Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-10-10

01eE%-RS
Those who had ~professed their faith
left no stone unturned In leading 9TH
ers to the altar, as II life could not re-
sumo its routine until the unconverted
were brought to kneel at the evang-
elist's feet.
-, As Abbott Ashton reflected that, be-
cause of this young girl with the
mocking laugh, he was losing the cli1
macteric expression of the three
weeks campaign. his displeasure
grew. Within him was an underlined
thought vibration akin to surprise,
caused by the serenity of the hushed
sky. Was it not homogeneous that the
heavens should be so peaceful with
their quiet star-beacons, while man
was exerting himself to the utmost OF
gesture and noise to glorify the Maker
of that calm canopy? From the
weather-stained canvas rolled the
warning, not unmusically:
"We reap what we SOW,
We reap what we sow"
Above the tide of melody, the voice
of the evangelist rose in a scream, ap
palling in its agony-"Oh, men and
women, why will you die, why will
you die?"
But the stars, looking down at the
silent earth, spoke not of death, spoke
lonly as stars, seeming to say. Here
are April days. dear old earth, balmy
springtime and summer harvest be-
fore us!-What merry nights we shall
pass together!" The earth answered
with a sudden white smile, for the
moon had just risen above the distant
woods.
At the stile where the footpath
from the tent ended, Abbott paused.
Why should he go further? This SCOT
fer, the one false note In the meet
ing's harmony. had been silenced.
There" he said, showing the road.
His tone was final. 1t meant, DE
part"
Fran spoke In a choking voice, "T'm
afraid" 1t was not until then, that
he knew she had been crying. for not
once had he looked back. That she
should cry, changed everything.
II am so %little," Fran said plain
lively. "and the world is SO large"
Abbott stood i~rresolute. To take
Fran back to the tent would destroy
the Influence, but it seemed inhuman
to send her away. He temporized
rather weakly. But you came here
alone"
"But I'm not going away alone"
said Fran. Her voice was still damp,
but she had kept her resolution dry.
In the gloom, he vainly sought to
discern her features. Whose little
girl are your" he asked, not without
an accent of gentle commiseration.
Fran, one foot on the first step of
the stile, looked up at him; the sud
den flare of a torch revealed the sor-
row in her eyes. 81 am nobody's little
girl" she answered p%laintively.
Her eyes were so large, and SO soft
and dark. that Abbott was glad she
was only a child Of fourteen-or IF.
teen, perhaps. Her face was so
strangely eloquent in it's yearning for
something quite beyond his compre-
hension. that he decided, then and
there, to be her friend. The unsteady
light prevented definite perception of
her face. There was, In truth, an ele.
ment of charm in all he could discern
of the girl. Possibly the big hat
helped to conceal or accentuate-at
any rate, the effect was somewhat
elfsh. AS for those great and lumi-
nously black eyes, he could not for the
life of him have said what he saw in
them to set his blood tingling with
a feeling of protecting tenderness. Pos,
sibly it was her trust In him, for as
he gazed into the earnest eyes OF
Fran, 1t was like looking into a clear
pool to see oneself.
"Nobody's little girl?" he repeated,
inexpressibly touched that it should
be SO. What a treasure somebody was
denied! Are you a stranger in the
town."
Never been here before" Fran an.
swered mournfully.
But why did you conner"
II came to find Hamilton Gregory"
The young man was astonished.
Didn't you see him in the tent, lead
ing the choir?"
"He has a house in town." Fran
said timidly. 81 don't want to bother
him while he is in his religion. I
want to wait for him at his house.
Oh" she added earnestly, IF you
would only show me the way"
Just as If she did not know the
way!
Abbott Ashton was now completely
at her mercy. $50 you know Brother
Gregory. do your" he asked, as he
led her over the stiles and down the
w~agon-road.
Never saw him in my life," Fran
replied casually. She knew how to
say it prohibitively, but she purposely
left the bars down, to find out If the
young nan was what she hoped.
And he was. He did not ask a