The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-01-31


serene. deep voice
mo. Miss Redmond, tbat work 1.
not for me-"
"But please. Mrs stoddard, win you
not reconsider your decision? Il Ia
not for myself ask. but for another
-ono who is suffering"
Mrs, Stoddard's gaze went past
Agatha and rested on the white cross
with the inscription. Brother" She
slowly shook her head, saying again
NO. that work Is not for me Tho
Lord does not call me there"
As the two women stood there, with
the funeral cross between them, each
with her hearts burden OF griofs
convictions and rosentments, each re-
coiled, sensitiyely, from the others
touch But life and the burden lie
imposes were too strong
How can you say Mrs. Stoddard
that work Is not for me, when there
Is suffering YOU can relieve, sickness
that you can cure? / am asking a hard
thing I know; but we win help TO
make it as easy as possible for you,
and we are In great need"
Should the servants of the Lord
faltcr In doing his work?" Mrs. Stod
dard's voice intoned reverontly, while
she looked az Agatha with her sincere
eyes NO. He gives strength 70
perform his commands. But sickness
and sorrow and death are on every
hard; 10 some il is appointed for mo
ments trial, 70 others IL is the wages
Of sin We can not alter the Lords
DEGREES"
Agatha stared at the rapt speaker
with amazed eyes, and presently the
anger she had felt az Doctor Thayers
words rose again within her breast,
doubly strong. The doctor had given
but 0 feeble version of the Judgment
here was the real voice hurting anathe.
ma. as did the prophets of old But
even as she listened. she gathered all
her force to combat this sword Of
the spirit which had so suddenly risen
against her
You are a hard and unjust woman,
TO talk OF the wages Of sin What
do you know Of my life, or of him
who is sick over at the red house,
Who are you, to sit in judgment upon
ls?"
Il am the humblest Of his servants
'eplied Susan Stoddard, and there was
10 shadow OF hypocrisy in her tones.
She went on, almost sorrowfully:
But we are sent TO serve and obey.
Keep ye separate and apart from the
children OF this world, is his com
and I have no choice but
O obey. Besides" and she looked up
into Agatha's face, we do
mow about you 1t is spoken Of by I
III how you follow a wicked and /
worldly profession. You can't touch /
itch and not be defiled. The temple |
must be purged and emptied of world /
mess before Christ can come in"
Agatha was baffled by the very sim
,licity and directncss Of Mrs. StoG |
ards words, even though she felt her
wn texts might easily be turned .
gainst her. But she had no heart for
rgument. even II it would lead her
o verbal triumph over her compan-
ln. Instinctively she felt that not
hus was Mrs. Stoddard to be won,
Whatever you may think about me
r about my profession, Mrs. Stod-
ard" she said, you must believe
le when | say that Mr. Hambleton
free from your censure and worthy
+ your sincerest praise. He is not
n opera singer-of that ! am con
inccd-"
Susan Stoddard here interpolatod
.ern Don't you know?"
Listen, Mrs. Stoddard!" cried
gatha in desperation. when the
acht, the Jeanne Dare, began to sink.
Iere was panic and fear everywhere
7hile / was climbing down into one
I the smaller boats. the rope broke
nd fell into the water. should have
rowned, then and there, if it had not
cen for this man. for all the rest Of
le ships load jumped into the boats
nd rowed away to save themselves.
e helped me to come ashore, after
I'd become exhausted by swimming
g is i'll and near to death, because
e risked his life to save mine. Is not
at a heaven-inspired act?"
Mrs Stoddard's eyes glistened at I
gatha's tale, which had at last got
hind the older woman's armor But !
ar next attack took a form that Aga. !
"a had not foreseen. In her reverent {
,ice, so suited to eXhortation, she de
anded: {
And what will you do with your
e, now that you have been saved by
e hand of God? VIII you dedicate it
him, whose child you are?" /
Agatha, chatting in her heart, paused z
moment before she answered.: {
My life has not been without its q
SITS OF faith and of conscience. Mrs |
oddard and who of us does not !
sh, with the deepest yearnirg, to
low the right and to do it?"
knowledge comes from the Lord,
me Mrs Stoddard's words, like an I
tiphonal response in the litany. !.
my way has been different from =
urs; and it is way that would be >
1lcult for you to understand, possi
T. But you shall not condemn me
thout reason"
Are you going to marry that man
u have been living with these many
ys?" was the next stern inquiry.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
1
IN honest man Is not a mere ami
/; he SHOWS right from wrong, ard
es the right