The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-12-02


picturesquely wicked. Tell me why
you belong to Market Square church"
Because it's so respectable" he
twinkled down at her. When an old
sinner has lost every other claim to
responsibility. he has himself put on
the vestry."
He dropped behind on their way to
the door, to surreptitiously slip some
thing, which looked like money. to the
man with the roughly hewn counte-
nance, and as he stood talking, Rev.
Smith Boyd came in, not quite breath
lessly, but as II he had hurried.
81 knew you we're here" he said,
taking Calls slender hand In his own;
then his eyes turned cold.
you recognized my pink ribbon
bows" and she laughed up at him
frankly. you haven't been over to
sing lately"
NO" he replied. "Will you be at
home this EVENING""
'I'll have our music selected" and,
in the very midst Of her brightness,
she was stopped by the sudden som
berness In the rector's eyes.
Simple little conversation; quite
trivial indeed, but II had been attend
ed by much shifting thought. To be-
gin with, the rector regretted the ne
cessity OF disapproving of a young
lady so undeniably attractive. She
was a pleasure to the eye and stim-
ulus to the mind, and always his first
impulse when he thought OF her was
one of pleasure. An incident flashed
back to him. The night OF the tobog.
gan party, when she had stood with
her face upturned, and the moonlight
cleaning on her round white throat.
He had trembled, much to his later
sorrow. as he fastened the scarf about
her warm neck However, she was
the visiting niece OF one OF his vestry-
men, who lived next door to the rec
tory.
Gall jerked her pretty head impa
tiently. If Rev. Smith Boyd meant
to be as somber as this, she'd rather
he'd stay at home. However, he was
the rector, and her Uncle Jim was a
vestryman. and they lived right next
door.
you just escaped a blowing up.
Doctor Boyd" observed Daddy Man
ming. joining them. and his eyes
twinkled from one to the other. "Our
young friend from the West is harsh
with the venerable Market Square
church"
Again." and Rev. Smith Boyd was
gracious enough to smile. What IL
the matter with It this time?
ut is not only commercial, but Grim
inal," repeated Manning, with sly
smile at Gail, who now wore a little
red spot in each cheek.
Rev. Smith Boyd's cold eyes turned
green, as he glanced at this daring
young person In offending the dignity
OF Market Square church she offended
his own.
What would you have US do?" he
quietly asked.
Retire from business" she in
formed him, nettled by the covert
sneer at her youth and lnexperience
She laid aside a new perplexity fol
future solution. In moments such as
this the rector was far from minis
terial, and he displayed quickness tC
anger quite out of proportion to thu
apparent cause. "The whole trouble
with Market Square church is tina
they have no God. The creator hat
been reduced to formula"
Daddy Manning saved the rector thu
pain of any answer.
You're a religious anarchist" h
charged Gail.
Her face softened.
'By no means" she replied. II an
devoted follower OF the divine spirit
the divine will, the divine law; bu
not Of the church; for It has forgottel
these things"
"You don't know what you are say
ing" the rector told her.
That isn't all you mean she r'
torted. What you have In mind
that being a woman and young,
should be silent. You would not pei
: nit thought II you could avoid 1t, TO
when people begin to think, religio
% lives but the church dies, as It Is doin
today"
Now Rev. Smith Boyd could b
triumphant. There was a curl of sa
casm on his lips.
Are you quite consistent?" h
charged "You have just been objec
ing to the prosperity Of the church. D."
Financially" she admitted; but
| is a spiritual bankrupt. Your financii
prosperity is a direct sign of your r
; ligious decay. Your financial ban
ruptcy will come later, as 1t has don
in France, as 1t is doing in Italy, as
= will do all over the world. Humanit
l. treats the church with the generosii
( due a once valuable servant who hf
Il outlived his usefulness"
"My dear child, humanity can new
l. do without religion" interposed Dadt
Manning.
e Agreed" said Gail; but II ou
IT grows them. 1t outgrew paganisr
o idolatry, and score Of minor phas,
L. in between. Now 1t is outgrowing Il
u religion of creed, in Its progress
ward morality. What we need is
y new religion"
CTo BE CoNTINUED)
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e any other mans wife knows about hi