The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-08
THE CONVERSION -.
 OF BENTLEY
BY LINCOLN D. HARTMAN.

g l'sf- As
 BY LINCOLN D. HARTMAN.
 Copyright, 1904. by Daily Story Pub fishing Col
 The man stood watching the motley procession pass in and out of the place where the sacred relics" were depos- ited. Curiosity and amusement were depleted on his face, and just shade of contempt. He was a thorough going man of the world this Harold Bentley and long since had ceased to believe in anything in particular. including him. self. Years of travel and pleasure seeking. made easy by Ais ample for tune, had satiated his palate and numb ed his senses.
 He had come to the shrine this bright summer day more to escape from himself and his fastidious surroundings than from any particular interest. The papers had been full of the miraculous cures wrought by the bone of the good saint and he had felt a languid curl osity to see the kind of people who would seek such a cure. It was a good deal as he expected. The faces were mostly those of the more credu- ious and inefficient, but all were so ter ribly In earnest and displayed such per- feet faith thats Bentley soon ceased to smile at them Tfs marveied that men could be so thoroughly inapregnated with absolute faith and belief. quaii- ties 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 re- finement 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 himself Great Is Christian science. Better keep their crutches awhile, though. They'll need 'em when the excitement
 At this moment a1ss Bantiey'ssS attention was arrested. by the approach of a girl and a young boy. The girl was Q 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 1t not for the pallor and thinness and certain pInehed 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. esaf35 r.oqt =ssi ,aFa
 Both faces were safiame with qdeveu' eagerness. tocs af 'sf-sagrs s}t*H a
 Are you tired, sis? asked the boy solicitiousIy. I'm so excited I guess walked you too fast"
 NO, indeed, Archie" replied the girl in eager tones. 'It seems as though cannot get there quick enough"
 wait while I count the money" said the boy. and pausing directly in front of Bentley he dove Into his pocket and dragged forth a pitifuf little pile of small silver coins. Here. you take 1t, mebhy it'll work better If you give 1t yourself" sss
 They passed in, and Bentley gave him. self up to idle speculation regarding them. They apneared to come from too intelligent stock tes believe in relies 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.
 DO you feel different?" asked the boy, with the juvenile thirst for con- crete results.
 T seem to feel stronger, but I can't tell yet" replied the girl T am too excited to think very clearly, I'm aw- full sorry you have to walk home. Can't we spare another 10 centsT'
 Not if we eat anything tonight.' re- piled the boy. grimIy. 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.
 It was the cid story of misfortune in good family, eliminating in the death of the father when the boy was baby and the girl not yet in her teens. Then the discovery of financial affairs hopeIessly ipvolved,t a widows struggle with the world she was net equipped to combat, her loss of the little remnant of property feft, her death and then the tragic fight of the two children for, bare subsdstenee. 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. It had been life of privation and want, a life in high garrets or loathsome cellars, the boy always on the alert for a nickel or dime. by selling papers, blacking boots, running errands or doing the other thingS within the scope of his years; the girl saving. planning, pinch ing to make the paltry niciSe1s pay foI 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 be- tween, for opportunities to secure such work were scarce and even then they taxed the girls strength sorely. And she grew daily paIer and weaker and more listless and great fear pos. scssed the boy.
 Then came the relics of the good saint and the marvellous tales of the efficacy of touching them. To the boy came a great inspiration: Grace should touch these relics and be well, and then all life would be a joy--not that he would have to work less, but the haunting fear would be over and smay- Joe some prince gnnd enough eor her