the more ignorant classes, but
now and then face of unusual refine
ment and spirituality would attract
and puzzle him.
Nearly all emerged full of excite
ment, in many cases throwing away
crutches and canes, their eyes blazing
with exaltation. Bentley smiled.
Great, indeed, is the power of mind
over matter" he murmured to him
self. Great is Christian science. Bet
ter keep their crutches awhile, though.
They'll need 'em when the excitement
wears off"
At this moment Bentley's attention
was arrested by the approach of a girl
and young boy. The girl was frail
and delicate little thing Of Is, and
walked with a crutch. Although at
tired in the poorest of raiment she pos
sessed that ineffable something which
surely indicates good ancestry. Her
head was magnificent in outline and
denoted high intellectually and her
face would have been beautiful were it
not for the pallor and thinness and a
certain pinched appearance She wore
also that expression of acuteness which
Is the portion of those suffering from
physical deformity The boy also
showed evidences of good blood and
was alert and manly, but pale and thin
and attired in rags.
Both faces were aflame with devout
eageruess.
Are you tired, sis?" asked the boy
BoIicitiously. I'm SO excited l guess
/ walked you too fast"
mo, indeed, Archie replied the girl
in eager tones. 1T seems as though
cannot get there quick enough"
Wait while l count the money!"
said the boy. and pausing directly in
front of Bentley he dove into his pocket
and dragged forth pitiful little pile
OF small silver coins. Here, you take
it; mebbe it'll work better if you give
it yourself"
They passed in and Bentley gave
himself up to idle speculation regard
ing them. They appeared to come from
too Intelligent stock to believe in relics
and all that, although evidently very
poor. and yet their faith seemed per-
feet He watched for them to come
out Both faces shone with confidence.
'Ito you feel different?" asked the
boy, with the Juvenile thirst for con-
crete results.
Il seem to feel stronger, but l can't
tell yet" replied the girl. 81 am too
excited to think very clearly. I'm aw-
full sorry you have to walk home. Can't
we spare another ten cents?"
mot if we eat anything tonight"
replied the boy, grimly. Its all right,
I'd walk a thousand miles to see you
like you used to be-"
Walk" thought Bentley, land the
city a good ten miles away" The in
cident interested him. He accosted the
boy in the easy manner of a perfect
gentleman.
How long has the young lady suf-
fered?" he inquired.
Five years." replied the boy, and
then the story came out under Bent
ley's suave questioning.
1t was the old story of misfo rtune
in a good family, eliminating in the
death of the father when the boy was
q baby and the girl not yet in her
teens, Then the discovery of financial
affairs hopelessly involved, a widows
struggle with the world she was not
equipped to combat, her loss of the
little remnant of property left, her
death and then the tragic fight of the
two children for bare subsistence. The
girl, a helpless cripple, could only ad-
wise and encourage; the boy, not yet
ten but brave and determined, had
been the only provider. 1t had been
a life of privation and want, a life
in high garrets or loathsomr cellars,
the boy always on the alert for q
nickel or dime, by selling papers,
backing boots, running errands or do
ing the other things within the scope
of his years; the girl saving, planning,
pinching to make the paltry nickels
pay for the coarse food. poor lodging
and the rags they wore. Sometimes
she had gotten some little sewing to
do, and then they were opulent for a
few days, but these times were few
and far between, for opportunities to
secure such work were scarce and
foxy nd fhn Sir r CT -