The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-06-27

the funeral cross between them. eacn
with her hearts burden OF grlels'
convictions and resentments, each re-
coiled, sensitively, from the others
touch. But life and the burden hie
imposes were too strong.
How can you say, Mrs. stoddara'
that work is not for me- when there
is suffering you can relieve, sickness
that you can cure? am asking na1u
thing, know; but we will help 10
make it as easy as possible for you
and we are in great need.
Should the servants OF the Lofa
falter in doing his work." Mrs. Ssoa-
dard's voice intoned reverently, WINE
she looked at Agatha with her slncefe
eyes. mo. He gives strength 10
perform his commands. But sickness
and sorrow and death are on every
hard; to some it is appointed for a mo
ments trial, to others Il is the wages
of sin. We can not alter the LORD 8
DEGREES"
! Agatha stared at the rapt speaker
with amazed eyes, and presently ING
anger she had felt at Doctor Thayers
words rose again within her breast
doubly strong. The doctor had gwen
but 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 gathereo al
her force to combat this sword OF
the spirit which had 30 suddenly risen
against her.
You are a hard and unjust woman
to talk of the wages Of SIM What
do you know of my life, or OF MIN
who Is sick over at the red house
Who are you, to sit in Judgment upon
| us?"
T am the humblest OF his servants,
( REPLIED Susan Stoddard. and there was
/ no shadow of hypocrisy in her tones
, She went on, almost sorroWfuliy'
3 "But we are sent to serve ana obey
j Keep ye separate and apart from the
q children of this world Is his com
3 mandment, and I have no choice Du
r to obey. Besides and she looked VI
; fearlessly into Agatha's face, we az
b know about you. 1t is spoken OF D!
g all how you follow a wicked ant
9 worldly profession. You can't toucl
l. pitch and not be defiled. The templ'
!: must be purged and emptied of world
y liness before Christ can come IN.
; Agatha was baffled by the very sim
!" plicity and directness Of Mrs. Stod
s. dards words, even though she felt he
n own texts might easily be turne
r. against her. But she had no heart TO
q argument, even If 1t would lead ne
5 to verbal triumph over her compar
x ion Instinctively she felt that NO
D. thus was Mrs. Stoddard to be won.
10 whatever you may think about m
x or about my profession, Mrs. Stot
r. dard." she said, you must belieV
u me when | say that Mr. Hambleto
Q is free from your censure and worth
ct of your sincerest praise. He Is nj
10 an opera singer-of that am col
- vinced-"
Susan stoddard here interpolated
"a stern Don't you know?
~ Listen, Mrs. Stoddard" erie
- Agatha in desperation. When II
ID yacht, the Jeanne Dare. began to sin
GO there was panic and fear everywher
o. While / was climbing down into OF
-. of the smaller boats, the rope brok
- and fell into the water. ] should ha'
on drowned, then and there, II 1t lad n
been for this man. for all the rest
the ships load jumped into the boa
~ and rowed away to save themselvt
Nv He helped me to come ashore, after
AZ had become exhausted by swimmir
no He is Ill and near to death. becau
10 10 he risked his life to save mine. Is
- that heaven-inspired act?'
Az. .o' Mrs. Stoddards eyes gl!stened
III Asatba's tale. which had at last
~" behind the older woman's armor. t
a.. her next attack took form that Al
a a tina had not foreseen, In her revere
loe voice, SO suited to exhortation. she
nc manded:
no And what will you do with "
~ life, now that you have been saved
nm the hand of God? Will you dedicate
!, tc him. whose child you are?"
cu,. Agatha. chatting in her heart, pau
ria. mcment before she answered:
her "My life has not been without
tests OF faith and of conscience. n
stoddard; and who of US does
-, wish, with the deepest yearning,
Va. know the right and to do it?'
knowledge comes from the Lol
~ came Mrs. Stoddard's words, like
la antiphonal response In the litany.
USE my way has been different Fl
'een yours; and it is way that would
aeo. difficult for you to understand, pc
=, bly,. But you shall not condemn
' saa without reason"
a.. Are you going to marry that
Ius' YOU have been living with these m
Fee. days7" was the next stern inquiry
ehu' ITO RE CONTINUED)