The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-06-16

men had yielded to the influences of
the great revival, and manfully gone
to the old-time "mourners bench"
and had risen from their knees pro-
Tossing faith in Christ. There had
been much and loud praying by the
brethren and shouting by the sisters
Estranged friends had been reunited,
and now the white dove Of peace
seemed to hover over one and ALL All
were feeling that a great work had
been done-that many of the "per-
ishing' had been rescued, and at
this the last nights service were
plcdging themselves to more faithful
~ perform future duties.
Outside the church IN the shadows
stood John Armlield, a man noted for
his wickedncss, fcarlessncss, and in-
fidelity, the terror and disgrace Of
the ncighborhood There could be
nothing said against his parents
they were poor, but honest and hard
working people, feeling acutcly the
Sights of their ncighbors, who be-
cause of John, had grown to shun
them as a plague. John understood
the cause, as did they, and cursed
the whole ncighborhood as well as
himself, when be noticed how thin
and frail his patient mother was
growing, and knew in his heart that
it was grit and no physical disease
with which she battlcd. John s love
ing trait; and now at the age of 25
he had paused for once in his wild
career, and looked back over his
misspcnt life NTH deep rcmorsc. lie
had gloried in the reputation Of be-
ing an infidcl, and for years had not
been inside Il church. But when he
would see his mother searching the
Bible for comfort, something would
tug at his heart strings, and he would
stride from The house, outwardIv calm
sand indifferent. Poor John! Ills rcpu-
tation was worse than his claract*.. :.
\Thc trouble was, no one understood
him, or took any interest in his wei
fare. He had the name Of being bad
and was, but not as black as painted.
y was a cold night in November and
the first tine Il "rcvivar mccting'
had ever been held in this cnurch
during the winter. Perhaps the min
lister was thinking Of Christmas so
soon to come-of the little town of G.
two miles away, where during the
holidays "blind tigcrs' were wont
20 prowl by mght--and hoped to
throw restraining influence around
his beloved flock. IT was humiliating
to say the least to have his members
at the altar every August. rcpenting
for the sins of the winter! With
bare head. John stood in the winter
winds and listened to the singing;
the sentiments sank deep in his
heart.
"Down in the human heart,
Crushed by the tcmptcr.
Feelings lie buried that grace can
restore:
Touched by a loving hand,
Weakened by kindness.
Chords that were broken will vibratc
once morc.'
a groan Of mental anguish cs-
capped him, and, as if impclled by an
irresistible force, he passed round to
the door and quietly walked into the
church.
With his ovcrcoat on his arm and
cap in hand, six feet high and broad
shoulders. his handsome though
dissipatcd face pale with emotion,
his dark eyes suspiciously moist, lie
made striking appearance as. he
passed down the ais,, looking for
seat.
Near the front he found onc-a
bench with four occupants with room
for as many more. The song died
away as he sat down, In the pitiful
wall Of solitary voice. The other
occupants Of the scat withdrew to
more congcnial but crowded quar-
tcrs, leaving John in undisputcd
possession. 1t was cruel stab and
went straight to his heart. = -c.,,
more than saw, what m object of
curiosity he was becoming. The old
dcvil-doT-care expression crcpt back
to his face. One thouehtlcss girl
oouUht bic nyo our1oI bor Inc ,o,,