The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-11

~ ifo NfpOpL hlt Will Nsss
many thousands a year. and It Is my
duty IN some way or another to help
Walktown. My proposal Is roughly this:
VIII found and endow two yearly
scholarships for two boys In the national
schools. The money will be sufficient,
IN the first instance, to send them to
one or the great Northern Grammar
Schools, and afterwards. always pro-
viding that tho early promise is main
thined, to either university.
MY only stipulation is this. Tile tests
slial be purely and simply intellectual,
and have nothing whatever TO do with
the religious tenching OF the schools,
with which I am not In sympathy.
Nevertheless, 1t is only fair that a clever
boy In a Church SCHOOL should have
the same opportunities as In a secular
school,. I should tell you that / have
made the same offer to the Roman
Catholic school authorities and 1t has
been declined"
The vicar listened with great atten-
ton. The offer was extremely generous,
and showed n most open-minded deter
mination tn put the donors personal
prejudices out OF the question. There
could be no doubt as to his
none whatever.
My dear sir" he said. your gcner-
osity IS very great. I see your point
tIIe +. ItcllSlOll 10 ~
form no part OF them exactly. But by
the time ono Of our boys submits him
self for examination we should naturally
hope that he would already be so firmly
fixed in Christian principles that his
aftetcarecr would have no influence
upon his faith. Holding the opinions
that you do, your offer shows a great
freedom from any prejudice. i hope I
am predetermined enough TO recognise
that nhllnntnynnNs I g. - Qnn J4.,n1,, NIt,,u
despite the amer under which the phil
anthropist may stand. j accept your
generous offer I'll the spirit tina 1t Is
made. or course, the scheme must be
submitted to the managers Of the schools.
of whom ] am chief. but the matter
practically lies with me. and my lead
Will be followed"
II am only too glad" said the big
mar, with a sudden and transforming
smile. TO help on tho cause of know
ledge. All the details OF the scheme j
will send you in a. few days. and now
will detain you no longer"
He rose to go.
During their brief conversation the
vicar had been conscious of many mo
tions. He blamed himself for his mar
rowness and the somewhat fantastic
lengths TO which his recent talk with
Gortre had gone. The man was an in
fdel. no doubt. His intellectual attacks
upon Christian faith were terribly
damaging and ~stfoversive. Still. his love
for his fellow-men was sincere. IT seem
ed. He stacked the faith, but not the
preachers of 1t. And-a half thought
crossed his brain-he might have been
sent to him for some good purpose. st.
Paul had not always borne the name IF
PAUL
These thoughts, ibut half formulated
In his brain bDil tnpir immediate pffect
In concerto action.
Won't you take off your coat Mr..
S%chuabe," he said, and smoke a cigar
with me in my study"
The other hesltated u moment. looked
doubtful. n then assented. He hung
his coat up In the hall and went into
the other room with the vicar.
During the conversation in the draw
ing-room Helena had come back from
the concert, and Basil, hearing her, had
left the study and gone to her own pri-
vate sanctum for a last few minutes
before saying goodnight.
Helena sat in a low chair by the fire
slipping a bowl Of soup which the maid
had brought up TO her. She was a
little tired by the concert. where a local
pianist had been playing n nocturne of
Chopin's as If he wanted TO make It
into soup, and the quiet OF her own
sitting-room. the intimate comfort OF 1t
all. and the sense of happiness that
Basil's presence opposite ave her were
In delightful contrast.
ut was very stupid. dear she said.
Mrs. Pryde was rather trying. full or
dull gossip about every one. and the
music wasn't good. Mr.. Cuthbert played
as II he was playing the organ III church.
His touch is utterly untitled for any
thing except the War March from Atha-
lia with tta cfopS 4ons g Hp9 knows 4nofh-f
ing of the piano. l was in a front seat,
/ could see his knee feeling for the
swell all the time. He played the sonata
as if he was throwing the moonlight ut
one In. great solid chunks. I'm glad to
be back. How nice 1t is to 81, here with
you, dearest!-and 10Y good this Bovril
is" she concluded with a little laugh
of content and happiness at this me
of acute physical and mental ease.
He looked lovingly at her as she lay
back in rest and the freight played over
her white arms and pale gold hair.
'Its wonderful to, Think he said,
with a little catch In his voice, .it's
wonderful to me, an ever-recurring
wonder, to think that some day you
and 1 will always be together for all
our life, here and afterwards. What
supreme. unutterable happiness God
gives to His children! Do you know.
dear. sometimes as I read prayers or
stand by the altar. I am filed with a
sort Of rapture of thhnkfulness which
is voiceless in its intensity. Tennyson
got nearer to expressing it than any one
in that beautiful ST. Agnes Eve of his
a little gem which. with its simplicity
and fervour, is worth far more than
Keats's poem with all its literary art"
ct is good to feel like that sometimes
she answered.; tbut it is we'll. I think.
not to get into the way of Inducing
such feelings. The human brain Is such
a sensitive thing that one can get into
the way of %drugging it with emotion.
as 1t We're. I think I am tinged a little
with the North-country spirit. I always
think of Newman's- wonderful lines
THE thoughts control that DER thee
swell and throng;
They will condense within the soul
and turn to purpose strong.
But he who let's his feelings run IN
soft luxurious flow,
Shrinks when hard service must be
done. and faints at every blow
I only quote from memory. But. you
lool, tired. dear how: Won are rather