The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20

rhcy were left face to faco with naked

1900 / 3
! Thcy were left face to facc with naked
! shame.
| What puzzled and yet uplitted tho con-
! Wears extraordinary certainty that the
| spiritual darkness over tho land was
4 shortly to be removed.
1t was commented on, lseeny observed
1 greatly wondered at. eSN
la45"Nfr.BB spcnks,'' said Mr.. Pryde,
wealthy solicitor, "as II he hud some
! private information about this Palestine
discovery. He Is so confident that he
magnetiscs one into his own stntc OF
Of mind, ana Byars Is not very emo
tional man, either. His conviction Is real.
| It's not hysteria."
And, being as hrewd silent man, tho
| solicitor formed his own conclusions, but
said nothing Of them.
Tho church continued full OF worship
pcrs.
When the news from Basil came, the
| vicar was sitting before the fire In his
lighted study. l1e had been expecting the
! telegram oil day.
His brain had been haunted by the
| picture Of that distinguished fire, with tho
dark red hair he had so often met.
| IS Again no saw tho millionaire standing
l,lnSh,s drawing room proffcrjng money for
lescbolurshlps. And In Dicppe also "
8Howswcll and clearly he saw the huge
figure of tho savant In his cont OF astrn-
chan, with his bablAe OF soups ana entree |!
Try az he would, the vicar could not
hnto these two men. The sin, the awful
sin; yes, a thousand times. Horror uould
not be stretched far enough, no hatred
| could be too great for such immensely Of
| crime.
But in his great heart in his large,
human nature there was n divine pity
for this wretchcd pair. He could not
| help it. It was part of him. l1e Won
! dered II he were not erring in feelin.
I pity. Was not this. indeed. that mysterl-
GUS sin against the Holy Ghost, for which
there was no forgiveness. Was It not
| said OF Judas that for mis- deed he should
live forever in hell?
The telegram was brought In by neat,
unconcerned houscmaid.
Then the vicar sc: NJ and locked tho
inner door Of III study. Hc knelt IN
prayer and thanksgiving.
| It was q moment OF intense spiritual
| communion with the Unseen.
This good man, who had given his Wig
orous life and active intellect to Goa,
| knelt hunbly ut his study table while
a JOY and Happiness; not OF this earth
filled oil his soul.
At that supreme moment, when the
sense of the glorious vindication OF
| Christ flooded the priests whole being
| with ecstasy, he knew, perhaps, faint
| foreshadowing Of the lie the blessed
| live In heaven.
For few brief moments that imperfect
| instrument the human body, was per-
| mitted a glimpse. n flash of the eternal
| JOY prepared for the saints of God.
| The vioS- drew very near tho VEIL
Helena beat at the door; he opened
to her, the tall, gracious lady.
She saw the news In her fathers face.
They embraced with deep and silent emo
ton.
Two hours later the vicarage was full
| of people.
Special editions OF the evening papers
were being Shouted through the streets.
| Downing Street had spoken. and in Man
| chcster--as in almost every great city in
EnEland-the Truth was pulsng and
throbblng in the air, spreading from
house to house, from heart to heart
Every one knew 1t In Wnlktown now.
There wa sudden unanimous rush Of
| people to the vicarage.
Each big, luxurious house all round
send out Its eager owserA RIO the light.
They came to show the pastor. who
had not failed them in the darkness,
| their 10y and gratitude, now that light
| had come at last.
How warm and hearty these North
country people were! Mr. Byars had
| never penetrated so deeply beneath tho
! some what forbIdding crust OF manner and
surface-iardnes before.
Mingled with the sense OF shame and
misery at their own lukewarmness, there
was fine and genuine desire to show
the Vicar how they honored him for his
steadfastness.
| ,s'vou,va hoayi n oxor,,~io ~ Ill - -.
| vicar" said a hard faced, brnssy-voiced
cotton spinner, kindly light in his eyes,
| his lips somewhat tremulous.
We haven't done as we nught<to by
t church." said another, 'but youth see
that altered, Mr.. Byars. Eh! but our
faith has been weak! Thcre'll be many
q Christians heart full OF shame and
sorrow for the past months this night,
I'm thinking"
extensively dressed people, hard faced
and arsh-spoken, with a warmth and
contrition which moved the old man mex
pressibly.
Never before had he been SO near to
! them. Dimly he began to think he saw
a wise and awful purpose OF God. who
had allowed this ininulty and calamity
TINT tho faith Of the world might be
strengthened.
| E46i w y ~ HcFeT loTSSl NIIht yOu w OOilc
! for us, Mr.. Bynrs."
III we've been lnkewarm before. vicar,
! t will be all boiling now''
praise God that He has spoken at
last, and God forgive us for forgetting
| Him."
The air was electric with love and
praise
"Will you say a prayer, vicar?" asked
| ono Of tho church wnrdens. 1T seems
the time for prayer and word or two
like"
! T The company knelt down.
| i It was q curious scene. In tho richly
furnished drawlng-room. the group OF
portly men and matrons knelt at chairs
and sofas, stolld. respectable and middle
aged.
But hero and there q shoulder shook
with suppressed cmotion-a faint sob was
, heard. This, to many OF them there,
was the greatest spiritual moment they
had ever known. Confirmation, commune
| Ion NIL the episodfc mile stones of the