The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-07-08
? xII-(continued)
iii Illl uIl

am dIaazed. For years you have
1t Is my opinion, P%resbrey, that il
they are going to be saved they will
have to do the greater part of the work
themselves"
But surely. with Gods help at
their"
Adam Carr said something to me
once that made a lasting impression. !
knows a bad boy as well as anyone else.
You don't have to tell Him about it
morning, noon and night. 1t isn't gos-
pel-lt's gossip. 1t amt proper to Cos
sip with the Almighty"
My dear sir, I don't see the relev-
ancy. Carr Is a scoffer. Surely you
are not coming to his way Of thinking.
lit is unbelievable"
Nevertheless. my dear friend, 1t has
occurred to me that If God knows the
bad boy, He's equally discerning with
respect to the good boy"
nave been, that Eric is a good boy, Mr..
Blagden," said Mr.. Presbrey stiffly.
Mr.. Blagden felt the sting in this sub
tie. far off criticism.
Understand me, please, I do not re-
greet the methods we ave pursued in
showing him the right path. We've done
all we could, Presbrey. He will keep
to that path If hesso desires. If he con-
cludes to wander away from it. / don't
believe God or man Ia going to stop
him. It's the thing in here that will
keep him straight. God made he
strong and he made the weak They go
the way which is easiest. The strong
go up, the weak go down. We can't
guide them beyond a certain point.
They cast us off. The strong don't
need us Inc the weak despise u.s."
Mr.. Presbrey left in a state Of great
depression. He had suffered what he
was tempted to consider a personal loss.
A njl19r r in hiS fnponla W. urnhhljnp = IF
was the most impeccable pillar, at that,
II the metaphor may be allowed. If
Horace Blagden ben ever SO slightly,
1t vas extremely doubtful If he, as
Gods artisan, could hope to restore
that portion Of the temple to its for
mer strength and usefulness. If Horace
saw fit to bend, the whole Of the per-
feet edifice must needs sag with him..
Smal pillars always are forced to lean
in the direction in which they are
pushed by the larger ones, and some
times they tumble and disintegrate.
That was the trouble with the church,
the world over, said MIR. Presbrey. Toe
many monoliths.
And, / am sorry to say, Mr.. Pres
brey felt that he himself had been very
much put upon by Mr.. Blagden In the
matter Of the little Midthornes. Some
how, he always has suspected himself
Of being a sort Of catspaw. Now he
oS 4d1lC 0dA VI ~. ANSllloto 30 1o1 Nv
treatment of the children seemed to
nave seized upon the Blagdens. Unless
he was mistaken in Mr.. Blagden, that
gentleman, in chastising himself, was
now cody shifting a rather trouble
some burden so that 1t might appear to
rest on other shoulders. In SO many
words, SO to speak, Horace a given
him to understand that his prayers
would be wasted, that they might just
as we'll be dispensed with. 1t was rath-
er hard to hear ones earnest prayers
cataloged as gossip.
Mr.. Presbrey's heart was sore as he
strobe up the garden path leading to
his own doorway. His wife noted the
faint flush in his cheeks as he entered
the sitting room.
Have they had any news of Chef
wynd?" she asked.
My dear" said her husband, sitting
down rather heavily, and quite ignor-
Ing her question. II ave come to the
sorrowful conclusion that il is retri,
button after all. God can and will pun,
ish those who make use of Ills offices
to further their own ends"
She was startled. "R~atribution!
Ends?"
Mr.. Blagden is paying, I firmly be-
lieve, for his Christian like treat
men of his sisters children. Yes, il
Is retribution." said he. staring at the
floor.
We always Sal0 the tNle WoulC
come" said she, her lips tightening
Her husband had not said 1t in sc
many words, but she was shrewd
enough to see that his visit had not
been a pleasant one. "They are such
dear children. And look at Chetwynd!
Goodness mel" hat was as near te
blasphemy as she ever vertured.
Her husbands face frightened. "Ii
If we had worked as hard over Chef
wynd as we did owe Eric and Mary
we-well, who .knows?"
I'VE couldn't have saved that boy
with all the prayers In Chrfstendom,'
she announced flatiy.
oh, my dear! You forget what
II don't forget anything. God Him
self couldn't save a Blagdan If he didn't
want to be saved"
Ssh! My dear, that is positively sac
n-no, it is worse than s~acrilegious. L
Is profane. I am sorry to hear
do you know what I'd do. Arthur
If I were in vol placer" she interrupt
ed ruthleSsly. IT'D have, a sermon or
this very thing. There is a moral t.
be taught, an example TO be set.
wouldn't be afraid Of Horace Blagden.'
II am not afraid OF Mr. Blagden.'
said her husband testify. Il shall no
take unfair advantage OF. him, however
He is in trouble. He neads my privat.
ministrations. not public contumely
No, my dear, / shall go to him tomor
row and the day after. Even such al
Horace Blagden car be of contrit
heart"
You might include Rena Blagden.
said Mrs. Presbrey. by the way wha
did Horace say to your
"Sh!" said Mr.. Presbrey, with a quicl
glance In the direction Of the dining
room. Don't speak so loudly. Maggi'
Is setting the table"
She never repeats anything sh'
hears here, Arthur. Besides, why SHOULD