Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-03-11
CHAPTER XIV.

N~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~N~~~<~~"
CHAPTER XIV.
Two years after the events recorded
in our last chapter, there was a Sunday
service of a peculiar character held un-
der a railway arch, in one of the dark
est streets of dark neighborhood lying
between the Lower Marsh and the York
road, Lambeth. The place of worship,
the worshipers, and the one who preach
ed and prayed, were all strange together.
and there was much for skin-deep piety
to protest against, and for irreverence TO
scof and jeer at. 1t was only the down.
right earnestness of these fugitive atoms
scraped together here, that put forth its
claims to the respect of those who had
time to think of the odd forms in which
religion may assert itself. Amongst the
myriads who turn their backs on church
or chapel orthodox, there are still a few
with courage to seek God in some fash
ion.
OF the tenets of this community it is
not our purpose or right to inquire too
closely in these pages. The preaching
was simple, the earnestness was manifest,
the one text seemed forgiveness to sin
ners, and the one appeal was for their
repentance before the hour was too late.
That which was most remarkable in the
ed by a woman-a sallow, hollow-eyed
female-with touch of fanaticism in her
extravagant gestures and her high-pitch-
ed voice, and in the sermon which she
preached to ragged and unkempt men,
women and children, three-fourths of
whom were full of a grave, deep inter-
est, and the remaining fraction very
noisy, and watching it's opportunity to
turn portion of the discourse into ridi-
cule.
These discontents were huddled togeth-
er near the door, a grinning, coughing,
and grimacing mob, whilst over their
heads peered occasionally policeman's
helmet, a sign of peace and order, that
was followed by much horse play and
ironical comment on the proceedings, af-
ter it disappeared.
1t had been a noisy night at jennings
railway arch, where we resume our
story; the preacher had been more than
usually powerful and the opposition more
than commonly opposed to her; but tie
service had reached it's conclusion. From
the background of the congregation there
stepped suddenly a tall, well-dressed
young woman with her veil down, and
room was made for her into the inner cir
Gle of rags and tatters by which Lucy
Jennings was surrounded.
MAY I speak to you for a few mo-
ments in private?" asked the stranger in
low voice.
There was q low breath of astonish-
ment, as Lucy Jennings surveyed our
heroine. Sarah Eastbell had certainly
changed in two years-for the better, too,
being a tall, healthy, handsome young
woman now; but she had not altered out
of all knowledge Of her friends and ac-
~,
outlook from the dark eyes; there was
something of the same sadness, or depth
of thought, expressed upon her face,
though the pallor had passed away, and
there was faint rose tinges on the cheeks,
which Lucy had seen last wasted with
fever from which she had helped to save
herd.
81 know you by your voice." said Miss
Jenninis, stolidly. land L have ,nenl-
ory that does not fail me. l am above
taking offense with any living soul, or
attributing to any human being motives
for actions which have not been explain
ed" said Lucy Jennings; 'but I cannot,
on the Lords DAY. will not under any
circumstances-devote myself to anything
but his service"
She crossed her thin hands upon the
bosom of her dress, and looked up at
the stained roof of the railway arch, over
which a heavy Southwestern train was
rumbling at the moment.
81 will call on you tomorrow, if you
will give me your address," said Sarah
Eastbell.
Lucy Jennings hesitated before she an
swered as though an insuperable objec-.
tion to renew their acquaintance assert
ed itself too strongly to be resisted: then
she said:
81 shall be in Hope street tomorrow
ut eleven. 1 will wait for you there"
Lucy Jennings moved her head slight
ly. and Sarah Eastbell left her surround
. ed by her converts.
AS Sarah went out of the place one
of the unconverted picked her pocket of
a cambria handkerchief, and was disap-
pointed at not finding her purse, which
she had left at home.
Sarah Eastbell was disturbed greatly
by this meeting with Lucy Jennings.
Her reception had not been what she
had anticipated; there had been a cold
ness, almost a repulse. in lieu of that
welcome which she had expected at her
hands Still the young lady from Sedge
Hill, Worcester. was of a nature not to
be easily daunted, and she had come to
London in hot haste, and only attended
by her maid, on u mission of Importance.
The next day at eleven she was in
Hope street. where she had been the day
before making inquiries, and finding out
the new vocation of Miss Jennings after
a great deal of trouble and perseverance,.
Hope street had changed more than her
self in the two years since she had quilted
the place. The Saxe-Gotha Gardens were
no more, and two rows of small brick
houses formed a street on their site.
There were railway arches crossing the
road, and in place of the house of Jen-
nings, Fireworks maker to the Court,
was black heap of ruins, shored up by
beams, and fenced around by a board
ing.
At eleven to the minute, Lucy Jen-
nings, in the rustiest of black, and with
black cotton gloves three sizes too large