Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-01

stranger paused moment outside OF the
little group. Ruth looked at him curiously
He was straight and tall with closely crop.
ped black hair that shone in the hot sun.
light. His eyes were kind too, and as they
met the girls wide blue ones, flicker OF
interest appeared in them. Mr.. Judson,
anxious to do the right thing. eagerly
grasped the man by the hand. The man
smiled curiously, and Mrs Byrd rushed for.
ward Indignantly
You're mistaken, Mr.. Judson," she said.
her voice trembling in an effort to be digni-
fed. That's Hugh Lee-he don't believe in
Cod"
The words cut their way through to Ruth's
heart with a hurt she did not understa nd
She shivered slightly. and then fingered a
moment as If there were something she
would like to say. But Hugh Lee turned
into the house. The incident had somehow
thrown gloom over her happiness
Sunday In the little village was scrupu.
lously kept. Even Ruth sighed as she
thought OF the long afternoon when she
would have to remain indoors The day was
50 lovely that 1t did not seem wrong to wor-
ship in the great out.of-doors where every.
thing spoke OF Divine presence There
had been long service in the church that
morning. and Ruth did not like the way the
deacon had looked at her. 1t had made her
a little nervous. This afternoon her father
was TO read the Bible out loud 1t was a
time when Tom squirmed and fidgeted, and
1t was impossible for Ruth to pay attention
when her sympathies were all with her
brother. Mrs Byrd had told her that she
had seen Tom talking with lobe again
Tom ought to keep away from that man."
the good woman said. che don't amount to
shucks. He owes big bill at the grocery
store, and he won't work. saw Hugh Lee
giving him some money this morning Just
like the wicked unbelieyer TO encourage lazi.
ness"
In Mrs. Byrd's little parlor the time passed
drowsily. Ephraim Judson was reading one
OF mis- favorite passages from the Bible. Tom,
looking bored. was gazing absent-mndedly
out OF the window. Ruth kept her eyes on
her fathers face and listened as hard as she
could She was trying to pay the strictest
attention, but her thoughts were wandering.
Once she stole over softly 10 a bird cage
which hung in the window
Poor little fellow" she said softly. ''they
keep you Gagged up. too" Tension had
reached point where 1t seemed that some
thing must happen, when some OF the church
committee arrived TO talk with the preacher.
lobe, who had been waiting for an oppor-
tunity, slipped into the yard after them and,
seeing Tom through the open window.
beckoned to him eagerly. Ruth saw sud.
den change come over the boys face.
Don't go, Tom" she begged "he isn't the
kind of man you want to bother with"
That's because he isn't mollycoddle,'
Tom returned holly. You let me alone
you're only girl. won't have you bother.
ing me- And with shove he pushed Ruth
aside and vaulted out of the window
Mrs. Byrd had fallen asleep over the Bible
that the evangelist had left in her care, and
Ruth, after moments hesitation, went out
into the dewy sweetness Of the Summer af.
ternoon. She had come out primarily to
follow Tom but the woods drew her, and
she had not seen which way Tom had gone
Once in the wildness of the mountain woodi.
ness, she forgot everything but the fact that
she was young and alive and happy. AS she
picked rose sound Of chopping attracted
her attention, and she went toward it slow.
~. wondering who could be doing such work
on the Sabbath.
The man. who was unconcernedly going
about his work. stopped moment as he
spied the girl. Yesterday the look in her
eyes had vaguely disturbed him. to-day he
felt the same unreasonable tug at his heart
ITS Sunday she said, simply
He nodded CURLY, and resumed his chop.
ping. Ruth stepped little nearer and laid
her cool fingers on his arm. The movement
was that of child asking for attention, but
me man felt the soft touch deeper than he
cared to admit. This strange feeling vague
ly irritated him, and he shook off the fingers
uneasily
Wont you let me speak to your" Ruth
asked wonderingly. II just wanted to ask
you if it is true that you don't believe in
God?"
Eyes, It's true" the man responded
strengthening UP and looking amusedly at
the serious little face.
But how can You help it," she asked won.
derngly, when you look around you? Look
at that tree this rose. and all the lovely
country about
He looked at~it for a moment. and hitter
smile touched his mouth.
Yes, look" he said. pointing to the flower.
"a worm is eating its heart out. Look
there, and there" he said, passionately.
pointing to the roots of the trees Strange,
isn't it, that God should AXE the trouble 10
make all this loneliness and then send
things to destroy it all?"
Ruth faltered little. Her simple faith
did not admit Of argument and logic. She
just believed, she would always believe, and
no amount Of logic could stir the calm con
viction Of her girlish mind. How was she
to know that while she stood trying her best
to convert this stranger to her own sweet
belief that her own brother was being led by
Tobe and few friends into n temptation
that he was too weak to resist?
He was sorely tempted to tell this child
something of his life and OF the canker of
unrest that had robbed him of his faith.
1hH NNV 1~F4