The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-06-30

20 MOI" replied Innocence. 81
shall want to come again. but want
TO 60 home now. Please take me. .
Pleasure took her home and prom.
ised to take her again.
/ awoke from my dream: the gar
den and cottage were still In view,
| looking as fresh and as fair Is al
first, but a kind Of stupor seemed to
come upon me, and / was poweriess
to move. Presently fell asleep and
dreamed again.
| saw Pleasure and Innocence sit
| ting together In a saloon, and limo
cence held In her hand glass OF that
den home, had never seen before.
| She was raising the glass to her lips
and | strove TO reach her that
might save her from running herself
but / could not move and had the
pain OF seeing her empty the glass.
AS she set down the glass, Pleasure
rose and said, Come. let US go for
a dance"
Again I saw them in the ballroom
and as | watched / saw a startled
look creep into Innocence's face. She
| turned quickly and stretched out her
arms as though for help, but Pleas
ure had left her, and there was no
one near to catch her as she reeled
and fell. Many dancers passed by,
but they only looked, laughed. and
passed on.
Presently Innocence regained her
senses. She rose and cast one wild,
despairing look round the room.
Then the despair died out Of her
eyes, and in it's place came a look of
sorrow and shame. With unsteady
steps she left the room and gained
the street. Then she hurried to the
gate Of the city, but, finding it lock-
ed, she turned from 1t in dismay and
sank On the pavement, burying her
face in her hands.
Then I saw Pleasure approach her
and touch her on the shoulder. She
looked up, and a CLEAN Of hope stole
into her eyes as she said: 20 Pleas
uIC, uO open TIC gaze 1OI uIO that i
may go home. I am so tired"
He laughed, cruel, hooking
laugh, and told her she must open
the gate herself.
81 can't" she cried; 81 have no
key"
Then you must stay here now.
You have stayed here until mid
night, and it is impossible for you to
go home now, because any one who
remains one night in the City OF
Pleasure is never allowed to leave ii
again"
On hearing this, Innocence began
| to weep, and when she looked UP
again she was alone-alone and
friendless in a strange city. The
| horror of her situation seemed to
dawn upon her, for she again crouch
ed down in a corner and wept bit
terly.
80, if I could only get back to my
home,' she cried; never again
would L leave it to come to this mis-
cradle city; but I have sinned and
| can not go pack.
| Her voice ended in a pitifu1 wall.
Then I saw an angel appear unto
the girl and I heard a sweet voice
whisper, Innocence"
She looked up, startled, and saw
the angel standing near her, looking
upon her with love and pity. limo
cence covered her face, for she wa:
ashamed.
Are you tired already of this
life Of pleasure?" the sweet voice
asked.
80 yes, 1t is a life of misery.
see it all now, and I would Civ,
anything to go back home, but
can not. I have sinned and stained
my maiden purity, and God will nev
er forgive me-" She began to wee]
afresh.
"Dry your tears and 1ook,'' the an
gel said. ST am your Savior, AM
in My hands and feet I bear tn
price Of your forgiveness. See thu
prints Of the nails" He stretched
out His hands, and at sight Of then
the unhappy girl cried, 20, why wa
I called innocence who am s,
guilty."
"Your guilt is not too great TO
My blood to wash away. Come t.
Me now, and give Me your heart!
will clease it from all sin You ar
the lamb have sought so long, an
am come to carry you back to tn
fold" Thus spake the Christ, an
tenderly lifting the weary girl II
laid her head on His shoulder an
bore her gently home.-Wester
Christian Advocate.
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