The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-06-21
oa,u otherworldly eyes, from her


serene. deep voice
NO. Miss Redmond. that work Is
not for me"
But please. Mrs. Stoddard, will you
not reconsider your decision? II is
not for myself | ask. but for another
one 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. The
Lord does not call me there"
As the two women stood there, with
the funeral cross between them. each
with her hearts burden or griets.
convictions and resentments. each re-
coiled, sensitively. 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 hard
thing, | know; but we will help TO
make it as easy as possible for YOU
and we are in great need
Should the servants OF the LORD
falter in doing his work." Mrs. Stod-
dard's voice intoned reverently. while
she looked at Agatha with her sincere
eyes. No. He gives strength 10
perform his commands. But Sickness
and sorrow and death are on every
hard; to some 1t is appointed for mo-
| ment's trial. to others 1t 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 at Doctor mayer
words rose again within her breast
doublv strong. The doctor had given
but feeble version Of the Judgment
here was the real voice hurting anatne-
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
IN talk OF the wages Of sin. Wnat
do Won know of my life. or OF him
who is sick over at the red house!
Who are YOU. to sit In judgment upon
u.s."
ct am the humblest Of his servants.
replied Susan Stoddard. and there was
no shadow of hypocrisy In her tones
She went on: almost sorrowfuliy:
"But we are sent to serve and obey.
Keep We separate and apart from the
J children of this world Is his com
: mandment. and I have no choice Dut
: to obey. Besides" and she looked up
, fearlessly into Agatha's face. we 90
know about you It is spoken OF oy
l.. all how Won follow a wicked AND
+ worldly profession. You can't touch
? MITCH and not be defiled. The temple
r must be purged and emptied OF world
3 Illness before Christ can come in.
a Agatha was bafYled by the very sim
plicIty and directness OF Mrs. Stod
s dard's words. even though she felt hel
d own texts might easily be turned
+ against her. But she had no heart TO-
:. argument. even II II would lead ne
d to verbal triumph over her compan
8 ion Instinctively she felt that no
T. Tins was Mrs. Stoddard to be won
J. whatever you NAV think about m
d or about my profession. Mrs. Stoo
n dard." she said. you must believ
me when ! say that Mr.. Hambleto
A. Is free from your censure and worth
n of your sincerest praise. He Is nc
n. an opera singer-of that | am col
le vinced-"
g. Susan Stoddard here fnterpolated
N stern Don't you know?
pt Listen, Mrs. Stoddard!" erie
N AGATHA in desperation. When tf
N Yacht. the Jeanne dare, began to sin
.ir there was panic and fear everywher
at While I was climbing down into OF
90 Of the smaller boats. the rope brok
N and I fell into the water. I should ha'
he drowned, then and there. II 1t had n
no been for this man: for all the rest
NJ the ships load jumped into the boa
m. and rowed away to save themselvt
n He helped me to come ashore, after
nj. had become exhausted by swfmmir
ia. He Is i'll and near to death. becau
,er he risked his life to save mine. Is
Mrs. Stoddard's eyes glistened
"a. Agatha's tale. which had at last
~, behind the older woman's armor.
her next attack took form that Al
" tina had not foreseen. In her revere
~ voice. so suited to exhortation. she
,en manded:
aa And what win you do with "
-, life. now that you have been saved
- the hand of God? Will you dedicate
Che to him. whose child you are?"
me, AGATHA, chatting in her heart. pau
q moment before she answered.:
80 "My life has not been without
tests OF faith and of conscience. n
Stoddard; and who Of us does
~ wish. with the deepest yearning.
know the right and to do it?"
knowledge comes from the Lo
IN came Mrs. Stoddard's words. like
~ antiphonal response in the litany.
W.. my way has been different q
80 yours; and 1t is way that would
difficult for you to understand. pt
bly,. But you shall not condemn
without reason"
Are you going to marry that
sne You have been living with these n
'iuiy daysp" was the next stern inquiry
ome CTo BE CoNTINUED)
ltlOn
ance An honest man is not a mere
,saiI nal. he knows right from wrong,