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TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS, 78 & 80 KING ST. EASY MONTREAL: C. W. COATPd, her only child — was the darling of her Toy'Al mother-heart. For fourteen years she might almost have been said to live and breathe for him. She had sacrificed time and strength and quiet for him, in that royal way wl>i'.!li is a characteristic of motherhood, with that grand wliole- heartedness about it that never uses the word " sacrifice," »vi+)i ^trs. Fen ton 1 tlie lighter well. Her Her cliani- rests Aveary ^^s were as wy curtains ?t the right Jings. Her >lossomed in ivere always ; his collars hands clear- whatsoever 1(1 be likely, rs. Fenton a of which I nes, and her with sleeves ; the broom, white work- '^omaii given ed back the iwept vigor- med beauty, while with , and a sore raber that I )ert Fenton, he darling of been said to 3d time and y whi(!!i is a •and whole- " sacrifice," Zitth By-paih,%. ^ Whim ^ ^^ '^' fashioned cunning garments What a pleasure it had been to brush his rin^rs of v^ii^,„ marvelous pear that appeared in the rolbud '^outh she had rejoiced over the pearls of words as thpvK ' to drop from the baby tongue 1^' maml""nn^'" "baby.'; Will the English ianguageTve" tlm iKr again with the fullness of beauty thatTt hf^rnif J when Robby Fenton first said ^p^^ '''^ ^'^ *^"* ^^^ On through the years had the work"and worship ffone Da3 s of agony, niglits of sleepless Avatching wh^,f Z' small idol was feyer-puiclied ; days of Sor f hi. I giving, when the glow'of heal'th came Ig'S ' '"^'"^^ How she had studied, this mother to fp-.f.!, p^ku ^i most careful forms of speech How she had w.t^h Vi'" keep his heart and mouth Dure Hour ih?""^^^ *"* into his childish pIays'tnrp\ns''lhe'Lybrt engine, or an engineer; a Dassenger on the train or^ rdf '''' ^^y^^^'^TU trbt ndTnl^'d^ all boyish games, on purpose to be able to f^iv sympathetica ly with Robby. She had hovered ovlr the book-shelves and counters where juvenHe period icals were stored, and studied the merks of h?,' and that pictorial, lingered * over naJe., fiL^ -A 10 The Hall in the Grove. Never boy had a more tender, thoughtful, appreciative mother. And he had well repaid her care. Through fourteen perilous years of life had he come in safety. Straight as an arrow, morally, as well as physically — a grand, truthful, earnest-hearted boy. Was there need for tears in connection with such a boy as that ? Let me tell you : There had come to that mother on the very morning of which I write, a sudden, rude awakening. It chanced that her boy Robert was rapidly approach- ing the crisis of the disease known in these days as examination fever, and, in his intense desire to "pass," heart and brain were being strained to their utmost tension. He had been tempted to late hours over his books the night before, and had overslept that morning, yet, between the hasty mouthfuls of breakfast which he took, he made dashes into certain studies in which he was to be examined that day. « Do you really suppose I'll pass, mother ? " He asked the question for perhaps the thirteenth time as she came through the room, bearing an armful of fresh table linen. Be it recorded that, hurried and preoccu- pied though he was, he sprang forward and opened the door for his mother. "Of course you will pass," she answered, regarding him with smiling face and fond, proud eyes. "I don't know about it; the examination is awful hard this time : the fellows who went through it last year say this is about the toughest one we'll have. History is the worst. Dates, you know ; they go and mis themselves wj so hocridly. I'm awful on dates. I wish I had my book here ; I don't see how I came to forget it." So tlie boy talked on, more to himself than his mother, who passed in and out, intent on household cares, yet wearing always a spmpathetic face, and having an answer ready for whatever could be ani^wered. 1, appreciative ire. Through me in safety. physically — ti with such a that mother sudden, rude dly approach- bhese days as ire to " pass," their utmost ours over his that morning, fast which he ies in which ?" He asked time as she iful of fresh and preoccu- i opened the ed, regarding tiou is awful rough it last I we'll have, they go and on dates. I iw I came to n his mother, >]d care having ed. an Little By-path». jj pose you can help me ? " a aon t sup- am"„t; "'"'' ^ ''°"'' ""'™''" ""ythiog about it, I Ko^f" „-.i „ . . ^f'"'' ana " bt. Alban ' and « iH^thpi. "the Danthlto""'"^ ,"'?'' ""'^ Sa=.oa line" a,„l ^ «iir eix Jtif:t ".£---£ ."„^: 12 The Hall in the Grove. of persons or places. How much he knew — this boy of hers ' She was proud of him '/ Oh yes ; indeed she was. And yet — and yet — he was growing away from her. What was this stone wall about which he talked so glibly? It felt to her like a veritable wall — yes, and of stone, reacliing up and up to the very sky ; aye, even beyond 1 Who could assure her that the intellectual wall now being reared might not put ages between them in the life to come? She had read a poem once — somewhere — about two lives that clasped hands together across a tiny stream scarcely more than a thread ; the two had walked and whispered together. But the stream had widened and widened, and the hands had dropped apart, and the whisperings together ceased ; by and by they could only shout to each other ; and at last even the shoutings were lost in the roar of ocean, and the divided lives went their separate ways. The poem had saddened her when she read it ; it came back to haunt her this summer morning, and it seemed to her that she could lean forward and distinctly hear the roar of that separating ocean. The little stream had begun ; what was to hinder it from growing and grow- ing ur.til it divided her life from her boy's? And yet, she would not have it otherwise ; would not, at least, have that boy's rapid mental strides interfered with. Oh no indeed I Yet the tears fell over the thoughts of his onward march. While she sat in her little sewing- chair, she went rapidly over her own past. How did it happen that her boy was already r*head of her? Oh easily enough ; the same story has been often lived, and often told : her early life had been one of toil and pov- erty ; three months at third-rate country schools in win- ter, and the eldest daughter of a large family strugglinu to live : such had been her story. She had done well, better than many ; she had been judged " a smart girl." She h distric they a actual Gieek herself Bcliool it is to( me eve You bud ap] day? growinj has bios ia so wi dimly f Robert Whei over his not eve: full bios thismor Still, I chair am She brus " Well nor whei anything dinner ; i as well as stone wa! So she pudding liobert's the moth< crus : he i and to CO] nothing. V —Ibis boy ; indeed she ay frf)m ber. le talked so yes, and of • ; aye, even intellectual jes between — about two tiny stream walked and w'idened and art, and the y could only jutings were . lives went 1 it ; it came it seemed to tly hear the stream had ^ and grow- ? And yet, lot, at least, rfered with, thoughts of ttle sewing- How did it ■ her? Oh n lived, and oil and pov« lools in win- y" strugglini: i done well, smart girl." Little By-paths. jg oh'ra'ndweip "i'ltoltr '» ^",- ">«' ""le sewing, nothing. ^^^ ^ ^'^®' *bo"t whom she knew lii i m CHAPTER II. «i 0. L. 8. 0. »> HEN afternoon quiet rested on the pretty house, Mrs. Fenton dressed herself with careful hand, and set forth to find rest for the weariness ol ner heart. She could not settle down to sewing; there was no housework to do; she did not feel like readincr, —she would make some calls. ° _ Not that she did not read, occasionally, other than juvenile literature; she had read Mrs. Henry Wood and Mrs. Mary J. Holmes quite extensively. It had been a mere matter of chance that she had fallen in With those authors: she did not know what to read, and Mrs. Wood's Uast Lyme had fallen in her way, and therefore she had road it. In her youth, no one had directed her reading ; siie had read what she happened to: she continued to do that still. But Mrs. Henry Wood and Mrs. Holmes failed to satisly her on this June day. She wanted to get away trom herself and her surroundings; she determined to call on her friends. She had many friends —pleasant, chatty ladies, who talked with her cheerily about their homes, their turniture, the trials of hired help, the discomforts of housekeeping, the faults of even the favorite dress- maker, and the queerness of the latest fashions in bonnete,— all the little narrow circle of inierest. wound which they danced. For excitement, there were «4 bits what and ci such Fen to 1 I d( rem em eonirac Robert would figures skill in he arri prised evening interest and 80] mind p( Behoj of Mrs. ■. in the s parlor v the tabl done in i air of « I plenty. ; this roo ;of the g the moo( d about he I If it I iabout g -While si another ^ Library i kinds of J what wo though^ ] «l>otit tho 'i " 0. Ji. s. or ifi pretty house, careful hand, weariness oi there was no ading, — she , other than envy Wood, ely. It had had fallen in to read, and ier way, and no one had he happened aes failed to to get away Bternained to 7 ladies, who lomes, their scomforts of /orite dress- fashions in of interests t, tliere were and comment to the mn™ ^ '"'^'"^"'^ ^""^ for lho„gl,1 such friend" m.d !nT • f ■■™"»P<"=t- It w,u, among Kenton S to'forg^t Sevenn''^ " """"• """ ^- remember'thatThe"bU Zl' 'T T" '^^' -•" '» eommon with his son^fr^lt": ,''"? "" '"""•«»■ ''" teT^frS^='^^'"^v42d he arrived 7 mMZZZT''^'''"' ™''="' ''■'' *'"<^'' priced and won^horpS'oThMr 8:"^'"" ""- and sorry _ if vm,.n„ ••"''' '.""'""S "n- "'as glad mindposJessifgreratoncr^'"' ^"'^ ''"'' ^*"'^^ »« of fe She" era^caiiin?""" "•"? *^ ?'"»-" P-'or m the sooiait:;,: th "^a xr f:;;!" %f,'?'gi;- parlor was larger- w«^ ^n^LI !i • ,"* , ^^^* ^S' her the tables werf m'arbTp fJ^f '""^ \°^^ ^'"«««^«' ^nd • 'lone in satin da^Sd aE? it'all Ih' ""^'''^''''^ ^^' air of " style " which told flT^ i ^^^^.^ "^^^ ^ ^^^^^^in plenty. Into the fnl^? t ^^^^^er-on that money was this Lm went Mrs Fpt' ^^'^T.' ""^ ^^«^«««« «* of the great easv^w/v,?"' ^."f ^^^ed into one the mofd to S Siat thf ' '^^'^' , ^^' ^«^ J"^* i" about her had been hert ^' """""^ '' ^"^^^^^^ ^^l^jed 'about ' Sev;xii; ^^n/'f ^' ^^ ^^"^ ^^^« ^"«^n al^ While she waited le ^?2*'"°l '^'' ^^ ^^^'^ «"'«. ^another withT^kfU^ -^^ "? ?'"* ^"« book and then .Itmdsc^^efry!:?;,^:^^ ^^^^f ^^"^ of eeLin what would "tempt h~7n ~5 ''^'®''°"^'^"'^''"»glne Ihonghfvfierceinf ^mJ??-lPr°^ to-day. She Jabout those "di;ided1^;"'f l^'t f ". 'f^^^T^ ^^^ a ^^''' ^"e wished she had never 16 The Hall in tht Orone. lifurd of it. She ipiiched after a ponderous book — it liiul such a handsoiue binding —and laid it down quickl) , licr sigh heavier than before. History of all Nations. What an immense book ! How could people ever read it through, much less study itl All about "Severus" was in that, she supposed ; all about everybody — people with whom her Robert would make acquaintance, and grow familiar, and whom she would never know ! Mrs. Fenton was astonished at, and ashamed of herself. She felt a strange lump in her throat, and resisted with great diflSculty the temptation to break down just then and there and have a good cry. She dived after more books ; she must in some way get her mind away from this one subject, or she would disgrace herself. There was a little pink paper covered volume, hardly six inches long, lying at one side. *' A child's book,"' Bhe thought, and she reached after it, telling herself a little bitterly that •' children's books were just suited to her capacity," and mechanically turned the pages. Suddenly a pink flush spread over her face, and, with bright eyes and eagerly parted lips, she stopped over this sentence : " Severus the Emperor, eighty-nine years later, A. D. 210, rebuilt this wall of stone." Lo, here was Severus himself! or, at least, definite knowledge concerning him. Emperor of what^ was he? What Btone-wall did he rebuild ? Who built it first, and for what ? Every one of these questions she found answered for her, in the space of six lines, in that wonderful pink book I Here were the magic figures that had troubled her Robert in the morning. Two hundred and ten years after Christ 1 She had never known that date before ; be sure she will never forget it. She searched eagerly through the book for more information concerning Severus. Her enemy he had been, all day ; she didn't like him ; it would relieve her to know that there was nothing' about him which ought to demand admiia- tion. While she was searching the small record, the door ojtened rustled "It i ♦' 1 hop truth in was par tun led and rip] iihe has exasperj Now '* worn maker, } Ji synipji of dress I „and dart '^ and awk knows tl piithy an niiited fa ' " Mrs. .. "That fing Uivwi Itliought.t view it p fto Miss ;girls; she Bround e\ **A8ch "Well, One wouli tut she oe literarv, y I tell her ^eems to e S -^t this light, spa 'ices ut th - a z. s. c." 8 book — It wn quickly, all Nations. ever rend it "Severus" verybody — squaintance, ever know I i of herself, md resisted k down just dived after mind away ace herself, inie, hardly ild's book,' [ling herself just suited the pages. e, and, with topped over y-nine years " Lo, here knowledge he? What Srst, and for nd answered iderful pink lad troubled nd ten years date before ; jhed eagerly concerning ; she didn't at there was md admiia- :d, the door nKd':"'' ""• C^-'^-f"* from an afternoon toilet, •M™: ot"„c„:'er"fS "T.," "operated" and uiid darts too hiffh, and slmt-f w 7^ *^*^" ^"^^' : ^Irs Chester, Whose book is this?" I " A schooi-girl ? " f ut she «een s^T^y™ ^^.^T,'^''''^ with school-books, fterar'lou Vun^ \ '^ belongs to some society- r ao.it and m . ,ts, and a general air of bewitch. Th« Hall in th« Grov: .nj^'ness fibout them. The dining-room door that opened to admit them from out-door life Koniewhere, showed a glimpse of a trim figure in neutral-tinted calico moving deftly through the room — closing blinds, folding news- papers, setting back stray chairs, restoring the room to after-dinner propriety. She looked with appreciative eyes after the billows of muslin that floated past her ; those creatures belonged to another world than hers. She lived in the work-a-day world : Mrs. Chester's din- ing-room and kitchen and cellar bounded her hori- zon. " Caroline is a good faithful girl," Mrs. Chester said from the depths of her easy-chair, in answer ''-o the question that her caller could not help asking : she was a friend of Caroline's. The mistress watched the deft Taigers with a complacent face, feeling a certain com- fortable sense of ownership i-herein. The door between the two rooms having been carelessly closed, swung open again, and Caroline, moving to and fro, was occasionally visible. So the working and the talking went on to- gether, with only a half-open door between them. Mrs. Fenton watched Caroline with almost a look of envy on her face. The probability was that she cared nothing about Severus. She was contented with the place which she filled. She had no boy to grow away from her and grow ashamed of her I These thoughta recalled the existence of the little pink-covered book, biid she addressed Miss Katie Wells with ea^. n l.. " Why that," said Misi Katie, responding iu i t one equally eager, " is a Chautauqua text-book • 1 beloi^^ to the C. L. S. C." lam afraid you would have laughed, could you have «ee» Mrs. Fenton's puzzled face. She lived nearly a ^oasand miles from Chautauqua, in a town not specially i>' v^ jr literary attainments, and her reading, you will ler.- -aceT", ^vas on a somewhat limited scale. She had Hctv; '/ never ^rfard of Chautauaua. The word iiiiuiiiiv i to her L^e the jargon of an unknown tongue. She kn( Severus Miss "Y.ui ] wliv, de describe t'ity in mer; w( ings. V singing, than the Miss 1 of the a tauqua. Mra. J What hi sional le seekers t smull bo "Do t the que! beyond t " Oh, S. C.'s ar a month ■ evenings school, — I must I vcally del Mrs. I must be go to su earnestly Did M a born CI IJItU u glL " But y is one del t opened howed a moving \g news- room to reciative last her; an hers, er's din- er hori- ster said p ^o the she was the deft Eiia com- between mg open iisionally it on to- a. , look of he cared ;vith the 3W away thoughts ed book, Q a tone gloDg to Ton have nearly a specially you will le word 1 tongue. I " o. L. s. or 18 than even uboui She know less about "C. L. S. C SeveruH. Mi«8 Kucie, seeing the wonder, hastened to exphiin : "Y'.i kno-. ibout Chautauqua? No I Well, it's — whv, defir me, it is everything! I don't know how to describe it — where to begin, you know. It is a lovely • ity in the woods, on a lake ; we go there every suni' nier ; we have a cottage there, and we attend the meet ings. Wonderful meetings I grand speaking, and grand smgmg, and — well, everything to enjoy 1 1 like it better than the seaside, ten thousand times." Miss Katie vas young ; was, in fact, in tlie very zenith of the adjective-abounding age, and — she loved Chau- tauqua. Mra. Fenton, however, retained her bewildered look. What had a fashionable summer resort, with an occa- sional lecture, or concert, for the benefit of the pleasure- seekers toying away the summer there, to do with this small book full of hard names — Severus and the like ? " Do they have a literary society there ? " She asked the question timidly, feeling that she was stepping beyond the bounds of her knowledge. " Oil, yes ; there, and everywhere, almost ; the C. L, S. C.'s are spririging up all over the land. We meet once a month — our Circle does— and we have most delightixxl evenings. Some of the studies that I used to hate at school, — and that I managed to learn very little about, I must say, — as we take them up in the Circle are v.;ally delightful." Mrs. Fenton could not suppress a little sigh. " It must be very pleasant to have wealth, and leisure, anrl go to such places and improve one's self," she said earnestly. Did Miss Katie detect a quiver in the tones, or, being a born Chautauquan, couldn't she refrain from breaking into a glow of explanation ? " But you don't need to have wealth and leisure : that is one delightful feature of the scheme ; it reuches those £0 The Hall in the Grove. women who must have 4rvh>H^'°'/"^- '""'^ ""'^ for study. There is a MiTtii • °PP"^'t"'»ty indeed told meirselMhat shf w'n^^rbLrTol:?'' I £'^! and when she i^f^X^ZT^Z^^tTZ^^ doubt." "^'^ ^^^ ^^^^ diploma, without any a languid smile of ind LnceboS Ir '.r'^ '^T' ''''^' and the offender sincp i- f l.ff ^"^ *''^ enthusiast Mis^ I^.^/lT J^ ^ ^^"^^ ^as woMvorkin^forhpr "No nS '""f ^ ?^"'^^,^ '^^^ ^^ith flashing eyes : ' so ap°'to mke Ske'f'' ;'"" " P^'^^^PiBd mind is n>y Caroline outfee should r"-'' f"' -T'""'' """ improving l,er mi,"di!^hw I '*<^'^.^<' J^''^ a whin, for do you really bX™! ff»«s% hope she won't- in,(orpreSt'ptiS;t:sret„tl.?^^'-"'-^'-PP^ i..torerted"" hista'y 'a'd'!l' " t^ '"'P?^"^'' ^^ •>»"<">■« bread-making „r table-"etS' ' " ''*^'°' '"'' ^l'"' "' ^Jlrs. Chester gracefully sh?uggad her graceful shoul- "o't ln'™',^pX with'tl'f "'"^ ^"^V " ' "■" «f™M I «■» people w^ouM do n h betterTo"'r-- ^^'"'^J' *'"" spheres, instead of ?ni^:'^l'°,^trt"' • ',"' P'^P" Whe,.at the flaah-in Miss-KSie^ y^'^C^, appf had to ai this sure, be en to nu perfe( gent]; she si' Mri had b( Oh, to intellij She ai Inxurii Miss ] call, bi over n to the ■ Literal' with a lier. " I di tastes." Tills looked mother i know h( «he is 01 without And J' little wo cally for " It is even war to want t ome of those ing men an(] unity indeed 'ing-girl ; she o school but fcood first in ad mornings, ivork, and — s found time without any er sewing, if id this, with J enthusiast king for her. ? eyes : s trying to Is should be id; and she t Use time ed mind is tance, that a whim for he won't — md happy to become •ature gen- er skill in ful shoul- fraid I am ancy that iir proper er oueb." ame very I •' C. L. S. C." 21 , to answer quietly: "''"'™'^' "''« controlleil her voice ^ f lire, neither you nor I pln f u^ ^^® "^"^^ it. J am j be eaUed upo,f to d"n S 'e "^^-^^ Harris n^ I o mal^ dresses, I shoul n't exZl '^'^"^^ ^^ ^^^^3^ f perfectly because she w H k^X , """1 ^^ ^^ ^"^ ^^is gently with me ~ or with Lr ii -U '''I *« ^''^^^ inteJIi- «Iie should ever have any " ' ^^"^''^«".for that matter, /f Mrs. Fenton's cheeks glowed For f ^ul been able to talk intellStj/' th'r''t" ^^'""''^^'^ Oh, o do something to make smi^.f • ^'^'' ^°3^ Robert, "jtell.pnt companfon in the ZrtL "^ '"^^' '" ^' ^"« She almost turned her hJ , ^""^<^een years to come ' nxurious indolence le^qt^tired'T ""''''''' '" "'; Mkss Katie; she made a m It If • '"T^^^^^^^^^d call, but when she left she we di^"f?f^^r^^^3^ ^^^^S^hy over with new schemes • '..fl?. thiectly home, bubbling to the plans and aim 'mVdi iT"'^^''?P°«*^^J "^ ^'egi 'd -.Jerary and Scientific ct 'a' a half f'' ^^'^"^au^qua vith ayoung enthusiast like K.lv w ?"' '^ ^^^^a^t I'er. '^'^e Jiatie Wells could make ^^im.^t k„ow that M.,. K„„„„ ,,^^ ,.^^^^^ .__ ^^^^ f-irt';:!:i;^-|-|^^SS'.o^ »l.e Ks o„e of those persons vl^iLe / "" "f'^'''^' ''™'-. cally for her dear Cha ^0,, 1 ^ °"''? '" ^ympatheti. " It is a real relief ,,"■?,' =""*«'"'tH„v ;. u ■ ^0 hundred in ; ' and I ten is cor^ olish heart isband and I fork, and jerly. t him only he date." n}\ dashed other and 3 tliere is a s the only CHAPTER III. ^^•^ THE OUTLOOK. heartily Wln^ tl.at mIS K^ir V^ ^;^^":i,"';' ins ead of a visitor, she deternnned o clll firJ T ' pastor, the Rev. Mr. Williams Hp Jn "^'^'./^^''^ "» ''«»' he wrote very learned serZis I tlVddTr""'^ f^tand, and read them carefnllv .^\y^ ^^^ not under- Muely, he was the Toper '"L^-' congregations: iiterary societv Ppvh^f ^f 1? "* ^® interested in a study TiihSfv' after £ ' '"^ f "^'^ ''^'' «"«-">d " ^'■'-''' "^ anythnjg of the sort." <4 intere people ing of so fevi know ; fliem a Don't l>eing I Mr. ^ madam, lessons iietual ( for schr have ne< life, and "Thei their adv Must the " Well exceeding are comf( stand Gr tliere are oils side 1 «t work < iiiid aboui »vill have t^^ey are tc ' age false h That thi felt in eve about reful a niontent'a . "VVell, i B ^ would ri eiicoiirnge j it Oh, I don't kn ani I'ot in the least'] ^e Outlook. 'ow " she answere,], I auirl iinj; 25 " ; niterested ; it seems to ml ^ "^V ""'' ^ '^"^ very rnunh ><:" t you think, Mr. wZl[ m "'"» '' B'""! MnJ lessons which you l,avr,,n I ' ''''■■'''^'' """ « P'^es which "ge f»lse hopes.-' ^ "'""' '^"'* '""bitions, and eMour- felt hfetytcrt .''f ""'.""''-^-'^^ 'i«le Mrs Fen* about refutiJig'ir™ i.e':;/: f '■"" '-"w "jj^ of,-; " "'r "'•-■'enee,sh: Sie"d S"S";, «?— • Hft^; vveJl, x\Jr. Will ifficiently to sav ! 'wouM run the riS °o/ rt™!! "'f"' ^ere encourage ajiy sort of i f „™;^i". ^i^aS ™i -;; "pes that would k I'^ns, and e'^p iiim from I Mil 28 Th^ Sail in the Qrove. ¥^ --^ the street corner, s.oki„, tUrd-.te ^l^vv^^jr^'^ good.naturedIy. -izinrtr:^.^ in his .est pat- Circle' 8.^ve that i,i which fh. ^ ''^'^^ «^ any Sabbath-school has failed to reach ^th^"" T^^* '^^^^"^ i iiave very little hon« ?\. ? ^hem, and I confess accompli.^!, it." ^^P^ ^hat any literary effort vdl? boy;Ldte!t:„\:^d^'^ Zfy^^r *^« ^-d no nieans so hopeless of reaching f^''^°^' ™ ^v "fc rr£f?r^4-^" ^'^ '^' tauqua CiicTe hele'. ^ZVLIT' ^ ^^^^ a Chau- disappointed tone. ^''^'^ ^'"^' after a ptuse, in a to 'conto tZ 't"u'' a'rrr '"^^^"^^ ^^ ^^ -^ich aware, but I hardly see hoL ^"^rgetic ladv, I am pose an entire S! scCtfr ^'""' °^ 3^«"rself, com could you possibly 8ecurrtofart7h:'^"yrn- ^hom i did not know K»f t the matter for von ?" And now Mr TV'ir > i'n^jed than de'scribed '""^"^^ ^^'^ be better "Well, really!" he snM ».• , , body shaking with laughter ' «atTh?'- ^^."^^"t little very conceited, I shall have" fn. the „,t of appearing Pleted the circle of stuSIs whiol. '"^ ^"" *^«t I conT- to read over to me whpn T \ ^'°" ^^^e so kind a«. glow?"- sStrrcoStorT'^.'' ""- « -^med for l;er pastor, and hS^an "if • '■ying »^»' «Ct Th§ Outlook. 27 8 most pa^ ally afraid 'h of any ove. The I confess effort will the Ward >1> was by i she did ? a Cliau- ause, in a of which iy, 1 am elf, com- Whom r you ? " list with better »t little pearing I com- kind as f your »rtified espect fentle- ignity » wifk Scien- h!'.*; ff"'''^^*? J^ave chosen a course of studies so scholarly tliut It could reach none but scholars, and at the sami HadT W n- ''' .'' "" f'^"".^^ ^^^^ it at four e™ Hdd Mr. Williams been other than her pastor, certain bngh little sarcasms that fluttered through h;r bra nrould surely have found voice. As it was, she made haste to answer with blushes: «I beg your par^^^ I did not mean to intimate that you needed thrstudv' for your own benefit; I have heard that clergymen and professors, and many eminent scholars, take up S course for the sake of encouraging the young peofJe." That 18 very laudable, certainly," Mr. Williams said n^ummg his benevolent manner ^' that is^if hTy have time for such things. The truth is, my tiiie is so fully occupied now with my own studies, and my large con^ gregation, that I have no leisure left to devote toTchoo"- teaching, even if scholars could be found ^roni this interview Mrs. Fenton went home in haste and ordered hei" house, vigorously. She canned peaches and grapes, and made jelly and cleaned her china closet forked aboriously, but while her hands wore busyrso aTikeir'T.'^^'-'""^^ not get away from her i4nt *^d Sp pnfifi. r^' r''"^7.u°^ *.^" Chautauqua Literary i^lV K i "^ ^''''^^' ^."? th« private let^.r of instruction V Inch had accompanied it, appeared to her as if by magic, whenever she opened her drawer. Once she ■..pI^'!lnh^-°' ''' ^^speration under a pile of unfrequently used clothing --at the very bottom of the drawer -but young Robert in a spasm of frantic haste sought a clean handkerchief, and tossed and tumbled everything into royal confusion, and behold ! there was the C l/s C ?^d Rn. '^? topmost article in the mass. Besides, 'the aul Robert, busy with his vacation pursuits, appealed to her constantly for sympathy as heretofore, keeping I n i4 j^LJiiia 28 The EM in the Grove. ever before her heart the possible desolation of years to come, when his pursuits should be entirely among the world of books — away from her : for young Robert was a born student. One sunny afternoon she pushed an unfinished shirt from her with the energy born of decision, and made known to the sewing-machine her determination. " I just believe I'll try the Butler girls ; they have nothing of any consequence to do, and they are young, and energetic about some things. They weie good scholars at school, I have heard." Now I am really sorry that my usually quick-witted little woman made the blunder of going to people who hud arrived at a grown-up ago without finding " anything of consequence" to do, expecting to eidist their immediate interest in anything worth doing. But she did it. She mistook their position also. In their own estimation, they had work well worth doing. Miss Effie believed that to have a " perf(!ctly exquisite dress " and ten- button kids, and sli[)pers of just the right size, and to go to Saratoga or Newport, or Long Branch oi Niagara, or anywhere that thcu'o were hotels and hops, and dance nearly every set nearly every evening, and appear on the following mornings in bewitcli- ing costumes of white lawn and yellow lace, and take walks with unexceptiomihlo partners down to the Congress, or the Columbia for a glass of water, or down to the beach for a view of the tide, or down to the falls lor a dash of the spray, anywhere — these minor acces- sories were of the very smallest importance, so that the white lawns and the sun-hat and the partners were unexceptionable — was sphere enough for any person. Between the dancing and the dressing, and the walking and the sleeping, to lounge on the bed with a copy oi the latest novel, and read the sensation portions this was Miss EflSe's idea of existence. Between these periods of life, to shop, rnd consult the dressmaker and the r.il liner, and fashion new lace setts, was employ- ment € forty n Aiiss To put a danl daubin< looking bluish-g danger Miss In niussy J Hnd glc water, a filled, th I do no< studying exceedin person « there, so niiserabh in potte tesque s made th couple t cooperati Miss Ij ing down not thun appear oi »tamp chc Miss Ef "I hav( Wells goei but I fiho savs she ] 'i'Jjey doii'i go to mee don't kno\i ' years to nong the abert was lied shirt nd made hey have re young, 316 good ck-vvitted !ople who anytliiiig inmediate I it. She itiination, believed and ten- size, and ranch oi tels and /■eveninc^, bewitch- lace, and vn to the , or down the falls lor acces- , so that uers were ly person, e walking a copy of jrtions — een these laker and 8 employ I 27"! Outlooi. 29 ^^^.^;f^"£:^s^f"^ "..-... wit,, Miss Irene, the elder ;^;Vp, Bi^tory of Rome. To put it ia simplet .u te irsnT^n" ^'^'^^^"^ «^"™P- a (a«ber. She sat for ifouT T^'^'^^'P^^^' ^^^^ wis f'aubing away at a square o-?^^ ^'°"", ^"^ ^«"^« looking cows: and p^-epostefon?^! • °^"^"^^ ^^l^^^'^- bluish-green foLaffe ^'2 . ' ^^^^^^^ people, and 'Janger of toppl ,'fove^and nn"'r ^'V'^ ""^^i"« " Miss Irene's ViaKl^CXe^K^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^'^'^ '""f y palette and h;r Vnany cl; '^^^^ ^^"^^,d' ^'^^h her ^"^^ glowed a picture of hill and -f ''' '\^'^ ^"''^^^d water, and shinfmerinrr sun^Lp }^' ^""^ gleaming filled- the heart of a S .v ^ ^ -I.'"^^ ^' ^«"ld have I do not think Mis's l" ." X^S ^'"^^s of joy! studying the living picture T?? .?\^" minutes iu exceedingly coininfnp'iact 'nd woul f'lf ' '^""'l^^'' ''' person « queer 'Nvho admixed ta^d^-^^^ J"^,^"^ » tlieie, so near to that wondron J I'^-'^f^^^ Presumed to sit ""«erable caricatures of ake aiS" v'"^' c^^ ^^"^ ^^^^ f pottery, also, spending hme }^' ^^'^ P^^^^'^d tesque shaped \Ll ""1- ^'^'f^ «"nis on old g,o- made thenf moie^S^^^^Hti^^^ '"^^^^ ^^^^ couple that Mrs. Fenton called f ^""^ ^" ""^'^ ^ cooperation. ^'^^f^ ^o^* sympathy and . ^\^^^^6»e was daubinff: creiHn.ro ^ i"g down on a peaceful sunnvt n j^ ^ ''^''''Vr "^^ ^"«k- not thunder and iightninr^and r""^^' ^^'^ '^^°"^^^ ■'^Ppe.ir on canvas together if at,' ^^^^ ^3 «"»%J't stamp chose to have it so ? ' ^''^' ^^ ^^«« Irene's ■ ~ '7 "^^^' «- even have lawn da.in«c ^""" •— /^as there. I ffo to meeting f..„„ n,or2g''S "S*'';?^' "'"''' Uo.. t know What w„„M te.p? ^.'Jl! ^^.^l^" ^^ I H 80 2%*! Hall in the Grove. " If tliey would have an artists' reunion there, I niiglit be tempted," said Miss lie le, daubing away compla- cently, " but I don't believe I care mucli for the other things. I sliould really enjoy meeting those who could sympathize with me in my profession." "• But I'm not talking about going to Chautauqua," explained Mrs. Fenton. " I'm sure I haven't the faintest hope of ever going there; it is abo'tt the literary Society that I want to talk to you gii'ls. Cor.ie now, Effie, close your boolc entirely and sit up stiaight, and let us talk about it. I want you to get the others interested ; we can have a real large society her if we set about it." " I think literary societies are just horrid ! " exclaimed Miss EfBe, rising on one elbow. " We belonged to the Broiitd Club once ; we read Shakespeare, and Milton, and all those — the dullest evenings I ever spent in my life; perfectly dreadful! I used to say then that I'd never be such an idiot as to get caught in another literary society." " Oh well," explained Mrs. Fenton, " these circles are different; it isn't just listenipg to one person reading something that you don't more than half understand ; you have an opportunit}'^ to study the subject and find out all you can about it, and then get together and talk it up. Why, the members pledge tl: niselves to give forty minutes a day to study." '* Oh horrible I " said Miss Effie, sinking back on her couch. "You needn't talk any more to me, Mrs. Fenton ; the idea of studying anything for forty minutes a day is not to be endured for one moment. If you had spent as many years in school as we have, you would know how perfectly insufferable any such notion must be. We really are not equal to it; you see we have been through the mill." " I haven't time for it," said Miss Irene serenely, as she daubed into existence a wicked-looking dog, with ears and tail such as were never seen on created dog iince my pj pussio have.' "I'l ! more sister't was a picture parlors 8h3 kn cost ri money Fenton vindica to talk he cam apprecii Now linen, a moustac Little A man anti "Oh, boot ove i under hii "I knov the first ] to be mei by a few there in understai : would en fenthusias Ido very ^ |h!it who, last?" i!i ere, I might ^ay coniphi- r the other I who could lautauqua," the fainteut le I iterary CoiJie now, tiai>4-ht, and the xOthers y her if we ' exclaimed nged to the md Milton, pent in my (1) that I'd in another tese circles son reading mderstand ; ct and find er and talk ^68 to give J back on 3 me, Mrs. rty minutes If you had you would otion must e we have serenely, as dog, with reated dog i The Outlook. 81 pH.sioM thltlZXeflr J oT' ""«"^?»' l>'»t this have." ^' ^'*' consumes all the time I nK,l''picTres!" Mi^Tffirlr:^."^^ *^ P--* any Bi«ter's^'passion for art^ wV i^V^^^^^^^ ^^^^ was a literary society «Tk! I ^ •'^ •' ^°^® *» ^^er as pictures. I was tem.m J ''''"'f ^' "'^^ «^"'^"n with parlors looked Ikelrauclw.r'"^^' ^^'^^^^^^^ *''«* *'•« «1)^ knew it; beskles nah rr?/"""™"' ^"^ «^e «aid cost ruinoudy I ,ho^,fld^';,;rt ^'''"^'' ""^ «^^ that, rnoneytobette;advantZe VU l^" '^'J^^^ "«« 3'ou; Fenton," he. eyL o,- Sn.i a. /°" ""^'"^ ^* ^«' M'«- vindicate the hWy taste If Th^i^ 'r ^ "^'^"«« ^o to talk to Jack. He fs Ithnn, ^-1 ^^™''7' "3'ou ought he camelast week jfckT?;,^'^ you know it? Y^s; lin^Cand^td ZS:^'^^ -^T^'^~late moustache, Ind carried a p«L ATi^'^fy nurtured a Little Mr.: FenLT k e^'S w^I t' '?' ^T^"^^-^' man and a graduate he quencLd tr?' ' ^"^' '^"^ ^ ^ bootTv;."^ ris^I^dtokf '' r"^"^ «- «^--g ""Jer his shining 'isLswSn^- ^""^^ ^^^^ ^'' ^^'^ "I know all about tTatiw^'""'?.'"^^ «"P«"«^- air. , the first place. You can't fi ^«hlmerical idea in to be men and women and mak/r^^' ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ I by a few hours of study AndV. f"" ""^'"/"'^ ^^^^^^^^^ I there in the woods to sn.,"^ 1 • ^""l ^^^^^^ »'"«bing off •understands hZan „atu?e l^rh **"^t' ^^^^^^J' who would end. American npn^? u*"^^ ^"^'^" ^^«w that enthusiasm, and ruToun t eqtallff T"?^^ ^'''' t:^l -^ f- once^«oLeth1„Tli^^t„ IV"-^^^ :,-,>"»^-^-^-P^ a Visionary person,' would ^expe^ril ;", : It happened that the bright^yed woman who listened n 82 The Hall in the Grove. lit nil to this outburst of superior wisdom had not met Mias Katie Wells several tiir.es for nothing; bhe was tho^ oiighly posted. " But when are they going to begin to weary o-f this place? "she asked the onicle. " The meetings Jmve been held there for several years, and every year the crowds increase, and the sanje persons keep coming. I siiould think it was time for a little reaction, if the idea is eluiply an excitement. Why, I am told that the num- bers who gathered there last year were far in advance of any season yet." "Oh well," said young Jack, shifting his position uneasily, and putting the left shining boot over the right one — it was not so easy as he supposed to talk about a matter of which he knew almost nothing, provided the person addressed kiiew whereof she spoke — "I suppose people enjoy the fun of going tiiere ; it is much cheaper than watering-places generally, and a certain class like the sound of going to a literary gathering, even though they haven't two ideas in regard to literature or any- thing else. What I object to, is this false idea that ignorant boors can buy a dozen books, and read at them less than an hour a day, and then go through an exami- nation farce, and graduate and receive a diploma and all that nonsense. It lowers the standard, Mrs. Fenton : it really does." On the whole, it was a good thing for Mrs. Fenton that she had come in contact with this young man. The insignificant absorptions of the young ladies had dis- heartened her, but this moustached, spectacled, embryo man, so wise, so vain of his diploma, so determined that no one else should securo one, inspired her with a deter- mination to earn a diploma of some sort at the earliest opporti^nity. She was good-humored; he did not irritate her: he seemed^ too young and too pedantic to waste ill-humor on. Sue laughed at his sneer, as she said : " I don't see why I shouldn't know as much as I can, even if I have enjoy the - w'mpl wliolc niuch, schohi Wh ; help i • not n the u; word quenli she hai knew \ some c ventuK know e folly of fair-fac( "1 d echolar try to k Thcji Hon, ev( of man) up froir without perplexii her earli too. Kg and Jao] mother \ The Outlook. lot met Misi ihe was thor- iveary o-f this g8 liiive been ir the crowd.-* g. I should ' the idea is lat the nurn- n advance of his position ver the right talk about a provided the -"I suppose luch cheaper i:: class like even thouglx ture or any- se idea that read at them [h an exami- loma and all [rs. Fenton ; ^rs. Fenton ^ man. The es had dis- ced, embryo rmined that irith a deter- the earliest ate her: he te ill-humor ' I don't see a if I have jnven only for the ^vorkth I ; ?'P V"''*^' ^ sni^puse it i, I'Hm in learning all one ciln '/" ^"'''^^'- ^^'"^ '« the "Oh, theje is no sneoi-iJ !.<...,.. r enjoy that sort of tC ^ " ' ,V 'P"'^ '^^'^^ ^««"v the ^asto. Why, dea %Ud L •f"^?"'/« m.derstand ^^'mp]y skimming.--, '^^^^^^ learning, it is whole Chautauqua sdfen « 1 on L^ ^1"" ^""^^- '^'^'« »'nch, is just assunerSi 1 -l'^''^' P^^P^^ talk so sciK>iars sia-ink fror;!;:i^:iroFthi; i '''• ^'^ ^'^^^^^^^ - vviiereupon iMrs Fpnfn.. i,. i '" "^' not understand it ; s e wt not K^fi- ''"'.^ ''^'^'^ ^'^^ tJ'« ,".se of language to be absoln^^''""^^' ^^"^^^^'^ i" word -superfichil,'' tl at rolhd 1 T-,"/""" ^^''''^^ ^''^t quently ftom this scholaVr " ^^'^'^^^ *^"^» «» ^e- Bl.e ha,U general id:: taheu^^^^^^ T'''' ?\ ^°"-« ^new whether this wise man ponlJ ^^f ;^""'' l>i't who some of its finer shades T.? me ni "f ^I'^ ''^'-/'P «» venture on doubtful ground • b? s ! ^'i^, '''°"^'^ "o^ knew enough of books a I of stud v'?"^^ ^""^^'^ ^'^^ foiyof the words, -we scliol l. '' f ^' ^^^'^^og'^ze the f&ir-faced voutli. scJioUis, from the lips of tliia ^^t'i^^^tc^^^^^y^ "^-an. not a try to know as much .^1 c.n -^ ''**'"" ''^'^ ^ '^^^"^"'t of many cares and aniiS ° '^"^^^er-a nu.the, "P/rom grinding poven^ ^'^^ eome Without being able to lay asi^o fh "P"'"^^'''^ ^^^^'Ith, perplex ty that had been^ constant T'^ ""'" ''''' ^"^^ lier earlier life. WorriVd «h t ]^ accompaniment of 84 'The Hall in the arove. *'h8 power, and yield to thl vf r . '?^ ^^^ ohMveu fee years she Jutd p4yed du ly fT /h^^ '^''^ "^"^^ ^^'f^' For yo<;, none of them had seemp/ Z^-' ^^"version ; and as a serious thought. '"'"'"^ '^ fi^^^« the vital iuesdo^' -Inis mother, who Jjad «i,v>. ^ conversation, listened to Mf^l.^^^^^^^j" during the Jack, getting thus, bit by b[t t^e h !." '"^'i^' ^""^^ '-^"^ Tthe story of the sewiL iL i^'^^''-^' ^'^ ^^^autauqua time and meagre opnortmf f ' ^^'°' ^"* «^ ^er limited f d the habitSal ?o^oTo? n^ '7' ""^^ ^^^ting sr much fjee. Then, as one sudlen v^r^'i^ ^/^P^"^d on C To^j^^" ,^^"^Ptecl to neglect!!'' ^ ««^^»g-«^oman is, Mrs FentoV:tu1h"on2it£ ^°" "J^^"'" interrupted s what Mrs. Chester s itr^Kii"''® '" ^^^^ voice. ♦* 'E saj- It — and her pravinaf i^ ' and— ^ell, yes, j ^m, f though folks vfho^^of .11 h '-T *« ^«» ^om^tiJe wS tl' T' ^-V^^"t Lt"l"J.\ ^deaJiS woria, and about studviim fl . ^t aH about the nevf g«od deal, and getting -efdlf' ^[^^^^' ^"d prayinra was wondering whe hfr fh^ ^i ■''I *^« ^^d of it a iT^ ? ?^i^^"«/^^-f dme wo'tiL^i"t^f,.|^V^^ that uS .1 ' - ^- way of their BibWand t^^^^^^^ The Outlook, 86 Now to Mrs Fenton this argument was as a bomb- shell; 1 vanquished her. Why? Because she had no personal kno^yledge, no experience in the matter. SJie could not explani : "Oh no, Mrs. Butlev ! the tendenc> frn^T I'T /* n"^^"' '^ ""^ **^ ^'•''^^^ th« nii"^ away from God, but rather to strengthen faith by enlarging the circle of thought; and, absorbing though ^hey ma? become, they bear no comparison with that other, higher absorption, the union of the soul with Christ. If you allow them to press in between you and your best friend, Jesus, and separate you, it is your own foolish turning of t\fplal"" ^ ^ "'^'' ^ I""drance, and not a necessity None of these things could Mrs. Fenton sav, because with all her unselfish love for her son, she 'hud neve; given hnn that best earthly treasure, a nmther's prayers. Wishing the best that even Christ could do for her boy, and heartily beheving in Christ as the Saviour of the iZ tn'^'l n*''''T i"^o"«^^tency she had never asked iim to be the Saviour, the Friend, aye, the elder Brother of her boy. So she had ni ai-g iment with winch to meet Mrs Butler's question, otheinhan to Tay : Why ! Im sure I don't see what the two things have to do with each other. I mean, I see no reason why a person couldn t be a member of a licerary society and a Christian at the same time." j- ^ » And Irene, as she sat back to get a better view of the tid'^'wi ^'"'''^ ^^?'^ «'^« ^^^ transferred to canvas, said : " Why, mj' I what a strange idea. Peoolo can't read their Bibles all the time." ^ " No, of course not," the mother answered hastily ; « I lidn t mean anything." Then she heaved a disappointed i^igh ; the silence of years had been broken, and nothing accomplished. She had meant her oldest daughter's devotion to art, and her son'» devotion fn b.-n^ooff and tl^n '^if '''°''''". '1 ^nf ^'^^ ^'""^^°^' ^ mucirand more CimT'^"*^ the Chautauqua Literary and Scientinc tyirele, and none of these Ijad understood her. SQ n « H^all in the Grove. C;..ie and smiled dcnv inTfnc • '^ '""'*'* '"* h« tim 11- )ent g]assefl ith his tiny "tj on botb little in his 'rary aspira- eart's love ier enthu- I fill I ird, having CHAPTER IV. PICK 'em up, oae'linbI [HE poured her tea that evening with a Gomewhat preoccupied air, and presently said : " Robert, what is the precise meaning of superficial? " "Shallow," answered her husband, laughing. "Who Aave you found this afternoon that is described bv that definition ? " "^ "Jack Butler, I believe," she said, joining in the laugh ; " only he hasn't an idea of it. He thinks he is as deep as the Atlantic, at least. Is that the exact meaning?" " Shall I see what the old fellow himself says about it?" This was young Robert's way of alluding to Webster Unabridged, and he dragged the great book from its slielf, and gave himself up to the study of Superficial. " Reaching or comprehending only what is obvious or apparent; not deep, or profound," he presently read. " Is that what you're after, mother ? " " Yes," she said. " Then it is actual knowledge as far as it goes, isn't it ? " This to her husband. " Why, ves, only it is shallow, as I told you." " Oh well, I should like to know if even a little knowl- edge isn't better than ignorance 1 Suppose a stream isn't very deep ; if it is water that we need, it is much better than no stream at all, isn't it? " "What are you driving at?" was Mr. Fenton's wondering query. Whereupon she gave him the history tip If I ^i:!-m 88 ^'« Sail in tU Grove, of the • C. L S r" o v i , ting all paz-ticuteUneefni^^T/^^^^^-d' omffc. no reference to Mrs RmH V^u ^''^'■"«' '^nd mukino^ troubled her aH the way tme' ^^J^f^^^-^i'' -^»"; haf f;ve herself up to the «?udt oTthP ^m' '^ '^' ^^^^t to Robert's attention to that v V . ?'^^«' ""^ win youn? - the Bible, and - k^ttabl^" u^?, T" '^^ "'^^-""^ and he .e^;a« ini;erested in stn dl i "^'^^'^^' ^^s she ; be ; she must be able to "vSv "'^ ^?"^^ continue to It IS a pity to h-iiP f^ -^^ "^® ^^^th him. she had never come in .n'f'^ ^^' ^"<^ ^^^ sad fact i« ;n;pressed her vS^'thusSc T"" ? "^"^^ ^^at had fe,as a half-hour's talk w ti Kafi W ?\'^^ ^^^^^tian ^er with Chautauqua. ^^'^''^ ^^^^« ^ad impressed amusi , or frown on it L ftlir^^i^""^^ ^' ''' -« si^ly "Piwon i but youns Rohp??„ '"'"'''™>'. he offered an and v„,„W i,fe.pp:t:f7eliX """ '"■» '"''-" ■L^ec s you and T Ji '^•''fenii. next summer we'll ^o to cllJ ^"■''^^' ^^ther. And hat : Sam Wheelef'^ unct Wml"'- ^ ^}^^ ^'^ about just grand I Wouidn'f-A.ru ^ ^°®^» and he savs if". Ali this tim^l anVal^hl^^^ •P^^'^^^dpian, moler?" space to tell abou? S although ,t has taken but a thL several -eeks^-^Xr ' w^^ o'n^n ' ^'^^"^ «tretche5 over ^^ Mrs. Fenton's eCsrerbSrh^'^^l^^' "^^^^^'ted Th s was none .other than Mrs 'ri? \^''^^ ^' L- S. C. Carohne. ^" ^^rs. CJiester's deft-handed unders'trnd"?ht\T:dSd''''"-^^^^^ *h«* -" ^'^ould --reeollectio..^t— ^ Pick '«m up, Caroline/ 89 the fields, through the dew of the early mornings, in her mothers arms, and established on the kitchen floor in the home on the hill, thereto amuse herself with clothes- basket and clothes-pins, with an occasional treat in the Bliape ot a bar of soap and a row of shining real pins. 13y and by there came to her a delightful opportunity: Ihe lair baby from the nursery on the hill came out in white garments, and was established on a bright rutr spread over the clean kitchen floor, and she broucrht — oh joy! gaily painted blocks — red, and yellow, and green, on thrm" pictures and wonderful letters gleaming "Pick 'em out, Car'line!" the mother had said, her strong bared arms akimbo, as she watched the small hands finger the blocks. " Pick 'em out, if you can • maybe you can learn 'era all : who knows ? " And in course of time " Car'line did pick 'em out • " every one. And the little incident serves to jrive the key-note to her life. "Pick it up, Car'line, maybe you 11 have use for it ; who knows ? " Whether it was a chance to learn the gaily painted letters, or to learn to write, or to learn to make bread or sweep a room, or cut a garment, this one idea, with variations, was held before her by a wise and ambitious mother — a mother who had nothing but strong, good sense, and unwavering faith in God to leave as a heritage 10 her daughter on that day when (just after the daughter was fiiteen) she was suddenly called upon to ieave her laborious life and enter upon her inheri- tanco. Since which time, Caroline, accepting the dowry, had gone steadily on her way, "picking out " and " picking up, saying often to herself in tender, reverent tone*! 1 may have use for it ; who knows ? " This princiole carried nnt. hnH rrioH- f.pv ^i^.- -i- i-- "^"'MJ^V^cipie }„u^ nei ^icai ui uriiin and quick of hand ; thoughtful, watchful, invaluable in the kitchen m the sewmg-room, in the sick room, and had brought her face to face at last with the Chautauqua Literary and 40 '^ne mi in the Grove. ^^^!SMt^^^^^ CM,, teacup, „„, »"d, quite as a matter of o„m '""°'' " '""' '"'«" » ri k hands to idle.ie.ss, rei„l,„.I f '''?' ™ """^ed were »,' *e pretty china vh fe th' Sl't''^ 'j""'"'^''' ""d chid acquainted witli Mrs Pe,Vf„ "'^u''- «''« ™s soniewl t 'ogetlier before, fc T '™ ' """y l«'l washed d," el -f ^:^ ^orTefe^^^^^^^^^^^ "^W^^Zlioi" /ot: fe."^'-,"-oteristio direct- t'^^^l!"iCT:Z\^^l ^-to". astonished yet „ .,,P^'^"* i don t seem m ^ j -^ " ^° J'^HJ, I woiilf^ J never hari n ^ *.c , explained, " mother ™fd hef"^. "PP^'-mfes," she pfr.t^tsc,^^^^^^^^^^^ -'«oI luHn: afr V I nVvr.'et'?„7*' ^ T' np thinj, ' w *™°°" "> my life I I Z'l • ? '■''»"''"• ^^' She niaj tea-cups were resented her- y^iid white t oecu a silk, -d were her el and dried w somewhat ^«hed dishes uabJe aid at 'ties, and as is sort was •J"ie, it had ^o efBcienfc understand Stic direct- '«^ied, yet ^ I would who are ^sed, both . perience ; es," she onderfui les were inton, to I'k, eveij I'egr'iiar 'piciced ture; I ' to or "at C. tr some auqua^ Pick *em up, Caroline! 41 and they sat before me in the cars — that time I went to Chicago, you know, to take care of Renie Chester, and bring her home — and they talked nearly all tlie time about the meefinga at Chautauqua, and the new literary society. I learned a great deal that afternoon • I made np my mind then and there that I would be a 'Circle' myself as soon as I could bring it to pass. (This last with a modest little laugh.) I wrote to the superin- tendent about it ; fortunatel}' for me, a young girl in front of these ladies grew interested and asked a dozen questions ; so I learned just how to proceed. Uq answered me ; a good letter. I think I shall always keep that letter, for more reasons than one. Do you know, Mrs. Fenton (speaking slowly, and witli a hesitating sense of her own great poverty), it is the only letter I ever received. I bought one of the books when I could — I have to do things slowly, you see. I've commenced, and I like it ; but there are a great many things that I don't understand, and I long so to ask questions of somebody. Miss Katie "Wells was very kind to me ; she told me a great deal about the Circle. I didn't tell her I was trying to do anything in that way ; I thought Mrs. Chester might not like it, but when I heard a few days ago that you were going to start a society, I decided to do a very bold thing and ask to be allowed to join." Now, at the risk of lowering my friend Mrs. Fenton in your estimation, I shall have to admit that a struggle liad been going on in her mind during this interview. She was not a proud woman in the unlovely sense of that word; at least, she did not know that she was; but she liad looked forward to the thought of gathering around her scholars ; men and women of cultured minds, to whom she could look up, of whom her son Robert stood in admiring awe : of wliom she could learn= It did seem a downfall to liave, instead of the minister, and the professor, and perhaps a lawyer or two, only Mrs. Chester's second girl. She meditated telling 11 it ^' Sail in th, Or„,. Circl "t as sh ■6 ^as no ■"."'"t tow,,, „;;r,h" quaint, yet QuJAf ci!!. J"^ ^^ «"e listened secure one member ye nTt^;! ^ ^'•^"'"'^ been'abJe ' joni yours right awuv \i,wl *^ M'"" ^vhat I'Jldo- VlJ «pite of them." •^' ""^ ^« ^^ have u C. h S C i -tofaS^^^^^^^^^ Pfnic flush thai stoie lr.er s second -^ ^^'o to a circle pJi?" i, ''"ve started out to^Pt^-^ ^'"^ to hinder. Vo,, „„j , a good thiW% ?f ^ "»clersta„d it if ''^ ^ ''^PP^'o^e ^ose his coiDDanv ^k^ , ^^<^«» and we don'^ ^-, ■ f * ""er hi.„, a,.d I'-i, .^J^l .P"'^ ""^J i 8.e .V to" Tr^ron Pick 'em up, Car line ! 46 "% a type 0/ ^?"J^1 of it,, ,;J nend. ^^oJlovved tJiis ^- ^v.'is a sonic- ^vorJd. it they woula e ^veiit home ^''o'<;S, kissed to liis room, ^ej-s on tJie ot his wife's o"e alrea(]y eml months ound in six ^d. He had ^picion that er's second " Suppose nd in he? ^ou and I } now and J 'ipprove it will be ' j'n what iielp to ^fartha, a louid be ; ""iiMt to trot on Now, only those who have had a dreary sort of iin.spoken feelinnr that tlie absorpfions of business, and the wider range of thourrht oflfered b^ the outside world, are possibly drawing away their husbands' niterests from the home and the w'ife, can understand the throbbmgs of Mrs. Fenton's heart. ^ Was it possible for this " Circle " to draw the family into a closer circle ? As a usual thing, every town of considerable size has Its intellectual giant; its man of mark, looked up to quoted, admired, and reverenced. Centreville had such. The llev. Gilbert Monteith, ,r" ^ T?^^' eminent professor in a very renowned" college, a linguist of unusual powers, a pulpit orator, a BCientilic man in a special sense, a travelled man who spoke of the old world with the freedom and familiarity what others used in speaking of their native village ; a 3ultured man, in the largest and best sense of that some- times abused word. What of excollence or strength, mental or moral, could not be applied to Dr. Monteith v And Centreville was his native town, and he had come home to it for a year of rest. Wiihin a few days alter the forming of the triangular Circle, as Mrs. Fenton was passing oiu of her front gate. Dr. Monteith cume down theelm-Iined walk, lifted his hat courteously, and paused with a genial " Mrs. Fenton, I believe." Mrs. Fenton, much fluttered, for she had not even a bowing acquaintance with the great man, admitted that such was her name. Whereupon he proceeded to state that he had heard 8he was about forming a Chautauqua Literary and bcientific Circle ; that he was much interested in those societies, had looked into their method of work with a great clea. of care, watched their growth and success with pleasure, and, if it would be agreeable, would like- tn oc considered a member of their branch and attend tlib meetings .v^hen he was in town. Imagine Mrs. Fenton's sensations I She, blushing and n 46 ^ JI**n in M. arow,. weak liwf eCs-^P '":;■' r ?'/ "'"' "^"''e" «( and ^at'd'awaf U ^r'o-.fi"''"^ took leave of „i™ ' ^' ^. o. U. was assured. f^i the weakest of •'"? numbered "titi almost no "'as glad tJiat j; '"oped and "'""Jcl Jilce to 5«'hap8 at the 'ory he mkrht here ceed W'Hs no "'I that imself invite was n, if 8he leave of him, "g that the ssured. CHAPTER V. THB WARD BOYS DISCUSS TUB SITUATIOlf. -iwK HEY were respectively "Jim " and "Joe." It iii *"*^ doubtful if tliey realized how tlie full Christiiui names would sound as applied to themselves. Seventeen years, in fact, nearly eighteen years, had they lounged through the world being familiarly known by those shortened names. 1 >- ins they were, and the mother who had delig! d in ihem for nearly eight years had suddenly left them. They vividly remembei^d stand- ing together shivering in the gloom of a rainy autumn day drawing near to its close, and watching with terrific curiosity the ugly-looking box lowered into an uglier- looking hole ill the ground, feeling sure that within"that box was their mother. Hadn't they seen lier lying there?. They vividly remembered how the wind groaned among the leafless branches of the great old tree which stood just at the foot of that awlui hole. Thev vividly remembered just liow the feet of the bearers sounded as they shuflaed through tho dulled :'ellow anil brown leaves that bestrewed their path. I don't think that either of them in all the intervening years had ever listened to the toll of the church befi without being carried instantly back to that day and that box and that hole, and thinking just how the earth sounded on the box as the sexton rattled it in, and the Runister said: -'Earth to earth, ushes lo ashes, dust to dust." There were certain other tilings About those early 47 i8 Tha Sail in the Grove. kissed them often anc tender] v" ? T^^'^' ^^« ^'"^^ chances to do it whLf « ^ f "^ '^^'^'r^ «^veet little brushed their browiTtk £„'•'!? ^^'T ^'''^^ ""^ brown curls. ^^Xd"ot'sa^d "!•'''' ^?^'^ ^^'^^ ^'^^ " Jamie dear " ad " 1 ittle 7n'^ ^ c^ " '^«^'" '^"^ Bpecially gloomy weather -l!h/f ^onetimes, in out -- thfy almUtlSel ^ey^^ fd" h':; f^V"^ and ti4 ild never si r/l'"'""'^ "^™^« *"y "'ore; of thosi h;tl,rtrden;er ' wCh ro:iT:h ^"^ older are half ash-imp,] ^f i , •^'' "^ ^bey grow father was a goodt^o duil'man'^'s^!. \T ^"^^^ repressive — loving his wif^ o. ^ -^^ ^y ^^^^u^ ; never speaking to her o/l^ll'"''^^ *^"l3%yet bundred"^ nameless ways dear to «' "^r f^r'"^ ^' "' « speaking ./her after ewt^ot T '> ^^^^■'•" ''"^•«^>^ truly, yet showing it artit^tr ^-^^7"^ ^^^ "'"^^^'^^ dreary. Apt to sJ^V !f V P'^*""^ ^^ borne and Absor^bed irb^^sin^i^iSln^ ''^'" \ ^P°^^« ^^ -"• made by sl.ontin"irioud Shr''"' ""['"'^^^^ ^' ^^^'^ Equally stern in In dng both ^'^f i'/^ by quarreling, is much wonder thit h V ° "°^ ^""w that it with him, slni kW^tay ?/onfr "^ "V'^^^"^^"^«^ tlieir pleasures else wC^L? in" tl''!? ^^^''^ f" ^"^ nor do 1 much wonder tint 2ll ^ ^""^'^''^ ^'°"«e ; mcnt to their fether Perl n^-r'^ ^ '^'" disappoint- ^A^ ir - '-■- -- 1'^"? p-son, „„„,,, -.."J :l::;-,:'7„!^r- wen a.4 jvungers, with noiliing in or ahnnf" fii'' '"1 "'^ J"'^®*' ^1-0 were t,u,e» in fho Z^.:tV\Z.'°rn^£Z instance, thelt •ther who had g sweet little eir faces and days they liad ^d "Joe," but Sonetimes, in le lights were ear h.^ voice, ch other. Bs any more ; received any IS they grow love. Their It by nature; lier truly, yet )wing it in a aeart: rarely • his children t home and ipoke at all. fcher it were quarreling, niow that it n!icqnainted ii'g to find 3ary house; disappoint- 3 inevitable auld be. J ncredulous, ither loved fc that they 'ell as any ' oe streai to admire, niglita o/ '"■* The Ward Bot/s Dittcuss the Situation. 49 which I spoke that they were sorry for this result ; but this thfc/ never said to each other. On the particular evening in which I introduce them to you, they were sitt > i; in their own room. A dingy room it was ; in fact, it ., ; that dreariest sort of a room : one where there was furniture and material enough ou of which to make a pleasant place, had only skillful an also loving hands had to do with it. As it was, th carpet was dingy, not only with long use, but with careless sweeping; the chairs were broken or maimed; the bedstead had lost part of its lower posts ; the bed was spread up with a dark blue and brown comfortable, while clothing and toilet articles, and old boots and old hats lay about in wild, and at the same time desolate confusion. A mother would have known that no mother ever entered that room. For that matter, there are some fathers who would have been sure that no father came either : and they would have been correct. Mr. Ward long ago ceased to look for his children in their room. Something of interest was being discussed, or at least considered. Jim, his feet lifted to a comfortable position on the table before him, in dangerous proximity to the smoky lamp, thoughtfully chewed an unusually large quid of tobacco while he gazed at a sheet of note paper whereon certain lines were written in a delicate feminine hand. "What is this C. L. S. C. anyhow?" It was the imaller, and, though they were twins, what appeared to be the younger brother, Joe, who asked the question. He sat just across the table, meditatively nursing his knee, his eyes fixed on an envelope which had evidently cohered the letter, and which was addressed " Messrs. James and Joseph Ward." "Well," said James, withdrawing his limbs from the table and snittinor viaoi'^nul'ij- l»ofo»'a l-^ " it's a sort of a literary society, just as she says : yea read the letter." " But what do you s'pose it's all about ? " 90 The Hall in th» arove. ill ' ' I !i I I) most of thei^fun out of Ks T^. r^P'' l'"'* ^'' Bomething about it lust weelf CrowTs so th.r! Z'"™ summer and have a kin.l „, """^ f" '"ere every don't kn„w what they do i k,^v ^1?**"' ^P^""' ' ing, for he was teS nf =1! ' "'"'f "•'' " '=i>mp-meel> ha§ there ;%™oiT„UrdTheTS "t7 ".""^, 51'^^ ^^wthisri;^,rk frrit t^-rsn ,";r;fhTtthfh^-.a^rL-hZ^^^^^^^^^ ster- that Bob Fenton H« k hlff ^^^*^ « ^ cute young- lots of the older fenows'" "'' '"^P^^^ "°^ ^^^^ mean to do him harm hnV fh« v, ^^e Ward boys loungers — nn/f^ "arm* but they have been street iuungers — not to use a harsher term than th«f f "BXis^aT^tifl^".?^ "-- '^«^° ^<'^^r,^ the table, Jeaving marks-„f his flngerinTe dus't Th" '" P'-ul Adams. How he ohanc^ed to br^vt', ^l i ig, most likely; icle, you know, people that get iscuss things, I nothing of that -lueetiiig place, in the store go there every teel spree. 1 f a camp-meet- ny times they 'here's a fellow m lightning -- >lks recognize all was, but 1 tever it is, is ■ it would be a cute young. )any now than heart have 5 heard that y. Well for lerli/ designs, ler net to try a shield for han she will 3 Ward boys been street 1 that — for overed that sat now in ning on the hand, while a tattoo on dust. This ven a name The Ward Boy% Discuss t?ye Situation. 61 which was so utterly at variance with his character would be a mystery if sensible people had the naming of children and were in the habit of waiting to see in what direction they would develop before settling that important question. However, I do not know that people who were acquainted with Paul Adams' mother ever -yondered at lier choico of name. He was her one treasure in what had Or; :i.. to her a world of trial and disappointment. He ^ ! ut a cooing baby when his father died suddenly ana violently, leaving Mrs. Adams to take up life's burden alone, and support herself and baby as best she might. This is such a commonplace statement that it will at once commend itself to you as true. I suppose there is hardly a person in the world who cannot recall a history similar to this. In spite of which fact, each person's jorrow remains distinct and individual. Such things »efuse to be lumped ; and still the old heart-cry goes on : " There is no sorrow like unto my sorrow I " Mrs. Adams had a little bit of a neat house and a tiny garden to help her along ; buo *liere had been times when she had mournfully said : " If it were not foi ray house I would go away and try to get work somewliere else ; but it seems as though I must stick by my place to live in, though I can't eat it nor burn it." From such a home as you can imagine that to be, had Paul Adams come up until he was in his eighteenth year. A queer boy was Paul. His mother was the only one who wouldn't own, and yet certainly she was the only one who was keenly alive to the fact, that he was a disappointment. In her way, she was as careful a mother as Mrs. Fenton. She had spent hours over the darning and patching that she patientlv did for him, formi!!c» plans for his future: plans to give him an education! to start him in the world; to make life brighter for him than it had ever been for her. This was wLen b Ill 62 The Hall in the Grove. was a liltle boy. She had struggled and sacrificed in o-.der to keep him neatly clothed, and to give him tastes liow and then ol what other happier boys with fathers had to brighten their lives. Secretly, she had earnestly desired that he should grow up to be a great man ; yet she was a true mother in that she put, first of all, the desire that he should be a good man. For this she wort-d the hardest in her weak, timid way. Often and oiten she read over the story of his namesake — Paul the apostle — glorying in the power and moral grandeur of that character. It was a dim memory of this great man that had caused her to name her two-days-old baby Paul. Perhaps the very absence of courage in her own nature made her long the more ardently to see it develoo m her boy. ^ But it gradually became apparent, even to her, that there wpre certain things that Paul would not do. In the first place, he would not take kindlv to the idea of an education. To be sure his opportuinties had been confined t< the commonest of country schools, with one of those poor drudges for a teacher who taught because she knew nothing else to do to keep soul and body together, and who concentrated all the powers of her being in a grand hatred of her work. But the fact remained that others had come out, even from such teaching, with a passably fair start on the road to learning, and had acquitted themselves with credit afterwards in the academy ten miles distant, which was the centre of ?Irs. Ward's educational aspirations. Paul was not a credit to himself during the days which he spent in the stuffy school-room full of vile smells and flies in summer, and slippery with mud and snow in winter. He whittled much ; he made and threw many paper balls ; ho ate many apples ; he tripped the feet of any careless boy who passed that way : but as to sttidvin^ he did just as little of that as possible, and made scI uncreditabls an appearance on examination days that Thz Ward Boy» Diseutt tht Situation. 63 icrificed in I him tastes ith fathers d earnestly b man ; yet of all, the •r this she Often and — Paul the Tandeur of great man 5-old baby n her own it develop ) her, that )t do. In :he idea of had been i^ith one of it because and body Ts of her the fact rom such I road to th credit '^hich was ms. the days II of vile mud and ny paper it of any -"^^ff^/j made so iays that when he was fourteen his discouraged mother took him out of school altogether, and set him to toeing in the garden. This was less trying to his nerves than rhe school- room ; still it was anything but a desirable life, and young Paul soon learned how to manage so as to get along with very little exercise of that kind. Not that lie ever refused to work : when his mother hinted that the garden ought to be hoed, he went at it; the mail/ trouble lay in the fact that he did not sfay at it. Long before noon his hoe would be found sticking in a hill of potatoes, and Paul himself would be down at the corner lounging on tlie steps of the largest grocery in the town. In short, from any standpoint that yoli were pleased to look at him, Paul was a bitter disap- pointment to his mother. _ Perhaps, if it were not a strange thing to say, I might alsc hint that his mother was in asense a disappointment to Paul. She^ never scoideil liim outright, but she made endless whining talks at him that sometimes drove iiim as near to distraction as a good-natured boy can como. By means of these weak talks she led him gradually to feel that the ugly little kitchen in which she sat and sewed was the most dismal and hopeless spot in all the wide world, and every opportunity was to be seized for escaping from its atmosphere. Yet his mother would have promptly and unquestioningly have given up her life at any time to save his — she loved him so! and certainly he, in his lazy fashion, loved his mother. If the mother had known the truth concerning him, the reason for liis utter lack of application at school was not because he had not fair mental powers, but because he had faileil to see any occasion for using them in that direction. The teachers into whose hands he had fallen had an utterly unfascinating way of presenting truths. To Paul's mental vision, there was simply a confused drawl of words to spell, and words to read, and figure* to count, without a suggestion 'uj to ho^e they were to 54 The Hall in the Grove. applied outside of the spelling-book or arithmetic. Panl could not see any way in which they would be likely to help him either to hoe the garden or get rid of hoein, in that poverty, / iia sure ured by )et\i'eeu Also, she was one of those strange mothers, who, though she had an eager, and at times I might almost say a con- summg desire to see her son a Christian, yet never men- tioned the subject to him in a direct way, but contented herself with feeble hints which exasperated him. So far as he had been able to discover, religion was a wishy-washy affair, amounting to very little, and that little he neither understood nor cared for. Since the feeble restraint of school-days had been withdrawn, and the garden had proved too dull and dreary to endure, and the wood-pile, by reason of its Bmallness, really required very little time, Paul had degenerated into a street loafer. His vices were not strongly marked. As yet, he drank nothing stronger than cider and an occasional glass of beer : the reasons being that he had no money to spend in that direction or any other, and no hereditary tastes m that line to indulge. However, as the force of example was strong about him, his mother lived in con- stant terror; for she was onlv too well aware that money seemed always to be forthcoming for the indul- gence of such tastes. Every night she went early to bed in winter to save lights and fuel, and in summer for very weariness of herself. But she lay awake listen- ing for the sound of her boy's footsteps, afraid that she would not hear them ; that he would be tempted to late hours and the vices which accompany them : afraid to Iiear them, lest they might be staggering ; rising on one elbow at last to listen for their nearer approach in an agony of fear and apprehension, and lying down at last with a tremulous " Thank God for one'more night ! " when they sounded firmly on the walk. Strange to say, young Paul was rarely out later than ten o'clock ; the sole reason being that he had a good-natured desire not to " scare " his mother. He smoked cigars when he could get them. Not that he began by being particu- larly fond of them ^-in fact, he found it" unusually hard work to learn. He had to devote to this accomplishment 56 Th* Hall in tho Grove. V } I I'l t 11 for W„?if f,'"' P,^"-'"?™""" tHat wouM have toW wel. CJiejving cigar-smokmg streot loafer. He hud one friend, in (act, I ougl,fc to sav that he had two r.ends, namely : the Ward boyn. It Us' o rarely munt^^^^ "' ' f '^^''^ '''''' '^^P'-^-t-^ that it eeZ SXrnf r '^" "•"^"^'^'* ""'"^^^ i" connection with either ot them ; yet it was Jim who contrived to be t^.e leading spirit both of his brother and of Paul Adams tte f ct jtV"T "' '''' ^^"1 '^^^'^«- ^' ' ninst aCt scamn 'M?n. f"'; ''"V' ^"^^^^^-^vitted energetic young wTp-uil pi .^'"■''•^;-'^'"!'fc' />" the down-hill road than was rani Perhaps their intimacy might be exolained !r par by the act that it was Ward's nature to ^"^^5 luiuheji to be Jed. Occasiona v, t s true Jie rH«i\tArl the other with a steady, off.lKU.d determinatioi t£t snrpn.ed and vexed him. For instance, there had pans developed several times that involved staying out neS efused^t.fo "'' "'^^' ,7*'"^« P''"- 1^-1 had s eadif; retused to curry out: all coaxings and all ridicule kJ\ on him unheeded; he good-natun.lly repl d to the one bhe has botheration enough, the land knows I" hi s ""BvV^''"'r^^;^ r^, bound Vh;:ra"u.ie tJ a By degrees the Ward boys learned that when Paul spoke m that quiet tone which hinted at a sort of [roul7 ''''"^'^^' '^"^ '"'"^''^ "'^ ^>'«^1 ««-^ a t'ne TJ e iZnl' r"',/'' !f7- '^"■^'>' "^«'i that tone, but good- hun oredly allowed himself to be led along the down-hm road as fast as the Ward boys cai-ed to travpl wTthi, i putting forth a hand to liold him "elf back ' '''*'""* On the evening in question Paul Adams, as I have said, sat m a listless attitude seemingly uninterested in 1 I'e told weL e that once >tory opens, il, tobacco- hat he had « so rarely at it secDia connection lived to be lul Adams. HKst admit etic young road than :phiined in lead, and , to allow e resisted ition that had plans ut nearly, 1 steadily licule fell ) the one, not stay s mother. )w«I" he *n't Jiave lat when a sort of le. The tit good- lown-hill without » I have ested in V '4i-. Tht Ward Boy» Ditcutt the Situation. 67 the conversation between the brothers. Social dis- tinctions are very queer things. It was an unspoken, but at the same time clearly-recognized fact to the Ward boys, that they were several degrees above Paul Adams. Why, perhaps would liave been somewhat difficult for them to explain. It is true that thev lived m a brick house of lai-ge size and respectable appearance, at least below stairs; it is also true tluit Mr. Ward senior had a respectable bank account and was adding to it steadily; yet why these things should have actually added to the importance or social standing of his sons IS perhaps a problem. The affirmative answer to it seems, however, to have been accepted by the world. Certainly the Ward boys never doubted it, therefore the conversation concerning the C. L. S. C. had been carried on entirely between themselves. Presentlv their guest raised himself to a sitting posture, took deliberate sum, and snapped a peanut shell so skillfully that it hit Joe on the nose as he said : "I s'pose you would be kind of astonished if you knew that I had had a bid to that meeting." " You ! " the tone sufficiently indicated the astonish- ment. " Yes, sir, I : just as sure as you live and breathe the breath of life. It's my opinion that it is a nicer-lookin^ one than your's — the writing is nicer, anyhow ; handsomS enough to be print. Signed with a flourish, too, such as they &ay would be about the hardest to counterfeit of any that are made. I showed it to that new bank clerk this very day, and he said he was pretty oood atcopynig, but he shouldn't like to have to undertake that. " Who wrote it I " "Well, to the best of my knowledge, the man wrote it^who signed his name to it. The writing is the same ; A^j" P^te letter, you see: none of your circulars." And with visible signs of pride on his lace young Paul untolded and spread before the two pairs of eyes that ...je» II J *' 68 TTie Hall in the Grove. li * i § immediately bent forward to examine it, a sheet of hejiyy cream laid paper which contained in a few cordial sentences a hearty inviuition to be present at the next meeting of the C. I^. S. C, to be held at Mrs. Fenton's, signed Gilbert L. Monteith 1 The Ward boyd stared at the name, then at each other, with astonished and significant glances. Tliey hardly knew what they thought. Still, whatever they might come to think oi' it, tlie present fact was, that, for some reason unknown to them, Paul Adams had been very highly honored. They could not help having a feeling of respect for a fellow who held in his possession an autograph letter from Dr. Gilbert Monteith. Janies Ward arose abruptly, strolled to the one window and looked out into the darkness, while Joe carefully re-folded the valuable letter and returned it to the owner. Presently he at the window spoke his mind : '* I tell you what it is, boys, I for one am going to that nieetiug. I mean to see what there is of it. I've got a chance to see, and I mean to. You can do as you like, but I intend to go." Up to that moment, Paul Adams had been ex- tremely doubtful about his ever putting in an appearance at the C. L. S. C. — whatever that was — but on being appealed to by Joe as to what he was going to do, he replied with alacrity : " Tve no kind of a notion of not going. Suppose a fellow would slight such an invitation as that ! " " Well then," said Joe, somewhat ruefully, " I don't see but I've got to go ; there's no fun in staying away alone, but I'm blessed if I can see any fun in going." Thus was the momentous question decided. s ?t of hejivy aw cordial ; tlie next . Fenton's, oyd stared lislied and ;vhat they ;o thii.dc ol' nknown to ed. They [)!• a fellow r from Dr. • the one while Joe irned it to i : '» I tell ,t nieetiag. chance to Lit I intend d been ex- ippearance t on being ; to do, he tion of not invitation , "I don't yring away roing." I CHAPTER Vf. LAUNCHED. [li-^ AUL ADAMS had an item of news to commoni ^3& cate to his mother the next morning at the break* fast-table. He commenced it in the form of a question : " Mother, have I got a clean shirt? " Mother opened lier eyes iji surprise at the question. Paul was not given to caring whether his garments were cleiin or soiled ; and was apt not to don the carefully ironed and carefully mended garment that she regularly laid out on the bed for him every Sunday morning, until after earnest explanations on her part that she must have the other one to wash. Behold, now it was only Thurs- day, and he was inquiring for a clean shirt I " Why, yes," slie said, hesitatingly ; she had a habit of speaking hesitatingly, as though she were never sure but that what she was about to say would not be better left unsaid; "your Sunday shirt is all washed and mended and looks nice, though the bosom is giving out a little ; yon ought to have two new shirts, but I don't know how to manage it, I really don't." "Never mind," — in utmost good-nature. "I don't want two shirts; one will do. But I want it to-night; I'm going out this evening. Likely as not I won't be in quitr as early as usual ; can't tell." The widow Adams sat down her cup of weak tea un- tasted, and gazed in dismay at; her son. It was coming liiiw — that nameless, dreary something which she had been dreading all these years. Paul was going to fix SO M Tht Hall in tht Grove, himself up and go off to some disreputable place, and do 8ome disreputable thing. "Going out!" she repeated, dismay in voice and manner. '' Why, where are you going ? " "Oh, going to spend the evenhig^with some of the fellows. I'm not going far away, but I may be later than common." " Well, but Paul, you always spend t' o evening with some of the fellows, or somewhere else; I'm sure f can't tell when you've spent one with me. There's some- thuigmoro than that; because if there isn't, why should you need a clean shirt ? Your Sunday shirt I remember, if you put it on to-night, why, then you won't have one' tor Sunday, as far as I can see. I can't wash and iron and mend the other between this and Sunday, I don't believe, on account of that sewing for Mrs. West that I promised this week. Don't go off with any of tliem dis- graceful fellows, Paul I don't do it!" Paul chuckled. He had a vision of himself sittintr in Mrs. Kenton's parlor — he had passed the house Tmd glaiiced up at it often enough to feel sure that there was a pretty nice parlor within — himself sitting there in companv with Dr. Gilbert Monteith, for instance, and his mother calling him a disgraceful fellow. For some reason not understood by himself, he was not disposed to tell his mother anything about the invitation out. "The shirt will do well enough for Sunday, too; don't bother ! " This was all the explanation he offered. " But why should you want a clean shirt in the middle of (he week ? " she i)ersisted. "There's some goings-on that you don't fell nje about." Whereupon the graceless boy chuckled again: "I'm ^,°,'"S tf the C. L. S. C," he giggled. - Going to join It. Ihe look of horror on his mother's face satisfied his ideas of fun. He knew very little about those mystio letters himself, but still he was certain that lie was better posted than hia mother. He was dimly conscious that he had been honored ; his mother would be sure to think Launched. 91 B?s*tibIyT.nny"'"^'"^ disgraceful, and the idea wa. irre- ;; Z^'^^\ Vi'^f • " She fairl V gasped the words. Blessed if J know," said P .J- laughing so liard that Ins^cupof^tea nearly choke : hi.. 4'n, ,^oing ^^^llg^l T "?t' Vr.^^^- P" «^^^- "- -' -'' I've *he?rd of a sight of things that you don't know notlung about. As long ago as when yonr father was a young man, they tried to get Inm to join, and he never vVonld^ ' I vo % do nothing that I can't tell my mother about if I'm a rZiu' ^Z"''i ' r^ ^'^ '^'''^ *« '^ H"^v many times Ive thought of that, and hoped that mv boy would jever do anything that he couldn't tell his mothen Tnd here you are going into it, and you'll go right stratht down to rum : I'm sure of that." ^ suaigut tSrl Ti'l' ""/'''^' ilismayed at this prospect; in H motli^ ^TY^ '"""^^ '^^'"^ '' ^" ^'^'^^ l^^rdened" th It r -^'"'l '"'"' ^''^' ^"'^^ h« «ould remember, t arV h/I^^-"^ *° f""\^"^^ ^'-'^^ t°l*^ J'"" so with finn n ?i ^' ";«-^?rable: he would make no explana- tion and he would insist on putting on his clean shirt that very evening and going to th. t disgraceful C L S C I hardly know how to explain to you how it was that scares as to refuse to -tay out late at ni^ht shonhl yot have allowed her to work lier poor nerCus C n mto spasms of fear over th.s new departure when a few words of explanation would have filled that same learT with mo herly hope and pride. «I don't know how to wlfhTliftle'h^^'" ""'^^ 1"°^^^^^' '^ ^^ shutihe do r with a little bang, vexed at her tearful face when ther« nrd"r:r'''-.-?T "' ^""^^'^ -tM^g thafs: T -iT Ti. iiT"' '*'V^ *™^' ^"^ t-^'^t's enough. S'posino- 010 women on this street, like enough, and be plea«d !■ i ! II I m I I i\ ku ti K 1 i •8 Th4 Hall in the Grove, and all that, and I dare say it won't come to anything, it isn't no ways likely I'll ever go more than once, and then she would just be disappointed, and what's the use?" and I really believe that the strongest motive he had for silence was that vague fear of another disappoin^ ment for his mother. Yet he disappointed her in one way or another every day of his life. He was certainly a queer boy. Poor Mrs. Adams! She had a miserable day. I offer no excuse for Paul ; I am ashamed of him. As for his mother, shall excuse be offered for her? She was an adept in borrowing trouble; she had practised for years; true, her life had been one of real practical troubles, yet it is also true that some of her most severe trials hud been borrowed: wrought out in the darkness of the night, lived over in anticipation, wept over, struggled with, in a measure endured, and they never came. Yet, so far from learning wisdom by this long experience, she still expected them, or others worse than they, and wrought at her sad problem ail the same. She looked again at her boy's shirt, making sure that every button was in its place ; she sought out a clean handkerchief, and laid it beside the shirt ; she brushed his best coat with careful hands, and menued a tiny rip in the sleeve, and she had an hour's labor with the shining shirt fron , dampening, rubbing, ironing, because there had plashed on it two or three hot tears. Had Paul known L:iat the tears really fell, he would have made some effort to relieve his mother. As it was, he came home from his bupiness of lounging earlier than usual, dressed himself with marked care, taking most unusual pains with his hair, and looking altogether so neat and respectable that his mother felt a little thrill of prMe rise up among her fears as he passed through the kitchen. She had not ventured further opposition. The only question she asked was the tearfully pu{ one: " How late do you expect to be, Paul ? " ''I'v« no kind of an idea," h« said cheerily. **I Launched. 63 8 to anything, than once, and ■nd what's the igest motive he ;her disappoint- ted her in one B was certainly jrable day. I f him. As for ? She was an practised for real practical er most severe n the darkness n, wept over, lid they never 1 by this long ers worse than ail the same, king sure that it out a clean ; she brushed laed a tiny rip ibor with the aning, because t tears. Had e would have . As it was, ig earlier than taking most altogether so little thrill of d through the sr opposition, fully pu( one : cheerily. *♦ I don't know where I'm going, you see ; nor what will be done with me ;" and the mother groaned. Ah, but had you been able to peep into Mrs. Fenton's pretty parlor that evening I Paul was right in his sur- mise that it was a particularly pleasant room at all times ; but on this occasion, the first regular meeting of the newly organized C. L. S. C, its mistress had done what she could to make it more than usuall attractive. She had labored half the afternoon to make her ivies and ferns trail and droop in just the right direction, and at dusk came Caroline, fresh from Mrs. Chester's green- house, bearing a choice collection of cut flowers. It was late enough in the season for these to bring special iov to Mrs. Fenton's heart. "See!" said Caroline, "they are all going out this evening and Mrs. Chester said the beauty of these would be gone by to-morrow, so if I had any friends who would like them I was to take them; wasn't she nice?" " Very," said Mrs. Fenton in glee ; and while she arranged them in her pretty vases with skillful hand, she wondered whether Mrs. Chester would have given her flowers, had she known they were destined that very evening to help people up out of their Spheres I All four of the burners in the pretty little chandelier had been lighted, Mrs. Fenton remarking apologetically when her husband laughed, that she did like light! The delicate bell-shaped shades droopinsr over the gas jets added their beauty to the general effect. I have before told you that Mrs. Fenton was an artist, so far as regarded the adorning of her home, and she liad exerted herself to the utmost to make it an attractive spot on this first evening of their venture into the world of literature. I ought not to use the word venture. It had already passed be.vond the limits which surround that word. The preliminary business meeting had been a success, both as regarded numbers and enthusiasm. There were feund to be those m Centreville not too 64 The Ball tn the Qrove ■if r^ much absorbed in painting or self^steem, to appremt. and join lia,„l.s with the new scheme. WIieK th! presKieiit ot the organization had much to do with rapidly swelling the list of memhers, who shuU sTv? ?ZT: '''•'/•"' H^"^- ^«"^°" ^^^^ «» her la com. fortable sprinkling of names from high sources. L faS she had one or two that Mrs. Chester had tried vain to sennre at her fashionable evening gatherings Yet "tt hoh^oTth^w'^'^ ^'f^ T'^'^^'y aXion'^to get hold of the Ward boys." This desire she had whenr clued o'nfr' '^"^ ^"^•^^^' '^ ^^ Monte' th wneii he called one evening in an entirely informal wav to talk over their plans -for the bright little woman had been unanimously chosen secretary. Wourd dT Monteith think she was lowering the standard of fhe 1 *^ I ; V *'"^"'^ ^^ introduce to its membershin he think of Caroline? These questions made Mrs Fenton s heart beat fast; but I rejfuce to tell you that' she set ner pleasant mouth in firm lines, and iold her self that whatever Dr. Monteith or anybody else though of Caroline .A. was to belong, p/ovided she CMis Fenton) had anything to do with it. If any persdn objected to Caroline, it should be the same as^ thoS they had objected to her. The Ward boys micTht be trv to do '"r" '''?; T'' P^^^^^P^ ''' ^«« foofish to Mrs r l"f ^ n^ ^^f' them -in that line, at least : but Mis. Chester s Caroline was another person. She was not left long in doubt as to Dr. Monteith's opLron His^ handsome eyes flashed instant sympathy, and S cord.al voice said : « My dear Mrs. Fenton, that is one of the best of the good thoughts that you hive had con! cermngthis movement. If we could get hold of these ra^h^f""?; ^^™igbV^-y« them, and through Jem L ™ >l^-f^'glf ned to think how many others : " and the?. i>f, in his turn, astonished Mrs. Fenton. ' Did 8h« know anything of a boy, or a young man ;;f Launched. 65 n, to appreciate Whether the announced as sh to do with -'ho shiill say? ler list a com- »rces. Ill fact, i tried in vain therings. Yet J ambition to esire she had -Dr. Monteith ' informal way little woman Would Dr. andard of the 3 membership ), what would 8 made Mrs. tell you that and told her- >' else thought 'd she (Mrs. f any person ae as though ys might be as foolish to at least ; but n. She was til's opinion, thy, and hia , that is one ave had con- lold of these irough them thers : " and • yoang man rather by the name of Adams ? His motbar was a poor struggling widow, and the boy was no comfort to her was always hanging around the street corners ; was con- stantly with the Ward boys and others of tlidi sturaD was going to ruin, he feared ; and yet he fancied tleZi md capabihfes His father was^a man of unusual strength o mind Dr. Monteith had known ;^m when a boy, and although he had had almost no advantaTes"ie had picked up a good deal of various sorts of knowidie and was a man of stei ling worth and much promL a^' the time of lus sudden death. Dr. Monteith; b. reason olhis busy life, had lost track of the boy int^l nuke ently, a fact which he regretted. Did^Mr FeS tJi . k It possible to reach just such a boy as he was through such a channel?" ^ ^ son^lnlr'""^/'^^ ^'^'* ^''' ^^"^ ^'"'^ ™ «^o^inf? crim- I> , 1 AW f'^ >T '° '''^'''^'^^<^- Yes, she did know lery well " mI"^ a^ ' '' ^""'""^il '''' ^^'^^ ^"« ^^o"''- an I ironiL fnlX T' ^P^^^«^o"^"y ^^i^ A'^e starching ana noning for her when she was pressed for time and many a nice bit of comfort from her cellar and nntrv had found Its way to Mrs. Adauis' home. She d d no^ tell Dr. Monteith all these things, but her voice at east ^t lu^ve expressed her surp^s for he ^mM Is he know't!nt"htl''^^l'"-? ^'''^^,^««°"J^^ reach him. I don't Know tlict he has an idea of ever trying to be other thin re hold of Y-' ^"'^^' r^' "^ '"« ^^^h^r I should me t ^l^iullg lUnlr joi^;:;^^ ^-^ ^^- -^ «^i-^^- to my Dearance. Ihat same Caroline looked verv nr^t^v o- te», costing so lietie by the yard ' tlLrU wol t« M The ma in the Grove. surprised even Mrs Fenton, who was a practical econo mist; but It was made with exceedii)g care, was perfect in lit, aad the soft cheap lace at throat and wrist* set it offas much as -real'' lace at an unmentionable price would have done; better, indeed, because of one's instinctive sense of the fitness of things. While at work among the flowers, Caroline had, fi^m force of S also pushed into the braids of her hair a cluster of scar- let luchsias, and, whether she knew it or not, they fitted her perfectly As the peal of the bell announced the first arrival, she turned away from the flowers with heightened color and a little laugh as she said • ^ '' It seems to me as though I ought to retire to the kitchen, or the nursery. Where shall I sit, Mrs. Fen- "Just where you please," said Mrs. Fenton promptly. "Don t you go to being foolish, Caroline the?e will be no one here ^yho will not respect you ii oroportion to the respect which they have for themselvr^. ll.at is our SntV »''"'• ^^"'^-^^--1 ^h-^ - have sich a The parlor filled rapidly. Mrs. Fenton was jubilant and yet not quite satisfied. She had not beforeClized how eager she had been to secure the Ward bov- • but as often as the bell would peal, a flush of exp'ect^.ey would rise on her face, to fade again as only others o^ their immediate circle were admitted. A dole observer nnf)t *^,«^ have discovered that the genial president was on the alert, watching for what had not as j^et appeared They came however: the three came togetherf some- what late, for at the last moment, Jim's%n-,r -e M failed him, and he had announced his inteni: . "r,Iv ing it up." * &'^" Not so Paul. He was astonished with Jmself for having entered into any such engageuient, but once having donned a clean shirt and blacker his boots, and ..i.....v ..n<.oa..x uiougut ana care on his personal apoear- ance, he was resolved that it should not be for naught. actical econo !, was perfect I wrist!^ set it ionable price use of one's ^^)iile at work )ree of habit lister oj scar- t, they fitted mounced the flowers with id: retire to the t, Mrs. Fen- )n promptly. Hiere will be roportion to That is our have such a 'as jubilant, tore realized boys ; but, expectancy y others of >se observer esident was t appeared, her; some- Tir-e had "giv- imself for but once boots, and lal appear- 3r naught. Launched. gj In this Joe agreed with him, and by dint of n.n.K had a parlor at h„,„e, but ifwrs ahf^,^ clolod • .'iir,! l'/ adopted extravagant t\vsaf to^Te tjr:t' ..oti.i,,gco„,paredwitiuheo::rCu.^a"d • ' s::::ti,;i' wh.cb was give,, them. Dr. Mouteith a. .e ifora S ll7e a h°"°/ r" ";'-' »'"'b-table,aud, com, g oZ.a gave a hand to each, while iji few w.n.,l< ft ,"■""• s';i leittor tere'::^.':. at"Zi '"^'- '-f^ Certainly, whatever the C 7 T r "}"'.' °f''< '"''""i- liiiei'; ;^etnJjeerti::f wt7dt *:r z!r,rr ZZ^-- ;Merivale," said each to 1,1 S af i t ?■.■ " what t. Menvale, or who is he ? Does it mem „,' Vill^on tllfr!.iit;iV'^ ''^f ^'"^^ mean that iS It wasn't lik. K , '^^' ""^'' ^' '° """^ «^" f'^''^' wasnt lik.lj, (or who ever heard of anything i-;*!^' 68 The Hull in the Grove. happening in Home worth tHiking about? Yes thev knew every one of tnem, that diere was Lhljy2 thing. TI18 raomentoiL; questions wero, wliicb o'ean ^^"'m^-'^^^"*- ^^^^^^^^^ renew. J^''Cr^S fhn/f •' ^^^^ "'^ "^^^ ^"^1 thev took certain sten' imcsii....i,ion.s no literary men or wcn^en. Thev re. solved, every 01.:, of them, to find'-'out ! ^ " I !i" fa] c went on in the form bf general and interested conversation: no, not general, for^ur ti.4 bovTwho ^egan tius evening tor the first time to sus^^^t tha^^^ dcime^ W.u 1, the more chiring spirit of the tliree \e'uJ\ orward and possessed himseff of a book tha lay o n be he eo'^;T ;ee ", "" '^ Mrs Fenton's liand t'o whLl n. ^"^V Vr- ^ ^'''^ occasionally referred. Merivale\ aeneral ILstory of Rome. MeriVale was then, douTtSs a man, and had written a book about Rome So much Int "^ef'w w'u'"^' "°^ ^"^'^^ ^^ ^ admit to you Hri.n 1 f '"''^ f^^^ "' ''' <^e'"t'^'» «ense triumphant He had o,ie fact which an liour bef,n-e he had ever iieard of. Young Paul, whose keen eyes were i^f all C'S-Ycok ".s'j" '"' "'"' T^'"'^ ''''' our his^fland 10 uie hook as James was about to return it to th« table and ma twinkling placed himself on a leve w h his friend. He went farther. He opened to th^ ]\Z SSiro Tlf^-;^ "^^ '' Rom':'f?.om^he'F i! Ution ol the City to the fall of Augustulns " Rome hen, was a city, and of sufficient interfst an • apoft i S to have a book written about it. Paul ha,. Vnunedt ate desire to know where it was situates ow it was founded, vh. Augustulus was, and • he fell to He opened c usly to the first char, r and read the headm. sh>wiy and with ^reut car . ijj^e "^ 'lie. Ro queer spell My ! " said young Paul to injT c.ii« _»t»uii^ 1 aui to '^1 ;, ;f, " hia only knowledge of th.j vford that' bein g Launched, 69 t? Yes, thej such a city or V ned for some- wiiJch ocean, id ? " Curious and scieutific certain steps »e no scientific n. They re- ind interested ree boys, who >ect tliiit they It. Presently tliree, leaned at hiy o)i the find to which Merivalea en, doubtless, le. So much admit to you triumphant, e had never were in all )ut his hand rn it to the a level with to the title n the Fonn- Ufi." Rome, Juportanoe H! immedi- ' ow it was he fell to. id read the rile site of >i.^f, "that's ^^'ord being derived from s-i-ff-h-t. He tp^^ nn « t*. y. and_ geological Lmatior'A glitnS ' tt^'the^T^I"" peninsula, at the basin of the Mediterr ne^n ^T empn-e beyond it." AH Greek to l^m a ' *rl'^ laid down the book with u h mil v , ^'""'" ^^^ there flitted before Mm the So r^rT"" '^^'^' ""!} days in the old dingy schoo^hre'V^::;;; i:^:^^;^ ously whether ha< he studied more anH p, ed bo . What ot It? Why should he care to understand if? What difference did it make to hn,. ,i "''^^'^'''^'"^^ ^t / where Augustulus fe l" wlv }Z ^ ' ^""J" '^^' °^ evening? ^hy, indeed, hj^^lt e^red h stef ^? that moment he met the jrenial onp. nF P i \. T- f*' and somethincr, he was no7 n if i • ^'''^' ^^^''^eith, know what, mde^riZ^dSf ^Sffor'"'"^' ''. time that evening that he 1 evv a H L 'ff^"^ Although Prof. Gilbert Mo^t^l^l^ l^^^^:^ mthe Literary and Scientific Circle and mp^nf / • It his utmost strength and the benefit nf V^"" ^'\® education, it gives me great joy to tel Vou tlia T"^'' more interested in human lives Ld human souls th.n'"' any phase of scientific truth that eon I ?,. -m i" presented. He meant to h,\1 thTf Possibly be g^tthered about hfm?arS tmeJtlCZ"'' ^'"1^"^^ wds ^uis. ±ienton heartily interesfpd nnri r^ i- r eyes glowed, and youiig Mr Sw7Vh«^ Caroline's 'declared to himself thJiUi'^^'^ law student, v„-.-_ , , "imt,eii tnat this was sompthi-prr «,^-t»^ "«viiig, but, what was infinitely more tn thl"^'ni^i. Z? young men on the high road to nX rnn i KT^' ^l'"^^^ from their letharav ne iZ ^^^^^'^ themselves ineir lethargy of ignorance and indifference, and TO The Hall in the Grove. positively resolved to keep the vantage ground that ttTep^tet'"^ puttL.„.elvesin^a fay to llt^ Moreover in the course of the evening, young Robert Fenton without the least intention ot" addinf Vo the spell without the slightest knowledge that he Vd any Ct'TurS' '''' ''"'' ^'^'^' '^ ^- ^^-^-^^ -d and^thf V?.-""' ^""^ *'" ^^^»t'"«' «nd the winding Tiber, and the Vatican, were names that rolled so easily from his young l,ps, and the questions he asked were so promptly recognized as of in.portance, and so clrefullv answered, that, while Mrs. Fciton's cheeks glowed w^h mo herly pride, the cheeks of the Ward boy^ glowed self -rr-fpn *^"'- '" ''rF "^"^"^"^^^ J^™- ^-^^■ selt, that fellow is only fourteen I " and vouncr Paul sa,d within himself: " That youngster knowfei o^u^h o ask about what he don't know, and I vow I mean to learn so much, anyhow! " ' " ^ vow i mean to The first regular meeting of the C. L. S. C, viewed from human standpoints, was certainly a snccess. The pleased Circ e detached itself into little groups when he formli ' We shall have to be very busy, some of us, to Ji forty -minutes a day in which to read." This Mr Bennett remarked in a general way. " Merivale is inter^ esting, but he doesn't say mnch iout law, and Tw to keep Blackstone ever before my mental v sion!'' Wlierenpon Caroline thought, but did not say: "Meri- vale may be interesting, but I fancy he doesn't say much about settiiig tables and clearing them off, and mSg ^ound that ivay to hear )ung Robert ling to the he did any onteith and iding Tiber, easily from id Were so io carefully lowed with 3ys glowed ues to him- oung Paul enough to I mean to iewed from 'he pleased the formal and plans. us, to get This, Mr. lie is inter- tid I have .1 vision." ': "Meri- say much d making iy have to CHAPTER Vn. "isn't it niob?" :SN'T it nice ? " This was what she said to James Ward — a little "pink and white" girl who could hardly reach to his elbow. Not an intel- lectual girl at all ; one who knew almost as little about Rome as did the young man before whom she stood, save that she had a fashionable seminary education, and knew the names of things tolerably well. A girl who frizzed her hair when frizzes were the height of the fash- ion, and banged it when that style was in vogue ; a girl who wore trains one day, or round dresses reaching just to the tops of her boots the next — according to the dic- tates of the most fashionable dressmaker whose advice she could ask. If you had been going to select a woman to give an impetus to a dawning intellectual sense, the last person you would probably have chosen would have been this small pretty Aimie Allison, with features like the latest Parisian doll, expression and all. Yet those three words, spoken in the softest of feminine voices, were destined by fate — or no ; let us be reasonable beings, and say by Providence — to work as complete a trans- formation in th'. plans and purposes and final destina- tion of Jan\e8 M' d as can possibly be imagined. How could they do it? Well, who can account for these things, or explain the subtle law by which they work ? It was not that James Ward " fell in love " with this small bit of flesh and blood beside him, whatever that coarse expression may mean to those initiated; it wu 71 **1 •■ if 72 The Hall in (he Grov y. le,ide them He mds'e " 1' "'vei-. byany clumee, 6'ated in her father', «.»• i Z,"''^, «"' "' "''jrcli, companions, frreet her fimilin. v ' • tr ends and he had from irisTeatin thT inV^' P'''"§^ '" ^^ «"t; Stance. Now fiP ^fnnri k^ ■ i > "ecesbity ot circum- parlor, she sur™, nS t'tluTl '".? -'/"■^f"l'3-ador„e.l '^afe, pure respSi tv Pmf k[ ""'t atmosphere „£ .e? trr;u;rma„Tu^^ fmalIpreVgirUto:r„^'rL;'f..th\h,°r- ^'"' looked up to him literallv nn^ o i ^ j " ^ '^■'' "»y» them. #hat wl S to Hml r T^- '^^"1 ^^ "'^^^ ^^ time when he was not necessarily down there and ?' * ,..esti..rhir;„.tr;tShi?---^^^^^^^^^ ^ •♦ Isn't it Met f " 78 1 Hie mutter: in and young p a story or anyclumce, ; "t ch jrch, utlier's pres- itability'and friends and g" in or out; sition in the felt himself Jiim. '^his dulicu Hort of circum- llj-adorned losphere of 1 one side, iiett, whom ant young oked up to e?" it that nnf 'f the fact lid all this >ve. This liox/^ nay, as one of 3r a place ^nd for all leclare to )ung man ere was a md tiiure of climb- 'ss as an I ply have ed little » Allison never had so great reason to be proud of her brainless little frizzes us on that night when they helped to awaken the energies of an immortal soul. Ho looked down at her— tliis boy of almost nineteen, on this girl of seventeen, who had been miles above him always heretofore —with a curious iceJing that ho was oUUv by 'ears than lie had ever been before, and that she wum younger. " What is nice ? " 'lie said. He hadn't the least idea how to talk with a young lady. He had no sister, and the few girls whom he knew well enough to shout a greeting to in the streets as he passed them, he felt now that he wished he did not know at all. Why this idea, all of it. The meeting together and it over, and having t^uch grand Bennett and all stu(lving and talkincr men JJ3 fujv* i/aiiviiii^ lb over, as Professor Monteith and Mr those to h Ip us." "Us I' Whom did she mean by that word so glibly used? AcL ally herself and him — James Ward? It sounded like it. I>id he think it was nice ? He liad told himself not three minutes ago that he was a fool for being there, and that he would never be caught in that trap again. It was one of tlie many revulsions o^ Reel- ing that he had endured. He suddenly resolved to be sincere, and see w] it answer he would get. "I suppose it is nice for you people who know all about these things, but I am noth- ing but an ignoramus. I never took kindly to my books— the sentence closing with a half-biiter iMigh. "Oh, I don't know much about these things I" Her sentence closed with a little laugh too : not a bitter one, though ; fresh, and girlish. "Don't you?" He looked down at her now, smil- ing partly at the prett; features, and partly at himself in wonder that he felt so much at ease talking with a well-dressed young lady who belonged to the upper circles. "No, I don't, really. I used to study history in i i I 74 The ffall in the G rove. IKf o"l.y thU nra.;„ooi wint was ,1 '•' *"^"«'^"'K ■»« (o.-,«„d do you b^iit™ Hou'te^i'iS.'?' rr^'s i iiave discovered, tliis evpninrr T j ^ '" ^^^"^ intense pleasure to 1 ear hor J f ","'^^^. '^ ^'^^« *""> Jionie. Soniewir .-nil 1 ?.'*'' ^''''' ^^no^'"'co of loom. Why, evervl orlv trT ., ^"^ '"'''"^'^ "»<=» t'»e loungers I As for Pa, 1 1. "^ ^^'^^ ^"'^ J"^^ ^^^eet ^vith her social I on'on l^'t" T f"°"^'^ ^'^ ^ ^^^el She had been in rrzzle fri'' ^" ^"'^ i""^ ^^ ^1^' others, but vvhe I>^ M . ., °'"^ '^^^"^'^ ^ver the books, and lose and ki" t\^'^"""^' ^""'^ ^'^^^ ^is gave them a ^eneAl in^rn l ^'"'^' ^^^^^ *^^^">' ^"^1 little Aimie setfled i b "nd" C /" ''' ^^"P^"^' must be rather "nic^' S n^ a''''' '^^"^ *^^^ whom Dr.Monteith introduced were Irbe^'tM^" 'or tire tme beinir «t l.„., S , ,,'"' ™ted to, Ward beeau J s e ha 'enll tu\ """"' '" J'™'' who were comJnAS.i'!" 1^« halted, waited for the two « T Af'o „«"^ — & «^0x.^ i„ ciicnce Deiiiud him, and saiH . Let B go in and have a smoke, and talk it iver." "7«n'e it Nicer 76 hated it; it as jisking me pal river iu v'( I'm glad much now, )w o;ie new except that it gave liim ^noianco of c that was bit of flesh :ood almost ■ with her ? Miss Aiinie trifle scan- h into the just street on a level lim at all. s over the I aside hia them, and company, that they *J^ people talked to, to Jamea nearest to ' happen," ything is d to send 5 put his thought '■ reached the two md said * er." Whether it was Miss Aimie's influence, or the com- bined influences of the entire evening that made his brother James so unusually gruff, I cannot tell ; certiiin It IS he answered with most unnecessary bearishness : " 1 won t do it. I'm going home." Joe, though generally good-natured, was not proof ftgaiiist such uncalled-for growls as this, and answered proinptly: "liow wow! go right along I Come in, Paul, 4ud have a soothing puff. Til stand treat." "Can't," said Paul laconically. "Why not/" ♦' Oh because, I can't. It's late ; I'm going home." " «r"i!' ^^'*^® either; just a few minutes after ten." ' Well, that s a few minutes later than I generally am I don t mean to stop no^vhere to-night, so you needn't coax. It was the quiet tone of decision that meant iust what it said. •* •'i?*- ^''}'^^f\ "^"^ ^^'^- "You're both cracked to- niglit. And he too made a virtue of necessity and went home. "^ It was unusually early for the Ward boys, and as their hither, lying awake, heard them stumbling up-stairs in the darkness, he wondered with a gloomy sigh what mischief those fellows had been about now to got in so early. As for the widow Adams, her pillow was wet and her nose was red, and her eyes were sore, all be- cause of tears that had dropped, dropped in a slow des- olate way ever since half pus& eight, when she had turned her lamp down until it gave on.; dim wink, and went to bed to wait and watch for the coming of her idol. The worst had come at last : she felt it in every nerve : the ruin that had been menacing her so long was about to burst upon her. In what form she had been fruitful in conjecturing. Certainly there was no danger of her being taken by surprise ; for she had had her bov bronirht nome sliot, < rowned in the creek, thrown from a disrep-' atable carriage with ail his ribs broken, carried helplessly intoxicated in the arms of two boon companiona— all 76 The Hall in the Grove. pr^'a h:'/,re.,i,^^'or/ %ti r^ '»• "- her to imagine ? Oh Tn^f V r-'^^^^^^ee^^an here for widow AdaLs. Send your on v"l?' '' r^' sad-hea.tej over streets spread ^^CaSAkf m' 7'^^^' "'>'^^ as our large towns are andTpl l? ^ ''^^ at every .step, poor elbov? was sore withTts dntt''%^?-^- ^'"^ ^^^^- »« Jetting her down again a she i ? "^^^^'^^.^ ^''' "P and step crunched on the giavel ou^S'^ T^"^" ^'^P ^^^^ were his. «He won't con e in 1' f "'Vl'^''" ^^ *^e'« shortest," she murmured ^r' ^idnight at tlie very I tnew what that meant ' I'v^h^n ^' '"""^^^ ^« ^^^i. Pecting it." Then the weak tear, dv ^^P^'^^ ^"^ «x- Adams was too enfeeb'ed fn llT f ^PP^^- The wido^v w th hard work even to crv^Ji °2 "'{^'^^ ^^«"» «"t minutes after ten by the ollf-^J J^''""' ^^^^en corner when she raised hovJi^ T'^^ ^^^^'^ "i the that much-endurir:^"elb"w t tV^o,'!5^"^^^ ^'"^^ «" step I" and then, "No,ifc ilA';^ Oh ^^^' "^T' *'^^* '"« time she added, « Yes t s I'd ^n 'If- '"" • ^"^ this even if it was'unstea^b^r ^ oh d aiT" -^^^^^ was carefully opened ^^^n ^he door '•'.^" ujG cears came iasfpr J., ,, — j^-^cp staircase, satisfaction. Yes his T.T' '^'^ astonishm -. and !"« voice was stead,^TeTe;;;l:^ "--' and ;n at the door with hi^ Shn ? T/^^-"^ ^'^^"^^ «^™« iong-suffering widow Adams Sh'"^ ^T""'.^ '^'^'^ ^^^^ 8cent.--it seemed to hei--aW.f^^ could detect its "he has been somewhere tlmt T "" '? ^''^^- ^"^ ^h«»» she said drearily, '^ or else fi n^^^"^ ^" '*^^^'« went," It. Oh dear me ! " '' '"""^^ ^^^e told me about . -^ ^^" ^'eecho it from mv sonl .^oi ^ »n our Christian countTv Z 'h. ' / ^'''' "^^ ' " that wrui^ by so manv teS thTt a/e's.T' M ^^'"^"^ ^^ ^e - -aui Adam, "he was un^Lli; ^^f ^^J: tll.I^J HI ♦' Isnt it Nice ? " ' 'i "i not a note as be made steady preparations for bed. Hin m md _.vas fuH of grave tbougbts; there was no room for b. Pn I "F- T^^'f '"^^''"^ ^°""^"'^ "P ^^'^^'^ l^i"^ that he intended in hi. heart to ueet and conquer was: "How Shan I go to work to get a Merivale's History of Rome ^^ Panl^'^f ^"/^*"^1 ^"^^^t' thougli a hunentable one, th'at Paul, almost j^oung man as he was, with a widowed mother whom, by all rules of Christianity or civil zatfon he should have supported, iiad no settled buress n hfe, nothing definite to do, save to split the kindlings when there were any to split, work in the garden w fen his mother could coax him to do it, shovel paths w en ill Ilia way. His moUer poor thing ! comforted her heart bv saving f I Vu^' ^^^"^ \^ '^f ^ " ^^^^'^^^''"1 bad town for poo? folks. There was her Paul couldn't find any ivork Ci one month s end to another." Down deep nTer lea™ he knew there was nothing that Paul tried for so little as somethnig to do; also, .he knew that farmer Jud ns Jroni?t . "''"l ^"l" "; ^r ^'''^'^^^^^ '-^"^ ^ho occasio 1 y nought her a bushel of apples or a spare rib said is soon as he got out of the luS,^e, " Sho ! v^hat " wort le' s wanted It " Al'"^^ '"' '^.'k '"^ f "^^^''"^^ '^ ^« ^^ •- wantea it. All the same the mother respected farmer Judkins for keeping his lips closed before her. Even he did not know what spasmodic efforts hud been n a l" ^ pUT'i^^''^'' ^^^P«"^«r ^'onud the corner: of^bd," w rk ''SrST""'^^ i";'^'^; ^"^ ^t-^Jy-for stead V In'/ bpli « 'lagged Jus shoulders and said : -J don believe you better try me, Mr. Tucker ; I ain't bteadv at anything but eating and sleeping." But tl episode his mother didn't know. On the evening in question, one of the bov's emrlov ments seemed to be desertinir him: h. cA„l7not St to ktrin'/l'"""^'^ the moonlight he could count fve 3' h could noffi; h- ''"• ''f''''^''"^ ^°°">' ^"^^ ^-^ - ^in/e ne could not hx his mind on anything but tlie act 0/ ^.|!i •^ i k If i 78 The Hall in the Gro 9e. he .set Wmse!?to workf TllTl^ f }''\'""' ''"'» he liked i " b rL Ind #i nf " ""° ^"""'" ''"•« a"d it could be ot er ti an wLL ;;? T ''"^ '^^'^'''^'i "■»« share. Nevertheless thfdT •'^''.'■'''' ™"''' *'" '» h« iK-mVa;« in Lme way "I r '."''''''" ^'ew to secure a co.sta ? " he aS S;elf JX"1"'^"°"' ™""'' *''« 'hing knowledge of the 'rr \" ittfl JiVIZn'"'; '"? '"' any other thincr A fp J r^ Dookt, than of almost work niukiiiff monev rroftJ '- unpropitious time of 3Jrin li"?;^ rT- ^' ''•'' ^^' was capable of doinc?, wl.a^^^^^^^^^^ ^"''^ that h. He iulJv realized tlu t Ti^ q^! :fi'!?;.^ that woul.l be, But behold as he turned the onr^'"', '""''^ ^'""'ted tlie window of one of i.;! f ^.^'■' "^ P^'^^'^^'^' bunjr i„ '* -Boy wanted." tLLI,'"''^^ ^o""g^"^^g piafes -erely an errand'ioylltdi^7aI:;f I ^ ^^ '"^^^^^^ errands ; and it tells well for thp!^'"^^.^l "°"^d r»» oi of Paul that he did not' ri'ik fk,mT"7^' earnestness o much younger than hs years 0^;k^°T^ tUey wanted one to stand behind th ' -^ther hand, if tobacco and cigars, why .ertS '''''""''' ""'^ ^^^^ doing that. '' Can't need muni '^ -^'^ 7^' c«»P«bIe of "- of the intellectual iriferiority" "of "."f u^h^t^rk.'^ oO bie " / Know I 6'hull Stickr 81 1 the same the night portaiit to •o. More Jie meant and even mother'ij "ssed the ick' 8tep, L>ject \va;} money. was an that hf» Juld be, limited huMjr i„ places : light be 1 run oi lestnesa vork — land, if md aell • ble of r-or k ! " [vork. ■ Then he ooldly turned the knob and went forward. The proprietor was woll known to liim. H,^ vouchsafed him at hrst no answer beyond an astonished stare, and then a hearty laugh. to'd^r'"'' ^"^''*' ^''"^' ^"^ ^°'' '^*"^ '^''"^ something '' Honor bright ; I mean business, and you'll find 1 t?au stick to it ! " now " WJiat do you want me to hire you to do, 'lonestly/ Smoke cigars?" -No only wheedle others into buying them, and make em think a miserable little two-cent one is a prmie lot, best brand, and worth five cents at the verv iowest. I know how, and I can do it." The proprietor laughed and flushed. " You know too much, he said; "altogether too much. You have smoked too many cigars to be able to do much at selling. " Then you won't hive me ? " 'i Not if I know myself, my boy. I mean to have a clerk who hasn't learned how to smoke." "You want the pleasure of teaching him yourself, do you? All right; ' and Paul shut the door and walked o... A curious sense of having had his good intentions II treated came over him ; it was a new feeling to have bear. Heretofore his life had been on too low a plane to have been troubled with sensitiveness. He stood at the corner perhaps five minute,^ tryinjr to ree-'lve not to go down to Tucker's. It was not the time of year to expect work of a carpenter, he argued. Mores and groceries were more likely places now that tlie ho iday season was coming on. To be sure there woren t many stores to try, and help had always seemed ondertully plenty; but then perhaps he better try ! I'"* A A "" ^.''^ • '?^^'^'^ "P ^^^« ^^'"" street on one bJde and down it on the otliPv. «<-nnr.,-Mo. ..f „,,„,.., „-..i_ ble and ii„.Uy every ..nprobable p'licel and i^wa^s tt until towards noon that he came hack to that coruer 82 T^e Ball in the Qrove. Ill wa..t to be a carpenter An Jfh ', ^'^ "? \*^ ^^ ^^^^^'^ into words, ],e had a half rjlfi i ?"?^ ^^ ^'^ "«* P»fc i* him which he express dat^^^^^^^^ "^f"''^^ ^^^"* " You see, I knew I slmnl^f r w"^' • ^^ ^^'^ sentence: wanted ti bei^Ther Wuf '1 '? ^' *^'^^^ ^^^^' ^^^ I feeHn's when I an. goinrtfstick'"^^^^^^^ ^"^^ ^^ -^ commodatingTmood no w l^ff Tu\' 7« "^^ ^« «o ac some tune befor th^t L " ^^ K S'^ '^^^ ^^""^""•^ed Adams, and should never trv fnf^ ^''^ /^-^"^^ «^ ^^"^ him: he was a shm^is f e [L ^'^/^^^""g n^ore with andhewasgoirVto theLdi^^' T^ u''""^^ ^«"^d be; Jonas Tuckeril^eouh^^t't S -Z^'*^ 'I' ^" "°"^^^' '-^"^ ^e - said under the firm behef ttfk„I^?V'^''' ^" ^^^^ ™ come his way asking foV work H.'"^' ^"'"^^ "^^^' give it. He was suspicious of tV ■'^%T^«"^ ^'^^dy to industry; he half beKd tW '"'^^'" ^"^^urst of away under tiie appa;^^^^^^^ '''^"^^ ^^'^^^ hidden that, Jonas Tucke? beW a " . J ^ ^'''P^'^ ' ^ut for all it not so easy to wLh f. 1?a^ T"" '" ^^'^ ^''^^' ^«»"d all. He arg':.ed TlS ca e with Vf, ? -f Ponsibility after him that this was not tL r T^' however; assured work was flushTand tlat he won?! T" ^^^° ^^^P^»^«^ iiim, nor slippery fellows ev^rv h^ '\' T ^^^P ^^^^^^ he mark, aid' if\e . Wi 7ve7 hi'e'a bov t' ^' ^J^*^ im agan— which was Z.^Zfi I , ^ ^° ^^^k for discharge him Tr the fi^f "^"-^^^^ould certainly every v?ord ^f oblctbn t .^^^^.^T^ ^' '^^^' And Adams a curious dettmiatinnr^ developed in Paul get to work in the P«^nl?. " ^^''^"''^ ^is point and started out upon re ucta^t^v T 'i'^' ^^^^ ^'« ^ad himself doggedly bent on -- ^ '•'• "''''"*' ^' ^^"°^ shall stick,^^he Ld ?o CseTf ^? f ff '• ^^ ^"^^ ^ and I ain't sure but iXl) i- / ^*«,^ »t all over me ; hf re." ""'^ ^ ^'^^^^ k^°d of like to stick in J »♦ / Know I Shall Stick:' ■III 3 Tucker's he didn't not put it ;rgy about sentence ; me, and I »w by my y's father •t in so ac- nnounced ' of Paul a ore with ould bej md he — this was lid never ready to iburst of '< hidden It for all y, found ity after assured irpenter 's about B up to orlc for srtainly . And n Paul nt and le had found :iiow I er me; ik just 88 " What's started you up all of a sudden?" questioned Jonas Tucker, breaking in on his argument to usk this pomt-blank question. The answer was unhesitatincr .- " I want some money." ^ " Oh, you do I I should think it was about time. You ve been acting all along as though you didn't know there was any such stuff as money in the world. What klo you want money for ? To help your mother ? " " No," said Paul Adams as promptly as before ; but a streak of dark-red blood began to creep up into his \vf -f u ^'^e^^^on had roused a hundred others. What it he should earn money for his mother; support her as he had heard of sons doing? What if he should huy a carpet some day for the horrid little kitchen, and ii lamp that didn't smoke, and a stove that would bake ? It IS an actual fact that the boy had slept so effectually through his seventeen or eighteen years of life as never to have considered before that such marvellous results were possible. But he had no idea of telling Mr. Tucker about the new ideas, so he added to his No only this explanation : "I want it for myself." ''For yourself!" said Mr. Tucker in scorn. «A ^reat boy like you I what have you done yet for your mother but give her plenty of sleepless nights and red ayes, 1 11 be bound." And feeling by this time that he had no more " washed his hands " of the young man than he had gotten rid of his own heart, he determined to improve this opportunity, and then and there, stand- iMg in the shop door, the north wind blowing advance flakes ot a coming snow-storm all about them, he read the boy a solemn lecture on the sins and follies of his 3^outh and the probable evil disposition which he was about to make of his lirst earningn, provided he should ever earn anything, which was extremely doubtful. Little of which did young Paul hear. Hp was •"•'^u^'ed in thinking if he should ever be able to buy a new lamp tor his mother, what sort of a lamp it should be ; and yi, 1 i ! - t daSL-A P'll 84 \u f T!ie /lall in the Qro ve. ■ « i i< should the shade be pu,e wl.ite, or l.ave pink flowers on "I have, and it 1ms stunned mn Tho «.:ii coming, or the world is comhfg To an ^nd or eTse ' tl?./' 18 going to be an earthquake." ' ^^'^ ^''"'^ pened?'' ^" ^'"^'^^"^ "' ^"'^ ^'^^^^ ^»^5 "^^at has hap- " Do you know the Ward boys ? " shouW see one ot them buying a book?" ' ^"^ do you suppose is up ? " '^^^•^ Light began to dawn on young Bennett's brain ^:\J'±2lJ'' ^i^}^^?^^ - was evidenced b^v copy?'"" ^™-. --i^iu vu« Wards reaiiy buy a •♦T Know I Shall Stick: 86 " They did so. Jim came in here as lofty as though he bought a book a week, and said he : ' Parker, I want a history of Rome, by a man named Merivale.* If he had asked me for a photograph of the man in the moon I couldn't have been more astonished ; but I got it for him, and he paid for it and walked off. That waa yesterday. But after all, it was nothing to the sensation Ihat we had this afternoon ; that was what cut me up so completely. I've sold next to the last copy of that very book, and you couldn't guess in a month of Sundays to whom. Do you happen to know that good-for-nothing youngster who hasn't a whole shirt to his name, I'll venture — unless his mother has earned it for him by going out washing ? His name is Adams ; Paul Adams." " Yes, I know him ; you don't say he has bought a book too ? " " He has bought a book too," repeated the clerk solemnly ; " came and looked it over with the wisdom of a sage, demurred a little because the cover was black instead of brown; said he always had a hankering for brown things, and hated black: demurred still more at the price ; said it was ' most an awful price ' he should think for one book, but he took it, and paid for it, and went away peering into it as though it had a spell about it in some way. Now what does it all mean ? " " I really am not sure but it means that those fellows are in earnest," said young Bennett musingly. I declare, it looks as though they had ventured in ; but I confess that I am astonished." ♦' Ventured into what? " " Literature," replied young Bennett, laughing immod- erately now. "Don't you know we have a literary society ? I'm sure I asked you to join it. Merivale is one of the books on our course." " And the Ward boys and this young scamp of an Adams have joined I " " Why so it seems. I didn't know they c, rtemplated it; tii«y strayed into the meeting a week >r so ago. I w Thi Baa m tU Qrne. % joiiiing us." -^ """ ""''<'' iiKo an attempt at '"S;';!ow;tt'w;;!^[.f ";'"'< '■• "',?-«-' -o,.„. «':.'wer. "It it^U^l^C\t:Z" ""' V'" '""■^'^^•'' mined on the sudden om,tl »^ "'">■ ''"^"^ 'i<"er. bility; other young feHojtve f"''^!^'' ''^^Pecta. made men of themllves " "^ "'" ■"""« ""d believe e^n^ 1^X:'Z^rir^ the idea cl P; ul Adan,< f w.^ , ^^f''^''^^'^' '» it; and lines of th ■ ... inTic-H nV f n' ■)'' J'^ '^^^^^'^ ^^'"o^v three bu3-st 8ix.uur.,neous]y into uS ei n "" ^.°""^ "^«" first to recover his g^vitj! ^'''^'- Bennett was the "I confess,' he said "*if T i..,- will look into it fai elioul fn r"^^ '^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ trio or fresh; but I can't he h? ll ""'"^ '^^^"^^^^^' ^^ is dry that they have act^ ly'tu^^^^^Lrf 'i! ^^?^ ^° ^^^^^ one's self-respect to see thp 5l """^book. It adds to these worthless felio^?. '^^ st Pa?/ '"'"'^^°^ ^^«" '"" us and watcli the joke " ^' ^'^^^''' ''^"^^ and join hi:r idt::^ Krv:t;::r^,,^r]- -^Hh « .h.g „, ^ad^br^n. enojgh to i^;''„,t%:"ttinUl,tK: amttS t,frtL™",l-" -"'d have been n,„,e evening in hi, hit '^^i^ ^H^J^T]^ " I Know J Shall Sticks 87 icorn. e Jawyer'a iive deter- respecta- iame and Parker. . little of ' I never ; I don't » it ; and ow three ense I " lug men was the to mark ve com- tlie trio '• is dry to hear idds to even fn id join rug of 3 took looked Idanis ought more 3 that ;allow '4 m candle. For some reason unfexplainable to himself, ha was averse to sitting by the smoky lamp in his mother's kitchen, and studying his new book. He pref >d the tallow candle which he had bought with his < .oney, and set in a wooden block which he had hewu > .i at the carpenter's sliop that day. The plan in the Adams' household had heretofore been for Paul to take the smoky lamp after his mother was through with it, and retire by its vile light. So the tallow candle was an in- novation. If I were an artist, and could draw a picture of poor Paul as he bent over Merivale on that first evening, you might laugh ; doubtless you would ; and yet, unless I am mistaken in you, your heart would have gone out in sympathy. How utterly hopeless it looked to him I He read over the first sentences six times without having an idea as to their meaning. He read through the entire page, and then closing the book found that he had not the remotest idea concerning it. The language was such as he was utterly unused to hearing. The subject was one about which he knew absolutely noth- ing. Of what earthly use was it for him to pore over that array of words? A dismal feeling of the impossi- bility of accomplishing anything tugged at his heart. Here had he spent a large part of his first earnings on a big book which was written in an unknown tongue ! He would take it back to-morrow morning. He would tell thnt simpering clerk that he had made a mistake; it was not the book that h« wanted : in fact, there was no book Buch as he wanted upon the earth. He would get back his money, and buy a gallon of oysters and ask the boys,and have a jolly evening, and let old Rome sink if it wanted to — provided it were now in existence, of which he was not perfectly sure. Then he would — and then he stopped. Why did there, just at that moment, come a vision to him of the fine form and finer features of Dr. Monteith? Why did it seem to him that he could feel the clas] of his hand, and hear his genial voice saying: "Good evening, my friend, we are glad to see you. Mr. Harvey, Hr- t> V\^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ m £o^ :/. f/. II 1.0 I.I 11.25 1^ iu ^ ks. 112.0 A" U. 1 1.6 PhrifofTnqTTihip Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ''l^.^ "^^ o Q- i/.A 'i % 88 The Ball in the Grove. , ^1 ^i 1 li n N f 4 1 1 J 1 1 hear such a sentencfl fu ^^ «^^^ «"PPo«ed he would He shaded liis eyes from f 1,:^ Kr ^ '"'^' ^^*P« «» thosr" thought it all over Was Au^A^l"^ '""^^^ candle an^ had ,.ever dreamed oT^uch a tM ''"' T'^^'^^^^? He never dreamed of any oppo tu„i v /' J ■ ^^'"''^ ^« had He did not know the meSL of { ' ^^"^ ambitious, thought to it this eS " 1^^ ^^ T"'^- He gave no sound of Dr. MonteithTvofce a *i Vh ^ ^" ^'^^^ tha I wonder if it is poiib°rtJmt . ' "^^2^ ,^^ '^'^ hand, beings wlio, after all, seem o nea • iT^ .u ^^'""'^ ""^^en ?."r = «^ the ends ^ Z\^t:^. 1^- -7 J-w some of the end^i; -thn^-^^-d *> -nj their breatiis as ...cj. wauea eyes from the blinking Jio-ht ? " '"- «" and I know «;'4-J;^^rT Z''T f ''" ?''""' S what pu say/ l/there"ve/e,«l,, ''°T''" S"-* »'" nii'e thonsa, d pa^es a ml l .,. '""'*'' ""<' seventy- took a week I ° ead o 'e^ vf''?: T/" " ^^ '»"» ""^ thero'., no use talking. Then he ?,lff TV?"" " '"*•• ™ Ins thumb and iinwr „m„ i ■ S """^d his candle Avith the book on th^. St J^<,"f--".his hair, spread open with two bits of iLS >, l" '"'»• f»s'ened it fpread out his feet unler the taw"®?' '"■?? "" ^hoft h>s knees, and said in a fl™ ,^ ' h^'' ''" ''"ids on »et to work. '» '" a h' m tone : « Now, then I " and f^nj^etu tr:ht!:;*„r f f r'^--' -'-">r intchen door opened ad til 7 ""} *'■"• ''«'»"*• Thi Adams ealledf-Ru'J^. '';?""''?. "'<=<> "f "Mow are you abont up there inX-lAT/*'"'^ ^ ^'-t^e, -I ve got a hght." "B„);|hlkt'"-»«-'''heredidy„„getU?» f .■■'S :* -% young >sed he would ips «s those? ^v candle and bitious ? He truth he had g ambitious. He gave no he Jiked tha of his hand, hose unseen nd wJio may all but held ams hid his !e there had liJs decision ick! Now, l>out Uome II find out id seventy- d long and it now^ so andle with air, spread "astened it the shop, I hands on en I " and solemnly int. The 5f widow Vhatover " / Know I Shall Stick:* Are you sick ? '* 89 "What for? " No." " Don't you mean to go down street to-ni>« 'ong suffering thr;frr"S':„'°,,t"j;^; O" -Jear „,e!" a„d two or sadly. Paul arose 81^^^^^;°'"' ""l,!'^'"''''' snuffing whistle and a sig ' ,mc.e?em™f I, f °?f hi"g between a ing eye, regardll o'fcCri" '>'"«''; o"t the Wink- prepared fo? rest hi, thn,;™?^ u "dor therefrom, and work. Not a que's ori t f wL^,f ^ J""', "'" "^'""'S'^ »>• "ot. He had one ,!a,!l andtlS,T '" f ""''J " «««k " took up settled aue,til« . ^ P'"' ''""'"^y- He never But he^had „ew"\hou^lS ^^u'r"!?" "-">_ again, slowly. ^ * ''" "^S"t. He moved about ^^^l^ ^themZl^' "^^"f volcanoes should feet high! It V'ttl'^trb": ^^"^'^^-^ «"d fifty would oyster shells get up on th-tt f'll r .^"' ^^^ liigli, unless the ocean ha J J?! .1 '^^ ^' "undred feet Well, I doi^t know as it is n^ i ^^'^'^ ^'^^ ^^""^ed them ? was a great Juro,? tt ^f t'.'^"„'^^*^^^^ ^^^^e must be a pretty place un nS f j ! d f ^}^ ^''"^ "o^- It to see it. Thei^'s abonf^ri ^* ^.^^^^^"« ^'^llj I'd like that r"»"-.-'' found Ti^ up to ,u iascinatiom, until suddenly, wifl the utter . d^ffeienoe of chiUlliood to tl>e interest of o ,er 101,' qltt'f """""' ""''' °f "'^ oonvemU^Cf;; " Jack, what is the Palatine ? " inter™pt''L::it.ai:n"^\^;rt^' "r »''™''i "« s^tittr'^-- ally elaborate sentence, makine it a^ In „ i convenently could, tryi.Ig, „eal"^hile, to puzzfout t .ndSuboifit^lalk'?.' ""' '■'"'"''•^ "• "'"' "''-« '' i-S to se^d ™'u iT; I- "''"'' ^ ?i'"" ''«™ "> Petition ■"othe, In "ers!" '"niu/l'"'""""'*' ",y°," o"" not observe botte manners. The young oracle had flushed hoth- ind ,t. '"' y:"!..""" ^'"<='' i" f ».n,ou parlance "^e "ll «ss in the IT ?™''Sl ",'"* '^ "'"''' ''o little pros ress m the cweer of a scholar that he really felt it u^ iSpht.'re». 99 ovorwlielming disip^nife to be obliged to admit to hia little Hinter tliiit liis prosi-iit ideas of the Palatine were too foggy to present to her with any degree of clearne>*8. Indeed, so great was his present confusion that, for the moment, lie hardly knew whtther the word Palatine applied to anything with which he had ever been ao- |uainted. Part of his discomfiture was certainly caused by the knowledge of the fact that Mrs. Fen ton's eyes had a mischievous smile in them, as though she were triumph- ing over him in some way, and he had a horror of being triumphed over. " Oh dear I " said the young seeker after facts. " I wish I knew." Then Mrs. Fenton bent forward and addressed her : "PU tell you, dear, it was — is — one of the seven hills of Rome — the central one ; very beautifully situated, and interesting because of a great many things which you will learn when you are old enough to study history." "Is it near a river?" asked Laura, i >g thought- fully at the outline. " Oh yes, the Tiber was just a little west of it ; not more than eighteen miles away from its mouth. That doesn't look like eighteen miles, does it?" " Is it a big river?" demanded the small investigator, as she followed with her ej'e the little black thread, and evidently set her imagination at work making a majestic atream out of it. "Rather big; at least, much larger than it looks there ; it is about two hundred miles long." " My 1 " said Laura, much amazed that that small black thread could represent such a stretch of country. Two hundred miles seemed to her a long, long journey for even a river to take. "Laura is much obliged to you, I am sure." It was Jack's voice, but the crossness had by no means gone out of it, and Mrs. Fenton wondered in an amused way 'I ( ,1 Ill 100 TJie Rail in the Qrove, "sirr, r'ten-lr "Ji' "nTP' '° ^'""' '™-«'f "t ease. qu.te superficial, but I believe^.TSyL'';^"i S CHAPTER X. ACCroENTS(?) HE Ward family were at ■^he breakfast-tabie. A breakfast-table where .. mother presides seems at all times a dreary sight. And if, in additio/i to that, no feminine hand save a hireling's ministers to the comfort of the family, the desolation is increased. Still there is certainly a difference in hirelings. The one who presided over the Ward household was the poorest of her kind. Therefore the tablecloth was drearily spotted with yolk of eggs, coffee-stains, gravy-stains, and the like. Also, it was put on in a drearily crooked manner, and had a dreary hole at one end. Mr. Ward senior looked older by several years than he ought, and stirred his muddy coffee in a desolate way, and looked with a discouraged air at the slices of stale bread and the untidy butter-plate, and felt as though he wanted no breakfast, for some reason, and yet must get through the form of eating it. His two sons were seated on opp^'-ite sides of the table, and were the only other occu- pants of the room. Nancy, the housekeeper and maid- of-al'-work, who usually occupied the seal at the foot of vhe table, was absent this morning ivatent on some kitchen work, and father and sons were alone. James was rather gratified over this state of things, for he had a^ matter of importance to bring before his fiither. Since the evening tliat \vp. first msidfi thJu Tmiirif mip'" acqiniintance, he had had some strange experiences. It would have been impossible for him to have explained 1*1 f t 102 ■k it The Ball in the Grove. W- to any person the reasons for the numerous revulfjious of feeling which he had endured. A hundred times — so it seemed so him — had he gone over the story of his past life, and the possibili- ties of the future, and pronounced himself a fool and a dolt, and a hulking scoundrel, and sundry other hard names with which his street life had made him familiar. There were times when he told himself that it was too late to make any changes now; he was nothing but an Ignoramus, and would never be anything else. There were tinges when he told himself that he had not the least desire to crawl in among those upstarts and pretend to be smart when he wasn't. Tiiere were times when he assured Iiimself that he had no taste in that direction, and didn't want to have: their books were stupid, and their talk was stupid, and he wasn't intended to be one of them, and was glad of it. There were limes when he was certain that it made no sort of difference to him whether any of those people who thought themselves better than common folks, noticed him or not ; but there were also times when he admitted that he wished with ail his soul that he belonged to that special clique by right of mental power, as did some of the others: Bennett, for instance. He was unlike Paul Adams, in that he could not settle a question at once and leave it settled; instead, he went back to it again and again, gomg over the same ground, and coming to different conclusions according to the mood in which he started. There were days when he was not so much disgusted with anything in life as with his copy of Merivale. Theie had as yet been no time in which he had settled himself with a determination to master it : such a deter- mination as Paul brought to Lis first chapter. Yet by degrees had James Ward been drawn steadily towards the decision for which his friends were watching. Such a succession of curious and apparently trivial incidents as had contributed toward this decision ! One afternoon when he was coming slowly down street with hi« head Aecidentt(jr) 108 bent on the ground, going over the problem and wonde^ ing liow he couhl decently reply in the negative to a note that Dr. Monteitli had sent him, giving him a special invitation to the next Circle, he came in direct contact with that gentleman. He had studied out an answer by that time, and it was in the negative, and he lelt cross and defiant ; in tlie precise mood not to care tvliat Dr. Monteith tiiought of him. " Now for it ; " he Baid, as he saw the gentleman approaching rapidly : " I'll tell him No, I won*t come ! that I wasn't cut out for a my kind of life is the gayer of the two, and I mean to stick to it, and he can just let me alone." Did Dr. Monteith, careful student of human nature as he WHS, see the defiant glitter in tiie young man's eyes? If he did he made no sign ; neither did he ask for any momentous decision. Instead he said heartily: "Hal Ward, perhaps you are just the man I want. Don't you pass Mr. Allison's on your way home? I thought so. Could you accommodate me by calling at the door and leaving this package for Mi;>s Aimie ? It is some C. L. S. C. circulars that I promised she should have this evening. She wished them for special refer- ence, I think, and I am unusually busy to-night." How was a reasonable person to refuse so simple a re- quest as that, even though he were cross? Young Ward did not see his way clear to saying no, albeit he took the package somewhat reluctantly. " Thank you," said the doctor still heartily, ignoring the ungraciousness, if he saw it. " If you chance to see Miss Aimie, perhaps you will be kind enough to explain to her that the full course is not announced in this circu- lar; there are certain studies not yet arranged that will be duly announced later." " If he should chance to see Miss Aimie I " The sug- gestion was a startling one. He had never rung Mr. 'A 104 The Hall in the G rove. caller \tt";a':^t^ ''^' "^^^^ -P-*^^ to, as « condition to bTsentnn '^ "^'"-^ "^"^ ^^I^^'"^^'^ tr. thu? verbal message for her ^Th?"^^ '' 'l'-^^ ^^"^^^ -^^h a tirely unpleasant .f-m'f «".^ge«tion was not en Hsk for her " he tnlH i • ,1 """T °"^ filing, I shan't package to his ytket '""'"'' '^ ^^ transferred the ing suit; and tl cuin ;"£t of^f^ '" ""'' "^^ ^^^^^■ jauntily on one side of £r \ i ''''P'' '^'''^ P^^^hed booking as thougl thad W r"^^^ ^^'^^^ l^ird, iieranVinute acWdi^V . ^'?'' ''^ there to peer at was pretty to bXldS^ir^^ ''^'T'^? Miss Ain^ie door herself. Now dthoulh tl""''? '"^ ^P^"^^ the be acquainted S S ^°^ Resolution not to JoungVard waj^differ "Uf HeZ ^ l"^^"^^^'' second help in anyone's hnnfp o J'l He certanily ^yasno Miss Aimie was of the tvnp of u ^'' 'T "" ^^°""S ™^"- 110 more help beincr chattv nrwi o 'u? ^tiil, she could "ould help loob-ng llkf a b^^^^ iioat away into the^aiV "''^^ ^^^^ ^^''^'^ g«"^g to th:;^DrSnL^^^^^^^^^ those the circular, to my cousin Haryey T wpnl^^- . ^"""^ to send one I doirt belieye he will T ""-^^ ^'^ "P ^ Circle, but books; he doIL'tlikeL^ 7'{ '\ "" 'f^^ ^'""^« '^^°'^t but I tell him ?h tm^ tbou^ht^himself^^l.^^^;?/;;!;^^^^ AecidenUQ') 105 d to, as a Lch to that nie with a as not en ii likely he g, I shan't erred the ler way to lew walk- J perched •een bird, peer at iss Aimie ened the n not to recently, y was no >ng man. whom a of pleas- enviable ther say in state louno-e le could han she aing to irculara iiid one cle, but about e saj's ; down he be- 1 gave them as lucidly aa he could ; and Miss Aimie thanked him, and chatted on, and finoi^y it transpired that she was just going down town, and would walk with him as far as the cornor ; ho they wont down Main street together : and it is a singuhir fact that it was the iirst time in his life that young Ward ever found himself walking in the pleasant light of a winter sunset side by side with a well-dressed ladj-like girl I I am not sure that he was conscious of any connection between the two, \dien he reconsidered the question of the circle, after leaving Miss Aimie at the corner, and concluded that perhaps he would do well to try it a little while, a.nywa^. He could drop off at any time he chose. If he could have gone home with Aimie and been invisible while the Allison family gathered at the supper table, and listened to the conver- sation, I cannot undertake to say what effect it might have had on liis resolution. Something like tliis occurred : " Aimie, did my eyes deceive me, or did I see you walking out this afternoon with that scapegrace of a Ward ? 1 put on my glasses and came to the office door' to look after you, and even then I felt as though I must be mistaken."' It was her father's voice, ^and her mother exclaimed : " Why Aimie Allison I It isn't possi- ble that you were out walking with him!" In the same breath her sixteen-year-old brother said : "Upon my word, Aimie, you aimed high this afternoon I Didn t you ? " " Oh, now," said Miss Aimie, " what a commotion you are making about nothing. He stopped at the door with some papers that Dr. Monteith sent around to me, just >is I was going out, and I couldn't well avoid walk- ing to the corner with him." " Dr. Monteith I Is Jim Ward his errand boy?" This from the brother. Then Miss Aimie : « No, he ww'f." Then the father: "No, Til be bound he isn't. He hasn't that amount of respectability about him. He ia too lazy ever to be any one's errand-boy." 'fi 106 if Th0 Hall in the Grove, ill If i III' My dear," said the mother, " I am afraid you ai'e too careless about your appearance on the stree^t Hu me you will take care that you are not his compan on aS even as lar as the corner. I shouldn't like to have f 0°; name mentioned in connection with him " ^ Before Aimie could pucker her pretty lips for an answer, her father saved her the trouble. ^ " "J^o, indeed, daughter; I suppose your good nature 18 equal to doing almost anything to save a person We«l mgs, but James Ward is not the sort of Swwhose feehngs need to be carefully considered. I won't have you walking with him even to the corner. Don't forgit "I haven't the least desire to, papa." And here the conversation drifted into other channek father and mother Allison feeling comfortabirover the fZt' f"V^'^ ?^"^ '^^"« ^^^^^^^^ tl^^i'- lamb of the danger of evil associates, and helped to guard her against future indiscretions. Life is full of qu!er places^ Of course every one who has thoughtfully studied ?he dan gers of youth and the temptations of eVil-comDan ion.W IS in sympathy with Mr. and Mrs. Alliso ; anS y t hd? daughter, as regarded the act for which they had been censuring her, was really nearer to accomplishing some thing worth living for, than she had ever been^ before during her pretty, useless life. After all, there is a way out of the puzzle. One cannot help wishing tha Aimie had been the sort of girl to whom CfaS coald have said : « Well, daughter, I saw vou t ikfn^ a few steps with young Ward^o-diy ; T sCposr^^^^ remembered whose banner you fight under wK you "y;r'''^Burtt '"^' '^P"^^" onhimtoenSt! Mv A iT- ,1'^ ^^'^"' '" °^^e^' to make that remark Mr. Allison would have had to be a different father from the one he was. Meantime, I am glad that James Ward did not hear the tea-table conversion in this chrS family. His interest in Miss Aimie was a sort of fl ttine fency -such as one might readily have for a sunnybu^ Accidenti(f) 107 ou ai'e too ^■'- I Jiope lion again, have your 38 for an id nature son's feel- ow whose on't have n't forget channels over the b of the !!' against Jes. Of the dau- nionship )^et their ad been ig some- 1 before there is wishing sr father taking a )se you ile you 3 enlist, remark, er from s Ward Eiristian flitting ny but. terfly ; and of course his decision, only half-hearted as it was, varied again with the next breath that depressed the arguments for it. Yet it was worthy of notice that his objections to it were weaker than before. Still, the few peeps that he took into Merivale discouraged him as he had not supposed a single book could ; and the more regular life he was trying to lead, was becoming u great bore to him. Meantime he began to grow very weary of this indecision, and to wish that something would hap- pen to settle it for him one way or the other. Some- thing did happen. Curiously enough, Paul Adams liad a hand in the matter. His devotion to Merivale^ which continued at white heat, so absorbed his evenirgs that although Joe, especiall3% missed him sadly and tried heartily to beguile him into his old haunts, it had been in vain. Joe, by the way, about whom I find I have said nothing, was insufferably bored by this entire matter. It took none of his time to reach a decision : he would have none of it. Books were not to his mind, never had been, never would be ; he cared not a fig for Mrs. Fen- ton's parlor, or for Dr. Monteith's notice. Miss Aimie might bow and smile upon him for a month at a time, and it would have made no more difference to him than her ignoring of his existence would have done. Save so far as it had ruined Paul, and made his brother a silent nuisance, Joe bore the Circle no ill-will, but he wanted nothing of it. It in no sense appealed to his sympathies. What was there that would ? " What is Paul about evenings, anyway ? " asked James Ward, suddenly awaking to the fact that hia brother had been grumbling for half an hour over some failure of plans owing to Paul's desertion. " About I Why he's swdlowing that outrageous book that 3'ou were such a stupid as to buy. He pores over it all day in the shop and all night at home, and is going stark crazy, I verily believe, over the blamed old Romans. I wish they had been drowned in before ever I heard of them." their ^amous liber 108 The Hall in the Grove. % * liil confidentially that U ere w^s tl.P iTt'' }''^'^ ^''^'^ ^""^ student of, if he vou7d wo4 n '^ '? ''^'l^ ^« "^^^^« « James had ahva; J n-ild^\„f^^ motlier had lived unlnd w^nf i , -'"''^ ^^'''^ '^ ^""^ indeed Jie wouW have\v^;^rM'i • 'r f"' ^^^^ "^"^'^ scholar to please erf But tl f, f vf ""^^ ^'^«" ^ books, and there seeniVd n^l T . ^'^ "^''^ ""^ «'"■*' ^^^ 8uffici;ntly S^ to PPn ?^-^*° P '"? ^"^ "« "^«tive h'^re was Pan A§aras who 1 !!? ""* 1 "^^^^^'^^f' ^"^ school, never Len tT'inv 1^, / "'"^'^ '^^v'^^ ^'"^'^^""^ ^" school while James h^? .r> . ^^7 "''^"^^"'^ «°""^^^n academy ; and Paul A^hmf w ''"'^-^ '^^" >'^"^^ ^^ ^'^^ i2«^^., while he hid no tf n "^T'^ ''^''' ^^^rivale's chapt;rs ofit It chaLedtin 'th^^'' ''"^"^'^ ^^"'^^ took a holiday and tmrdc^;:^'ttser]^s':S";^-''T^ They sat up until after ten o'clock n t lit . '1''"^'' put moagination enough into it! And here's hp --if" winmng along ->goeslhis way and then tint fin V '' are the Apennines, and over there are the aL LITT *ows those, I tell von hnf fl.^ o. . ■,, ^^' ^'^^^ ^^1- hio-h Tin/nU TJ ? ;• . ^^^ ^^^^" hills aren't so verv think of pnumg it there." T Wn d I Jmt 1 ' pui^zled questiom at him, while Joe a wth li? ^""^ "" I.^ pocket, a look of '^;>uUe::^^ ^^^ ^ ^'^^ Accidents (/} 109 urned the f^ trying d Ji passa- pply him- told Ijim make a bis Jieart, iit if hia ly much d been a cure for motive ef. But thing in common 3 at the erivale's h three ng Paul fi lends, e disor- istioned itndent. )eratel3' ^rested. I. "See a thick, lines : ■ Tiber p here tall fel- >o very )catijn mine I ur the nds in 1 face. whistling ITail Columbia. There was certainly no doubt about it: Paul Adams was becoming acquainted with Ivome. "If he can understand the book and get interested in it like this, there is no reason on earth why I shouldn't." This was James Ward's decision ; and just then he leaned very far towards a definite settlement in favor of the C. L. S. C. One more gentle wave would carry him over the bar, and it came to him the very next afternoon ; came, too, through Aimie Allison's unthinking aid. He was pass- ing up the one main street, and the afternoon being pleasant it was unusually filled with promenaders, among them pretty Miss Aimie in a more becoming street suit than before, and by her side Jack Butler. James Ward was, however, sufficiently indifferent to her not to recognize who she was until just as he was about to pass the couple, being annoyed by tlieir slow prog- ress. Then he turned his head in her direction, and recognized the gay bird looking down into her eyes, and then the eyes looking up. Then he bowed, and Miss Aimie, albeit she would hardly have had the cour- age to have walked with him again to the corner, had no disposition in her gay little heart to ignore so admiring a bow as he bestowed upon her, especiiilly as she insisted to herself that he had real handsome eyes! Some obstruction occurred on the street just tiien, and James, although in front of the couple, had to move very slowly. The question is, did Jack Butler know that his voice would be heard? Whether he did or not, it was ; and what he said was : " What on earth is that fellow bowing to you for ? " "What fellow?" And the bright eyes beneath the bird's eyes were raised to the speaker. " Why, that Ward youngster. How does he happen to be sufficiently acquainted with you to bow?" " Oh, we are acquainted. I met him at Mrs. Fenton's '— at oui circle, you know." ■1^- ^ii 110 2%« Hall in the Qrov: " Upon my word I I did not know. Your circle ia no respecter of persons it seonus. Really, that is too Til 1 ^"^^/'^^^^ ^"t br laughed in a tone that «o hnished a gentleman ought to have known was too loud for the street Then he added : " Why, my deaf uZ Aimie, your chanty is unbounded ; but that boy is sim 1 ? ]JTl-''''^''' Only that, and nothing Lre, Ve ^sn t br.m.8 enough to be anything very bad. Still I wou.d just as soon you wouldn't recognize his bow. Aa Ions fn? 11 Th ^'' '*' ^ ^'^'''V ''''''''y^ ^' i« to« "Jicu' lou^ to call forth any emotion but ridicule." on l?„f ?"f '''" ^""^ removed, and young Ward passed on ; but his face was white and his eye? burned. He had not earned delicacy of speech in his street life, so perhaps it is not strange that he expressed himself after thiswise: " You insufferable puppy ! If I hadn't more tr'eT" W "l^" ^^57' '''.^'"^^ ^''^"^ «"^«» the neares? tree. We 11 see if I can't provoke some other emotion besides ridicule by oelonging to a literarv society." And the inomentous decision having passed through as many windings as the Tiber itself,WH8 finally made. r circle fa (lilt is too le that 80 8 too loud deaf Miss r is simply lore. He I. Still I bow. Aa 00 ridicu- rd passed ned. He et life, so self after in't more e nearest ' emotion 'J' through made. CHAPTER XI. TO THB RESCUE. )ETWEEN the succession of apparent accident* ' that had at last brouglit James Ward to a decision, and the time that he sat with his father and brother at the breakfast-table, several weeks had intervened. There had been four meetings of the C. L. S. C, and both Paul Adams and James Ward were emphatically identified witli it. As for Joe, he might be called a hanger on ; he attended the meetings because it was so much a part of his nature to go where James did that he would not have known himself hud he done other- wise. But it was always under protest: he growled con- tinually, and yet betwen times unwittingly strengthened his brother's resolution by propiiesying that this sort of thing wouldn't last; that' he and Paul would soon get tired of pretending to be what they were not, and would drop back into the old life. Now a certain type of character is always strengthened by being assured of prospective failure. James Ward grew more determined with every passing day to succeed. Meantime, his father was watching him with a bewildered feeling that he did not know his own son. That something had changed him, was evident. Of his own will he had asked a place in the store from which his indolence had shut him out more than a year before, and was holding- steadilv to business hours and habits ; but the father lived in daily •xpectation, like Joe, of seeing him "get tired of thb II H 112 The Hall in the Orove, HOftI of tiling." Tlio literary society he liad heard of iiiul dismissed with a half sneer. Not that he despised learnliirr; he would have been not (»ii]y willing, but pioud, had one of his sons chosen the life of a student; l)ut that they were no students, and could by no process or their own become such, or, indeed, anything else that was desirable, was a belief so firmly fixed that nothing as yet had shaken it. IJis manner towards either of the sons luul not materially changed, and yet occasionally James imagined that there was a shade less gruffnesa than usual, and that he listened with some degree of interest when business questions were being discussed. If James could have known how often he said U, him- self with a sigh: "If his mother had lived, she would have made a business man of him, 1 believe,'' he would have understood liis father better. On this particular morning James had a request to make, so strange in itself that his face was lluslied with embarrassment, and he turned over and over in his mind various ways of presenting it. His father would be severely unbelieving as to the sense of the suggestion, and Joe would laugh. Both laughter and severity James Ward hated. Still he proposed to brave them. " Father, the literary society to which we belong has voted to meet at the houses of the different members. Could we invite them to come here, do you think ? " He was mistaken about Joe. That young man was too mucli astonishe'T to )aur;h : instead, he stared. " liiterary society 1 " and the father eneei ■ ' "S'lice when did you become literary ? " This question brought Joe's laugh. " I am not over and above literary yet," said James, b 'ving to retain his temper, " but I belong to a literary ■!0<' y, ju] v'ould like to have them meet at our house if n-'. h.'LV'-- 1)0 objection." 18 **T= it is just u- "ther name for nonsense, or what wort.:, I suppo:)e ; card playing, and the mischief lieanl of despised lii)j^. but student; ) process else til at - nothing cr of the asioniilly pruflfnesa legree of liscussed. .1 to him- le would le Would articular range in lent, and ways of relieving Id laugh. Still he long has Qembers. k?" ) 1aur;h: brought [ James, literary tr house or what mischief To the Ratcue. 118 knows what, going on under cover of literature: I have lioani of such things before." Jfiiuo.* Ward felt very angry, espeeiallv as Joe luu^'hed • ..() be sure Joo was only laughing at hia lather's mistake in setting the company who gathered at I he < ;. L. S. C. meetings to card playing or anything else that was disreputable ; but how could his brother know Ihat? Still, James having a point to carry, struffffled Mith his insulted feelings. " We have nothing going on at these meetings that you could object to, sir ; the names of the members are a suflBcient guarantee for that." '-Your name, for instance;" this time with an un- doubted sneer. "No, sir; not my name. No one can understand better than I how worthless that would be in your eyes." The moment the words were spoken he was sorry for them. With all his faults James Ward had never been guilty of actual face to face impudence towards his father; it had always seemed to him that a certain dim memory of his mother came between him and the words he might have said. Silence fell between them for a little, during which time James Ward told himself that this was the last favor he would ever ask of his father: that he had been trying for weeks to do his best, and liad been treated as sternly as though he were making rapid strides toward ruin all the time, which only served to show how little his father reall}- cared for him. Just as soon as it was possible to get away from home he would go. He had been treated like ft baby long enough. Just at this point the grim-voiced father spoke again : " What names do you propose to offer as a guarantee of respectability ?" " Young Bennett, the law student, is a member, and the Fentonis, and Mrs. Dayton Alien, and Judge Allison's daughter, and the Burtons, and Dr. Mouteith is our president." m 'SS 114 Th$ Hall in the Grove. I I \ :l 1 li :! I I ! How James Ward enjoyed pouring out this list of emi- nently respectable names, to the utter astonishment oi his father I " Who ? " said the amazed man, apparently not daring to trust his ears over the last-mentioned name. ** Professor Monteith, sir : he is spending the year here, you know." There was no reply to this ; whether the father was stunned, or whether he was doubtful, did not appear. Joe chuckled a little ; he was capable of seeing the ludicrous side of most anything, and he rejoiced over his father's astonishment. In fact, much as he hated the Circle, he decided to volunteer some information : '* You might keep on, Jim ; we have a good many names more stunning than the ones you have given. We've got the top of the heap, sir, in our set this time." Still no answer from the father. James drank ar> other cup of coffee, helping himself, since the slovenly Nancy chose not to appear, and concluded that his plana were a failure. Then Mr. Ward said slowly, doubtfully : " Our house is hardly in condition to entertain companj'. We used to keep things in shape years ago, but we are far from having things like other people now." Then James, speaking eagerly : " Oh, it is not like company. They don't need entertaining : all we want is a room with lamps and a fire in it. The parlor would do very well if Nancy were to sweep and dust it." " I don't believe that chimney will draw. It is almost a dozen years, seems to me, since we had a fire in that stove , still the chimney might be cleaned — ought to bei I suppose." " It will be a good thing to get the room dusted. I went in there the other day, and I raised such a cloud of dust that it set me to coughing." This from Joe. His father turned toward him, a puzzled look on his face. " Do you belong to this wonderful literary set, too? " he asked. ' Yes, and no," said Joe, laughing. " I go because Jim does, and because Dr. Monteith invites me every t of eml- ment oi t daring ear here, ther the did not )f seeing ced over ated the : "You les more ! got the I'ank ar.i- slovenly lis plana ibtfully : ompan}'. t we are not like ; want is t'ould do is almost in that ht to be, isted. I cloud of B. c on hia rary set, because le every To tht Rescue. 116 time he meets me, and because Bob Fenton, for some reason, likes to iiave me come ; and he's a plucky little chap, and I like to please him ; but I don't plunge into the books as though my life depended on knowing just how many times the old Romans turned around, as Jim and the rest do. I don't think literature is my forte, sir ; but I give them my encouragement all the same. I'm a kind of honorary member, I guess." " I hope they feel honored," was his father's sharp reply ; but there was a little drawing at the corners of his mouth, as though if he had only been used to it enough to know how, he would have liked to laugh. Then he finished in silence his coffee which James poured for him. At last he said : " There ought to be two or three new lamps before anything of that kind is done ; Nancy has about ruined the old ones ; they were bought a good while ago, I suppose;" and another sigh testified to his sense of the dreariness of the time since his home had fallen into decay. "Well, tell Nancy what you want, and I'll see that she does it : as long as you bring respectable people to the house, it can't hurt. But mind, I'll have no nonsense : none of the things that I forbade years vigo must be done under this roof." A moment of hesitation, then a tremulous clearing of hia throat, and the silence of years was broken : " Your mother didn't believe in any of those things, and if I did myself — which I don't — 1 wouldn't have her memory dishonored." " It never shall be, sii'," James Ward said in a low, moved tone, and Joe looked gravely down at his plate ; and if the father had but known it, he had done more to draw his sons into the right road by that one sentence than by any words that he had spoken before in years. So the formal invitation for the Circle to hold ita next meeting at Mr. Ward's was given, to the amaze- ment of some, and the intense satisfaction of others. Indeed Mrs. Fenton and Dr. Monteith shook hands over it, att a token that a long stride had been taken on the li f- 116 7^e Hall in the Grove. upward road. " We must do everythiiio; that we can to make that meeting a success," Dr. Monteith said heartily. But it was verv near being a failure. James Ward did his best. He mended the broken hinge of the stove door, and glued the broken ends of two wall brackets, and put new cord on his mother's portrait, and finally, pulled off his coat one morning and gave the old stovo such a coat of black and then such a polish as it had not known for years. The father on his part was mind- ful of the new order of things, and selected and sent up from the store four of the finest lamps in stock, and himself gave most careful directions to Nancy regarding their management. As for Nancy, she was much dazed. She had lived in the Ward household for several years, and an innova- tion like this had never been seen. She grumbled not a little to herself over her extra work, and declared that these new doings were not at all to her mind. Whether it was for punishment, or whether she hailed it as a relief, I will not attempt to say, but on the very day before the important evening, what did Nancy do but let her two cheeks puff out like pillows, and her neck on either side swell even with her cheeks! An unmistakable case of mumps: and poor Nancy, unused to pain of any kind, rebelled at this, and believed that she was sick unto death, and insisted on being bundled into a sleigh and carried home. And the parlor was still unswept, to say nothing of hall and stairs ; neither were the hundred little things done that crowd together calling for atten- tion so sure as company is expected. What was to be done? James and Joe discussed the question with dismayed faces. Joe was sympathetic. He did not believe in the Circle, still he desired thAt it should receive all honor in his father's house. There was a iFcc-iieartcu uospitaiity naturaily about aoe, tuab wouiu have made him a good host, given the chance. '^ We shall just have to give it up, " James said at last. To the Rescue. 117 Intense disappointment on his fiice. Just then came Paul on his way to afternoon work. " What's np ? " he asked, halting, seeing the look of dismay on the faces of both brothers. How could Paul Adams lielp them ? Still feeling .he need of sympathy from some quarter, they gave him a detailed account of Nancv's unfeeling behavioi', and the disaster that had followed. Paul stood first on one foot and then on the other, to keep himself warm, and whistled. Presently he spoke: "There's mother" — so confident did he seem of this fact that the Wards looked around, expecting to see the small lean form of Mrs. Adams appearing in sight from around tlie corner ; but Paul's eyes were cast medita- tively on the ground, and after a brief silence from all parties, he continued : " She knows how to sweep and dust, and all that kind of thing, you know; and slie isn't going to be very busy to-morrow, because she was wishing this morning tliat she had some more sliirts to make ; and she is always ready to do things for folks, so that if you wanted her, you know — " Here Paul paused, in doubt as to how to proceed. It was enuirely new business for him — this ojBfering to ac- commodate people with the loan of his mother. Light began to dawn on James Ward's troubled face ; he felt a su(lden sense of respect for Paul, nay, almost of envy: for iiad not Paul kx mother? but he spoke eagerly: "I begin to see daj light. You are pretty sure t^ha would come, Paul, for a little while and help is through ? " Paul nodded emphaticall}'. "She would if f wanted lier to," he said, with a certain confident air in her will- ingness to gratify him, whicli made the hearts of the Wards twinge again with a little touch of envy : they felt sure tiiat their mother would liave done things to gratiiy tiiem. So it was agreed that this new idea sliould be presented to the elder Ward forthwith. He received tl fl< ii' 118 T7ie Hall in the Grove. the intelliyence with that sort of ejaculation which may mean almost anything according as you are in the mood to interpret; but at the tea-table, after a more silent meal than nsual, he said precisely in the tone that he would have nsed had the subject been up for discussion between them: "Very well; one of you go around to the widow Adams' this evening, and see if she will come to-morrow morning and spend the day and do what is to be done ; I'll give her a dollar." And the Ward boya knew enough of the widow Adams' condition, and of their father's habits, to be aware that this was a good offer for her, and benevolence in him. Directly that dismal supper was concluded — and the family were each secretly astonished to discover how mucii more dismal it could be without Nancy than With her — James proceeded on his way. The widow Adams was not exactly adverse to the proceeding, but she was bewildered. She had by no means recovered from her bewilderment over Paul ; every added day that saw him go steadily to his work, was an astonishment to her. For weeks she had believed that he was working to raise money to carry out some dark scheme the details of which had been planned on that first memorable week-day evening when he had insisted on having a clean shii-t. For she was still in lamentable ignorance of the proceedings of that even- ing ; she had no friends who could enlighten her ; she had heard nothing further of the C. L S. C, so she brooded in silence. Do Paul the justice to understand that lie had forgotten all about the mystery, and liad no idea that he was daily wringing his mother's heart. Within a few days a wonderful thing liad occurred : Paul had brought liome and placed on the kitchen table a brand new lamp, filled and trimmed, which, when lighted, shed a halo of brightness over the dismal room such as it had not seen for years. Over this present, the widow Adams had both laughed and wept ; since which time she had gone around ia an uLteiiy dazed way : she did not know what she thought. Still she looked upon this new departure To the. Itescue. 119 lich may ;he mood ire silent that he isciissioa L-oiii)d to nil come 'hat is to ird boys , and of 3 a good ;tly that ere each dismal it I'oceeded adverse ! had by sr Paul ; lis work, ;he had to carry ad been \g when was still at even- she had brooded that lie dea that in A few brought w lamp, halo of lot seen ms had ad gone )W what sparture with grave suspicion. What could the Ward boys want of her? Likely they wanted her to come to their house and Bweep and clear up ! Why, they lived in that great square briak house on the corner ! The boys were just playing a trick on her. They were hard boys, up to all sorts of pranks ; it had troubled her all her life that Paul wouhl have anything to do with them. " I don't care if their father is a rich man," she would say with great earnestness - for to the widow Adams' vision Mr. Ward was a rich man —"I'd rather you would grow up pool" as Job was after he lost everything, and be respect- able." Tlicn would Paul good-naturedly assure her that he was poor enough, and as to the respectability, he would tliink about it. ^'e giivo over trying to enlist her sympathies in favor of the Wards, since he could not make her understand what was wanted ; and trusted to thfeir own efforts to bring matters right. It proved not to be a very difficult thing to do. Dollar bills were not so plenty in the widow Adams' ex- perience that she could afford' to lose this opportunity of earning one by spending a day at the Wards, "with nothing in life to do," as she expressed it in a bewildered way to Paul when he ate his early bre..kfast the next morning. " Nothing in life to do but sweep and dust, and get them poor creatures some dinner and supper." "Get 'em good ones," said Paul, taking huge bites of his johnny cake. "I don't believe they have good things very often ; that Nancy looks as though she didn't know how to comt Iier hair nor get dinner." _ What coiinectior. there was betv.'een the two occupa- tions, Paul did not explain. He looked his mother over from liPiid to foot in her neat, straight, dark dress, with- out ruffle or pucker, her gray hair combed plainly back under the meekest of widow's caps. Paul wouldn't have mndertakon to have explained the difference, but, in hia estimation, there were miles of distance between hia mother and " that Nancy I " -44 M ' it ' 'I CHAPTER XII. ENIiARGINQ THE CIBCLK. •OOD land!" This was the strongest form of emphasis of wliich the widow Adams was known to be guilty. Even this she used onlv on extreme occasions. That the present was a verv extreme occasion, and that the exclamation was intended to show her dismay - not to say disgust — was apparent from her face. The occasion was wlien she hrst looked into Nancy's kitchen. It really was a sight to drive a neat housekeeper wild. Greasy floor, greasy tables, sooty walls, gray, ash-bestrewii, grease-streaked stove, greasy tins and sticky tins, and dishes roughened by long montlis of mussy washing setting in a sort of dreary coiiiusion on sticky shelves. Plates of mouldy bread, and a jar of fat, mouldy cucumber pickles, a plate of wilted baked potatoes, another of ends^of meat, a bowl of very sour milk, another of mouldy gravy • ^Jiis was the furniture of the pantry. No wonder that AJrs. Adams, as she surveyed the scene with neat skirts gathered in a gingerly way about her spare form, and intense disgust on her face, said again: "Good land! how anybody can be so nastT/, beats me I " Mrs. Adams was not a member of any literary society- had never been ; and she did not know that the adiective Bhe used was an inelegant word. As for the dishcloth wuch she found lying in an ill-smelling little heap where the dismal Nancy had left it when the mi,mn« per- fect order, his clothes brusiied neatly, his hair carefully combed, and behold Prof. Monteith said : " Ah, Adams, good evening ! " And then — could the widow Adams believe her eyes ! She shaded them with her hand, and TRRO.lied fnr lif>r nnrnn tn i-nh n\vn\r tV>o miuf litifr>»»o cI^q remembered that on this strange evening she wore no apron — Prof. Monteith deliberately arose and gave hia I ;ui:^ m^ 120 The Hall in the Qrove. m i. fi iill Iminlto her Paul, Jind shook it corduilly ; and Paul, in no wise discomposed thereby, bowed right and left, iiiul said : "Good evening, Mr. Bennett. How are you, Ward?" and dropped into nis seat as one who was at home and at ease. Tlie porcelain shade slipped from the poor widow Adams' trembling hand, and it was only her own Paul's quick spring and deft handedness, that saved it from crashing on the floor. Then she made a hasty retreat, and perhaps, could that C. I^. S. C. have peeped through the key-hole at her, and have seen the way in which she dropped on her knees, and have heard the tearful outpouring of thanks- giving that her Paul, her darling, her one treasure, was actually sitting in that parlor which her own hands had made neat, joining in conversation with those whom she had not hoped he would ever know, they would surely have discovered that they were building better than they had known; that the circle of science was reaching farther than their most daring ambitions had dared to think : actually reaching to widow Adams herself, and warming her heart as it had not warmed in all the seven- teen years of her widowhood. Speaking of key-holes, I shall have to admit that widow Adams spent a good deal of her evening that she had meant to be a busy one, peeping through one. She could not hear a word that was said in ;he parlor, indeed, she had no desire to. It was enough for her to Bee. It was such a sight as she had not expected to see in this world — her boy Paul sitting among the aristocracy of Centreville, with Dr. Monteith's arm actually resting familiarly on his shoulder, actually bending over him to point out a certain something in a book ! She knew not what the something was ; she cared not. She would never wade through Merivale ; she might never hear his name : but such joy as he had given her mother heart he might well rejoice over in heaven. CHAPTER XIII. THE OIBCLB AND ITS CBNTRB. QUIETER, and yet perhaps a busier winter wai never passed by certain of tlie dwellers in Cen- treville than that one which hud ushered in the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. It was surprising even to the leaders thereof to see how the circle widened. As the winter advanced and Merivale was conquered by some, endured by others, and laid on the shelf by all — another and less ponderous volume taking its place — many of the town's people wuo had been least expected roused to interest and looked in on the monthly gatherings. The organization having no cast-iron rules to hold it in check, smiled approvingly on what were known as honorary members, meanuig a class of people, many of thera young, and some older, who, not having leisure or inclination for the full course of actual study^ yet liked to come when they could. Or would — you might use both words on occa- sion, and be correct — and lisiou to the questions and answers, or essays, or lectures, or informal conversation as the case might be, putting in a word of suggestion, or inquiry, or actual help, sometimes, and who yet were not bound by any rules to come when there was any other place which they preferred, or any other method of spending the evening which chanced to suit thera better. Of this latter class were Jack Butler and his Kisif.prg Trpp« nnrl TT.ffiA. Jnolr \^Q.^\ Vii^p-n lorl fn cnma ni, first from curiosity. He found it too much for even hia 127 ;' ' II fi I 128 7^e Hall in the Grove. cultured brain to solve the problem how such represent- ations of the antipodes as Prof. Monteith and Jame.s Ward were held top^ether b}' a coromcn interest; so he came to see : and, being a really well-read 3-outh, who had done at least a little hard studying while in college, he became in a degree interested, and so came often. His sister Irene came because Mrs. Fenton constantly urged her to do so, being moved by a benevolent desire to set that lady's enthusiasm off in another channel, and so save the world, or at least her father's house, from a flood of paintings. As for EflBe, she complained that it was a wretchedly dull winter, and half the time there really wasn't auT/ place to go to, unless one looked in on that stupid Circle over which so many were going wild ; for her part she could not see what its attra tion was. Meantime the winter and early spring sped rapidly. Matters outside the Circle had also prospered. Paul Adams, for instance, and the carpenter's shop in which he worked. He had assured himself that he would " stick, " you will remember, and had been true to his word. Never had Mr. Tucker known a more faithful workman. Prompt as the sun, every morning and after- noon quiet, busy, persistent in his efforts to learn justwhat and how : this was the character that the boy had earned. So unlike that which was confidently expected of him that his employer watched him at first with suspicious, and then with puzzled eyes. " What in all nature can have come over the boy I don't know! " he would say in confidence to Iiis wife' as they sat together in the pause between the day and the night, which tho hard-working carpenter allotted to his own hearth-stone. " He was the laziest, loaf- ingist fellow that ever lived and breathed in this town ; and that's saying a good deal, for, whether we get our member elected this time or not, we've got our share of folks who have nothing else to do but loaf, and talk it over. And I used to think when Paul got old enough to vote he'd join that set if be didu't do a good The Circle and its Centre. 129 deal worse, and go on talking and loafing to the end of the chapter.^ But he's got to be the stiddiest kind of a tellow ; don t go nowhere of nights. I asked the widow liurticuiarly, and she says he is next to never out of nights at Jill and then to some kind of a society that he belongs ; I don't like that. Societies for boys of that sort are apt to inean mischief; but his meets only once a month, and he g"ts back inside of ten o'clock every time, **"?/ m beat if I know what has come over him " Mrs. Tucker sewed away steadily on a pair of panta she was mendmg, fitted the patch neatlv, gave a skill- tul twitch to it at the corner, and then rJunded the cor- ner like an engineer before she suggested a meek solu- tion : ' Maybe he's got religion." Mr Tucker poked the coals decisively and shook his head : " No, I thouo-ht ot that, and watched him, and hoped with all my miHit tlmt was the thing, and he had got turned around for good and all ; but it ain't nothing of that kind. He don't go to church more than he ever did : his mother sits there alone, you see, every Sunday, and he never comes inside the prayer meeting. No, it ain't anything of that kind, and I don t know what it is. He doesn't waste ms earnings that's sure; spends them as fast as he jrets them on the house and his mother. He's bouglit her a new lamp, and a new chair, and made her a wash-bench, and got her a new dress, and I don't know what all: a dozen little things that don't take much money, but show which way his thoughts is going. The widow, she cries about every time I see her over some new thin^r he has got her. She cries for joy about half the timS nowadays. Ip all looks well in the boy, but I'm puz- zled to make it out. 1 watch him as close as a cat could watch a mouse. The other day I caught him woikinir away, planing a board, and muttering to iiimself as if there was a dozen folks around him. Says I to myself. My fine fellow, you re mad at something, at last.' -- He's as good-natured, you know, as the day is long. — Sava I to myself: 'If I could catch what jou was muttering Ik SI SI 'I -1 180 The Hall in the Grove. about I'd maybe be able to make out what wind is bl(»w« ing you along, and where the harbor will be likely to be. I listened for quite a spell, and he kept on like mad; and every time he got to the end of one lingo he'd look back behind him a second, and then turn around and go to planing and muttering again. I couldn't make any- thing of it, and I didn't know but the fellow was going- crazy. At last I see that he had some kind of a book blocked open with two bits of board, and he kept look- ing at it and muttering, and planing and looking and muttering." " Why don't j'-ou have a talk with him ? " suggested the wife, Avho had by this time conquered her patch and was hemming it down with neat stitches. " About what ? I don't know what to say to the boy. He does everything on the square, and is by all odds the best boy I have had around for years, though to be sure that isn't saying much. I haven't got any fault to find. I'm just puzzled to know what has turned him around. I did ask him what he was muttering about, and he said : 'Oh, he was running over the dates for the next circle,' whatever that meant, and then he got off a lot of stuff — figures, and names — regular jaw-breaking fellows. I couldn't make anything of it, and there's nothing in it that would turn a boy like Paul Adams around, and I'm beat I " Equally felt, but more silent was the astonishment of Mr. Ward over his son James. He was not quite so bewildered, it is true, for he plainly saw that the 0. L. S. C. was the talisman which had apparently charmed his son ; and being a man who had a sincere respect for learning, he was gravely glad over not only the result as shown in James' steady attention to business and quiet evenings, but the producing cause thereof. Hit) chief bewilderment arose from the fact that, havinc listened carefully to the essays and reviews that were read on a certain evening when the C. L. S. C. gave a general inviLaLion to its Iriends to attend, iie coufcsscd to himself that what James saw in all those names and having The Circle. a7id its Centre. 131 PrZ \l!t\'"'"\^T r' '"'^^^ <^^^^" ^^« could imagine ^iom that time forth he was more bewildered and ui more respect for learning than ever uThTl^ ■ .onest, sad heart that James v^^^i;eom ngt ^ eel", nd lere were whole evenings when he sat infile ce I eh* lie dnnng-room stove toasting his slippered fee v o,Klern.g, not over the day's accounts, bTas to wLtli r iSLTd/l'' ''^^^^'^ mother knewofthrturn Vtr . ^'^'^^"' ^^^^ ^vas glad. constantly over ti.eir infetuuSot^nd^li^u-e^rufE!' ^ ovZ nf it . *^ ^""'^ '""«' apparently from the p.;ovec, ,.ot to .e ::^p; :L,^,t''ru t:'L'i;;;:,T.„^f,r:.'f i,:^ f" e Casting about l.in, for sometliing witi, « ic , -„ yinle away the hours, he fo.n.cl tliat hif },tl e. va i^^ t. re.y wilhng to furnish hiu, with employ , e t • JolZ slightest ^irvotEi^u, 1^1 eV^'^'i^^t'olCf i "" '"? yet even tins was better thnn flit. i;(v> ual. Dr. Monteith had by no means given up Joseph Ward. Because the literary society had failed to reach him, it by no means followed that nothing would. What he earnestly wished was, that he could have asked p\ery member of that C. L. S. C. to make a special sub- ject of prayer of young Joseph Ward, but some of them woidd hardly have understood what he meant. So he bided his time, and said a few thoughtful words to Caro- line, and Mrs. Watson Bates, and young Marsliall. During the sunny daj^s that ushered in the spring that season, tliere was a sensation among tlie members of the circle. Its next meeting was to be held at Dr. Mon- teith's, and, behold, a day or two before the appointed evening, each member received a little note from their president, stating that after the general exercises he pro- posed a social reunion, during which time certain friends who were specially interested in the C. L. S. C. would be introduced and talk with them : and it would give him great pleasure if every member of the Circle would take special pains to be present. No further intimation was given in the note, but it got out, as such things*will, and tluttered through the membership, that they were actu- ally to meet the inspirer and instigator of tiie Chautau- qua Literary and Scientific Circle. For that matter, the instigator of Chautauqua itself ! Moreover it was by de- grees discovered that the invitations had not been con lined to the members of the Circle, but were scattered quite generally through the community. "It is nothing more nor less than a large party," ex- plained Mrs. Fenton to her husband, her eyes dancing with delight; "a gathering of all the literary and most of the fasliionable people in town, to meet the members of our Circle, among whom none are more pronn'nent than Paul Adams and Mrs. CiiesLer"s Caroline. I believe those two know more about Merivale than 'Dr. Monteith The Circle and its (Jentr • S inv lation to an evening's entertainment at Dr. Mon and «he made preparation with evident satisfaction b^n^ ' ffil 134 The Mall in the Grove. The Professor's house was rarely opened for large gatli* erhigs. "Caroline," she said to that maiden, "you may leave the parlors until afternoon and finish that wrap- per. Let the china closet go, this week — I shall want your help elsewliere to-morrow — and I want Miss Celia's dress pressed out and the ribbon run into the puffs again : you may do that this afternoon. I shall need a great many little things done to-morrow, and shall want these other matters out of the way. Oh ! by the by, to-morrow is 3^our regular evening out, isn't it ? You will have to make some different arrangement for this week. I am going out, and shuU want you to remain at home with the cliildren. I don't like to trust them with Hannah, she is growing so careless." Then did Caroline stand transfixed with a feeling very like dismay. " Stay with the children ! " Was she not the one appointed to read the main paper of the evening? Yet, at the same time, was she not Mrs. Chester's hired help? Had not that lady engaged and paid for her time, evenings included? Had she lot a right to com- mand even this evening of evenings if she would ? Swift thinking did Caroline, and the conclusion was that she answered simply : " Yes ma'am," in almost her usual composure of tone, and turned away, without giving her mistress so much as a hint of the heavy cross that she had laid upon her. Yet the engagement upon which she had so heartily entered must not be left thus. It involved a brief, carefully-worded note which Caroline contrived during the morning to send to Dr. Monteith's. " What an idea ! " exclaimed that gentleman, after a hasty reading. " Look here ! " — to his guest with whom conversation had been suspended long enough to read, the note — " this is the young woman of whom I told you ; she thinks she cannot come to the Circle to-morrow evcninsr, because her mistree-s has an ensfagremeRt. " '6"-o" posterous I Half of my idea is to get her here to read her essay before certain ones who need to hear it. Tbia —t"^ The Circle and its Centre. 136 ge gath- rou may it wrap- ill want s Celia's 's again : a great tit these ■morrow have to r. I am me with Sannah, ing very- she not ivening? :'s hired for her to com- ? Swift that she 3r usual ving her that she hich she us. It Caroline uteith's. , after a bh whom to read. a I told -morrow fc. Pre- to read t. This thhig must be arranged : what is the way to do it ? " Ojie result of this talk was a morning call. Mrs. Chester heard the bell from her dressing-room, and opened the door to say to Caroline as she passed throurrh the hall : ^ "You may say that I am engaged this morning: I cannot see any one." ^ So Caroline, flushing over Dr. Monteitli's cordial greet- ing, made haste to say that Mrs. Chester was specially engaged that morning, and — " "But we haven't called to see Mrs. Chester," inter- rupted the doctor ; " our call was, I may say, almost entirely on you." Whereupon he introduced to Caroline the name which was so associated with one of the dearest pleasures and the highest hopes of her life: that to see Inm, and hear him speak, and shake liands with hun was a greater honor than she had actually even dreamed of. That she was intensely, almost painfully embarrassed tor a moment was evident; that she was quick-witted was equally so, for in an instant, though her cheeks were the color of the carnation pinks on the window, she said, with a quick deprecating look at her trim kitchen apron, throwing back the door of the parlor as she spoke : " Well, if you have really called to see me, I will go and get on a clean apron ! " And she actually did slip away to don a trim white apron with pockets, and possibly to put a touch of cooling water on her glowing cheeks. Then she returned her quiet self, and suf- tained her share of the bright conversation which rol lowed. "Why I don't know," she said thoughtfully in answer to their inquiry, " I can hardly tell how I get time to do tlie regular amount of reading. I have to economize, xaere have been days when I was hard pressed and thought I was going to fail, but some fortunate lull in the round of work was almost sure to come in an unexpected way, and I would push through. Then there are k 186 'U 2 MJ J* Tlie Hall in the Grove, ;f.^ certain duties which fall to my share that I find can b< attended to while I am actually engaged on something else. I ve proved the falsity of the idea that the mind cannot be occupied by two opposite trains of thought at the same time," she added, laughingly. "For instance, I committed long pages of events condensed trora Menvale while I was setting the table for duiner • I suppose I must have thought where the plates and the castor and the napkins were, for they came into line all right, and I know I thought about Coriolanus, and Uncinnatus, and Claudius, and all those: memorized those lists, you know. Sometimes, too, when I was drying the china, or rubbing the silver, I would pin my little pink book open with a fork, and make my brains keep my hands company. In that way I got through with Augustus Cffisar, and Tiberias, and Caligula." Tliink- ing of it afterwards, Caroline was amazed to recall how many items she had given the callers concerning herself; how fully she liad been betrayed into explainincr her plans and hopes, yes — and fears. It was not her nature to be communicative with people in general. She could only attribute it co the delicate way in which the two gentlemen evidenced their interest in her progress. Aa Dr. Monteith arose to go, he asked if Mrs. Chester- would see him later in the day as a matter of con- venience to himself. He wished to consult her on an important subject. When Caroline gave this message and awaited her answer, Mrs. Chester arose from her chair in astonishment. "Dr. Monteith I is he in the house now? I will see him, of course! why should I not? Why, Caroline, I heard no bell; who admitted him ?" "I did, ma'am; you will remember that as I passed through the hall, you directed me to say to whoever it was that you were engaged." " But th.at was nearlyt if not quite, lialf an hour ac^o. Ihat ring of the bell surely cnuld not have brought Dr. Monteith I " ** 2%e Circle and its Centre, 137 I* Tes m ; it was Dr. Monteith and liis friend." And pray where have they been all this time?" In the parlor, ma'am. I gave your message, and the docLor said he would like to see me a few monTents; and lUst now he du-ected me to inquire if you would see him later. '' Well," declared Mrs. Chester, perplexity and annoy, ance strugghng together on her face, " this is certainly most extraordinary I " but she went down stairs immedi- ately to confront Dr. Monteith. If you ha(l been in her parlor that afternoon you might have heard her talking in a somewhat excited tone to her intimate, and somewhat confidential friend. Mi- liucon. " I never heard of anything more absurd in my life, lancy me standing before Dr. Monteith — he declinincr to tsike a seat on the plea that he had already overstayed his time, and petitioning that ray hired girl mio-ht be allowed to attend the social gathering at his house to- morrow evening ! I was so amazed that really I did not know what to say. I believe I blushed and stammered, and acted like a girl in her teens. My dear Mrs. Bacon what are we coming to ? What are those ridiculous peo- ple trying to do? And what am I to do? I couldn't, of (jourse, refuse Dr. Monteith's request, but I wondered at Jus impudence in repeating his invitation to me. Does he suppose that I wish to mingle socially with my hired ''Oh well, my dear friend "— and Mrs. Bacon's voice wasoneoF those soft, soothing ones which remind you oi the purring of a favorite kitten —" it is a benevolent scheme of some sort which these good people have on hand ; they really think they are helping the poor oirls and boys who have had no other chances, and possibly they are, though it may be a mistaken way ; still, I think the mtention is good. I am told that tliey propose to greatly encourage the members of their little socjety by letting them read some extracts, or somethinf; of that 138 The HaH in the Grove. sort; exhibiting their acquirements, you know, after the fiisliion of the school exhibitions of the olden time. Dr. Moiiteith is peculiiir, we are all aware; but then, he can afford to be, for, with all liis peculiarities, he is so grand a niiin I I don't think I would mind, if I were you. Car- oline is uncommonly bright, I think, for a girl in hor sphere ; and really, 1 don't wonder that a man like Dr. Monteith is tempted to interest himself in her a little." In her way, Mrs. Bacon, who was about as clear brained as the aforesaid kitten, did a certain amount of good. She rarely stroked fur, either her own or others, the wrong way; and her claws — if she had any — were so effectually hidden in velvet as never to do any active damage. What damage she did to society was of a pas- sive nature. She succeeded in so quieting Mrs. Chester's nerves that her voice was almost pleasant as she said to Caroline the next morning, turning back as she was leaving the breakfast-room, as though it were an after thouglit : " By the way, Caroline, Dr. Monteith tells me he is interested in your literary aspirations, and proposes to gi\ e your reading class, or whatever it is, a lift this even- ing. I wasn't aware of anything of the kind ; of course I would not deprive you of the pleasure of being pres- ent. I will make some other arrangement for the chil- dren." And Caroline, although her face flushed deeply, was able to express her thanks, and felt them, too. She sang over her work that morning. I r after the me. Dr. in, he can lo grand a ou. Car- il in hor I like Dr. a little." ir brained of good, hers, the -were so ny active of a pas- Chester's le said to she was an after me he is jposes to this even- af course ing pres- the ciiil- d deeply-, oo. She CHAPTER XIV. THE TABLES TURNED. Dr iir Pvf' ^^''* T"' ^ ""'q"« gathering in I Dr. Monteiths handsome parlors I am in- rillp h. 1 ,""^ " '''"^ *'^« fi'«t ttttempt Centre- vdle had ever made to unite the actually intellectual with what had hitherto been purely social/ A ca efullv prepared programme was presented, which intei^sted iTkeTrs'n ^^r"'"^ ''''' .f -over, these perso'rw^^^^^ Ike Mrs. Chester, came with a vague idea of seeing cer tain young people gathered, perlutps, on benches S the to the end that others might see what commendable pros- ress they had made, and pat them on the cheek -i met! phoncally, at least-saying: " Good children! you^hall have a cake and an apple to take home "_a little after the industrial-school style, you understand - were great^V mistaken. There seemed to be no social lines drawn £ tween the guests ; nothing to distinguish the Circle from the friends invited to mingle with%hem, unless in! tit: 'r^'P' \r''''' «^^^ °' intelligence p^s fng bt tween them as they met during the eveninM^u invited ? " was the next somewhat abrupt question. Whereupon Joe laughed good-naturedly: > i The Tables Turned. 141 (1 the light •fectly. It ^t strikiijff. •e no orna- luce about : I forget , id another led among toilet well, whom this l1. It wus the others tile Circle 'US always ot known )lain dark which slie azed after ring, for a ; and the head and istoni>hed one had ling; nor niiiUe in illy inter- tig at the was this k about? be done? that he was plan. oraewhat )t escape at abrupt E)dly: "He invited! Why, father, he is Dr. Monteith's right- hand man. Nothing can bo done witliont him at the (.lie e, or anywhere. He and Paul will be running the wliolo thing before jou know it." " What nonsense! " said James, not without a flush on Ins cheek. To his father he only gave a brief answer in tJie affirmative. " Are you invited, too ." " This to Joe. "Well, sir, I have that honor; but I've made up my nnnu to have a pressing engagement somewhere else that evening. 1 he quality are all to be out in full force, and i don t stand high enough in the literary world just yet to be quite ready to show off: so I mean to make o^r ^ Ihe lather smiled grimly; a smile that closed with a sigh, lie was much more troubled over Joe than that good-hearted, foolish young man had any idea of. Notluug more had been said about the entertainment, but 111 the course of the day .Mr. Ward handed James an order on the best tail.jr in the town to make his son as good a suit ot clothes a , could be made, out of the best material in stock, and send the bill to liim. What tailor would not have done his best to make the clothes good, and the bill large after that? The final result exceeded even the fatlier's expectations, both as to the ainountofthe biil and the changed appearance of his son. 1 he one balaiu^ed the other, according to his view of it. Had he known what a tender feeling there was in James heart over the thoughtfulness of that note, they wou d have more than balanced. As it was, not even young Bennett himself came to the gathering i„ better attire, nor indeed carried himself better in it than did James \\ ard. Of course Paul Adams had no father to balance tailors bills; so he came in the clothes that he had worn iov best until they were n trifle small in every way. Well for Paul that he had not vet reached the point where he cared greatlv about this, or, indeed, eave It much thought. Besides >,e was of that happv teniper Hi 142 27*e Hall in the Grove to whom a word of ridicule, such as would have flushed James Ward's face with rage, would ouly provoke laughter. It was his motlier who shed the tears for that family. If he had but known it, she wept copiously over his coat the evening before, while she darned a small break, because she could not replace it with a new one: wept the next day as she starched and ironed his best shirt, because it was so old and so coarse ; but the linen shone beautifully, and Paul whistled while .he dressed, and whistled when he went away to the party. He presented a striking contrast to most of the guests, but of this he did not think at all. He had an important part to sustain in the evening's exercises, and this absorbed his attention. A word about the literary portion of that entertain- ment: Dr. Monteith's aim had been twofold : to explain in a detailed and interesting manner what had been accomplished by the Circle, and to increase its prospective size. To Caroline had been assigned the task of nrepuriufr and reading a paper which should give her views of tlie lessons to be learned, and the errors to be iivoided bv studying the greatness and weakness, the splendor and meanness, the rise and downfall of the seven-hilled citv. It had been discovered that this young woman possessed an accomplishment as rare as it was pleasant. She was a natural reader — clear-voiced, round-toned, sympathetic. Dr. Monteitli had declared in confidence to his friend' that it was a perfect rest to listen to her. As for Paul, the same watchful scholar had discovered that he had a. peculiar talent for repeating striking and important events. He was able to forget the lapse of time and change of scene since those events had occurred, and give them as though it had been yesterday. He was able to forget something less easilv forgotten — himself — and give the story as though he had been present and seen and heard. Therefore certain vivid scenes in the ve flushed provoke •s for that copiously darned a ith a new roned his ; but the while .he y to the le guests, mportant and this intertain- explain lad been )spective irepariunr s of tlie )idtHl by idor and led city, •ossessed She was pathetic, s friend (Covered :ing and lapse of 3curred, He was himself ent and 1 in ihe The Tablet Turned. 143 aidSe.^ ^'™' ^'"^ ^''" ''^''^'^ ^°^ ^^"^ *« tell the " Tell them exactly as though you were the only ner- poUrtHr.'" T '] ^--^^ ^^- ---^^S and it w^s^fot S was Dr A ' °f ";i '''" r •"' ^-'^ ^'^^"'^^ °^ ^^e event." 1 Ills was Dr. Monteith s dn-ection, and he exnected tn delightful, possibly, bee ise Paul was not in the least Sdes'thes'rtwo"^' ' ^''"'' ^^••'•^^^^°" -- -"-"^ JJesiaes these two cen....l appointments, another that A caielul libt ot questions had been papyrocrranhed and a card containing them was to be given to each lest cit-^ker't"''^-^ 'Y' -^.y q-stionr tlfe St could be asked of any member of the Circle, said member &mTrt^ '? ""r '^ '" ^°^^^^' An eCt had Deen made to ask such questions as would brin? out striking events and interesting details. The lisf wll S Tfu'""' '' ^"'" "^f'P^^^^ '^''' one-half or ev o?e third of the questions would be asked, but for the mr- hit" eldlhr.;^^ 'Yr^'^ ^^ ^^^^^^ that'which r: had bin ^^^l^*>' °r <^^»^-ty qnestions, answers to which had been memorized in a few hours. PerhaDs vo , P«n imagine what a Herculean task it had been toCepZ nnlS'i . 'r'' ^^"- ^'^°^'« t^^« Circle would give its united vote to any such plan. ^ "* had decTircd' ^.I'tV"'^'^/ 1 T r'' ^^'^^^ °^«°^ber naa aeciared. They will be absolutely certain to nif>k out the questions that we don't know: peoSe a ^"^.10 to"m?;\tS2ir 'f,"'^;^ "^"^ ^' tLm^:oul^e:me• to me, and I really think I am well enough known as a load "%;r''^7^ proclaiming my famS in tha hie abroad. Others less outspoken were yet inclined to be t^:,^^^'^^^ f^(;^Ser discussion, durinrwhich ..nei. D.esideni, reminded tliem that the very fact of the questions being so long would make it the most lut r ':¥, .ill 144 The Hall in the Grove. I hiii m probable thiug in the world for all to fail on many of them, consent was at last obtained. Precisely at the hour named on the notes of invitation the pfuests were called to order, and the exercises of the evening commenced. Another opportunity for Mrs. Chester's astonishment ! " Who would have supposed that she could read like that!" this was the lady's bewildered thought as she listened to the clear, full voice. That the paper read was really one of marked strength, Mrs. Chester was not sufficiently well read to know; but there were those in the audience who did, and who thanked God with full hearts that the Chau- tauqua Literary and Scientific Circle had given this earnest soul a chance. I will not stop to tell you in detail how well Paul Adams fulfilled his trust ; suffice it to say that there were those listening to him who, knowing absolutely nothing about the early story of Rome, were moved to indignation, and then almost to tears, over his simple, yet graphic way of giving the details of certain startling events. But the crowning act in the evening's exercises was yet to come. It so happened that the list of questions suggested to young Butler the idea of jiaving what he was pleased to term a little fun. He had not forgotten his own great, though foolish embarrassment at being asked a question concerning the renowned old city, which, at the time, he was not ready to answer. Wiiv should he not have tlie pleasure of witnessing the embar- rassment of another? Paul Adams he considered too far beneath him to make an effort in that line interes^ ing. He had thought of asking Caroline a few questions, but listening to her paper and overhearing certain whispered comments by a scholar whom he knew was a judge of brains, he determined to level all his forces on James Ward, being — if the humiliating truth must be told — moved thereto by a certain feeling of annoyance ovpr tlift fanf thai- ATioo A irpif» A ll.",.j^.-. .. :n Ka-f l L- * -1..- ..-iv/i. I'll.,. I, i^.t.-.u iiiiixii; ^liiioOii ci.iii UcaLuvvcu DC- witchingr bows upon him whenever the^' chanced to meet. I many of invitation ses of the for Mrs. supposed he hidy's ?lear, full f marked II read to who did, :he Chau- iven thia il Adani8 ere those ing about iiguation, i graphic J events. s was yet ijuestious what he forgotten at being old city, r. Wllv le embar- ered too interes^ uestions, certain !W was a brces on must b« noyance — -J U- weu uc- to meet, nt TahUi Turned. 145 an^fbyTe^'waT'tl^n ^'"""^ ^^^'■-'- ^^^^ opened - ^vith such care as to proved 6.^,.'^ -''^ ""^^ ^^«'^«J answers -than Jack (.ommPnnlT 'f'^ ^" l^^ow the «^antly at t\,^ head of W^ ^'f.:^, \ ^^^•«'. ^^veled con- ^•ot m the Circle, beinjr ab ! . n\: .i ^^''' ^^^ "^''«^'«' «p, try to avert fTtreamTf""'"^'' ins small do-' c^iannels.- From every diversL I "^""^^^T^ i"to other There was little chance C an v of til:'" h ^""'^ '" '^""^^^• (istmguish themselves savpl^ '^ ''J.''^'' "members to iriends in great ^I^o^ZaT '°'"', ^* ^^'^ ^''««ter's J'ne; atten, ts to wlS s^l T .f'^^^'^Pt'Son ^^^^^^ padua^:r ecame aZ?e„t L?T^^^^ re.poiuled. It u tho.. h>-;|,^!;^^^^^^^^ resolved togive JamefWS James, having occupied a vei^ n m".. k'^ ^^ ^ened that of the Circles, was s^ipposed toT n ^^M^'«^"^^' ^t most sense acquainted witffiw.^^/'/,^' ^j ^^ very limited was, that, next to l^vulAdrmsnnnf ^'^ actual truth or mastered more of ?L foe? s in tin i' ^'f ^"^^^^^ ^'''"'^^^ He was incited thereto first « T^ ^''''" '^^"^^s. fciken hold of the book in sue fi'"'' i "V^ ^"^^^ ^'^^"^ 'ijpon making its contents his ow^^ ^^'''"°"' ^'^^^^^e^ his clieeks &ily gre^more rir^ir^i^T"^^^ ^^«'^"«e niembered the /act thatTwas'^l^.^^.^"'^'; T^^T^ ^^^ ^«- actufdly studied with all \^l t ?'«^j,^ook he had ever really knew madeT/im b nj ovew/* • ^l'' ^'''^' '^'^' ^^^ determination to know a? ll! ^f'']"^^' with a dogged tell. him. He was awar til t f ",' "^^ ^°^^ ^^"'^' i^emw* of Paul Adams but h^ t ""i "^"^ *^'« ^«tual literal memory, and he battled wiH?'^^' ^"^ ^ ^«t^«^ and names in' a waj Xch p7eltr^ conquered dates Since the list of auestinMc i PJ^f^^^i^ gave him pride found it a very sftiSon^Ufof t'r "l'-^ ''^'^ '^' ^^^ edge, and \m fnnr,,? . VP ^ - ^®«^^"ff ins Ov/ji kno^i. answers were'as'famiriar to^mT.Tl ^ ^f f '^'' ^^'^'^"^'^« a%beenpresentatlWsnrt;--^^^^^^^^^^ ■iil 146 The Hall in the Grove. Ad. fiQs seemed to have been by the familiar way in whicK he lalked about them. From sitting ei-ect, with a bright red spot burning on each nidignant cheek, as the storm of questions and an- swers vyent on. Dr. Monteith gradually settled back in his chair, a look of composed amusement on his face. iA ^"^^^^''^ ^'"^^^ scheme had already failed. Why had not the young man sense enough to know it? If James Ward missed every question that was asked him atter this, he nad already shown sufficient knowledge of the history of Rome to stamp him as a student. Appar- ently,, however, he had no idea of missing a question. His voice was steady, his face controlled, his whole man- ner assured and quiet ; and Jack Butler, nettled exceed- ingly, beginning to wish that he had let this whole busi- ness alone, and not brought himself into such conspicuous rei. tions with this hero of history, yet was actually too much embaa-rassed to beat a retreat, but continued his questioning, helped only by an occasional voice that was bent on giving Caroline a chance to distinguish herself, (jrraduiixly all other voices died away, and more than two- thirds of the list of questions had been composedly an swered by young Ward. His would-be tormentor, who bad aciiiuily become his helper, paused with flushed foce and unquiet voice. " I beg pardon," he said. " I seem to be monopolizing the entertainment; don't let my in- terest in the subject keep you all quiet." Dr. Monteith's answer was prompt and decisive : " By no means, my dear young fi-iend," with possibly a slightly marked, empha- sis on the word " young." " It is true we had in no sense designed this for an evening of special examina- tion, and our friend Ward has not been working for a diploma, still, since it has progressed thus far, I beg that the examiner will kindly continue, at least, until the student makes a break ; that is the way we used to do m the old-fashioned spelling-school, you will remember. 1 ..-.M^^,^ xiijocii iiii^ciisci^ iuterestea m this very thought- ful ftud briUiant plan of yours, Mr. Butler : what say cur ■ Tlu Tabid Turned, Y in wliicK urniiig on IS and an- i back in his face. ;d. Wliy wit? If sked him wledge of . Appar- question. hole man- d exceed- hole busi- rjspicuous ;iially too :nued his that was 1 herself. Jian two- sedly an itor, who shed face "I seem t my in- onteith's , my dear iempha- id in no jxaraiua- tig for a beg that intil the 3d to do member, thoughir say cur 147 ^^. i 'It it ^M^^^^r rT^ ^ ^^^^^ - ^i'd to be our umnire iL f hf . • ^""^^^f ^'^^^' '"^« ^»- tlio greater number of til lnlf'\ /^°"^ ^^^'^"'^ t'"«. «pintoftheexeSe andth^''"'*' ^ad entered into the '"oiia. TJms hTvi ed ll ^""^^ to continue was unani- aHp«ruted exan LVer but fn '"'' "°!^"^^ ^^' ^^'^ "ow ex- jpeoa over hT mdnde^or^S'r';'"^^""^ ^^ ^^^^^"^^ lailed to receive ^inlco ? ^ ^'^^' "°<^ one of which -1/om be ir Tet'^u TmorX'lt" ^'^ ^^?^^ -- scheme, an.l deserved to mePtwffK "^f '\ '^c^ool-boy feat; therefore was Dr MoXVT . ■''• '^f ^^^^^ol-boy de- Especially when with Vfl J . ^^"'''^ °^^" '^^^e whole, en/ira auinfe brrcle fndu^^^^ ---er, the tary burHt of applause '''^^"^'^' ^^^^^^ ^"^o an involun- foelTmd'lfoldkr^lrWs J'd'J^"'/'^'' ^1^-^ *- his dear friend, I coLTJl vo *^'^^'n^« Ward. "My f onlndl^tl iSu^ ^:^^ A-^ «^, ^^f hter. t-nsibrm.! i'ntV the trf [ the tSg ""^^^^^^^^^^ cal^rit 'grbe^artr^^^;;^""^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^cand JUHt thcM^and the pleased com' r'i'^^^ '^'"'^'^ "^^^^e«t to.Iaugh and excSroterX pCul^^;"^-^ tmnment; and it channpV ft ^^-^^^^ °^ ^^^ enter- planning/ tlie only dCltPd' ''''''' ^ ^^ ^^' «^" was our immaei kf « o ? ..^^ P^""^^" "^ *^he company Butler. ^"'"^"'^"^'^^^ and " i^nsuperficial " friend Jack eveV';:" Inn'^nr'S'^M^ t/« discomforts were not that hL ar.niZ ^la/^ - ^^""^^^^h, feeling confident sought melil^^';^;,;:^!^^^^^^^ esteem, tact in having/ iiventh«m/ ^^ng^atulate him on his /iflg given them an unexpected entertainment, •1,* I % 148 TJie Ilall in the Grove. frni^r P'^P^^f.^ ^^'""^ the company be invited to select trom the same lKst_ questions that they would like Jack himself to ansu-er in his own way, tiius giving them a chance to compare the dififerent shades of thought which would be presented by different minds. In the paiSy eager negative that poor Butler felt constrained to press (Hi) Will »;' ited to select lid like Jack ving them a ought which jhe painfully ined to press y vestige oi CHAPTER XV. A THT^OLOGICAL BEVIEW. scholar and traveller liko ' f f I ^^^^^^h was that of a was a not u^kr^own ^rS hf:! ^' V '*^^^^^^ ^« ^^I^>'«h he bad achieved an envl .]« ?^' ' ^"'" °"« «« Jf'""? he This fact was w ll fowuT^'t "^''"' in EurSpe. through the industror tongue ^f'u'"'r^^"^P"^^^« who was never tired of onm'n^ I . ^'"^"^ ^"t^er, the Art reviews. Proud^H 1 M ""''' '^^^ «^ *""^ "^ connected with an 'utV T -^ ^J" ^^ '^'" «« remotely have a speak ngTcquantatf"'?. '?, b^f^"^«"« as to able to ask of him thelaS'^ l '• '''' ^"'^^^^' ^"^ be his son. '® ^^^^^^ "ews in art as reported by evetkfterdff ;:Lnl^^^^^^^ ^"^^^^^ ^^^^ ^« ^i- pleasure of meefing W„,1 e't'o fat"'"? ^^ j^?^ ^'^« one whom almost any person nlf f t' ^"u '"'^' ^'^ ""^^ meet. -^ P®^'^^" '^"ght have been glad to Wm™, S- arSr,!i^: seal /•"■'■•; ?-'-" "- "A younger editioTrfhis h n,I 'n° "l :'" *'""'' ''"'''=• .ure ^h t oattevy can grno'V ? w fa'l^i' ?''! ' *"' '•n.opehewmbe„alf„.,g„X„,„„,,., '49 * f 'if 150 The Mall in the Grove. m was Mr. Fenton's addition to this verdict An,i i t tell you that even his own mother was s-ttrr? V !?•' respect, you will rpnrUhr co« "'"''"er was satisfied ni th a man to Idmi re More 'II .n "^ '^'"f ,^^°"^^'^'^ ^^^« « ^omeetin^hiili-on'fhlLtasio^"" ''''' ^"°'^^^ ^---^ wot:; itdr:;:f,,t\e7?ofc ^-^^ «- >-"g e.st. His father, aftff g vin^ h^ t^f ^rf"" ^^ "^t^'" tlie C. L. S. C. as it h-u h,.,. i i ^e^^'led account of running conLntary on nt^roflhf ^^"^^^^^■^^«' "»^ a ters belonging to il llarSuletS'thif f-f I""" "There IS one person who will Imi... » ^ msliion: and wl,o is a member othe"cirettl-^T"°" °™"i"% It in .yo,.r l.eart to pay even oui ^' .„ ■ ^''" "^" ''"'' yon will sueceed i„ JJlei'ng „?e " """"' ''"'""°" *»• "I am oLyVltinfronn:'-^"'"'^ "' "- '""Sh, will, a purpose in vbw ■ Z witT ^f' T" •""'^■■•^'»n'l. pathize when you I^arLr storv H "'' ^'°". "" '*>'■"• kaynor." wLrenpo,, he be/an 1"',^^ "■ ^'J™"™ S.air..enrLtiic^ji-t:;-,n^^^ I have any iS^luStTZTZ'-T''-''' "» sense, will take care of itself- it ll,.f ; T"^^'' '" ""^ by which I mean that pem.k laej ll • "' ';''i"'"'>'' time, fill the places tharthev are ttl T '"'''•*' "' ""« taste to fill, and make i olv,mT„i f .1^^ ""y '"'•"'« »"* ^ satisfying. Bu'ttl;'r:'r'; It e'^pr'f!!-™-^'""' -Che ,n the world to ^^^l^^uSi^^^^lZl^ 1(1 wlien I iecl in tins 'ith was a I forward 'le young of inter- ccounfc of He, and a t ciiarac- fasliion: evening, can find lition to, J, laugh- d rather e laugh, 'erstand, 'ill sj'm- Caroline ning of by Mrs. • of the himself giiition, troduee iriteith, ther do 1 in one luntry ; in due le and 1 which time a ioesn't A Theological Review. jgi and moral w^nhfsSLpiSt' ""t h^""^ ""^ "»»*'" Ke,,t _. intensely „^irerfca!,'."-' ^"^ ^""^ P"'-)"". son Sla„gUi"^2LSi7/>-E^^^ f".- wickedness," the questions concernSoirAli,,. '''*''?'' '«= """^"J ""ay, est in her we te as fi, SI ' "V!'?"^ "» "^'^P "■' 'nteW without anf fuXrolne irr" "^ '*•'"'"•"• ^nd Promised. ti>e large number„f ladS, ° I '*' *° ""«'" ''" ""^ &"■>> belonged to ??,e Circle ''" """'' ■"""'""">' »' "eaBt. Kent"btnT?orwar crossed the long parlor wrnnVl,' S--'^'"' -^^"''t^'* were thrown open ami ZtZ\ ^ dimng-room doora offered his ar^^" cL^L:'YZly"Zrt '"'^ l>ad ,.rdl/gS™k,?;„'-L'rttSs''ro/T''' .upper with Kent Monteith th'!""""'"' S"''^-"lk out to fecentiv home from m„.' ^* """» ^'"""g "'■tist but w 152 The Hall m the Grove. «+: 'ta Chester turned aw,.y i„ ,l,„nb di^^ust '"''• ""• them to have weight 4hl 11 reasons, if J,e expected like the averaJvTun;].dt.vr Y"^^ *^ ^" ^'^^'^ ^^^1^ Vn^^ ^ <*veidge young lady wliom he met in societv m,o knew almost nothing about sooiptv • l>nf . vi ^' "® Know .bo," other thin^' "' ''"" '"""'' ""' ^^e fixing „ LrgLnce^on'h:/ hu litft'fat th"e'w,"l^' s^:w^n";;.;^to'- „\ra£lTot;';era"„«d"n^ r„d"fl^ '"'?''• eyes upon him, and'anstirp.tp'll';^ l-r calm, .steady been vvur^xng very hard over Rome half the "winter, a" id ciety is foi "rat, Mrs. lent room iitlier hia Monteith ^erse, that herabcut g interest 1 she had nd intelli- as to his ly saw he expected ked with ety. She out ever real deal did she ust been Jddenly, e while, id have le book, lo under n. Her le book, id; but » steady know, ; know ut any lome. " e have Jr, and A Theological Rnview. 153 bhe IS honest," ho said to himself TI , , "Were you fascinated wifT, p ,' ■^''^" nloud: because books are scarce w. I, J " '^1,""' """ ^^■■ tie». This Chautauqua srcieWk ,T T" "-"'PI»rt""i. ever hud." ^ society u the largest cliaiice I l«»t word. HerCd nf'lSlr """i''f" '";"''»^i'' <"' 'I » «treme naturalness ^ '^'"'^ '"" '"^'^™»e of its " l"r^v'ert;r,a4hl tole^ar'T '"1'T "l^" '^ ^'-'- t?an invalid ladyw th whom nii!f f"" '^ 8'''at deal gW.aud she used o cornet ^7 "'""'"""''' 3"""ff neve^ have had .nytZX r^'^;, P'.""-'™' ^ '^"' ^ May you never have I " hp ca^i i • finergy than the subject seemeV toif^^i '",'- "^'^'^ "^"^e had been the victim of n. i" ^^"^ *° tlemand. He •' Tell me abo tThL SrcYe ?.f "^^ ^T^^^''^' to un ice. "I was at Chautau'aua f.?' r '"' \^ ^'^^P^^^ ^^^^ «ier, but I don't know about ?ht ? ^T ^^^'" ^•'^^^^ «"'"- 2^^thissche„e. i>if;o"^|;r^JiSSj;t . I10V7." ^ •'^ "iceresteU m anoLJier book " What author is being honored now 9 Tf t- the same oneness of thouX ff J If you bring -...avedo.e to ^^^ ^ ^Zr^T ^;;/i " We arfi stuf^vin,» *u- e^ " »a«w." " " -^ '"° ''"^* ^mmophy of the IHan of Sal. " Theology ? " a little startled. 164 The Hall in the Grove. (( I don't V hnf r 1 , -, ""^^5 >s>ttheolopy? It is very interestinff, but don t know whether it would be called by that name '' " Why, there is no comparison, and no chance for one. in.stoi) . I don t suppose I am a judge as to whether it io terrtil.'"'' "' ' "^''''' ^"''Ot' bourse it is more ii "Why, of course?" Caroline tried to steal a look at her q. "stioner, a little in doubt what all this cateclusing mi^ht mean 'but he was givnp careful attention to the pickled ovste;8 before liim, and his grave quiet face told her nothing. tells i?of rn'r''.'''!' '""' Y'}^'''^^Sb^' "Whatever te is U6 of God, and of our relations to him, is of infi- D te y more importance than the books that tell us only ted amfS!'' '' '"'''^'^'" '' ^'"'^ '^''^ '^^'"'^^' ^"^ «"^- "Is that your epitome of human history? But vou forget hat you have not explained to me anything about this latter book. I know Merivole^s Rome quite well trom haying listened to you this evening ; now what does this Philosophy prove to you ? " book^t'alfeT""'^''" what view of the question does the " Isn't that equivalent to asking vvhat view you take? Do not you and the book agree? But never mhid that question, tell me what it says." "I am not sure that I can ; I should think in general, that the argument was the same as that used by other wruers on the same subject." ^ " And what is that ? " "You do not need that I should tell you," she said, speaking with gentle dignity ; " you ai-e, of course, more thoroughly posted in regard to this matter than I could possibly be." " May I ask you on what nronnfl vnp iico f|,of .,,.«.i,^_ itative ot course in this connection ? What leads you teresting, at name." 3 for one. f Roman ilher it w more in r, a little , but be rs before Hiatever of infi- us only and suf- 3ut you g about lite well lat does 068 the u take ? id that general, y other le said, S more '. could ds you A Theological Eeviev, 155 t TS.:^^:^. -^"-'^^^ -th the subject f'Z }!f '?"? r" /""^ ^ '^^"^^^- You have had opportuni- ties to stucy books and n,en, and have been at work i m eerft a,V:''/""''^' ''"^'^ ' '"^^ had^alZt'no" a rX; ,^;i?j;:;'l''^ even compare this book with have ever read!'' " '"' ''''''''' '' '' '^'' '"'^^ «»« I firrtmrfo?':.oM;^ '/'? '"' ?^ t. '3 argument, I admit the a^£^^J^tTT'''^'' '''^^ remember that there Too^fton H /* • ' "^^1 "'^^"^' l^''^^^«« of opinion to cnoosetiom. How do you know thaf I have vet ha I ^opportunity to take up this subject?" ^ ^^ 'I do not know it. 1 suppose I iud^red from t1.« ...r^ Stit! "' ''''''T "'^^''^ ^'- -It hnp'Sn' TopL^ '. A ?.K? ^'^^^"."'^'"•.V matters take a secondary place '' ;; And this opic is first in importance ? " ^ ^ ^' that " ""^ ^^''' '""^^ "^^ ^« t^^o opinions about rZ^T^"^ r^" ™^"f^ ^^^^^'- "^« <^''e steps by which vou reached such a conclusion ? " ^ ^®^ " They are almost self-evident I thinV " «i,« -^ S'^'v life ^^ """ ?ri''"8 «^-'^- " ^h^" :™ to do To LT be nf "J"'' '' "• " "'" "'"<" "'"'• '™"ld seem o he^ world r '"f '""^,- '" »'" t° "'0 »t all rr other world, I expect to keep growing wiser there id not to begin at the alphabet either, buf where I stonn^d when the 8o„l was ealleci upon to ihangl homes " '^'^ hi™ irPP"'" """ '" *™'^'" '''" ^aid^ iooking franklv at him after a moment of thoughtful silenfB uH- ■* What new thought to me, aTd a vt^; Lsa'nVo^e -Zt » thmk It increases the imnnrf«n-e o*' ^V -?»■'• . because 1 want to be very particu lii ahm.; /* ^ -T^ I continue my etudiesP P'^"^^'"^'" ^^«"* *^' P^^'^^^ ^'A^'- I' I m n I 156 The Mall in the Grove. " I see " he said smiling. " Now you are ready, I hone *°« w^n ^'" J^^ '"' ^° ^'"^^ particular book." ^ ^ ' renlf"'. f',"^'*'^'^"^'^ ^^ carefully literal in her reply "I cannot do justice to the book, but I think I can introduce you to it. In the first pla^e it states hree ' Inl '? -^^ «onf lered : That we are so made asto want to worship somethn.g or some one ; that we grow lik^the person or object which we worship : and that no hun a" worThip!" " '""'^ '^'' ''""''^ '^ '^' sin of idol " wi '^''"t ^^^'^^^ ^^'® ^^^* *^o Statements ? " ««,, 7 •^': ^"PP°«e so," she said wonderingly. «Mv Srst and theTp^T "' ^'^^ ''^''' "" ^"^^^^'^ '^^^^^^ ^iie nrst, and the second is common sense." Her companion laughed. « That is certainly a brief safd. '^^GTon'r-" ^'' ^' ^'^''''^ ^^^ reasLs," he "Go on with what?" " Why with the book ; haven't you engaged to mve re^t'XrtLf .^'' '^PP"" these^statenSfts areC rect, wJiat then ? or rather, in the first place, how does your author prove that we couldn't help ourse v^ ? '' '' 'By showing that we didn't ; that the idolatry of the world grew worse and worse with every suoceed^ig g.n! " Well, and the remedy ? " .hin^i'Vr"!''^ •"?' '" P™ "8 » perfect object to wot- vearVof h?„r"' '° %yP'™xt: learned why so many "Perhaps not a necessity; at least, T snpnn« other .\v couid have been" de e visec' had God ch sen to Jy, I hope, nil in her liink I can ites three IS to want w like the no human n of idol y. " My ifirms the y a brief ons," he 1 to give are cor- low does es?" y of the ing gen- to woi^ r heaita ^'imeut, many 1 a bond iJcessity .sen to A Tlkeolo^oal Review. 157 do it ; but I should think it would help. If you and I ward to the .'^^'' "f'''''l '^' ^^^'"^ '''^'^'^'^ looki.Vfo^ we mio^.J I, ^ •?^'''''' having the same plans, I fancy r^Tnl ^?r '^'"'^ "^^"^ alienated from those who did each n.h '""^^ "°,^ understand us and sv.Tipath^e Mdth each other more closely every day " " ^ "'""^ ^"^* " I m inclined to think that is a very good argument " had a strange fascinat on tor him. "I'm all «««,!,; V" he said at last, " why don't yorprooeed^ " "'""""• mudrhetea',"?.'"" "' '"» ''^'"' P-'^-^ '» ^now how this "^Z^iti" '''P'"' ■"' *° g'™ y°" 'l-o «■>*-« book "1 don't know. You seem to be doins- well T'm r;S,.et ^feitV^.- -= ^- ^fLX never heard before how perfeetlv fL f«n !!? \ou give me credit for too much research*. I don't at this moment, remember a single argument i, thJZt Up '"" ^r^ "^ ^ ^""^ «^ ^-- i^ waTmanaUd 9 Tie plagues used to astonish my boyhood and I dnnhf whethex I am much wiser in Wre^ttrtha^i f ^^ "i never realized the necessity for miracles until f .i. writer proved to my satisfaction that if t4 ti^e relid^^ when first revealed had been accompanied by no exM- bition of power bevond thut ^^rhi(,^ hnmnn hi ' exert, men would' not have beheUdT H fecbr 3 that every leader of a false religioa has recognized Z "^I^i^:',-- • ^,^^ 158 27ie Mall in the ar^ve. ■ f^"- JhaTDllf "l^""'?^ T""^'"' "'"' ''» "-i^d to claim know , that serpents were worshipped hy tlie E^vpti^s a..d tliat when Moses' rod swallowed up the°Ve ■ e.^J r^ii;p^;h:L7oSrtr«^^^^^^^ ;^. who-r :;;;;tTtX!rhtt's^tt js I ;r;u'-:te^; tttl^d ?Xle^;^^VJ^- thing else that happened to that idiotic'peo;!'' ■"'^■ ffave mt i' another miracle, the explanation of which gave me a humiliating sense of my own if which orance," that I ot know le awful 1 throw- er they what an >f ashes, J an sac- the air, ore the 159 talk had progressed thus far, and had joined tlie nroFne 2tlV:tZ: "t?^'"" ^^--elvesi strolls tCS 8ubieof Wrnr Vf^ "'''T ^"^^"^^y engrossed in thSr e*' fact hat "Mr. \T\^^"^? utterly ^unconscious o uie lact that Mrs. Chester was surveying her with ror;:dtftn'<.r' ""f "■""" ^"^''^^ ^- "^»-' »' - powerea with Jier impatience to talk with a real nr^-.f Ses som. of , ' P^^f "^'^.^^ y^ur own accoSnt now. isesiaes, some ot us are longing to know abont vnn,^ experiences in Italy, and I, Tit least, have been looS to Caroline s very forehead, and she made an attemnf- fn ate/d M-rc;''! "■■'"'• "" "^ '^'' ''^ fi-'rs i!: fplt I? ^^Tl T-''^^^' ^Jstaken my character. I never give an idea of wl.at is going ou iStlTe J^"r,?"Jllf. «, diose wliu Imye Imd no Btiier opportunitie'; ' Wt that the special aim, Caroline?" """"'en- isut 160 T?ie Eall in the Grove. i' li S8& ; i r.!rJ f/T^ *^'u' '^'^ ^^'^'^ '""t«^^ that she even saw .M^?rTVi ?'^ ^^''^ ^""'^"^ '^'''»'^" could collect her s ur led houghts to unsNver, Mr. Monteith saved her ^iie iiouule. that^^^ If '"^ *?' T"' ^^ ^^^" ^"'°1« ^« f^^ wider than l.h ;i.i; . P?'" *°. ^'^r *^"^^ '^ ^« considered a verv ,5 . ,-' ^°'" instance, expresses himself as riclih repmd in personal advantage for the amount of time ^erv W, h^ -^'^ '? '^' f ^^^™«- S°h°J«^« gifted wkh very keen brains planned the course of studv v^lh a vuew to benefiting a great variety ofpeoplJ' r,^ "exttr'ift;^ ' t'^ '".' ^^^^^^^ somewtto j in ^Jext year, if for nothing else but the comfort of belm J itound lable. Miss Ray nor? No? Then vnn hn.Z Europe as to Chautauqua." ^ ' ^ i^ ot going to "She positively i^U not pretend to :.ny advantafrea that she has not had," was the mental commenrofX voung man who had set out to study her. Mss Irene iield her ground firmly, resolved upon pre sn. the celebrated artist^ into communicativeness r^egaJSng h " profession ; but it was all to no purpose. Wl et er he detected ths ring of affectation in her questio s or t le utter meagreness of her knowledge, or wheE he w.s really too weary of the subject toVant to ta k aboutT Caro ine could not tell ; in any case, he gaily resisted her efforts, and would try to make her iaik Lout the Chau auqua Circle which subject she could not even pretend to understaijd, having kept herself until - %f^, above It. " How do you do again ? " said a ic. . vo ce at their e bow. It was the special guest who . all th! others had been invited to meet. It was lo Ca, nli « that he offered his hand a-^ ».- -.■' ■ v ^"".^^'^^'^e iirtiiu, a„ x.c oaiu Au hearty loues- A TJieological Review. 161 even saw ollect her saved her 'ider than ed a verv students, as ricljly b of time fted with idy, with pie. I'm 'e to join f belong- bout the ou have I delight Caroline, going to i^antages It of tlie ss Irene ing the ling iiis ither he , or the he was tbout it, Jted her 8 Chau- pretend tly far I voice all th(3 Caroline tones • it You gave us as fine a condensation of history to-nijrht ft« IH olten put into a few pages. Monteith, how mifny people do you think stud/ Merivale as tliis CiS evidently has this winter?" *' Very few " said young Monteith, and added : " I have been telling Miss Rayn.r that there is a delight in «tore for her such as she can hardly imagine. She tells me^ that she has never been to Chautauqua." years to coml-^V^/'r'' ''^'''1°^ ^'V'^ ^^'''^^ ^* ^«^«* f°^ years to come, Caroline said, much confused over her K.'/'m '\ • H' °'?^'^\ ^oovv^-^xy, lield a prisoner by »ice was slie was 3u, Mr. >t your not in ly puz- absent >at has lit you laugh, iver in It was circle r hero A Theological Review. ^68 think she did not ttty^y lia'^r^tf ^ Tf' *? understand wliv tliat term „/ i ' -^ '="»''' i"' The, live in tJe^ oKolrteaTrnr^TSr^lrirJ'^'- old house was, y^lC^^^l 'i,rS he'i^T'i'i';? home with you, Miss Raynor ^ " ^^''^ ^ '''^^^ oftsrSa's%fcfwe.?-,:;'-t:rb'\%T'°' was such a snarklp nf m .»!,• f • •( • Passing; but tiiero pressed funtt^^l^'^ttetulSt hX^ ^"^^ I ! . i. i < i J •'I :■] mi ikk a pfiW' CHAPTER XVI. ^^^ISKl Q^STIONS AND ANSWERS. '^S "r^^ '''''%°"^ P^^"" ""^ ^^^^ ^^^^ evening eagerly ^i^ lustening for every crumb wlncli fell from any ones lips concerning Chautauqua. This was none other than you.,g Robert Fenton. You will mnera bcr t_h,t he was the inspirer of this special branch Td certainly was as much interested in its successes anv human be ng could be Were not his fatlferTd ^^re^ both members and had he not had nicer evening wkh Romaif hi'^orv'th^'t' ^'"^ '"'" existence, tSg up Roman history, than he ever remembered before in his ienf fnJ' '^^" r^\^^<^ tl'^t it added spice to his enjoy! nient to discover that he was an authority when oontX verted points were being discussed, and that h mo e^ had once said to Caroline and young Charlie Mathers Tn hisheanng: "I think you must bf mistaken n your date, for my Robert says thus and so, and he is generX fn v; ff A f ^'t?" f ""^ ^""^ ^» intense longing to visit Chautauqua. He drew near when he heard thf name, and presently made a bold petition :" Won't you tell us all about Chautauqua? /mean ti goThere this summer if I can, and I think I can." ^ Now anybody who knows the man that has made Chautauqua what t is, knows that the keen question w eyes and eager smiles of a wide-awake boy fascinate n instantly. He turned quickly at the sound of the fresh 164 Questions and Answers, ! ^ ..6b with rouriff voice: ''All about Chautauaua/ Voc • pleiusi.re. Where shalll begin r'^ Yes,sir;w_ l^-lted in his vid ^riittS bvttl?V^''- ^r^'T^''' until fully one-third of tjl ^ .1 i"" '^"'''^^ widened, selves wit^un he ,t to listen'' '/"^^ '"'^''^''^ ^^'^™' one best r.osted to Id'thpm w T\ ^"««<^'o»' ^vhile the ^uchachamed lifb to omeor; '^'' ^T "'"^^^ ^'^^ go, this season, every one of L"''"V) J'" -"^'^^ ^" Buddeidy, breaking 7way from C V^Z' •^^"*'^'^ ^"^^' joining a companf whJ C™ rvinf fn r^. ^'°"Pj ^"^ were too far avvay^to hear mTch! ^ ^ '" ^''''"' ""^ >^^* Mr/FeTnX^eTo^ deSdedl^Tf " '^''". «"^ ^^^^ " Yes «:ir " «/ rC^ "^'^^"ed to take your familv ? " this summe™ ' ^ 'P""" '*'""" "'^ "^^^s there decisions. Tven prettv 1 t A""' ''-"^L?^^^^ ^<^ ^^^"ite could go if she wanted^ to i^f ^^^^^^^^ she to. She had in™ to Co Tn ^'n''^ '^' ^^"^^^ way it seemed toherth.t fv ^^"^ J^^^nch, but some flvo +u ^"'cu to ner that this would be "nippr " T-i.^ Caroline. »s she had laidl.n r' ■""'" ™"^"''""™"t- going to K.,roDe aTfn r . "" '""'='' '"Pectation of Ead Lt . ,-enTven t'he'^i r,!??'?,'! •,_7f ,- *» PfL ha liivolved in a verv Dosit]7« rf-t '''°^l«''' ^''•>'°"^ "'« ""^ fore to Kohert /.nCr^TjZ^Xr^ tl t If 166 .1 .•■ lall in the Grove. ii Vt' go theio^ out It won't be for several years yet." So these three, while tliey listened interestedly, did not give such listening us those who said : " I'm going ! " But many were listening and questi^ ,^^,. . .ently with a view to future plana. "What about the 'Teachers' Retreal.'" questioned Mr. Fenton. " Any benefit in that to people who never expect to be teachers?" "Decidedly, yes. The very best educators in the country are to be there to exhibit what they consider tno best ways of presenting thought to young minds. Aside from the personal benefit to be obtained through these lectures, conversations, and the like, no parent can afford to do without the knowledge and the btimulus which they present." "What is the expense (f living at Chautauaua?" came from another side of the room. "Now that question is almost as difficult to answer as It would be for you to tell me what is the expense of living in Centreville," their victim said, smiling. "The truth IS, it depends on tlie sort of living which you are pleased to want. If you keep house, it will depend nn the number of rooms ii. your house, the size of your party, the brains of your clerk, and tlie economy of your cook, as well as on several o :ier thinj^s. If you board, It will depenu n thu size ana style of room you require and the number and variety of the delicacies which you are willing to pav for. There is a hotel with good accommodation. , tLere are an - number c private board- ing-houses, with prices varying accor'ling to lor-i^on uud accommodations ; there are cot^ ^os to rent, where you can, as I said, set up an establishment of your owu' there are restaurants, w! > v.,u can buy nlniost any necessary that can be th(! ^ht ; there arc t. uts, which you can rent for a trifle, u .A ruii yourself in a blanket at mght, and buy a pitcher of milk and some ruiis at the bakers m the morning, and live as cheaply as you can anywhere on the earth." "Somebody told mjr Fred that there was a School t y } c } h ti a: So these jive such lit many I view to Btreat,' " people 1 in the consider : minds, through ' parent stimulus uQua?" answer )ense of "The you are lend on )f your of your board, equire, cb you 1 good board- on 'iud re you ' uwu ; st any which iket at at the >u can •chool Quettlom and Anawert. 157 of Languages," or tomethin^ of that sorf co-i n* Mon..s. .. I. there a„, .%oi..."'at:';[:^e '• f tt teachers ,„„,," the 1^.?. i ™ "' T" "''""^o- '^8 best that "a he fo„n,l „ T-" ^° "' ''"•"» «« say «A, Such workt'th, t r!tu"a'^;:,?T!l'{ •" '"'^,4''"- Thus the question, ami J^^fwer ^ , inue^DX"' teithscliaue sppminfr oo .1 , . /"*"^"*uea, ur. Mon- in the fro^,"t pador^nd nlf^ f ^"^^rested as the circle other topic L^vbg^be^'sul^^l^it i'' 'f'f'''' '^"^ certain ones, at W: weroTi e't^ that evening than they had been XTthev clmf """"^ Ward, by the merest clln.p ^'k'^"' °^'°"^^- ^^^^^ pretcy'lit'lle Lrietiren rnnt w^''" '''"'^"^^ "^'^^ *« probable his co L'e wot^^F'noT'l ^""^""^^'J' or it i, waiting on her to tlfe taW "but he Trlht'liUl"^"^^ t^ at 'nversation in which thpv f,tf j i^ • \^}^^ ^^""^^^ han ,1 the charm of no v^i <■"!'! i ""^ ^^^ulged, had not Jack Butlerexactironnn Jf J f"^- ^''''^''^ ^^^ Butler proposed to do the same th n^ a^id ' .h ,/u^ m advance of Jack tmH m^I a • •^' ? '^^^^'^'^'^ be .'tl- Sis Hl"t»" ^^^^^^^^ ■"= young misses until the very thoutht n ? ll T'^^^ ^^ of the most ordinary cSel es fot.r 1 f/^'^^'"/ ^^^ your^.ce and sets yoL he'^rtTthri ''^"' ^"^^- bettTnr"St;rl^:p..?/r ^^ ^^^ 't l. had not a time James Ware 'thouiTh?^Sf1.- '"^ ^'"'? ^''^' ^^^ry .0. of h. p„.ij,e t^:!:z:TzXy'^ 168 The Hall in the Grove. II the desire Brew upon I,I,„ i„ attompt, at lensf to ,lk™». head 'f thfpTettte «; '"'"'h ^-S" "'''"« lito fu '"7 P^6"y Aimio was .sonievvliat troubled wiM. a ban nf |,o/J\i ' y"'"'ff ^^'"'t ''-'iJ been under the invite,r Lpr t^ .] ' V"^ cunvjissed the subject, boldlv b": df , r^'^th r arid'",?''"""!"' ^':? '""^ '"''" ^^^ nod of as,eiri«i; ".".''• ."'^'■'""g tl.ut mother's smilinff oay, mamma, suppose Mr. Ward «»»./M o.l. » ,i ''TS;' f ?, "'"• "''""'"' I to «ay ? " ""''' "'' '» ""* eyes wan.IereS ove o whe7h»'"',^'"';"S '??•"'""' '«' evening in every wav «,..! n ^ appearance tliis would object/AiLfforThi. on. •^°" * '^""^ P^l^* ♦' T rinn'f K f^'™^®; '^^ ^"is one evening." foolish mtielau'T ''cV;"' ."^^ -ne." Ai'mie said with a thjpf:J;;f-:e^L:e.""f.x™v„"t^^^^^^^^ lino"!, alonVtulrS' I ^T^ l;^""?""" ''Vf Car. 1 «a,iy don't see how »he is-to"geri,i.,.e'^u^l'slt*'e t' ( } I t tl a tl \^ & Quettiom and Answers. J^ad* p^""^*^ ^^"^ '^""^ a servant d 169 own to tell lier to get thrtltwe'^?'-!™ ''-ill •>«. "eoes^ary for yo„ to take W.Th ™,tT7"? '"•""r'' "«= ''■■"""1"<>'- i» con P«„y ^ w f Jk^ea\, ItfaCl' trn,3,lt Z i^ 1 it • A,Xr V":'t'''-'-r.*" *^ear her talk abou " Th i1^. >. ^®* "^® ^^^^ '"ore of him." that you 'exnectmfr ''-'"^ ^''"^'^^"^- " ^ ^''^""ot ^hink n.on£w:rin^r of our last contS "f * ^^'^^^ .'"^^'^ ^" ^^^^'^°Jf presume. I will be Whit npJ •r'' ^'^^ ™f ^" ^^^^ o^ its effect on you done you ? " ^ ^'' '" °'^'" ^''^^«' ^^^^ good has it thin Wh^ f ^^""^ ^ " ""^P^^*^^ ^^^oline thoughtfully - f who», n.y Faherlrhea^rk o;^;a°„d1thrk hLt^ givmg me this opportunity to arm my mi, <1." ™ ^" in the book ?~" ^"^^^ "'^ '"'''*' ^""^ suggestions found " Oh, I long ago accepted the facts about which the 170 The Hall in the Qrove. |H i WW Mi i;i I i K4Tw^\ b'ztTji' -r ^'" '^^1 ^^^'^' -^ *-k then. helpecl to sh^w otl e s L^.om7n.?^'''^'f '," "^^' ^^ being less opportunity E' I '??; others who have had even " That is jut what I want ''^^r'^}'^''' °^' '' ^"•" « You do Lt clme in mv lit ^ ^^ '' .'" "^'' P^«^««-" " And why not ? " ^ ' ^^® '^'^ gently." cannorbutlS t^ .t' f ""^^^^PPo^tunities, and I of them: it ZuldhVl\^^^^ that you had not '' «^««edingly foolish to suppose se;;Sp^^ryot^^:;r^^^ "^r^^ ^'^^^ ^ «»^ -7- unable to sL the 'Reason bl,:; o^itT V"^ ""^/^ instance, I were to rnnfn -o f i ?• . ^^^' Suppose, for calideaofpTayer w'se^^^^^^^^ ^^'''^' theevangeli- that God kno^evernlW i;:'?""^^ ""^'^ the idea settled everythinram] ii^' 1- ^'^"'"^^ everything, has not even if U Xle c;etTd ? '• ' '' '"""°^ ^^ ^^^eS^ it might be. What Lvrtn^ T'"^"''^ ""^'^ ^o pray that that ?an help me ?'' ^'^ ^'^'"'^ *^««» your book "Nothing" said Caroline, rromntlv uT there may be arguments fnr +1. T T* ^ suppose although this writer did nn/?.l ""^ ""l^^^ ^^ Persons, subject ; but I s ould tldnl fut "^ ^^^^* P'^^^^ ^^ the «^ou]d be perfectly salf.nn. ^? '"^'^^ ^"'^ ""^ that " Well now f^ffi . "^^^ ^'"^ unanswerable." descripdo/;iTi;^j,'^7;^«^^«"« wW^ «"«h a answer ''' ^"' ^^^ ^"^^t, and to him, suT,ri8ing 1 linow you have never o-ivpn ;f „ ^ • study, or you would not ,?n J ^ ^''''" ^"^ careful "You are Xy Isiti^'' it' ^"T'r^"^ the fact." »iA]i ry.,v-?- J. ""v positive, he said, lanahmrr « iu*]. ^i. tUinaa uo not work nliiro «^., °. & " i'tkio. worK aJUie, you remember; possibly Questions and Answers. 171 ated littfe thing t il a S all' 'if '* "-^^r^^f '"^ «P"'ion! curiosity -a young vltantiio ivfrf^^ ^ '^^^^^ ^^^""^^ « had scaled thi lieiHjts of al w^ / not suppose that she a little a.out two o tit t in^s TI ^'T'."^'' '^"«^ supposing that she has cXiSLn absurdity of her 1 Imve not studied andcS n"/,^ ^" argument which Then, carefully h dinrall 1 1 T'' '^ ^ "'^"«« ^ " ne added: -I am al hh • ""^^rtone of thought, whelmed with curios y'fthi' '"'^ '"'^^^^ '^^"^°«^ ^ver-' which has been hidd from Z foTT''''^'' ^^^^"°^^"* "I should think it xvnll ) '" "^^ny years." n^ent as to the ^owerTpl.t'for^T """"'^^ ^^^"- daily, sometimes hourly and r!!- ^^.'■'''" ^" P^^y swers to prayer Alut n'\'''T^ "nniistakable an- though it'w^pourld htr tf i:rt;r'^^^r«^^^» ments to which I could mnio , ^'^^ ^^™ «f argu- not convince me thal'Gordol'nrri!! ^" --^^«' -"1^ not convi,-:/tlT^ordr noTr- ^" ^^^^^ -"^^" answer: because I have lilvJonPf !"7 P^'Wer and does just that thin/ As tn?n i '°"' himself that he he chose to do f o,. how the'V^' •"" ^' ''^ ^' ^^y between that and his foreknow pW '""'"^ contradiction would be very pleaint fo^Zf ^f '' ^^^^^^^'^d, while it for me to k.fow so ^anv o? rl p ^h°^' ^' 1^ ^^ P^^^^^"* learned in this book after flI^ ;^^'T ""^'"'^ ^ ^ave belief in the fact • am] t . ' i" ""'^ essential to my that the peLn" 'knotl d/e oi^ fi^°f ,^^^"k' -« I «aTcC only unanswerable aXmeft tl ^''^. "^^"^^ ^e the perfectly unaccounta^e to ' j'^T ^^"^ ^^^«* i« questioner do not applv hi^fl;: i ^^ ^^^^ *'»^<^ honest and settle all doubts^' ^ ''""^^^ ^"«<= ^« themselves, had^^ScSi:;;:;^^^;^-^^^^^ He «o young, he believed himself/o h h''''^""^!"'^ ^°^ «»« yet there was undeniabrtrth' •n\\ 'r."lt^^ P««^«d' "ever personally tested the power of m-fver "^^^ ''^^ "Itx.atestwhichiti.iiSpo.ibre^^i;;;i,^^^ '4««1 f 172 The Bull in the Grove. and if I were -m l.nL I \o^,^r"ie of answered prayer • tlmt, on ^rk ee dav r '^f "''' ^ ^^""^^ ^^^ God^for' that I I.ad loZeto tZ ^^h ^lliJ''-'"' ' "^ -"-"^ed and laid the fact of m^unbe If l^ ^ possessed, for help and had not Te^ceivecl if T f'' ^T' ^"^^ ^^^^ed that if all honest uSe^t^ J„if/r?'" '^""^^^* reasoning, trying to nlan mlf P T' ?"* ^^"^ ^'^eir go to him with Ve whoL s orv 'h ' "'''^- /?' ^^^™' ^^'^ silence all doubt : for f Jtlf ?74 p.^"^.'^''^' ^' ^^"Jd proportion of them do von Inn ^'^,"^ ^°^^- What Mr. Monteith ? " ^ '"^^^'^ ^'^^"^^ P"t that test, mo^'ent^'U^^'wl'lCJoTsloM^'^-' *^^"' ^^^^ ^ the subject ?" ^ '^°^' "°^ d^««"ss this phase of he'lothel u^onTn; t^kL't' Y^'^f' ^^^^^ -^ that amor^ them ?he ;L^r^''pr:;;^^^^^^^^ ^^"^^^« ^-^-"^^^ ^ " Cross-examined, I dpolarr. f " ,^^ i • t , P>«, i but tbe sentence was mental T™*? *■"" ^^""* he gave a somewhat%;tr„ ^'' *''* questioner "kiUtuIly ol,a„"ed the sublet TT) T^ "'™ "'"»' both Walker and the^l^^'C-one^eVelg.'"' ''''""«'' "' CHAPTER XVII. " YES ; I LIKE IT." -Imn. partly fC »S f K'c ^ f 'Te" ''" f"","^? Beijsation that he Ichpw l.V, iJ ^''^ undoubted gi-essing all the ^oe Tv p " ^''^^^J^^^^^^ - thus trans- partly out of pure sockuZII h "^, P^'?P"ety, and it would beaLw woHd to hS- rT,'^^J"^^^ that one, and caring to In i, her, which he, knowing no afford her a w!ll as not Tin'"' "^ ''''' ^^^^«"' --'^^ " given him food or thou "ht^'Tt ""^P^'t-^t being that the argument whini; T^ k i *'^'*'* ^ curious fact in a sense, SiTnswerable Wha? ^'''^"'^^ ^^'^^ ^^«"' person who calnii; a7se;ted that X V?" '".•'^^^^' ^« ^ one, but many direct onrl. "f ^ jshe had received not That she waflSenf TZ'tuVl^" ^^^^^^^^^^ % therein, and you had bv ;n ^" ""^ «^y^^«««< convincing the person that «!/ ^T"" ^^^^^eded in vvhe 1 one reduced the n^L t ™ ^^^" "'^•'^«- ^^> fact, the weight of Sfmonvratstr ''.'r^ }<^Sio, was no Here ^trnxl arrayeTZ a?mv .f '.''^' "^ ^^^« ^"^«tion? was to be founri is loS fltf^'^'^t f'""^ ^^^'°™ *'An other proofs isipw?i ^^*''"": .^^^nly declaring: "ay : - I know thi. tn h. f.™.r 'l ^ S'«"^^ he, m rei a« / ... - . . ^^ „„. v/UUJ tnis to be true .- thf»t G^d i- - i^o, he couldn't; because the T «73 [}ply s woe Hiisvvered rst part of tha hi,; • h El 174 77i« JSTart in the Grovs. statement was lacking. God had not heard him, there, fore how could he be expected to answer him ? H^ actually was not a petitioner at all; had never ried to obtain audience with the King, and yet wa. Dresmni,,^ dmittd'ttt'r 'r ^' ^^^^^^« " ZtkZTZl admitted, that he knew no such thing was possible. itself hJZl ""^°«Tf ^i^ble light did the folly present itselt, havnig been called to mind by Carol ne's fe quiet words. And yet, I grieve to tell you that in- tleman though he was-^ reasoning being, with nfore subLrwi h'f" Pr-~^« yet ismisse^d The who L subject with a careless "Nonsense! The idea of mv plunging into theology, when I came home on purpose^^ rest! I wonder why that tiresome Chautauqua cTrde which IS aiming to circle the world, I veiX believe' had to put that into its list? Why couldn't it havS been content with Rome, and other^angible miters? She IS a sharp girl, rather, for one in her position We 1 ownt iiin"^iaW'V"'r^""^ ''T ?^^P>^ «^^ ^"^^^ town a nine-tiajs sensation: and she has done hers and given me a lecture on what -is evidently her favor e to night. But they didn't. The cultured younrr artist tossed for hours on a restle.s pillow. ^It if pi dn Z elf «n^ by no means allowed hin.self to use to I imself, and yet he knew as well as though he had s.id It aloud, that he was B.fool! ^ ^ ^^;;T1us, any of it j I wou't have Caroline made sport of "hi?"Ji''-"'™ ^^ i'*' ""^ '^''"* '<>«» of mailing sport fother hatVv.^ g-od-natured youns fellow, und^i. "f utiier apes oi" his st» mp, have ''Tts; I Like it:' &^^irL?lS^"!ih.-". teach the. all 176 don't give her a pleasant tim Hee why it wasn't a e in the bargain. 1 better than letting her walk h.n", ^o do ; a great deal tlie CheHters." ^ "^^^^ ^^^^^^ '^^one, or trot on afier " Oh well now, Rohprf T u^ you; if Kent Mo^/wtMv^re a JaLT'T ""^"' "'"' ™ '"» liW father, and did snnh Thi^ ^"' "'"'si'"" man, like whole thing i„t„ a burlesoupT ''^"'"'. "• ""to the friends with, when he Roe back tn th'"' •'"'" '"'' "'■«»« fhout over his caricature nf?? v ""^'- ^'"'J' >"" 1« » witty, und ehey Will thtakh'r-' '!",'! ^e winihink " Youwo^enarejueer-'ir -f 'l!'" """"'" 'augh. "it i"nt two ho^ s''„ce i:^ • J"-^" ''f «<">" »pea1. Moiiteith because he was so fi„„ ' "'''"'""S .'<""'(? and now you arp in T '" " ""W of his father treated yolV«L,ar''p:t°7i,.:"" '>'™ '"'-- 1- has mal'inifa monkey of hinTelf ,,?/ ««"""»""' "'^^"'1 »f her- How is a man to go to w,^i''r'','"'"'S '° ^e above ' I don ' nnlfo i„ * ■* to please you ? » attached to Caroline, and I can't^iT. I am very much laughing or talking kbout her i ^'""^ °^ "'^^'"^^'3' ^mun ought to be mad^ Z >''''' ''^'^ ^"d no hought he showed her attenffnn f^''^^"^' Still, if J W,and not for tl^fu' tL^ ^^^^^^ ^'"'^"''' ^^ -;^y" t injure Caroline h'ersel?, 'r^o^l^^^^^^^^ " 0/i;'[tMS± lil- ^ ,^^taj do you mean ? " 176 The Hall in the Grove. «!ulf!^V"'''' "^"^ talented, and admired, and all that- [Hof T I Af r" ^ ^"'^^ ^^^^ ^^^ to express it In to.;,i'X/' ""'■ ^ "■" "f™*^ °^^""'» ">-g^ "^ -e have Q to-night." "I Fe„.„,s^,:So ;„:a''huT„r^Yol"=tlJ"'.• In.^l''*-' »*''"''°" '""Shert over this picture of her own « Wom;,f n'rf " ^"'^^'i *^^'^P ^^^' «^ *« think aloud. •^Dovvhat?^''''''' ^^^^d«it-" ^J,',n ^^' ™'*:^^ ^^® distinctions in society, of which men d^ CT tr'th-^ r. ^^^tftni?^^^ young Bennett walkingWwithVi's:^^^^^^^ Mr? i\rn r r""'^ -^^^tirely irrelevant S to u wif ^''°' ^° f^^ answered wouderinglj: Why, yes, what of that ? " ^^ "She IS nothing but a music-teacher, why don't vou exclajm over that as mischievous •? " "^ ^ ;; Jiobert Fentor. what do you mean ? " sav inSnf f «^^^: ^/^"ghi'^g at her astonished, not to »a^ inuignant laee, "^I'^h ^i.« ««?,.^j . _ _. i ... ' "". "" ° ' '-'^^ uriuraa u, goou liiUHtraLion 1 all that; >ur young ultl be no h of that, it he was all that n, and — 58 it. In is whole ' I think spoiled, bave had red Mr. 3 mad at J mad at ow how ier own It was bought ; sip, and c aloud. ch men ie, they '^ou sea light?" one to I't you not to tmtion •*Fi es I Lih 'e it. 177 '»ved her dfort in & «"d 'ooked a' no'ed 'S'""f •> concluainn u..",""' '-■aroline ooni;r;h,.f.5 ."' 178 The Hall in the Grove. i jealous eyes during the day, seeing her go about hef many duties with quiet cure and usual success, Mrs. Ciiester gradually changed her mind. " She really is aii unusual girl!" she told herself. " I don't think I ever even read of one like her before ; and yet in Engliwh nov- els one IS always reading about those rare maids who are more hke friends of the family than hired help. I declaie, J believe Caroline is superior to any of tnem." Thenceforward Mrs. Chester adorned herself with a new character. She became the patron of her second girl ; talked with her as to her hopes and plans for the luture, aided and abetted them as well as she could ; arranged that the hours when she was off duty should be' absolutely her own, and not interrupted as hefetofoie by her mistress' whims ; and in many ways showed herself a friend. Well for Caroline that she had the rare sense to take this lielp for just what it was worth, and appreciate it. She did not resent the evident air of patronage that hovered about it all. She ignored the constant reminder that her sphere in life was low, and, realizing that special kindness was meant, showed her gratitude in a luindred nameless ways. In short, mistress and maid grew nearer to each other with each passing day ; nearer than Caroline, at least, had ever supposed it possible for her to come. As for Mrs Chester, she gre^v daily so satisfied with herself and her experiment, that she was in danger of becomino> a reformer along the very line in wliich she had hitherto especially failed. But ail this is looking ahead. I am glad for Caroline's sake, that she could not hear the conversation which passed between Mr. and Mrs. Fenton on that evenino-, e^^pe- cially Mrs. Fenton 's share in it. She would have known then that, staunch as that little woman was in her friend- ship, she underrated the girl she was befriending. Not a thought of silliness connected with Kent Monteitb entered our Caroline's mind. There was just this out- om viic c-ciiiugs eipenence; ''He was v»ry I»out hef 3SS, Mrs. illy is au ik I ever lish uov- who uro declai e, f with a [• second } for the ) could ; lould be ofoie by . herself re sense th, and i air of red the )w, and, ved her sliort, ith each ad ever )r Mis. md lier tiling a litherto roline's which g,espe- known friend- . Not onteitb is otit- is v»ry "I'"/ I me it." jjg fif'SU?;!^^^^^^^^ "very Hnd indeed. It ,3 hi, !»"• : but it was tliougtoi' Ttt'' ' ""i" "> "'" " "^ff The";"ir"'"^ been^to me b ,t fo/,"-'^ ^"'"8 ^^ •I'lei, after a moment of J.; ""' '" '"s foretiioiiolit " '"an I wit), all his advantamrr '"""'S'"' "P"oryo t ?' "''at P of raul Adams, the npvf o^*. fo".- o'clock, wasdXtflTT '"'?''''"' ""-ee and {ough board, when he ,L i' ^ ^"' "'SoTously over a sciibable air about it which ?.f ■'^ '""''"S "lat inde- duces an idea that has bel,.;„f\""^ ™« "'at it intro the mind for some tlnte ' '"""^'"""^'^ turned over in , " Wort f" "s aid "#.S "» ""-»■»-, Pa„, ? " "? wa^ yet bestowi; S a shi"^. '^^ P'"™ "^i'lfully on What d,d the man m^ean?" Wasfitr "" *"•• ^""t"" Then silence lasted f """" ' '^ ^^^ '=> -P'oy a?h ^^« -^-^td^hisTso'ir- Y ^-^- -- o^tani';'^ ""^ l^^^'ion. pLsentK f '"' """^ersation ;per. . How would';:S- t^^a fife^ A trip!" ThA r.1 ^ »b.ute while Paul toonim'e'Tf ,'' T" ^"' « ^"H half " Ivf " .'"^?'y "-"^^ away t ml """^''t' «" had ,, Aye, a tripl " and <).« S ™ home in his life. / 'fW !j •■(i 180 Tm Hall in the Grove. on . 1 ^iii ! hit of bo i !^ kind o f object to going, just for the sake of going. I've never had no opportunities of that kind, and I've about made up my mind to give you the chance to go along. There's others that have worked for me longer, and know moro about work than you do, of course, and perhaps could help more ; but I always had a liking for your father, «ntl I don't mind saying that, though I'm kind of aston- ished at myself about it, I've taken an unaccountable liking to you. The long and short of it is, you can go along if you want to." And the carpenter tossed down the bit of board that he had been whittling with an air of satisfaction that at least so much was settled. " Where to ? " It was all the astonished boy could say. ^ ain't too sure that I know myself." The bit !< as picked up, and the whittling went on Do you happen to have heard — ever — of a place, in the woods — or near the woods — called Ciiat-a-quay, or something like that? Indian kind of a name, I guess." If he had not been whittling, he would have noticed the sudden gleam of light in Paul's eyes. " Chautau- qua! " He flashed the word out as if it might have been a talisman. " Yes, I guess that is the way he pronounced it. You see there is a kind of settlement there, in the woods. I don't understand mucli about it, and it don't make no difference. Mr. Monteitb, the professor you know, has got interested in it, and he wants a house built — - two of *em, in fact — and he says he wants to put the' work into the hands of somebody that he knows he can trust, and not have to think anything about it ; and he has made mo a good offer ; and I'm going to do it. He put it into my head to take help along with me from here. He thinks it will pay if it is a long journey ; and I don't mind telling vou that I said to him at once I'd rather have you at my Leels to do just what I told you, than any other hand i had." could "Te,; I Ziif. it.' J guess, he said wonderingly "^® *^» ^^ 't^'>:^:^^!:il^l:.. -«" -a trying u. •-isteucs ■>%. ^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) L0_ If iM m I.I f '- 11^ 1.6 11:25 ■ 1.4 PhotnoTRnhic bciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 :1? V iV \\ %\^. ^\. '^^ 4' ». Q^ ^>" ^ C/a I CHAPTER XVIII. !l I THIS WAY TO THE HALL. ^ND so it came to pass tha., as the newest steamer on Chautauqua lake, shining with paint and cleanliness, slipped softly into harbor one July afternoon, freighted with the Centreville delegation (to say nothing of several hundred other people) it was Paul Adams in his neat business suit and thoroughly business air, v/ho stood on the dock waiting to receive Uieva. He had been at Chautauqua for four weeks, and was pre- pared to do the honors. Various things had combined to make the Centreville representation much larger than had been anticipated. The Fentons were there, of course ; they had looked forward to the treat lor so long, and planned so systematically, that no trifling interven- tion could have kept them away. Young Bejinett was there, not because he had at first intended, but because he discovered at a late hour that a certain professor whom he had long been anxious to see and hear was to be at Chautauqua during the Teachers' Retreat. There- fore he came. Miss Aimie Allison was there, because there setsmed no reason in the world why she should not come. Mrs. Fenton had been so kind as to promise to take care of her, and it was such lovely weather, and they said the boating on the lake was just splendid, and the bathing ditto ; why shouldn't she go ? Go she went. Caroline Ravnor was there, because the Chesters had suddenly determined on a trip to the mountains, which did not in- i8a J^is Way to the Rail. t steamer )aint and one July ation (to was Paul ' business iiem. He was pre- eombined rgerthiin there, of r so long, iuterven- inett was b because professor ar waa to . Tbere- eemed no le. Mrs. :e care of ' said the e bathing Caroline suddenly id not Iq- 188 oi bringing itZj^^Z' Sir^'S^'l "J"'V^» operative housekeeping wifh P^J r I P^''" °* ^o- cbief, meeting her sS o7 .L "^ ^"u ^ommander-in- care of the Ii^-Snt n i ^^ «^Pe"«es bj assuming tiie experience! M;cfe3irt^r?T' '} '"^'^ ^"^ ^iLed bestowed by Cm-oihre to a d t'lll ''" •i""''' ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^"^'^ departure,/p:aeed in h r a' d . t"! -ybir^'t^ -'j^ "^owgo to Chautanr.n. ^t , "'^^^ ""^^ Said: timt they weie actuilv nn ?h J''''"''^'™^ "ver the fact tation., between tSfn^L ^ 'i'-l^"',^- ^^^ai,, consul- edly had 'S to do wuri?'."i?[i ^"ll''"''' "'"•»"'"- weie sure • onlv «w ' "' ""'*' '''« yims men brought to beai'onttfX"^"*' ™"i'' "'^ ^'"='»° bay" ^osl in tlXlr'oYth g„1f,?f 't'° ";? ^''»P"'»'= ■ng it, iudeeu, I may 8av urninf ,'; ^' ,^"""''7 suggest- etnpimtically for both 6onl?»i '■ "° • °"'^ ^°' °" ' ^ut plans, furnishing ti^tmou^. a ,1 i?^ '"*" "'' ''"""'^ «-' the enterprise. Tl e bo- « rll'l I '" S™''>" "■'•>' P"^-biug had not said much aboui If f ""',«»dersta,,d it. The? lain avvalcro? nights rVvolv-'"" ','•'''''•■ '"'^ ''"«' baS bad ;l,ey heard oe'S'woVdt "g/'^^l;;^"- ^'--"ly mg as he stood in Mr W-ir,!'. L„. ,'°"''=" ' » <"ie morn- tbat gentleman, thy- mVhtlnvX ''''•""'' '''''¥'' ""i* 1 ttle did they undSsS-fd 1 irfatl.c? tlr^""'' V'' '" t::.. T' "^r-S tbe case. " / Sfo « a , f, X' T. f bope you wi„ eoneIu^^e"t"o .-d 1^£^:Z^ WM^'Wt^ BRe 1 1 I 1 184 TJhe Hall in the Grove. 4-i- il it is a good place in which to develop to a young his own powers, and the line in which he ought to ( vale them. James has reached the point where this dis- covery is of the highest importance to liim. I think there are grand possibilities about the yo'ing man. As for Joseph — I think you will pardon the suggestion, knowing how thoroughly interested I am in both the boys for their mothers sake. I knew their mother, you remember, when she and I were young. I should like to isolate Joseph for a time from all his old companions not only, but his old haunts, and surround him by such influences as his motl)er would have liked. I know of no better field than Chautauqua in which to experiment. This, in substance, is what Mr. Monteith sai(' about it. I think he understood Mr. Ward better than the sons did. Whether from that, or from other causes, the boys were of the Chautauqua party. Of course, it is unnecessary to state that the Monteiths were of the party, also the Wheelers, and the McChesneys, and the Stuarts, to say nothing of certain men and women not sc prominent in societ}-^ or culture, but who were f^' ughly interested by this time in Chautauqua. It is a curious thing how impossible it is, as a rule, to convey to people a correct impression of any place by merely telling them about it. As a matter of fact, every member — at least of the Centreville delegation — had heard of Chautauqua as a place where were many cottages — some fine ones — boarding houses, hotels, stores, telegraph office, post-office and other indications of civilized life, yet not one of those who were nearing the grounds for the first time but realized afterwards that he had believed himself about to land in the woods and camp out in very rural style for a few weeks: a taste of pioneer life, with many discomforts, and a fair chance to immortalize himself by being good-natured under diffi. culties. To each of this number there came a sensation of bewilderment as the boat fairly touched the broad i ; il 3ung man it to culti- •e this dis- I think man. As uggeation, I both the other, you Likl like to 3mpaniona m by such t know of cperiment. ai(' about than the aiises, the irse, it ia re of the 9, and the len not sc ' -ughly a rule, to ■ pUice by ' of filOt, 3gation — ere many els, stores, »f civilized e grounds t he bad md camp % taste of chance to ider diflS- sensation the broud Thit Way to Che ffall. 135 "How So^yotalfr?" w '".'?'^"'^ ^^^^^" *" P°"^ ^^' irreetina of l^l.?l a ? ^u *^^® characteristic American Seet tifem "rA'^^"" *^\^« «*«PP«^ ^''^^^h' forward to Mr Fe "ton • nnl ? ^T ^WT ""^ ^'^« "^''^^ ^"trance, ro„i ; • ' "® '''^ * ^'™®' ^'^- ™sons, the wheel won't ^ laTtendTf " .'''' ''^^'-^-^>- ^'^ e„:i Fnrritf A ^"""i^ ^"/^^^^e I you are booked for 279 Porrest Avenue. Mr. Bennett, I secured No. 20 for vou y mlhe w^v'' ^'f '• '^" ^^ t ^^^^^--^ who win sC al r^^ht ^(k*' M ^ «f ^T ?^"'^' ^° '>^™' '^"d it will be ail light. Oh Mr. Stuart, there is a telegram awaiting the nlrr" ^ni^ 'l^^ ^^'^ office, second avenue o tlie right. Now, Mrs. Fenton, if your party is readv w« will move on to your house ; ^ou Ire ou Janes AvenuT^ '"teaTpln''.?"' ^^r^ '^''^ it isa"shor1 wZ '' How fast Paul Adams could talk f This was the onlv a W"''m ^'"^^ "^ ''".' ^^''y ^-^^ - for al; minu^^ andtl ^^.«^« ^^ere they ? Where were the woods ^n^ .1? ''T^'"^ °"*' ^"^ the uncivilized surromdinffs and the chance to be heroic? " Palace HotP''^S inh. ,?1 r. ^T** w>"<''"'g avenues reaching awav TySy handlr'f ''^t 7'^ ?'' ''"«"« »' b-^i-fes" ou pa»iVotnhi=^:rrLTet^^^^^^ house which the Fentons and theiv party had secured for the season, the effect was no less bewildering Here in t^^^!}!^^'^^-^ surroundings, tli-evVoun;i a to 'hr.'u; ^ ""dding, modern irench windows" reachiiiff to broad piazza floors, carpets, curtains, and in IhoTlh the needtul belongings of a tasteful summer hornr 186 The Hall in the Grov: \m '* " Tinted walls and lace curtains, I declare !" exclaimed Mrs. teuton, standing in the centre of one of the pretty rooms to take a general survey. " Why, Caroline, this isn t the woods I " ,./! ^f« ^^Z'^'" returned that young woman with a hapnv little augh; "see that row of trees just at the side door, and those in front, and that pretty little group across the way, and hear those birdsl » This was really all the time that she bestowed on the out-door world. Her mind was intent on getting everything within the small bright house reduced to home-like order. This, as every housekeeper knows, is no easy task, especially when you have stepped into an abode already furnished to remain only a few weeks, and do not feel justified in sending to tlie store or the warerooms for every little article that has been overlooked. Steadily did the presiding genius ot the house v .c woods betake herself to her task. 1 he others worked spasmodically, leaving off in the midst of a task to go to the dock when the afternoon boats came in, or to go to the office for a walk, or to rove through the ever-fascinating avenues, just to see where they would lead, or to follow the sound of mar- tial music and get a glimpse of the picnic excursionists on parade. It would be impossible to give even a hint of the numerous devices which nature planned during the next few days to allure the dwellers in that cottage. Un y Caroline worked on, insisting upon planning until each thing was just where she wanted it to be T set in just such a ^yay as would contribute most to the com- tort of the inhabitants. "I believe you like it," declared Mrs. Fenton to her as slie arranged and rearranged the dishes in the tiny clima closet with a view to economizing space. " Here you are working away and the rest of us are just wild to get out. You haven't even seen the Auditorium yet, nor the Hall, nor anything. What do you mean ? " " im saving them," said Caroline laughing. « They'll keep, but my yeast won't unless I use it to-night. Vm Thia Way to the F.all. Bxclaimed the pretty oline, this \i a happy side door, up acros.s ily all the rid. Her Lhe sitirill , aa every ^vhen you to remain Jiiding to ticle that ig geuiua her task, f in the ifternoon Ik, or to st to see of mar- arsionista a hint of jring the cottage, ing until 3 ; set in the com- 1 to her the tiny "Here ust wild iura yet, I?" ' They'll lit. i' m 187 going to bake some bread • if Tir;n o„ »ore like home than th:r;h!oh"we' bTy" "" '" '"""'^ might let the wi„£^ ccTJvL ™P ' '"""«'' ^ """ «l'e timt would „rKl h veTC^'wr /'■?'■ '■'^"'™» and she had eiiliie nnnfrT^f". What if it were, had been that of a hirPfl I,oIr^« '.'','""' ^ei only home elegance. Perhaps S is thl '"^ '°"''t^^" ^^^'^'^^^ «»d never meant C/toer "ThevT^T ""^ '"^'' '^°"««^ and cold," she said to^;erseTf '^ir^^h;^''^' ""^^^ never tinnk of cuddlinrdown n .n '^^'' " ^ ^^"^^ and being just myself I dnn VI ^")^ corner of them with the'm^; bu?tSf iittltulgTTp: ^er ^1^""^^^ if the man who nlanned if I,,. ° '"Peiteot. I wonder her abont these eorne" cnpboards h^ ""'^ t^'ked with thought them ont hinLl7wZut bil I, T'*^ T"" """^ obliged I am to her for them " ''P' ^""^ ""»«'' ch^upi,';a''^ir;titr„t,%irset^^^^^^^^^^^ aturti;rLtre:"L"rtre''^'''^^r^™-" highly appidaW^p^ortoit :r:itrr' /'"^/r "'"» queer are human hearts that I 1„ ?*•<•? ""''• ''"'• "" word to you about SectLr-nJ^^^ she worked with such qui" pleasure "nl "JTm '''''1' » «\n^« ''f making the most of acrvenient iTtlt' if ""'' as she had never felt before "-""i^enient little home safdy stoTeT ZT^'lt^t:''^!' f^^'^^PP^^ O'^hes washed her hand., ^buTSerand' hm>;±; ?''f '" house-apron behind a convpnJo^*.^ ^., ^^ ^^'^ ^""^ «.o«gh^thad been huTITrspti!:. t'wSn",' 188 7%a Ball in the Grove. 11W15 work aprons when work was r'one, and pave n sat. isfied little sigh as she told lierself that now tliey might begin their meetings as soon as they pleased, she was quite ready to listen and enjo-. She knew just what she was going to have for breakfast, and in just how little time it could be made ready. There was no occasion to give another thought to the house that evening. She resolved upon a walk. It was just at the fascinating hour when the soft gray mist of the departing dav was hover- mg over all things, and yet when the sky was aglow with stars. Had she planned it all, she could not have chosen a better hour in which to get first impressions of the beaut} that overhung Chautauqua. The question was, whom could she secure for a companion ? The large family had scattered itself after tea as if by magic, irre- sistibly drawn in the ways of their various fascinations, Mrs. Fenton having been the last to go, half provoked at Caroline, meantime, because she would not be prevailed upon to leave some household task until the morrow, and come and see how lovely the lake looked in the twilight. "Robert," she said suddenly, discovering a gray- coated figure sitting out on a bit of log under one of the tallest trees, gazing steadily up intw the sky, "suppose you come and show me a little piece of Chautauqua I" Whereupon Robert Pen ton jumped up from tlie log with great alacritj', and came towards her. " Are you really ready ? " he said eagerly. « I shall be delighted to go with you. Caroline, do you know anything about astronomy? " " Not a thing," said Caroline, smiling over the earnest- iiess of his tone. " Well, I wish I did. I wonder why they don't have boys study it more I It seems strange to know almost S?^.'","^ ^^ * ^^^ ®^ worlds that we can look right up at. Think of Europe, for instance ! I know a good deal about that part of the world though I never saw it, and per- haps I never shall — though ^ ^^^^^^r 1 „i„.n u.-i. il„ how, I've not seen " yet, and I know pretty well what la rave n eat Isey might I, she WHS just what just how occasion ing. She kting hour vas hover- glow with ve chosen >m of the ition was, I'he large agio, irre- cinations, ivoked at prevailed trow, and twilight. a gray- ne of the " suppose iqual" a tlie log " I shall 3U know 1 earnest- 3n't have w almost ht up at. }al about and per- but any- l what ia Thit Way to the Hall. jgS going on over there ; but what do I know about that « oSt thT'n'"'l ^'^''"^ ^*^^V «^^^'^ht down on us?' lint then, people can travel through Eurone and learn the languages, and make the acoLinCce of t « inhabitants; and after you have learned a Inhere is to know about that star, hiw much will X know of tl « people who live there, if there are any ?^" ""^ '^'^ That 8 true," said Robert thoughtfully. "But that'R _ To this Caroline heartily assented, and Robert with increased eagerness, began to tell her of a certain lecTure that^ was to be delivered soon at Chautauqua, byone D^ i^gtsfnTe- ^^ ^>tes:T^' J. _they reached a turn in th/tenue! "'^Hk'!^'^^ u ^x?^ 7^'°^ "^""y <^o you want to go ? " Whichever way you are pleased to take me I hav not seen anything save what I couldn't heln looking I; when we arrived." ^ looking at roc'f '^''t".'^'?u just going to take >ou to the Hall. The rest rush to theAuditorium first and rave over that It IS splendid, I suppose ; large, you know, and makes one think of crowds and grand things Rnt T na«v • • people enough he., tf fill it^n^t tX^'^T WUh^the^ that ' an.T\> •' ^^^'^1"' ' J'"«* * "^«^ '^"^i^n^e would fill that, and t is so white, and so — Oh, well I I can't nfi^Z'^^^ ''I "^°^.' ""^ y^^ ^ill like it Some peo ^ «Thn t^'' about it much; but I know you wUI.'^ "Thank you," said Caroline, and her heart was smil- l^.^.ff.r.^^l «« .^^^^ ^^e^- She understood TeZ. nT?rx ^""'eching ot what he would have said if "he could have expressed his feelings, and she undLtond and appreciated the delicately^incere comphmenl 190 Tht Hall in the Qrov: ■ A I 1 :i \\' , .,?•^"^^''» lovely avenue that leads to your favorite building, she said, as siie turned back to look at the straight wide road they had traversed, lying clear-cut amid the shadows of the overhanging trees. "Isn't it {"declared Robert, with evei-increasinc enthusiasm " Tins is another thing I like so much -thia avenue. I 11 tell you, Caroline, when it must be iusl grand ; and that is in full moonlight. Ha 1 there it s I " ^ J t IS impossible to describe to you the delight that was m t he boy s tones as the gleaming pillars qJ£ the Hall of philosophy rose up before him ; sometiiing in the pur- ity and strength, and quaintness, seemed to have got- ten possession of him. Whether it was a shadowy link between him and some ancient scholar or wor- shipper I cannoi oay, but certain it is that Robert Fen- ton, boy though he was, treading the Chautauquan avenues for the first time, felt his young heart thrill with a hope and a determination, neither of which he onderstood, every time he saw those gleaming pillars. " Uh I said Caroline. Now what a foolishly-insignificant word that appears on paper I And yet you are no student of language if you do not to some extent realize the shades of feeliiiff which It IS capable of expressing. Let it but explode from living lips able to give it just the right intonation, and It becomes eloquent, pathetic, sarcastic — according to the mood of the speaker — but always eflfective. 1 1 satisfied Robert. " There I " he said in triumph. " What did I tell jou ?» Ihey walked with quiet feet up and down the echoinff floor. They walked to the outer edge and looked down on the hillside below them, over toward the lake spanned by gleaming lights, and up at the ever-increasing stars. They walked back and stood in front of the plaS form, and gave free play to their almost equally vivid imaginations. Thev were reully hpcrinnWirr Hfo =L fh—a two -T- although counting by years one was neai-ly a Tht Way to thin Ball. 191 decade ahead of the other. Robert's opportunities hud been by far the greater, and this bridged the difference in yeai-s and made them companionable. Robert iS arrived utTh ""^ ^'"^, °^ "^^"^ ^'"""^ ^^^^^^^^ "e had arrived at the age 'vheu a certain type of free and fearless boy needs to struggle hard with the temptation to look down npon all feminine natures _ except, per- ieTv'ILT'^'''' T,'^ grandmother's - with sonfeuf^ng lelk mfd f ■ 1 1 ^'"^ 7'?' J " ''^^''^ ^« hopelessly weak and feeble ; so afraid of a fence, or a stieam of Tri^fw °1- -^^''^ screamed at bugs and worms, and shrank from dogs, and even cows, as terrible creations : they ;yere, in short so lacking in those elements which a real bo}' cannot help at a certain time in his life pnttinir fewTSr""'"^ ^'l'^ virtues that Robert at leasrin vf few beside nis mother that he cared to like, always put- hl?n^ '"' ^'i '^'"""^ ^^'^ f^^^- The quiet poise of Sh«wr '''"?'' '? '""^^"'^ '-''^ J»« impetuous one Bhriel ed ThaT "'^•?. V""^ ''^'''' ^^">^ ^'''^ ^^^^^^ and Shrieked, that in Robert's eyes she was a model. He stepped on to the platform at last and said : " Now I will be Professor de Profundus, and deliver a lecture on The biological construction of the - well, the Gauls, s,^ I audience ? '' "''' '^'"^ ' "^ ^''^^'' ^ill you'be J^J^^^^'.^^'^r^^^^^^g^i^g; "I will, if you will have a ^versaztone instead of a lecture, and explain to me the meaning of the words which compose your topic." Whereupon he shrugged his shoulders and declared conversazzom in his opinion to be dangerous things, buppose ev-ery lecturer were called upon to explain the TZVo ''^Tf^ ^"u"^^^ •' W'-t wou!S be ome of the lecturer I Thus they, like two happy children gave themselves up to the pleasure of the hou^ Robert after indulging m a strain of bombastic eloquence for a few minutes, suddenly broke away to look after a Das^ ing squirrel, and Caroline moved toward one of he huTs which adorned the hall, wondering much whose fac^ U zMm 192 ITie Hall in th» Gtov§. was, and finally growinfi^ ho interoHtod in the dim outlin* of feature that she 8et about learning. " Robert," she called, as she heard his step approach- ing. " Eh, what? I beg your pardon, ma'am." This waa the answer, in a strange voice, to her call, and turning, somewhat startled, she saw that the hall had another oo* oupaut. CHAPTER XiX BIMFI.E ADDITION. o^^nfH "','""' "^'^^^'^^ ^""t' ^««'"ng against one of the .:olumnH, roused apparently Infsud denly from complete aUorbtion in a book wS in the waning hght he was still trying to read ^ turn d '^^^rjL?d'''n"'" '^ ^"' ^^'^""' - Caroline „7o,f^' T ''eard my name, and imagined mvspJf wanted, I suppose there are other Roberts^? the world though just at that moment I was ignorant of it' ' How do you do again 2" This was the other Robert's voice; with th« unceremoniousness of boyhood hp nrn^a^ . 7 • . ducehisiriendsafterafuS'of'h^^^^^^^^^^ " "" ducel l"to hinf ;r'''"'' ^"'"^"'^ \ ^'' Monteith intro- of hi Ti •! ^ this mor.nng, and said he was a friend c»f h.s. 11,1:4 ,s our friend Miss Raynor, Mr. Masters- There WHS something so entirely boyish, Ind at th« same time courteous, in this presentation, that the two •tiangei-8 could not help smiling at each ither. «n,/o-T """^^"'^ *^^^ ^""^" ^"''^"^ will like to make acquaintances in so unceremonious a manner,'' the Ten ftleman said ; yet he lifted his hat. ^^"" think Taftt^'' ""'^^ ^''^ "^^"^•" This to Robert. « I inn k jou have a young man in your partv whom T «m anxious o meet ; Mr. Monteith told meV vou7d riikelv t. find him at your cottage ; Mr. James Ward " ^ _Kobert promptly assured him that ],« l.»^«, ^e t Wu,d-» whereabouts, and if he wo'lild Join ti;'n> ;„"S '93 194 The Hall in the Qrove. m ■n w r ri- homeward walk he could probably see the young man that evening. Caroline, seeing the stranger hesitate, and look inquir- ingly toward her, could not do other than assent to so fiimple a way of piloting him ; nor was she sorry. Keen interest in James Ward, and intense anxiety to have «" Chautauqua ^ya3 contract, you should h ve seeu it .s T 1} ''^"^''^'f^ ^he wilderness of treev; .,,,,1 ,,; i i , \'^^--'i» unbroken and squirrelsin sumn .1- ""t''''"''^' mlnxh'Mea by bi,d. I saw it in bot Cel ' "n '"^ ^"V^ ^'^"'"'^^ "^ '^^"^e^'- and 'Ireamed out E cttr Irr^uch r' ^'' •.''"' "^^ ^^'^^ iooking a ILnT V r 'T^'^ ' °"'' '^^'^« ^^"^"^^'«' " but a few years fenrc." ^ ^ ''^ ^ '^'"'^ ^ '^'^^ ^'^^'^^ ^e ^ael'^'Se" L^reteri^ "' n ^^™T^^' >^^^ "^^«-«t«d " Whi,f w!. eagei she could noc but be interested What do you expect in tiie future ? " ^"teiested. outof Ibrdn "7"^' '"^'''^^"« ^^^^* ^^'^ be ^vrou,tt it dl -!^Je u; nnrble"l ''""' ^ /""^ ^^ «^"^ *° ^^P^ white paint i^it"4n%i^^ i^^^-''T' ^"^'^'^^ ^^ this to this, „ periot s&a„^e° X pe*M^'' "i '''""'•■'' tl".e in the least wUI, in^love fo^rtt'^ pite ""{.fJ-'P^- tence ;losed w tli ,i eav hino-1, h,,, P'''""- -f '« sen- -t laagh; hiswhole to^ e,ir u^dlH'ef '^?'' '1''^ '■ A,K! marble steps leading dowftowdlf/f ,''""'''; a marble n.adwa, to the I'nvv " L ! i . '"'"*' ''"^ litetliePnvx isn'Mt » I ''^ ' ''? '=•'"1 eagerly. "Jt is " Go ahead I " „' ^ .r™'' """"S''' "'' " 'j'-''"'"e." hearted lanl " Yc ""al " ^""I'S T"' ^""' » ''"IW between Zte will mX Chf.T'^ ^ ''"■?""'"« "" ' "'" ' " had s.arted for l7ol b„t „.";"''"' f""""'"-" They Hall in the t v W , ' Sv 1 ■'' " '"'' '"^ "' "'" chance to see CarSliJ.Vs'LS.^rilVrj, ?:?••"""" * i. V 196 Tlte Hall in the Orove, I?: Tin mm- 1 •' Did yon ever see such a building as that before?*' he asked her suddenly. She shook her heacl. " No, and have no knowledge of the names which you give to it. Why do you call it the Parthenon, for instance ? " " Well, you know about the original Parthenon *"' '« Nothing at all." " It was a wonderful marble building in Athens, jn the Acropolis. Do you know what that is ? " And again her only answer was a slow shake of the uead and a wistful smile. " It was the name given to the strongholds of cities ; the highest points, you know, where the great monu- ments were placed, and where the finest pid)lic buildings were. Athens had the finest acropolis in the world ; so fine that when we say the Acropolis nowadays, we mean Athens, thougli there were others. One of tiie most wonderful buildings on this acropolis was the Parthe- non, or the Atheneum, or the Temple of Minerva, which- ever name you please. It was built of white marble, iu the Doric style of architecture." " What is the Doric style of architecture ? " his eager listener interrupted him to aslc. " Well," looking up at the many-columned Hall of Philosopii}^ " it is this style : an imitation on a small scale and in wood, of one of the grandest works of art to be found in the world." " I don't like it that it is patterned after a Temple of Minerva," she said, looking up, nevertheless, with a new interest at the gleaming colunnis which, in the brilliant starlight, one could readily imagine were hewn from marble. " I do," he said promptly, intense earnestness in voice and manner. " I like it exceedingly. Let the beautiful white temple be rescued from its heathen desecration R!id dedicated to the service of the good and true God our father, and his son Jesus Christ." He lifted liis hat leverentlj'^ as he spoke, and Caroline fel« her heart thrill Kit before?" ? " his eacrer Simple Addition. ^q^ with gladness as she recognized in fl,?« <. f n beyond that of any litern-v nml ./ • f , ", ^^"o^^hip ingly. ^ ^ « '^'lue, tiien/ «lie said iuquir- it was here tLTho ™;„e" Jv » nnT '""'V "' '■"■>«'• .nl :^re"raildlv"? " '■ "'^'T™' " "' ''- <5i»ta„ce now. 10. feraSf ^crs irs ."eSii-i "^ thrown around him She l' ] tl . "'l""''' ''° spoken ™an,a„d alr'u fe ,g' LfXXd'/'™'- mma longtime aii<]nn.,i<] <-„ii -fi . ^ "'^" known possessioLfTeV!"tt , g :/^ 1.^^^^^^ f^^V took what an be :ieetTd"to?h;T"rV''^^^ '''^ ^'^-^^^ ^-e, who has on y fpo'ln of the 1 ';"!'^^^^ '" ^'"'"^^ who wants to Lice the n^^l ^'^' ^'«P"«''Und offered?" ^^"^ "''^''t of tlie opportunity so ' ITor'seVit dL"T'"'' q"««tion," I,e said, langhin^ have ah^adylTJeci^L^^ --7 things ; whethef^oli* whether ^l "eralta'^n a t"rt^^^^^ desire to undertake, or wlietlie you are \ff Jr f ^'^'J mformat on. The hot \< » ^ ^ '^"^^ general what he or she wants ot of>h"'V''" ^'' J"^^ ^^^"t do you want? " Chautauqua now. What a "^Jf'^'t^""^'" «^"d Caroline, with perb«n« n e.,,.KV. literally true to ^L' . oIh ^*'"^ '"^- "^hat is toS ihe added -lam hL 1^ ^' "^ J'^'^^'''"t admission," i am having my second good opportunity iot . f m 198 TJip. Hnll in the Grove, i \ :' 'i. f"i( iV- learning anything ; my first was in our local C. L. S. C. Her compiinion turned and regarded her with an earnest look. " Then you are a speciul friend of this scheme," he said v/ith feeling. " I am glad. I like to meet those who are indebted to the movement started here. I believe there are already thousands of them, and I believe there will be millions. There are people who call the enterprise superficial," he continued, with increasing energy. "I never knew anything that waa less so. It begins at the roots of things ; prepares the soil, drops the seed, tends and waters it, and says' to it: ' Now grow: become an oak if you can, or an elm, Gl- a fruit tree, anything that God intended you for! you are started.' " " I have heard that argument urged against it," Caro-. line said, laughing, and thinking of Jack Butler." " Of course ; there is nothing better for brainless people to urge against it; and there is nothing more foolish. Superficial indeed ! Is an oak tree superficial, I wonder, because it started from an acorn ? Chautau- qua never pretended to give men and women finished educations. It only starts them, or gives a vigorous push to those who are started ; brains will do the rest. I like it, too, because it does start people ; I mean, it doesn't begin too high for men and vi^omen who had to work during the period of their boyhood and girlhood. I, for instance, who had to leave school when I was a boy ■)i less than fift^sen, and earn my living from day to day found that I could come here and have my bits of knowledge gleaned from various sources — spread out for me until I could see what I really did know, and then push on. I'm a mechanic; a builder," he said, drop- ping suddenly into a quieter tone " A bit of an enthu- siast on that subject too, I suspect, as you will surely conclude I am about Chautjiuqua. Is this your house, Fcnton ? Why, I designed this ; it is one of my pet houses." Caroline laughed again over her own thoughts ; she rennimbered the corner cupboards. She wondered if Simple Addition. jgg Ill's wife had planned -hem. I am not sure tl.nt r n feefings SI,e^l;:d-atj:atSrsttk'„7vl^bLs''.='r knew just so much more tl.au she did an hour beVo 1 :i i i-i| I >' CHAPTER XX. "GIFTS DIFFERING." REALLY don't know but that girl's coining to Chautauqua just counts as a waste of so many more muslin dresses, and kid boots and fancy neck-ties I I don't believe she has secured a single idea since she has been here ; and, what is worse, I'm afraid the ideas are set too high for her to reach ; especially as she has no notion of trying." This was Mrs. Fenton's grim sentence as she stood on the south piazza one morning and watched pretty Aimie Allison step daintily over the dewy grass, skillfully raising her fresh lawn to shield it from a bap- tism of dew. She made as pretty a picture on the ex- quisite landscape of the summer morning as one need care to see. Yet Mrs. Fenton's face was grim as she watched her. Truth to tell, that motherly woman found ii, a difficult task to mother the pretty butterfly. She flitted so airily and carelessly from flower to flower in the Chautauqua bed, and so sweetly refused to do anything but flit and flutter, that the earnest woman knew not what to do with her. Chautauqua ought to lielp her ; yet how could it help the humming-birds that hovered over the vine-wreathed window ? Miss Aimie seemed to have about the stability of the humming-bird. There was anotlier trouble, if she had. owned it to her own heart ; half of the gloom on the matron's face this morning as she watched the pretty girl was owin^ to the iact that her special vrotigS, James Ward, went far too ! f nreut far too ''Gifts Differing r gOl thought. Why won (S^^^^ ^"^ ''^'^ ^^''" ^«"ton opportunity for cu tiv!t n.' ' ?^ "'^ *^''^ "°^^ ^^^'^ J'i^s ■ less girl's 1 Good e trnoff f 1 ' T'f ^ ^''^'" ^'""^ brain, thenf every clay, u„d H7on?n!^ ''^^^""' ^""^ ' ^'« ™«t BcquaintanWironi; bTt^?.-"";'!"'^ '"°"^''' ^" ^"''■n help him. Why couldn't h« ^"""'^^'''P^, «"ch as would opportunities? ^lSadh«.r^'1 f^' .appreciate his ^^^\ as the takina nf n ^'^«^«'ned to like nothir)- so brainless girl «ultasTi;^^ ^""'^^ ""'''' ^'"« S^^^ Fentongaveh.ron I,r^n.J ««^«^^»ame whic,. Ahi l.er «tep^earefuHy ovt tir.?"^^ ^'« «l»e watched I'ewn tfee, James w!id 1 .' ^^'"''^ ^"'"' » '^cently and her fa'n, a ufher c Ceh l'!'"'' T^'l'^ her parasol, i'^g else in life to thLk oT ' ' ^' *^^"S'' '^« ^'"^^ ^'"th- fle^gtr r ^ft: Sell!!! ?sr ^^^^"^ ^^-^ ^^'^^^^ don't like herhjfluenceover rnr 1? 'P'.^'^'^ ^^^^«'' I to be fascinated wTthaTretfvT- ^^.^«i»«t at the age brains. Caroline, why do^n't J.„ h 'i '"''*'""' ''^'"'^ ^o "You don't seem to i.^«VTi^''^P"'®^''°^J''''' laiighed Caroline! a™ she a^eth^i^ V\i^"* direction," regiment of fresh^owel in heV^°'J^ir ^^^^ « pared to distribute. « Besides It hJnl'^ '''" ™ P^^' hard on poor Aimie • she mnv «! ^^'"'^vou are rather spite of iW pretty muslins"^^"'"^"^'^"^ ^^ ^^^O' i'^ r.spLl°.°' BufMrs F^ntr ^^"- ^^"*«"'« ««" grim "moment, thf preVt^^^l^ " '^^' T'^"^^"- ^t that ve y tence that ^ffntLltr. t^n'T'^ "\,'^ "^'^^^ «f '' «en^ tiptoe to catch rgl^t? of trt.^"'^^ «" airy room in the ChSpn'fT ^'^'"^ ^^^'"" ^^ hirge, «ight. The room wachrerfil^ ^t was a pret%' seated, was decorate" troll'^.t^t^riH'""^^'!' pretty, seated he^retab^SSe^^^llf^J-^^^-^ 202 The Hall in the Grove. ! ; . ; ;■ 1'!^ i ( ' ! r ' ■ ' , > . u fi gentleman, eeeming, like themselves, merrily absorbed in Bonio work. "What in the world arc they all doing?" questioned Aimie, stretching her neck for a better view. "They have pieces of bright sillcs, red, and blue, and all colore, no, they are not silks I I declare, I believe thej ai paper ! What can they be doing ? How pleasant it look in there I Do yon suppose we couhl go in ?'' " Why certainly, " her companion said with alacrit •' Our tickets admit us to whatever is taking place on these grounds." And being in the mood, just then, to do whatever his fair companion suggested, whether it was to climb a tree or join a Latin class, ho immediately led the way to the side door which stood invitingly open, and they were promptly shown to seats among the eager workers. Straightway a watching assistant laid before them the bright-colored papers arranged in squares. "What am I to do with these?" whispered Aimie, smiling and blushing, addressing her neighbor on the left, a serious-faced girl. " Wh}^ follow the motions of the leader, if you can, " with a strong emphasis on the last three words. " I can't." And she looked up at the new-comer. Her face was serious, but her eyes were laughing. She held in her luind the rose-colored paper, partly folded in a curious shape. " But what is it for ? " What are they tryinjr to ir.ike?" ^ •' r don't know," and here her whole face laughed , "this is a Kindergarten, you see, and we are supposed to be taking lessons in paper folding; it looks simple enough until you undertake to do it, and then a problem in geometry is nothing to it." Still, by this time the mo it of the workers had succeeded \}i finishing some- thing, which they held up before each other's admiring eyes. A. curious little bird's nest, looking intricate enough to have required hours of care and skill in the making, yet having been made almost in a second by ''Gifts mprrngr 2O8 'M^"nasciuanM,f nhJ f,'^-', .^^'ereupon she seized I'lN H.id was evident nbont/'^l^'^T ^^'^^ *''^^^«" «"« tiling new. How n,wfv a • • ,^'"/"^'' ""<^ i»to some- to do. He jn,. Ik . '^P;"^«^ ^o hoar and to see am i.'K the i..rum;;; >, fSst'd^rur^'f- 1"^ ^"""- 'snggested until, with umtlecvnrf ' ^^^'.'^''/l^e teachei last fold and price 1^^^^ ^'»- """ I'}' mm,v the fines k demartenT,„h°'' ' 1? ."""^Mered tliose tliiiws t " "*'* "hildren how to do all t-ught „y.self fi^Wtl ,„tf4f ,t;jW '-e to b„ What IS she making now ? " " ^^^possiblo. Look I J aone, said Aimie. seizing a fresh bit 204 The Hall in the Grove. ■i;i ( ." of paper, and worlvinf? with speed and skill. Lo ! it proved to be a bout. Her own finished, she gave help to her neighbor, then to a lady in front of her, and finally right and left from all around the table they reached forward their papers in various stages of unrepair, and begged assistance. " You are so skillful," said one and another, admii^ ingly. And Aimie, bpght, pleased to be of avail, and to exhibit a gift that was prized, smiled, and bowed, and worked with a will, eager and happy. " The young lady in buff is very skillful with her fi Tigers ; she should join the class," siid in tones of admiring approval the sweet voice and foreign accent of the teacher. And Aimie blushed, and laughed, as all eyes were thus turned upon her. As for James Ward, he admired her exceedingly. He liked to see her shine ; to have her discover to others how bright and quick and altogether admirable she was. As for Aimie, she had never been so pleased with anything in her life. And I will not deny to you that her pleasure was greatly in- creased because she was presently called upon to extricate James Ward from a maze of confusion into which he fell in attempting to manipulate the bright papers. She blushed and laughed a great deal, but worked deftly at the same time, and quickly constructed for him a little boat. *' I don't see how you do it ! " exclaimed she with the serious face and laughing eyes, watching the fingers half enviously. " I can't do anything with the little wretches ; I think it is a great deal worse than Mp-rivale." " Oh, are you a C. L. S. C. ? " asked Aimie, looking at her with a new interest, as one with whom she had several ideas in common. " Oh, yes ; I am in my second year. Are you a member ? " Whereupon Aimie gave proud assent, and held her pretty head high, and made boats, stars, and birds' nesta \vith astonishing celerity, and felt literary and happy. "Gift, 0:ff„iHy." 204 ^'""R-S ever so manv of flu f r i ."'^ "^"'^'e >'>velv '7-;iarcla.H, because I a,^ ^M.sl-illM v^"'""^ ^" t''« ^vlMle but I come in 00^^! ;' '^ it >s,.'t worth "", a.Kl secure ideas .P';',''"f'°"'^'0' to see wliat is goi,,^ teaching of the liul 'tes "l''„T'?/'^/-^ '''« '^'^^'-^^ liiut ,s my forte, if J have o/.e Av ^""°':''>^ ^'^'^^'''^''•• " Oh no " s-iir? A ; " ^'® .V">i, h so ? " f"oedee;:;,ed '^t'wea'o/tA''"'' "- ""^l- on her """' nnpossible it would be for hi 1 ^' """''' ''"">»• ''ow <'r the cubes, arKIeS^e^^^^^^ '"^'^''^ "« ^''« "'^^ people were'witl tSifferent foL '^ 'V.^'/'^ ^''« ^'"'« ^">' l>e arranged. I t SfthenTh"/ 'l'!^''' '^'^ ^^'^''^'^ puien teacher would find ,o a'% ^^^ f"^ ^^"^^^ '^ ^^i-'^I^r- I'ovv readih- Jittle Xd" L ^'^^i^^^^ ^^ understanding '"•e only piU ted o the^^^^^ large subjects, if the3? ever so nfuch hdn } I. f?" " . ^,._«hildhke way. f get 206 The Ih'^ in the Orove. \]- ili. could be worked (iut on tlio blackboard in a sort of frtct* lire, and it would illustratu huoIi a tiling.' You ought to f*tudy this subject. I can't help fancying you would make a grand primary toacher. Are you interested in little children?" " I don't know," said Aimio tliouglitfully ; "I havt no little brothers and sisters, and I don't often come in con- tact with little people. Still, when I do I enjoy them ever so much ; and I'm always stopping on the street to kiss the sweet babies and cunning toddlers whom I meet. Yes, I think on the whole 1 must bo interested in chil- dren." " I know you aVe ; and I'm sure you would bo just fascinated with a primary class. We get such good help here in that direction I Last year Mrs. Seymour gave receptions every other day for our benefit, and we learned ever so many things. Did vou come to take up any special line of study this yc'ar?' "I came for fun," said Aiinic, with a sudden sparkle in her eyes. " A large party from our Circle was com- ing, and I could come as well au not, so I did: I have never been here before." " Oh, then you are just the one to take up the kinder- garten and primary work. I'm Aure you will like to study in that line. It is a great deal more profitable to settle on a certain line of work to carry out here, and when once it is settled, you will be surprise'^ to oce Viow many lectures, and talks, ai.d the like, that aro not on the subject you have chosen, can still be ri; ■ ' "p'.l in that direction. Look at this obstinate paper of mine 1 it will not bend in the right way." "You have given it a wrong twist on that last fold," 'aughed Aimie, and she reached forward nimble fingers t. <■: i''^.'-hted it. . '? M^ Uik had not flowed on uninterruptedly, but liifx! vr.,.- in bits between the paper foldings and the wi ..-u, ot' the lead' .. During another pause in the sort of familiar lecture on kindergarten work in general thai ^Jms^ ''Oifta Difftrlng: ^•88 beiijg jriven from the nlitfor, 207 »"ff unci lu..,H-„| : H.-Tn,! n- 'f ^''"'''i-en fuscinat- f^'-i'^'-like in tl.eir wu .Zni:.,^:;j''^'r I "-1 innocent, «o »t«o eu«y to trust, M^nut m il ^^^.r'"' '''"^'•^' ^^'^y «"d ^ ""ff» they .seem able to ro V, , \ v '^''"•' '^lj"ut every. est J ttle Christian, i. n y e hss T \T"' ™'"'y eun . see them strong mm. .. i "^ tJOjitidently exnecf. to ^ive. Don'ty^t Sit to' woJr;;;)?''^^'^^ ^^--^^' '"'-T i'retty little Aiinie h. XV 1-^?" ''"" ^'^^^ results?'" a strange use of lang„ t " ^KiV,"Al^''''^ ^'' '^ ^^^^e not gravely. To be t^iJkSd to n '"°^'^ f ^'^^^^ ^''^^l^ed vithal, a startiiiig thotdft Sh i ''"^"«i"g, and yet, Ward. He was givii c. utt;ntiV n^^ I'lf^^ ""''' «<= J^^^^ea acquaintance was say Wn ^^ ^^'«" ^^ ^Init a new ) ul. Ain.ie could eet'tTi ^^ ^'''? '""^ S^'^^^' thought There flasJied ovei Ler a, ""'^ ^^"^^ *" ^« i" earnest ^'^^vs thisyonng^na wo" d EwT" 'l'"' --"f thSt ^vaysj and the?e came to itr « •J^'' ""'^^ ^^ many ^^•ouM like to be .mmbered amm-'n ^'^"^^ '^^^' *^^ "Don't you thin I- Hffi 1 ^ ''"^^ workers. tians?" qt.Lt'fonedte'; tc IX' ^^?f^ ^^" ^^ Chris- of thought grow on Aimi's fl. ^'7^^^'^'"^ ^^^ shadow . r0^1clon'tln.fwTli:\""^"^^^^^^^^^ jucge. The truth is, J don^ n J I ^'"P"' P^^^^n to talkmg about; you see 1 a^nSt a ChH r ''^'^' ^^" "''« ^y this time there wus tl e m. . '^'"" niyself." %^^^^g on all over tlie room ^f , "'^^^ °^ ^^^'^'^"^g up coucluded ; there was Sp r ^ ^7^ ^^°"^«' lesson'wa^ f o". Yet she with L se o usTci" '7''"" ^°"^^"- "ow grown gravely tende, had ah./ "'^.'^"« *h^<= ^^^^ J am sorry (m i.,>..^ .u._ V' '':'" «* ^'ist Word to sa^ u(^k question to settle firsr';L»''"rJ'^X« '' very important diate thought, and tl ittle first, then. Wo 1 and then , 11.^.0,'....,*^ n't you give it - Hisocrate yourself to th nnme- le Work :! :• (1 .i 1 !!' ■ i 1 * 'i ? 1 'n 208 ,27ie ifaZ^ tn t?ie Grove. of teaching little children ? I cannot help thinking that you have a marvelous talent undeveloped in that direc- lioii." She smiled brightly, held out her hand, and grasped the other's cordially, then mingled with the crowd ; and Aimie, feeling a strange new sc::sation of companionship, looked after her wistfully. Very few of the people who could have helped her had ever culti- vated Aimie. She turned toward the platform now, lii^tening with eageru'jss to the after-meeting chat that was being enjoyed, wherein choice bits of kindergarten knowledge were being scattered. The leader recognized the pretty face as belonging to the skillful fingers, and turned toward her. " The child should be a teacher," she said kindly ; " should fit herself for service. The good God has given her a talent that she ought to cultivate." This time Aimie hud much ado to keep back a rush of tears. There was something strangely sweet and tender to her in this being singled out as one who should occupy a place in the world of workers. There had been times in her life when this fair butterfly felt in her secret heart a touch of sorrow that she should be always and only reckoned among the butterflies. She went home across the fields. It was well that all the morning dew had dried away, for she was reckless as to her fresh muslin, and let it trail over the long grass, her hands full of bright-colored papers, her lace fidl of pleasure, and her voice so triumphant as she told her story of acquired knowledge at the dinner-table that the lady of the house, at the head of the table, and the housekeeper at the foot, exchanged significant glances,' the one saying almost as plainly as words could have done, "Is is possible that she is at last interested in something besides her ribbons and laces?" and the other a sort of half-triumphant " I told you so I" but neither of them knew — nor did Aimie, for that matter — how the serious-faced girl went home thinking about the bright new face and deft fingers, and coveted that s(»il1 l:o .shine as a jewel in her ciown. CHAPTER XXI. FLATS AND SHAKP8. tage gravitited towards i-" ^^' ^'"^°" ^o^- tions. Individuality shoC nhin/'T ''"'P^^^'^e attrac- one more plainly than iHrene Cut^i;'''; ^^^T^' '" »« •eg ected to herald the arrival of fh! P ^./'""^' ^ ^^^^e t .iti^er by the ennuied Jaiktho fjo, f^ ^'^^«' ««"t f •JPid and Saratoga insufiferl^?. f ^'^ i^°"^^ ^^^"ch Jletermination to s?e wW ti .^ ^'°'' ^"^ 'Avowed his before he was a yea-oldef £ j^^P-^eetiug was like She had heard recently of so mHnvT''''.r''''''^^°^t^'- eiulties at Chautauqua it did nn.^ """'* ^^''^^ ^ere spe- -t would be ignoreT Ihe had ,'o??n^'"^^'^ ''''' '^^ «;^^Jght, it is true, and a blestrl / •''"^ -^"^^ ^^^^t she ^he had not ; bu she ifad fo^fl n '= '' T^^ ^^^ ^^^ tlmt ^ day was she in the vi^ltv of^^'^"'''°^P^'°»• ^ot faitment before she bel^2 f ^ «^y-«>odelling de- rather a cono-rnf„i„^— . , /«J"icea. I will ilYQ tttuqua. Bless " b .»» the day that Ireiretr.S fe*';^ .«« your heart I ever heard of Cha> aoo clay is cheap, and ducks .Is^ 210 The Hall in the Grove. \ .': V t« and cats and puppies can sit around on mantels and take up much less space than one of her oil paintings. If you kiiew how the Butler mansion groaned under its weight of paintings, you would rejoice with them over this respite in the shape of lumps of clay." " But what a bore it must be to the teacher," protested Mr. Feu ton. " Think of his having to sit there hour after hour and watch this burlesque of his divine art! Don't 3-ou suppose Miss Ireue's cats and puppies are positive trials to him ? " . " No, I don't suppose any such thing. He is a man of sense. He knows as well as you and I do — a great deal better, probably — that the men and women who come here to play with clay are not geniuses; in that line, at least. The majority of them, I suppose, haven't even a streak of talent for modelling." " Then what is the use in his spending his valuable time from day to day over a set of commonplace people who will never accomplish what they are trying for?" asked matter-of-fact Mr. Fenton. They were sitting on one of the side piazzas in the cool of the day. Mr. Masters was one of the group. He was the first to answer Mr. Fen ton's question. " The grand thing about it is, that here and there is one who touches the lump of clay in such a fashion that the artist's skilled eye detects genius. ' There is a power that must be cultivated,' he says to himself, and though the embryo modeller doesn't know it, the eye of the teacher is on him, or her, during the entire class, direct- ing, guiding, offering just such suggestions as shall help that one ; and that one you and I will hear from in the future, Mr. Fenton." " Then Fd dismiss the bunglers and give my time exclusively to the genius, I believe," declared Mr. Fenton, laughing. " And you would therebv defeat one of the net schemes of the Chautauqua platform, that of discovering to peo- ple their own power. Once let it be understood that K i« .,^' Flats and Sltarps. ^W in every other lies dor„v?nf • ' °'''"' "' *'">* iine as have Jpopularize" td"!^ ZZll'-' ^^7 ""^ /°» most play before von J\u a- ^ "^ *^^® ^^^m of al- -^^^^n^^^^'^Z^ the individual. there t"'.^S'cIySepUd' n"^ ^' "^' "^^ -« ^^ « sort of clay for theVeachL o ^^^^^T' ^'^ ^"^ ^"^ther of his undiscovered ge'^us '' "^"'"P"^^^^ ^^^ the benefit voSrp?oll^k.^^.?lr;L^^^^^^^ ^"* ^ ^horu« of little a thing, about evPr n^r'^^" ^° ^^^^'^ ^^er so getting actual' benefit he e fron. '' M? ^r ''f'^ "^'^^"^ tively; and Caroline mIT^', , f-'^^^^'^^^^^Vo^i- demonstrated that"^ her own . ' ^'^'^''^'^ «'^« ^ad "Well now," peiSstediUrF ?'"'"'' "'^^^^^ times, theory. Take m^for an iUnihlTr "' ,^'T ^^"^ «^^n d«y8 puttering in t' ere on n? "V ^7" ^'''' ^°^ two to have you tell me wlnt ^00^^ ''\ '^^^'' '"^^ ^'^ «ke " Whv fi^.^hf>v " 1 • ^ . ^^ '^'^^ ^o"e me." think 7o/t: Vd ;™ r;rntTr"« ''"''?;• ';^ «'""■"> inovv how you told tliP mn , 1 . ""■•self. Don't you roof and the end -i do? ,uff'''''^ '*"''' *'"> «'«?'"? low you told .ne aferw^rdl U.^ ? '""^'"^ ''^ '"•'"• ^''^ of that way of plaS" ,,ntn ^ " ""l'"'' ""'"g'" your clay house? "^ ""' ^"^ were busy making e4n'e,tt?re°d?'S„t' '""7^".^' *'» f^*"', ing that'it warthe Cse bi^ Sr":?" ''y/'""^''' ^"1. reaped that benefit! ^"^ "'"* '''" ''™»'=lf who her*Se™'\f1f,rpT:ni!r ''-^"f "{ "-'^-J «"» lins and bright ribbons Ed ^ •"'" ^""m' "^ fr"»'' «»■»• be said of ifffie Butler' A,'"" ',"'^ '™""' "''"" """W otteT^falL'^lL^.-r^^'"'-'^.'^^^^^^^^^^^^ i-. through S^tVSy-C.erit-elrg'ot^- 212 Thv llaU in thi; Grove. iir, boating on the lake. As yet she had made not even a pretense of being interested in anything tliat had to do with the distinctive features of Chautauqua. " I know why that hdce was created," declared Mrs. Fenton. " It is for the purpose of keeping Effie Butler out of other mischief while the rest of us are busy with our work." Had she and Joseph Ward only been congenial spirits they might have lounged througli the world together to their mutual comfort. As yet Joseph was as little interested in Cliautauqua proper as was Miss Effie her- self, the main difference between them being tiiat he lounged through the world in most unbecoming attire, and with startling disregard to the finer proprieties of life, while with Miss Effie every separate attitude of negligence and ennui seemed to have its appropriate costume and grace. During these days, James Ward was undeniably rest- less. Happy by spasms that were apt to leave him with a restlessness upon him that amounted at times almost to irritabilit}'. Certain questions of grave import were pressing themselves upon him for settlement, and he seemed not ready to settle them. Paul Adams went as systematically about his work as though he had months before this "determined on just wh it to do, and mapped out not only his present, but his future. He worked hard at the new buildings which were springing up as if by magic, and he worked harder, if possible, over his book. He had bought two houru of time out of the midst of tiie day from Mr. Tucker, that gentleman, it must be admitted," showing an unusual willingness to grant such a ftivor, and wntching with curious eyes to see what would be done with the extra time. Others were no less astonished than he with the disposal that was made of it. Joseph Ward chuckled over it at intervals during one entire evening. "What do you suppose he has done now ? " he said, beginning to his brother the talk about Paul as though 1 1; ^ Flats and ^Sharps, 213 tlent by the half imnitiVnf J I'^^om-d was evi- " Well sir i . "7 5 ^^^y «iionld I ? " Pitched iiuo'it tXct did ;;!r ^"""^"^ ^^^'»• ;l"ve right through the book , pv ''"^' '' "^^'-^""^ *« eJJmv since I was born IVVh.tloP.r' ''"'^ ^'"^'^ ' ^"^er I asked him if I,e expec ed fo hV if '^'"'^ ^^^^h L^tin ? Dr. Monteith, and L Iped h^^^'^^ fared ut n.e as if I hud g W^'hi /'^fj.f «aw and 'Well, who knows? I'm sure J dn/T S'^'"'^' ""'^^^'^^ see: und it came right TL t I /'«^^ chance, you n^ne. I^r. Monteith Ste me a ti^!-""^ T^ ^^^^^'"g of guess. Jack Butler !aidir,niihth'n''"1 '" '^^ ^"^d' I " bourding-ljouse ticket dS .t ''' 'if^.^'^en me «ays Paul, 'because I can ear mv^^ ? '"' '' ^''" ^here,' "P '"y mind to go in a d Te n ;^^^^^^^^ ^'f 'r^"' ^ "^^'^^ «'nnmer just to show tlie Doctoi h t T ^^"' ^ '""^^^ ^his l^"ONv. J can't tell what f m - . ' '''''^ gmteful, you won't do me any har n ' So'.^V *" ^'° ''^'^' ^'f it seeunng to choose them bT^o' t . • f'^^'^^'^'^^^'^y* «eernn,g to have no set iXurno. h"'^T^ "^ ^««>gn -»<1 to fill Caroline', l^ ? ^0? f'^^'^^^' ^°"^"« ;;ery available source vW. ever .?''^^"F"P '' from Kohert Fenton h\< n,!^^K , * ^''^ could. As for "Assistant Supette'^et 7?/'^^^^/^^^-^ J»- the was he over every hZZh 'l /"f ''action, " so eager offered on the g/ouuT^'Vl^'^'y^^^' -'t^^^tainnifn Kobert will ever be aware of f^.P ? ^'T ^^'''^ 3'our.g Jrst originator of the Centrevil^f '*; '^f^ ^'^ ^^'^^^ the but certain it was tlLt he te nv?/";''' f'^'' ^' ^' - ^^ ^'•'"g it into prominence ulV ''i'"^ ^^ ^°"'^I to ^^'^^ -^^ ^-" .--ion^'we^'lS iS^^^^'n^r r f J ^14 The ILill in the Grov^. Ui if habitues of the grounds; and moie than ono in authority had tingled him out as one of whom Chautauqua wouhl one day he proud. As for his mother, she was already ahnost p.'oiid enouoli of liini, and so grateful to him for oix'iiing this wonderful avenue of culture', not only to her hut to his father, that she could not, day nor night, forget her jo}'. Yet there was at this time creeping over her heart n shadow of anxiety for this same Ilohert. While they sat on the piazza during this snmmei evening of which I write, discussing the value of the clay modelling department, there occurred a diversion. Some one of the many neighbors who lived in ttents near the Fentons, was indulging in a private musical rehearsal : striking solitary notes on the organ ; prolong- ing the sound until it faded into distance and silence. " That is a very sweet-toned instrument for a small one," said Mr. Masters, arrested, as he alwa3's was, by the first breath of music. "I wonder whose make it is?" " I wonder who is making the music, and is so fond of Eflat?" said young Robert. " He, or she, keeps run- ning back to that. No ! there comes F sharp ; now she has jumped to A flat." Whereupon Mr. Masters turned toward him wondering eyes. " How do you know ? " he questioned, great astonish- ment in his voice. " How do I know ? Why, by my ears. Can't I hear ? There she goes back to E flat again; that is a pretty tone. She must be trying chords. There's upper CI That's too sharp, my friend, for a quiet night like thif!." " Robert," said Mr. Masters, wheeling his chair in front of that young man, '' do you mean to tell me that you distinguish these notes by name as they are struck at random ? " " Why of course I do. Why shouldn't I ? If you were in the other tent there vellincr A at the ton of your lungs, would I have any trouble in knowing that you said A instead of B or some other letter? " " t ■ ' eat astonish- FlaU and Sharps. 2I6 much Jthe letteri'o^ thTllvrrf "^ '\"'' «^"' »« learned them, why «houIdn Vl h« n\ ^J"" ^^^'^ ^ have ; I can't," said Mrs.Fenton « .f^^'T^^ ^"" ^h«'» ?" with the Bcale, or used to be ^k'^"^^ ^ ^'" ^^ite familiar " Oh, well, mother vm, Z ^ "^^^ ** ^^^1." was a fellow in thpr.*^- ^''^, "^^^^ learned. If thPT« alphabet I Iho'S'^rbfXW,^^^^ ^^^« ^'^^"- another, because I don't W*,L ^S^ «°""'^ ^om "howTo '' r"^«^ y^- -nTeu'rheT'' '^- ^'^^^ ^- I^obert .r;as fe^td'^^.^i, T ^-,'; laughed couldn't let the notes alonT Z ^^ ^°^ « ^cw days : Children's Temp"e when ?t wa. ''"^ ''"^^ ^ passed the when it wasn't^-I ^en in LT'"'-^^"d «^^°^«timea eyes, you know, and toucll f ) 1 P^^^^^^^d ; shut my them and fonnd out wheth^^f^*^'?,^ "^«» open^J nght Then there is a fellowL •'^'/^^^ ^^ '^« ««"» ^ was young Brown ^ you know hTmf^^^^^^^^^ *» ^^ "« I am ; ^vas practising, and we tr^ iUotp^^- ^' ^^""^^ «"t I woods and yelled ourselves hoi sf'^p' I ^^"^ ^^ ^» ^he now that we can tell with o7 ^"' "^^ ^ave got so bee;3t^;SS/R:ttV?^- "-'""g -e you Why, ever since we ramo t u ■ng. »"d I haven't mred^Lo^ ""^'"' '^' «^«' »>°"- fore?" '"" -"<'- ">»' yo" -ver-took »usio lemons be- the\™„'dVo;rbe^runZt"' tI" ''*°° "^ "'o "Ws in to teach music, I think." ^^ *™ '"^ '""« chaps ■ if*mn '*Wi r -ryf 1 1 iin it f .1 !f H Vl'l ' r-!f j! ■ t t 1 ;f ! Uk. 216 2%e Hall in the Grove. Mr. jMasters turned toward Caroline a puzzled face. " Doesn't that strike you as extraordinary? " he asked. " Just what are you referring to ? " " Why, this young man's ability to tell off the notes in that fashion, as they are touched?" She shook lier head smiling. " I didn't know it was an unusual thing. I think I can do it, though perhaps not so correctly always as Robert. Isn't that F sharp, Robert ? " she asked, turning to him as the practising in the tent continued. " Yes'm ; " said Robert without an instant of hesita- tion. " I shouldn't wonder if some one was practising on that very thing. Professor Seward wants us to give a good deal of attention to it. That is some of his class at work, I'll venture." Mr. Master's bewildered look in no sense changed. " Do you read music ? " he asked of Caroline. " Why no, I suppose not ; " she answered, laughing. " That is, I am learning. Like Robert, I took my first lesson the day after we reached here. I like it ; tliere is a perfect fascination about the system to me. I went to singing school a few times when I was a young girl, but I fell into a perfect slough of despond over what they called the transposition of the scale. It seemed as intri- cate and Jis hopeless as Latin looked to me then, and I fell into the idea that d special gift was required to know what they were talking about ; so I turned back in de- spair." " Caroline," said Mrs. Fenton, " I am astonished ! I didn't know you ever gave up anything." "I don't think I am very fond of giving a thing up after I once undertake it ; but, as I tell you, that awful transposition of the scale was too much for my faith." " Yes," said Robert, with a burst of laughter ; '' I asked a fellow in the graduating music class once to tell nie what it was, and you never heard anything like the buntrling, bewildering lingo he got off! I haven't the least idea that he knew what he meant. But I have ff the notes onished ! I Flata and Sharps. 217 discovered what it means • anrl fi,..f n r « is Professor Seward sM I ' if \ ^I'ofessor Seward exnM/^'rr •■■' ■' y°" ""Jerstood m„sio I could thpm W^ii TJ f iiieume to get acqiuunted with and they g.ggied over it ever so much, jou m^y be s e Then he mounted a chair, and he said ' Well ohn.i 1 who am I now?' 'Whv vou'io M.. "^«"' <= ' W en, chuckled. ^' ^ '^ '^''- Seward I' they MrsL'tce"'^"Tr' -^ '',''^'"ff<"'«« passed over Mr. system WH. good enough; couldn't t L^Lf ,fi ir r "T" ".U'S'" P'-<'"y •■e.^pectab y 'for years I c«. 8>„g rather difficult music with a .ittle study ; but 218 TJie Hall in the Grove. can't distinguish isolated not"s when I hear them, and give them their proper names." " Professor Seward says," declared young Robert with eagerness, " that half the musical people in the country are no better off, and they always seem to him as queer as though he should ask a man what a certain word was in a sentence, and he should say : ' Excuse me. I can read the sentence^ but I don't know the indmduai words.' " The evening bell pealing out at the moment intei^ rupted this convei'satibn and suddenly dispersed tba talkers. :'i ri^H 'Hh:. ir them, and CHAPTER XXII. "it's in the atmosphere." Olio of th 1) Igi Was he civhio- fn iha r«« <■ . ' ^"^^ attention -f*"^i Aimie, where are you ffoing?" sho hnrl noii ^ after the girl, with a vain hop! of^'recal iL hi 1 'To rest her brain aft'er the heavv v^cQ on ii au strain tliAra H*- aaj. i " said Mrs. Fenton with a curling lip "9 n* lit!.' lil 220 The hall in the Grove. she was losiiifr uU patience with Almie. True, tl\e child hiul hecoiue iiljsojhed in kinchtr^^iirten work, and was very Kkillful, but wiiiit (lid Mrn. Fontnn cure for this, so h)iig as she constantly beguiled her proteifc' iiita tete-a-tete walks, and so Idled his nnnd that ho could come to uo resolute position reganling anything? Caroline did not respond with her usual hap[)y ]auj;h , she, too, looked grave and tr()id)led. Mr. Masters had Btopped on his way to his tcsnt with a book for Robert, lie sat down now on the lowcir step of the piazza wheie Caroline was, and said inquiringly : "Anything going very wrong in your world. Miss Ray- iior? Your face looks worn with responsibility." "I'm trying to carry res{)onsibilities that 1 don't know how to manage," she said, smiling a little. " It is a special fault of mine." " We are most of us good at that, I suspect: shoulder ing burdens not meant for us to carry. Is that what you mean?" " I don't know," she said with a troubled face. " How far ought we to reach after responsibilities? I thiidc I am a little discouraged to-night. There are certain of our party in whom I have a peculiar interest. That young man who has just passed out of sight is one, and our Robert is another. Sometimes I am afraid that they are not going to get at Chautauqua what I specially desired for them. Indeed, there are hours when I pee liindrances instead of help growing out of this visit here." " For what sort of help are you hoping ? " "Oh, the highest that can bo had, of course; and, as I said, I see hindrances. The very lavishness with which other attractions are presented tends, perhaps, to ward away the mind from matters of higher importance." He ahook his head. •* False idna," he said emphati- cally. " Proves too much, you see. If we fliwae advan- tages, we may turn them into hindrances, it is true, bi?t that is not a necessity of the advantages. There U "/j5'« in the Atmosphere.'* 221 iTlnl^/tlnf |^<-'«^''ty spread around us witl. such a lav- Wmvo .:""'•'' '^•'" ^''^ ^'«»««t «o»I to forget God ''w hv^''^ • i^n''''V"''^''^-^ ooucerning Robert? " and l.e has not hitl ^^ *"°^i '' "'^ "°^ Christians, interested J- tJeed T ^^s'f ' P'^^'' T^ '^^ '« ^^^^^P'^ Mr Monteith"'?ou i^ S r"""^^' ^ "^^^ ^^^^ Mr Musters bowuil assent. choofeZ^VaLylXtr R7b''?"";i""8,'" '='"■ l'^- '^ ''« wo„d», and c Sts vit^i ^ a»cl ran, ,li„g through these •io von knmv o V I 1,™ ^ "" '"'"'■• "r. Masters, parent absurdities of old standar^^^^^^^^ '"^ .CeK;.Tb^;;iz£S-^??^ astonish l.ini 80 luiLwifhhfJ '"^"^.'^ *" l)ear,and ^^inpjat wbatt tiu^ n-'„r!hsx -r urr'^V"'"^^^^''^'l^'^'"™^"*^^" favor of the widest P^l^ ^ie. '' WSS&^"^^ her^t^lf Sean- !:; Ao piet^ent 6olid foundation truths of science and ^11 H !■! • ? I' ill ^^■.t i I Hi J! ': >■ ■ it::: I ^^^^^^* ' ■|.-:i. rr L ■lEf ! ooo 2^e 5a?? /w f/te Grove. art and theology in the most fascinating style, is exactly what Chautauqua aims at." '* Oh I know," she said in eager assent ; " but Chautau- qua presents foundation truths in an attractive manner ; 1 am talking about one who presents /a?seAoor?s in an at- tractive manner." " Give the boy a few years of such lectures, lessons, conversations, etc., as Chautauqua affords, and he will be proof against such a pretty glozing over of the false." *' That may be, but in the meantime ? He is not proof against it to^ -"fluenoe and effort in C di'reoLn . '?'* '"""='7 »' attract liim in the same hie ?""°''' '°°'""S *» ^er to a "tanner woiiVrflS^^^^^ frugged her shoulders in only hopeless, bu';:5.ioSscS^^ '"Thf' '^^ '^^ "«' to that i^oor child to inflnpnT \ '^iiere is not enough linf w.^1t'rng7te:|ndiJe'dTn ?! '"n"','-"' C"- against the pretty Aimie' ™'' "^ ^^'^'"'< "nJ to bf ircrr o'f^titt^fotss:';.-,/-' ^-i p^-* cantly. -^ "** mencis, Jie said signifi- ''Anything will do to create a diversion" «.-^ n Jine wearily. "T am oo a; '\ diversion, said Caro- AH I that is bad for planners T«- ;« V 1. over planning the side twfr!?' ^^. ^®**®^ *» give ieach,\nd learn to trust '' ^"' ^'™ ^^ ^^^ ^^ak to Meantime, all unconscious of fhi. ^• concerning them, young Ward L^fK-^'f?"'^^^^ 'one pursued their somewhat aSl ^fw'' ^^"" «««»Panion winding in and out of avennpfn r ^'"^"^ *^« ^^^es, the beauty lured them Tey TZZ^ "^,^ ^^^^^ «' Ampitheatre with its hpwjiri,^ presently upon the im an.i „^ M u.,, pewildenng rows of seats «f|tlf.u:," emerged waa on a leveT Jtl\f ' f™™,«Woh they 'Mther they went, s^^':^Z^t^t^d 224 The Hall in the Grove. \lV.i ' . ■J I ill " How big it is ! " siiid Aimie impressively, looking back and back over the intervening space to the last line of seats away on th«i hill-top. " Why did they make so immense a place ? Didn't it give you a sense of loneliness this morning? So much worse than empty seats at home. There were ao many of them stretching all the way up those queer aisles. Do you think there will ever come people enough here to make this place look filled up?" " Extremely doubtful," quoth James Ward, looking aliead and around him with the eye of a prophet. " They had too large ideas, I think, when they laid this whole thing out. The Children's Temple is about the right size ; holding a fine audience, and handsomel}'' filled every evening. But they must haVe had more faith in the future growth of the enterprise than I have when they built the Amphitheatre and laid out the Auditorium. People don't rush to such places in the wholesale way in which they seem to have expected." " People ought to come," said Aimie with a touch of energy, and a sort of wistful look in her blue eyes. "I wish tliey would I I wish all Centreville were here, and everybody whom I know or have to talk with." Her companion laughed slightly, looking at her curi- ously. " Just why do yo*i wish that ? " " Oh, I don't know," — with a little nervous move- ment, as of one unused to analyzing and explaining her own feelings. "It makes me feel different from any other place I was ever in. All the people seem differ- ent — seem in earnest. They act as though they had something to do, and liked to do it, and it makes living seem nicer, some way; more important. I don't know how to express it." She had expressed it better than she knew. The young man understood her. It was the stirring of the innnortal soul within her. Contact wlih earnest life and high-toned culture at Chautauquft had awakened her. It « in tie At 7)1 OH sphere.'' i225 vely, looking the last line they make so e of lonelinesa npty seats at oiling all the here will ever ce look filled l^ard, looking >het. " They id this whole )ut the right I3' filled every 1 in the futnre they built the um. People way in which 1 a touch of ue eyes. " I ere here, and ith." at her curi- irvous move- xplaining her nt from any seem differ- gh they had makes living don't know knew. Tiie irring of the been. Yo^g wSl "led?;^'^ '''''' ''^' ^' '' ^ satisfaction and pub. How . Tn n T-'^^' ™'^'"r« ^^ eadher? If he advanced i"^,;?"/-^ *^i' new impuls. Me of doing, would he u' V , '^''1'^ «^°^««lf capa- ground? 5u ti e contrtn if I "^? ^^ ^" *^« back- along, just makil effor ^I„i it '^'f «^^"' ^^ Abated «iglit, would she, fome dav n • '"^ ^^^^ ''^^^ i" of his sight? wCwl r !L '' '"^"'^^ ^"^^ «oar out lior, anyway? And alio whf^^"^"^' ^°"^^ *« ^o for She went on, tvLI^; T^/u^"^ '' ^^^'^^ '^ do for him e^.;,^erness. ' P^^^«"^iy» «" the same tone of suppressed "-i tiiey said sS ^eat tM±>" %? °" ^'^^ P^^^^^^"^' away from us -from me n n?? T 1 ^''^ f''™^^ miles wanted, to get uZarald'be 'n:lrf th''"\^^^^ ^^• thought aoout missionary work befme I ""* ^ "'^^^" to me it would m:x\J rr^Zh vS -^^ never seemed |;eathen learned anythingr t'luTlTdi T'f '^^ *^^^ hi« morning while I listenprl in f. ."^^'^ '^^n t seem so i felt as (hough I shou d li>P fn ;'^ missionary sermon. «nly 1 am not" fit, of course Buff "\''^"' ^°^'^' ^"«' counted in everywhere .,«u { J"'*^ '^^"^^d to be dorstand grand SwL^ithertT^i-^r/ '^"?^^^' '"^"^^ "»■ n>en did after the mietil ^r ' ^«^« tliings to tell me I Yesterdrv T ^ • ""? ' '' ^^''^'^ «« »^any and J don't know wh1rw^{V^^''T''^ '"^ ^""^^ ^^'^^^ seemed to me ?oo .^H^lr':^^ *!^f . ^"atter with it. It iust ?^-ipped. I don't ■] ke o th S "f ^' '' -"^T ^''S'' ^^'^^ I "^g i- talk all the ^oVs^nsetaf sL°";?li7" ^"' ^^^*^ 226 The Hall in the Grove. hlH- KIU 1'*?' J,!: :! . i 1 1 ^: U'l i| How fast little Aimie's wings were growing I Voung Ward looked down at her with a fancy that in a new and altogether unexpected sense he would need soon to look up to her. " It is in the atmosphere," he said with a short laugh that was meant to have a note of sarcasm in it. She did not detect it. " I think it is ; " slie said earnestly. " At least, 1 never felt in this way before ; and I have been to a great many places. The people seem so unlike those to whom I have been accustomed. As I told you, they seem away up. This morning I wished that I was a faded old woman, and had been a missionary to somewhere for forty years." •« My 1 " ejaculated James Ward. "Well, I did. Ic was sill}', too, and I know it. But I did want to be counted in ; to feel as though it was worth while to take up room in the world." They went on now, walking down the long platform, out at the little gate, down the hill into the valley below, on through the winding avenues, bending their course toward the lake, but they came out presently in line with the long stretch of setits under the great trees that mark the Auditorium. This platform, too, they mounted, and icoked back and back up the hill. '^ It is 80 big ! " baid Aimie again, w itii the same sense of suppressed energy in her tone. " Too big I " said James Ward, and he spoke testily. ' The silly world will never fill it. They would rather ^,'0 to Long Branch, or somewhere where brains are not a consideration. Perhaps they are wise ; I don't feel sure but they are. What is the use in bothering one's brains about all these things? Why not take life easily; liave as good a time as you can, and let the rest go? Knowl- edge of all kinds just increases one's responsibilities; makes life harder, and it '.s hard enough for most people lit best/' " Yes," she said with exceeding gravity, " I thought It's in the Atmosphere. 227 And aren't all these tSs "uTt .' ""'T^^' ^"^'how? on the work with? » ^ •'"'^ ^° "^^"3^ ^^elps to carry tl^oughi of""these ThinI' be?^/'"'"'"^^ ^'^^"^ ^°" "ever i-esponsibmties untn yofi .t" 1; "'T ^^'"^^^^^^ ^"7 though I didn't see it jLHsfhT; t'"' ^"^' "^«' ^ven be there all the same M slu t nfv ^ '' "^ '^^^ ^'^^ ^^'""^d ^ Now he looked ui-on he ir n 7'" ^''"f '^ ^^g'^t." She was a logician,^ hou^, L"';.'!'r^"^f^^ admiration, arose suddenly from o^^^«f,i .'"^ ^'"^^^ '^' She 7" ^lo-n theitep.? 'rwil it'^"^! «" ^^ «tand, and «he said, "and jou may be 1 1 'f "' ^^'« audience," «o you must preich a 'irmon oi- ^ ""' ^^ '' ^""^^^^^ ; ;^ess, or son.ething of thaUo t f^^ " "'^««^°?^0' u £ "-y some da7^ :'^X^- Jhaveai^.ncythat',::::; place IS all filled up w'th peonlpT i ''' ^'''^ ^^'^" this ^vell practice on me " ^ ^^' P®'"^^''P« '* «o you may as > "od tingling to hi'^s fin™' 'n ?k* ','' "« ^^'^'' ^l^e the power that might be ?n him . lu^ ^^''^ ^'^^''^''t of « ^>»e day be drawf out. ' '"""^ ^^^^ Possibly migh^ ' 't isn't wild ai nil " i • i " 't is one of the mo'tL -iL'-'f ","; P-''^''^' "bstinacy. expect it." " i'en.Me ideas I have ; and I really '^^:f,^^^''SuJ:^{:^_ '^^y /itj'^.W away f, '"" nad been quiet am\ ^^,.; ' n lau-taox-a com- tl'en she spoke, ex^ctl/a^tC "r./"' V'^ '''^^'^^^ background «ometin.e^ago w s^ h f '"''•'''' ^'^^ '"» ^''^ i," was btill present with the 228 The lliU in the Grove. '-: tboiights of both. « You know, Mr. Ward " ~ it was one ot tins girU mre, and to James Ward, fascinating ways, this persisting in addressing him as "Mr. Ward'' though, according to the free-and-easy customs which ob- tain in ordinary American society, she was on sufficiently amihar terras to say "James." _" You know, Mr. Ward that this lite is only a little piece of the 'c rcle' abouJ ^vhich we heard this morning. A circle has no end, you bee ; and if it is true that we are only gettincr ^eadv l^ere to h .e afterwards, don't you think it may^X a great difiference with our work tliere what we io toward getting ready here ? " toward He gave her another of those surprised looks. " You nitnhfA '' '' '*'""^^^' ^^'°™ '^'' mLounvy sermon tZ f>." u \f^'^ ' """^^ '" J"^^ ^" ™'^"y ^vords, but it was all hrough the sermon. I don't belong to that kinXn which is going to increase so fast, and which is gatirerincr in from all nations, but I wish I did ; I do truly wish I did,andwasbelpingiton. I thin^ it will make a great difference with my future how soon I commencf my work, as well as what kind of work I take. One of those missionary speakers this afternoon said something that I will remember: 'Death doesn't interrupt smf people s work,' he said. ' They have been work inrfox the dear Lord for years; and when they get into his pres- pace they can go right on.' I've thought about ^tS .ver since t is a foolish feeling, I suppl^se, but I can not help thinking that the only thing 1 could go oiAwt , ,T>'^'"i^fr^"' '"PP°^^ ^ «°"1^' g«t there right now ^ onld be to old those bright-colored papers. Itl reZ he only work 1 ever did in my life witli a feeling behi d t that perhaps sometime, if I learned how, I would like o try to use It to help little children ; and ^hile teach ng hem about the papers, I would try to teach them aS the way to heaven. But I should have to learn tL w'v you see, before I could do it : and that I haven't learned' ' .ller voice was very low ; very full of feeling. It would "^'^'* ''' '^« Atmo^pherer 229 "^^^^r^^ to We snee.a inclination to sneer; iuSd ill '^^"^'^"^^ the slightest Not all the earnest v;o dsl at ncfr "'"''''^''^ "'^^^^ from many sources «eemed to have f l'" "P"'^'^" *'' ^""^ tJiat Jay m this low, timid v^opT^^ ^^'^^^^ «^«'' ^im on, unmindful of th; lal e sprea li, ^17 '''''^^^'^ «» ^^d before them ; unmindful of Fif" ^'"^'^ ''^ ^^a of cia^a Land through which their tfw' P';'^^ ?^ *^« Ho'y wound around PalestineTenue w-?]? V'"^'"^' ^hey ^-e.ofthegl^----^^ ^^^''^t^t^'^U^^^^ had been since, and their feet n. ?jf ^''^ ^^"^^^ sometime resounded through thh;l,^/,,«^^PPe ""^« ^oice come in to break *'■ Aimie," he said Tf ever called her by that /LT'^ *'''" ^^'^ ""^^ he had j-t what you and'fb t't'/'Ti;.;''.""^ '''' ^'^ several days, and have stru?.tl.A ^""^ ^'^^^^ '^ ^or lie power of God to heln us^? t "^^V"' '^' ^« «eed kingdom. I have bee Jn? • ^ ."'"^'^ ^" ^^long to his since that evening on tLe boa^"Sf ""^ 'ti' "^^^^^«^ «ver me how many importa t'que.tirnri w * ^^""'^^'^^ ''^''^ at Chautauqua, and wh'it mv ''' ^"""'S to settle Importance. ' The fact^s a;":- '^"'^'^'^"^e put first in to me in my cluldhcrod bet rsho"^;"?^". "^^^^ P^^^" most importantquestion in ife "bu f l""^"' ^"^ ^^« willing to settle it until to ni ht' il I ^'""^^ ""^^^ ^^1* Aimie ? Shall we kneel d o if n n ,^^'^;" ^^ go together, stars looking in on us! Id ^ive n " ^"' ''"°^' ^'^^ ^he everlasting covenant v" ^ "^^ ourselves to God in an ^y^^t1ni^:;^f:^y;^^ -^ together Wliite-pillared hall, devoted to S. ^^"^^^^P'^J- Oh, are, dedicated, not to " 1 nnl ^^''"/ P'^-^««« ^s you God w,o i, the recolni ed cem^^^^^^^ % '^^ t^ue Circle, many an ho.7ored nan e in 1 1 ''^ p^^tauqua . tian culture shall, in ZmeZ- '' "^"'^^ "^ ^^"s to, and do vou honor os tip ' 1°''\ ^« ^^^^ back folves were taken, and '.eSed L??'' ''^T ^^^^^ re- jn the lu-story of the vetMn^ • I ^ '^^"'^^ ' ^et never 'olier, grander ^^Zu^^T^^T ''if' ^'"^'^^'^ ^vhlch those two, in euh n '^ , *°''^'' ^''^" that in ,l^owed in that conse^ate l^nof^^ ^'^ ^"^ womanhood; l--efon;h and fore^ ::t^'tt":orc?V ^"^ ''''"^'^'^'^ wdltr ;^::;X^-:;« '^ l^^ An.,Ut,e.tre was side entrances procSnedSe't'lf/''^^ """^ ""« ^^ *he who were sufflnjo^.tl hT* k , '"^^ arrivals, and fhnce to look aroun5;7aw tm> yol'^^^^ l^eedles^ vacant seat. ^ ""^ P^^P^e slip quietly into a *"^ 1 m 232 The Hall m the G rove. evening, i hat is one of the drawbacks to Chautiwoni I'p'^iXr' '"' '"-' ^"-" p-p'» » «'-- to hLuTt ^"^"'Sh^ and he leaned his he "fen i. ™enw so hopeless I '• Then she sighed. ^ ^ ' "■ ...e ^ehin^ ^J^'^^;;^ ^^^ ,7^.1 .Sow,, and across the celestial fiek..." " S r ket holld eXd'-^ATdthe"'" "-"""^ '"« <=•""-» of n.^e'^r: ueemea. And the missionary sermon went on and tl.« hcughts of a few heart-troubled ones went o ' ad U X"ik«own to them, the song went on in h aven : ' Wejiive Thee thanks, Lord Qod Almiahtv wMnh to Thee Thy great power, and haet reigned/ mcing," said CHAPTER XXm. "" ^AS A WONDBBPUL MEETING." .^ "^"^'^^^i^Ti:^^ r ^ V"d avenues faces and hurried mu„n I ..l"';^ ^'^"^^ ^^^th inipoS had a^Tived for whictti e^li Vbr k' '^'^^^'' ^'- W "T]ie Sunday-school A«w! ii ^ ^*^®" ^^^J^inff- affair," Effie B^tlor said l ^^^"^ "^"'^ ^« ^" infportant ineets to-day is fulT of Tt ' W^^","^'' , " ^^'-^yhoTy Z It chanced that Mr M„<,t. ° question was asked. He h^l "'"' f*''"* ''hen this feton about some scheme dirTthl*; *" ^'^ ««''- heart, and now turned from h ' , , ""f. J'"""? fellow's ^aid J " th^y „3 wonderful beU.^ T,^'""«' " ^es," he "WW ''^•.'"""''■"«>"n"3^' '' ''^"•'■■e like " S poweT Th""" "''t. C irohne canie to a sudden hVf o Simpson avenue. • ^f ^fght. Away down Ih; I'v^"'' ^"^" ;"" exclamation could reach, on either " t, ''''^''f, ^' ^^^ "« lun- eye "ated mottoes, flugrc au.esrianZ ^^T ''^^•«''^' ''^"'"i- anything that couklJen a 'btv 'f"'' f^^^^^'^' '•'^^^'^"s - ^^oei.e had been displayed ai^dLli'"'/"' J" ^'^« ^^-''^''t a« «l.e will remember uU he "life r'"^! '?^^' ^«« «"-''^ 'on stopped but a moment ho 1 ^f *?'^*"''" ^"'"Pan. «cene, then hurne™^ «,' TuJ^'u ^r,^'' '^^ ^"Joy the ijVntons, Mr. Af asters iavng ToJlLt^ '''' "-''' '^^ ^^- the way thit he was le-id Z r""?.^'^ '"» own fancy in Y-ng gone sturS^^^ fo tafd bv /l"'' '^".^^ u^^^' ^^^^on cl^o."n The result 4s tl^twh^f/^ P"'^ ^" ^'^^*^ fi^'^t froui whence the great gWi^a A^ i?f/:^^'^^'^^^ ^^« Point i'ey were quite alone. H^re ^thl f ""'? ^*^^ ^^^^^le, J'"e involuntarily, with an exe anv,r ^^^^"^ ^^*"^' ^aro- may. Stretching before thpm «'*'?" ^^™««t like dis- ot seats that had alZlsTfnr 7 ^^^"" ^^^« ^^"g line looked at them, we3dshtl ^l^e^ she «1 lieads. Chairs in the Sslil .T •^^'^' ^ ^ perfect sea even away back behi uT tl e L? VT' V^' '^'^^«' chairs fow^-tharhmtt;:^';t,:^f r' ^-r^-rbcS;::^ ^'^ti^fuiir The Audfe^,t ,:;i;s ^^^^' iii - zx^cza.'jt-^L'-jzi:±'-:^(^'^. m The Hall in the Orove. !( ' t ' .> ,? t i " Rather," said Mr. Masters, " that is a fact." Then the comical side of the whole mutter rushed over him. Her composed and assured manner, her certainty that there was no need for haste, her pity bestowed on account of the weather and the supposed sparseness of the company, her amazed eyes as she gazed on the people — all were too much for one who was continually tempted toward the merry side of things. He threw back his head and indulged in a ringing laugh. It waa suddenly hushed, however, for Caroline did not smile, and when he looked closely, he discovered that htr eyes were full of tears. " You are used to crowds, I suppose," she said apolo- getically, smiling now through her tears ; " but I never saw so many people together before, and I can hardly tell you how strangely this moves me. I know it will sound like a strange mixture of thoughts to your mind, but I can only think of these words: * After this, 1 beheld, and lo a great multitude which no man could number.* " " A great company of people is a wonderful sight," he said gently. If he did nut understand, at least he respected her tears. They made their way now as rapidly and silently as possible down the hill on the out- skirts of the great throng. " I am so sorry to have delayed Mrs. Fenton," Caroline said remorsefully. " I did not dream of such a scene as this. Where can we go ? We might as well stand still us advance ; there is no room anywhere." " Yes, there is," he said, pushing forward. " Come around to the back of the platform ; I have some choir tickets ; they will admit us to tlie stand, and we can crowd this chair into some knot-hole in the trees." The first part of this plan, ut least, by dint of system- atic and persistent crowding was carried out, and at last Caroline was seated on the right wing of the great plat- form, with leisure to look ever the wonderful sea of heads Btretching before her. Not long to look, either, for the ''It wag a Wonderful Meeting:' 287 pealing, Dr. Vinc^.^apl d at T f " 'Tl'"''''^ l<"m and announcwl ,l,f iT„ ? •*. *^"'"' "^ ">« P''"" Sunday-s.hon Alen h V "I iT"'"^ °f 'I'e seventh now," Mr;Ma±rSri •'"'"'' Weciateyour tears -tiar;„ts,t.;:'; ™v?^:f i^ ir---"- the hearts nf ni. /^''i'^* feeivicel bo dear it is to tlie brightlylli'htd J„ ^, "'• "■? PS'-'feeted twilight, found if, the s™ nd /f^' *^"«P"■''"<'n that is ahvays tion listen to w'lukeS?'"'' ""' "''" '" '""'g'-- " The day gopth away.'' '' The shadows of the evening are stretched out,- Prajse waUethfor thee, oh God, in Sion^ And unto thee shall the vow be performed.'' evening to7joTcer'' '^' '"'^'^'^^^ ''^ '^' ^'^^^9 and anfcryfllTP' """"^ '"''*"^'"^' ^'^^ «^ ^^^^^ ^'Hl I pray, " Softly now the Ijcrht of day Fades upon our sight away: Free from care, from labor free, l^ord, we would commune with thee " ^^t oi- j; i;^ir"Tx,f f ,^-- ^ It each year siiipp Tho ,r«^ "^^^ joined m out f }.i . .f ,/i'.^:, _^^^ X^^^es grow on me. Thev ^tv^i.o\ mulUtude^of ;o[ct^^^^^ "^ ^^^"'^ <^i^«^^i«" as I join this At that moment the leader's grand voice rang out: L. C. L. C. L. 238 Th* Hall in the Grove. I I mm * ill t " The Lord bless thee, and keep thee" Then the congregation with full hearts responded : " The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and he gracious unto thee''' And the beautiful answer came : " The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. " By this time, the great assembly were ready to sinj? with heart and voice : "Thus when lifo's toilsome day is o'er, May its departing ray Be calm as this impressive hour, And lead to endless day." Mr. Masters had no need to apologize to Caroline for his peculiar and tender interest in the vesper service. He needed not to apologize to Caroline for his emotion! She was a new Cliautauquan, it is true, but the place had already been so much to her, and promised so much in the future, and was so dear, that she felt her heart thrill strangely, almost wildly, with every mention of the name and every reference to those connected with it. "It is different with you," she had said to Mrs. Fenton once, in talking about her enthusiastic love for the Circle.' " Your heart has a great many homes. You are rich! Chautauqua, to you, is only something to take its appro! priate place and receive its share of interest ; but I feel like a little beggar girl who had just been adopted." Stronger and stronger grew this feeling on the evening of the seventh opening assembly, until it was a relief to her excited nerves to join with the crowd in laughter over the speaker who had just said " Last night Frank Beard told me if I spoke to-night, I must begin by sayiu^^^^-' ^o let ment to the comn on oro^,nr?of .^^^'^ ^'^'^ o^ ^^^ite- When the Chautaun^ « i 5 '?"^^*'' "°^ applause, was called forV t S theSri?-^n^H^P ^^^^^e» made: '• That it ..honf^t' -^^^^^ ^/* ^"'««"t had est kind." '. rt Io'Ik fll fl "' u -whitest, purest, intens- 242 Tlie Hall in the Grove. ■\ i' J'! ■•: ! f':i .1 \ f -ly said Caroline, laughing, and brushing the tears away with hprs " They were ready for him this time," said Mr. Mas- ters. "He took them by surprise when he called before. Hark! What is Bishop Warren saying ? Oh, it makea me think of the place where they all walk in white ! " Those were the words he said, and Mr. Masters leaning forward to catch them, turned suddenly to Caroline and quoted the old proverb about great minds thinking alike. As the Bishop proceeded to refer to the rain of the early morning, and to his fear that it would keep people at home, so that the usual Assembly crowd would be missed, Mr. Masters' significant look v/as too much for Caroline's gravity. But there was little opportunity for aside whispers during the address that followed. Ho^V grand it was I Almost every sentence in it rang with the spirit of religious fervor. Bishop Warren was some- thing more than a bishop ; something more than an as- tronomer; something more than an eloquent speaker; something more than a preacher : he was an incense lover of the gospel of Jesus Christ. " When we have that," said he, speaking of the love of Christ shed abroad in the heart, " then we shall have but one, and the blessed banner, whether English or American, the real stain of the blood of Christ ; the actual color by which we con- quer. This Chautauqua, if I understand it, simply means a glorification of love, so that it takes the ordi- nary workman, in the ordinary range of life, and instead of leaving us to be busy-handed only, lifts us up into the highest tlioughts, and lets us walk through the world, reading all that God's pen has ever written." I wonder how many hearts there were in that great au- dience to thrill in response to such a sentiment? Little Mrs. Fenton, wedged in among the crowding heads so that she could scarcely breathe, only by continual bobbing of jjor head beino' a.ble t.n secure transient glimpses of the speaker, yet let pass, at that moment, a good opportunity for a full view of his face, and stretched her neck in the «/< wa» a Wonderful 3Ieetingr 243 from other help in th: fut "1^™" lld^ h"" witht '^ ""f words of the speaker/ Scholalvtpp^^^ ^" ^^^" bu M ttHklTof o"^ '" '°T^- of Chautau^ua^ is onlv nnl !f .1 • ^* care SO much for them. "It 1^ only one of their many helps," he said tn r.^.r afterwards " Of r.mi,.,^ i ^ -, \ " '''^ <^arolme appreci'ate it, but I don't fir ^^"V^,^ *^^^^ ^^^^« ^^ and eveij tiling. Somethingr of this fpplinn- \n i i . •, sitt nff there listpnincr to ^ leeiing he had while «:^'ltohiiS^°--f^"--^^ ftee. be'-„ "^ ^ expressions m the sea of nn.t,„r„„S .lightly p..ted. L ohee-t's-agl-^ Z ^^^ X ' I' 244 The Ilall in the Grove. the light of appreciation. As he watched her, Mr. Mas- ters became distinctly conscious that he was glad, ohl very glad indeed, tliat Chautauqua had been a help to Caroline Raynor. Meantime the eager, eloquent words were being poured forth. " ^ rejoice," said Bishop Warren, " that we bring together at Chautauqua all hings. One said to me, coming to Ciiautauqua for the first time : • I don't iike, in a Christian place, to see them teaching the Sunday- school lessons, and the old heathen god Mercury kicking up his heels on the point the first thing we see on our arrival.' ♦ Why,' said I, ' that is significant simply of the astronomy we study. Like him, we ride through the heavens, and visit all the strange worlds, and we put Mercury just where it will be suggestive of our long flight when we are using the telescope." "A wonderful meeting!" These were the words in which Caroline was wont to characterize it in after months. And with that sentence she stopped. Who can describe such meetings? Could she put the wonderful play of liglit and shadow among those grand old trees Ml to words? Could she describe the hundreds and hun- dreds of eager faces shining clear in that beautiful elec- tric light? Could she repeat the ever-changing play of expression, and describe ths telling gestures that had so much to do in fixing the thoughts of the different speakers on her mind? Several times she essayed to describe to those who had only heard of Chautauqua, some of the glories of that first meeting, and realized, by the well-bred stares which they bestowed on her, that her enthusiasm was unaccountable to them. After that sho contented herself with the expression: ''It was a wonderful meeting." It closed in a blaze of glory. The most remarkable display of fire-works that ever delighted the eyes of thousands of cliildren, to say nothing of the grown people, who, as Mrs= Fenton said, liked them just exactly as well, only they didn't want to own it. Among the wonders, was a brilliantly illumined fountain, which **It was a Wonderful Meeting:' 245 son and purple and coU V ,! f " ';'"'"'"'? of oiiia- entirely pverftluu^l ey t.t'ed fo," I '? T^'^'^ ''-'« i'rtt"f»..:''--"-"'tn;ilS:;s;^^^^^^ onr fri^ds.''"^''" ^'"'' <•"» ■""" '" ""Other a. they pa^ed n^tioTLT^o ofv- 'P'?'"^ '""* "'"^- That throt'h'eT"'' ""^ '"^«" "'"" l-- '-ep'y,- stoutly affirmed ■narked that the li.,tLer. hatched ' "'" ""'^ '^"^ «> why they want to br ,°; 1^ L „5 "' """''' "'"lerstand great expense an.l p ^ ranS 2?-'' '"Chautauqua ; went. I'liked tl e pee hes If^ ■"',' ' " ■■^»1 g^d 1 seems to keep sinmng iS f m » " f i'^!"" ''"''' ^""8 undertone a ^^i^ oF^C^.,,^^^ :'''"""''' "' -;'L^:a^^."Str,,j;;;;^t-!^;;;^^oonve.e j , 1 : 1 . 1 ■ f: : 246 TJie Ball in the Grove, i '.• ■1 I would answer eacli other. The young lady has advanced a good argument for the use of that which the man thought was nothing but smoke. It drew her out to-night, it seems, and no one knuws how raaLv more; and she, at least, has tuk' ii the melody of those grand words into her heart. Who shall say what they may d for her? And he hummed the strain : " Hear tliy Lord, with heart of praise, I am with you all the days — " breaking off in the midst to say : " We get according to our needs, or moods, or something, don't we ? Now it isn't that hymn, nor yet the presentation speeches, which I take home to-night, out this sentence, and the thoughts which hover around it. Chautauqua simply means a glorification of love; so that it takes the ordinary range of life, and instead of leaving it to be busy-handed only, lifts us up into the highest ;,houghts, and lets us walk through the world, reading all that' God's pe" has writ- ten, ^ow, what is your inspiration ? " " The real stain of the blood of Christ ; the actual color by which we conquer," she answered in undertone. '' Amen," said Mr. Masters. M \\ ■ '■ i t r 1 ( I ' ' 1i'l CHAPTER XXIV. MAQNTPICENT DISTANCES. placi in the vvS'" ^^^^^^^auqua isn't like any otlier otW plS^^ln^'f,^^f -S^ ^.f i"«^ - they do iu here than c^y where e'se- ^^T^ *^^^""l^ ^'^'^' ^^^'^ pare food fox^tlle body.'' ' ""^ '""^'^°^^ ^^ 8^^^ ^^ P^e- just Wouldn't dni' 'V!f,f T,^/^i^« ^^^^thing to eat. f Let the folks attend fn VL '^V>' °"'?^ ^''^"'* *he ones. the lect J Le?i'' Hf'lnw""',^.^" '""'' ^eciate ^et He lowered his voice considera- 247 248 Th4 mil in th« Grove, ^fl yijiii fi ' ^ "^^^^^'"^ ^''« ^''^ a,^ make that <^cr& of , ?" ^«'7"^^«r how J used to the srable, when dialed ?> illlo'^u'er ut 'T \" ofmakuig a Caesar mind you! UeZ^lZi^7\ T ■" ' power to his fingers' .ndl I know tttV't f "17'"'^ are some things that I'm sure I can do WiL iTl holdofap,eceofwork,ifitis hard there :. !nn..tK^ .' in=.uc ui me mat sort of makes me keen 'it ,f mm^-i r ' ' ^ t -5i 250 The Hall in the Grove. m'.^'^ " What has ull that to do with astronomy ?" • ^' Why, it is an illustration, you see, of the power thai IS in people, and of the fact that they were meant to be conquerors. Mother, do you know how particular thev have to be with their astronomical clocks ? If one of them gets out of order and goes to gaining two seconds a week, it has to be fixed ; that is, each second must l)e made to take one three-hundred-thousandth part of a second more time. Doesn't that make j'ou dizzy ? " " Not at all I " said Mrs. Fenton, laughing ; "'for I am sure I should never undertake to do it." " Everything about astronomy has to be so perfect," continued the young enthusiast. " Oh, I must tell you about the Cincinnati Observatory I You know what a dirty, smoky old city that is? they had to move the observatory away up on another hill somewhere, to get rid of the smoke. And the man in charge of the great telescope discovered that the lens was perfect in the middle and wrong all around the edges. Now what do you suppose made that ? " " I haven't the least idea," said Mrs. Fenton, reaching for another dish of berries. " Well, you never would imagine. The smoke gathered on the glass, of course, and it had to be wiped off. They used the softest leather, and brushed it from the centre, then the edges- had to be rubbed a little ; and thouo-h it was done eo gently. and carefully, that little bit of rubbing had Worn the glass so it was not perfect enough for science ! What do j'ou think of that ? " " I think it must be very hard work to keep every- thing up to such r state of perfection. I am glad that my work doesn't require such pre(!ision." " Yes, but mother, only imapfine what precision there must be up in the sky. Oh ! I'll tell you about one thing ..lat you would have liked. Astronomy teaches people that things are often different from what they seem. Don't you know liow often you tell me to look into a thing, and see whether I won't change my mind Magnificent Distance*. II 251 to-day, but you know the sun nl'*"T mentioned i the moi^ing^and ^eZn^^^^^ '^ -ose in hemmed up inside of it 3t! ii • .?^''*^ ^''^« «ort of we knew nothing about astmnoml' "'t^^ ''' -"PP^^e we would have of thinl Sh Z^L^^^^?* I^^^^' notions have heard him talk fb^ut spS'''^ T'^ ^"" ^°"^^^ horse: said the horse Xo codd ilv ' ^'^? '^'^^' ^ minutes and forty seconds wprl, ^P ^ ™"^ ^" ^wo contented with a horse whn L i?'^'' '^^^ «'^^- I'^^ be Then he talked about Urn l?'^ ^° ^' ^^«* ^« that. the strength of six thoLldWs'L^toir^ "^ Pf^^^«^ could go twenty miles an hnnr. i i^"" ^^'®™' ^"^^ they "ight r and tJie S ilroad irn?,? ' ^""i^ ^'"P ^<^ ^^ ^ay and hour, and made us dW S fT^^ ^? sixty miles an telegmph poles whiz efby us Tnd" h"''^ ^^T^ '^' said think about the car in wm!k u ^'^®"' mother, he ever since you were bor„ "and 'J^/^" ^^ ^een travelling of c thousand miles a m h,' e uT '• F-J"^ '^^ '^'' '■''' "P poles two miles apartZ fly 30 fSSV/ '"' T,^^* ''' as close together as our finfTers ? M lu ^^''^^ '"'^"'^^ «eem of anything so fast as thatT aL .t^'^.^^' ^^" /on think fast light travels ? It ^oe^ nn« , J "^"l ^°" ^^"^^^ ^^^w thousand n.iles in a second r f W^?,^ ''^?^ ^^^''^y-six "ever realized how fast fh.f*^ knew that before, but I pared to^lay ; someway motLT'f ""f^ ^ ^''^''^ ^' ^o'"' all schooI-boVs h™ve felV^d ' 'V'" ^'° ^' ^^^ ^^^^^s that sort of did our thinkinTSs or 'rfnT: '^"\«"^' -"' us to doing it for oursel vpI T ' l""" ' *^'^* ^^" * it ; «et words, but only th^nk of the ti^^" >^'' '!!? '^^^^^^^ :nto of light to make a jourLy arrnd f^"^^ S^ " ^^^^"^-'^ suppose it could doit in "/m^Z, "''' ^^'^^ ^ ^« 3'ou of course no" ''^ ' " ^^^^ ^"^ — ^ -other. ^^ Why, no, me„n7. "i'°';'f/-°7"Iirowbaok his head and )„„c-h I J 262 The Hall in the Grove. '•I Il;sfh*f f •s ( Vil J;! I m it up a blackberry! Mother, we can't even think as fast as that, can we? That's what he said: that we could not appreciate it, and yet astronomy trained truths. Mother, you know we came ahnost a thou- sand miles to Chautauqua; and don't you remember how tedious the journey seemed, all that hot afternoon, and how tired you were ? " "I should think I did!" was the mother's hearty assent. i^t*>.\.y " y^f ' f nd the Stanfords and Burtons and some of those people old us it was too far to come for a few weeks I do wonder what they would have thought if they had 'heard the lecture this morning. He illustrated the distance ot the planets by imaguiing a little child starting from Chautauqua to take a journey to the sun. He put him on an express train, and away he went, miles and miles and miles leaving the world behind. Time passed, and he grew to be a big boy, then a middle-aged man, then an old man, travelling, travelling all the time. Bv and by he was seventy years old, and died ;Jus journey not half done. Then he started another from that point- a child growing up to manhood, to old age, flying along on that express train for seventy years ; then another^ starting from the point that that one would reach when he was seventy, and then another, and another, and three hundred and fifty years after the train first started, — that flying express train that never stopped for wood or water, or to take on passengers — three hundred and Hftn years afterwards that train has not reached the sun! And yet he says that the distance from the earth to the 8un is just a unit of measure ! " mothtr""'^^^ measure! "repeated the bewildered little "Why, yes; like a foot rule, you know. If I had a foot rule, I could measure and say it is so many feet r... rn.o ..v,v. Lu Liiut corner cupboard. Weil, they use the distance between the sun and the earth like a foot Magnificent DUtaneea. '■en think as 3 said : tiiut noniy trained ) such great nost a thou- :)u remeinher lot afternoon, tiler's hearty some of those ' weeks. I do ey liad heard the distance itarting from He put him es and miles } passed, and id man, then Tie. By and journey not that point: flying along lien another, - reach when mother, and first started, I for wood or red and fifty 3d the sun I earth to the Idered Uttle If I Iiad a ► many feet ell, they u.ve 1 like u foot 258 tT^s'un;'"^ ' ''''' '' '' ^'-y ^-tances from the earth to hand^om; bty.^H; wfs tV^lfl ^T'^^Y ^^ W mother what he knewTimself. ' ^^ ^^P'^ining to his asmoo'tVttl'foTs'ixSu'^^r^^^^ *^"" °^^"-^'"^ «^-'-?on and there the sun Z ldT"^2r''' '"^ ''^'^ ^^P'^^^' could travel on it so for n« f i -l^ ^"^^Y' -^"^ yet we Mother, what?itt^p;SrS world is ; » P ^ °* '^" insignificant thing this wo'Zl '' ' """'^^'"^ ^^^ *« ^-ve made all the other bu2ltgtiSrS%S,p^5 ^K P^^^toes into the the oven' She'luxd core^from^he Lt ''' ^? ''''' ^" Monteith could s ,v to th»Vl„„, °" r ^'""' "'hat Mr. notes. I should t!i„l° It'' '"I'"''' = ' ^»«' l"m takin.- capable of Sg ^"^f 1?'^ h'P"'^^ "'»' «<"• ''"^ urer said." ^ ""y"""?. "f he believed wbat the lect- C^^lC'^m^'"'' "'"^^ '""-^ -« -y stars," said yoll":S'-" '"'' "■" "^"""^hed Robert. "What do as he is. He double \hT '. ^''^.'"S ^ <''">' believe ' as clear to me as the starf '"'rT"^,,'""'^ "''''='' "■■<' J""' ""ight be star-blind ato!"' """ ^ "'™8'" Po^sibly l,e "Is Mr. MnnfcWK „_. J.,c-i , ^ - avoiceof dTsmav'^^Thi.f ^"^•^' ^'^"^^^ Benton in wanted the bestir h^bo^Xt- i^fc tiiet;: 254 Tlie Hall in the Grove. ! . » ! •''HI in tne existence and the power and the goodness of God that she shi-ank with horror from having her boy come in contact with one who doubted, yet did not in any way acknowledge her allegience to Him, or obey his plain commands I '; Oh, I don't know what he is I " said Robert re&dessly, ^hrinking from any condemnation of his friend, and yet leehng bound to be loyal to the truth. "He has some queer ideas ; 1 don't understand them very well, and sometimes it seemed to me as though he didn't." "I wouldn't try to understand them, Robert," spoke his mother earnestly. " If he does not believe in God, he IS not a good man, however much he may know' The God whom your grandfather followed all his life, ia on 3 m whom you ought to trust." But Robert nestled uneasily, and let his mind rove over certain specious objections tliat Mr. Monteith had suggested, and among other things tiiought to himself: "It mother believes in Him, why doesn't s'^e serve Him?" If the mother had but known that ^oli were her boy s thoughts ! After a moment of grave silence, the Doy seemed de- termined to throw off all troublesome thoughts, and re- turned to liis present hobby. " O mother, whao Bishop Warren said about powerful thing^s was so wonderful I He spoke of the power of an earthquake; how it couJd shake down a great city, or a section of a continent; how It could bring the sea rushing over the land, and then throw It back into place again ; but he said that all these million worlds that went flying through space were car- ried so steadily that not a baby was ever wakened in the night by the jar, nor a bird unnested from its bough by the trembling. Did you ever hear anything sweeter ?" " And yet some people are foolish enou • . doubt whether the God who made them takes ar .^ a. )f the worlds now." It was Caroline's voice ':a-,u , and it seemed to startle the boy and make him think, whether he would or not. She came now, and sat down for a ri' Magnificent Distances. o^S moment beside the two, her fork «nr1 .. ] • hand. " You Imve given youfmoHpv ""°^""^-«Poo" in of the lecture," she said ^?<.4^ yT "" ''^P'^'^^ synopsis of the closing hotViswhilhlT^- St ''""^ >^°" «°^e short-hand notes 4he7ue til ^'V'?"; ^^^- Masters' vrhole grand lecture ^ g^^ndest, I think, in the Author of all these ^ ^ Not onlvf.n ^ ^'^r^^dge of the infinite wisdom and persoinli^vtnf ""' ^^^'"" ^^^^ ^e ' Alas ! no,' said Science &- '"'"" '^"'^ ""^ '^'^^ ^^^"^ ? find out God.' An;rth:n we' ^y .^t'o fer ""'"^-' say: 'Can you brincr niP thrl^ ? i ?, ^^e^^gion, anu great and giLLg "LTe to (^.p ?n r^ -'i ^?"^^"^ °^ ^^^ it all?' l„a IliSt,sver/V^^^^^^ powers within you at wMpJ t, iV ''' ^ ^^'^ ^^-ake orders of being^ sM • nne t n7 '"^"'r'- '^'"^^ ''''^ "^w rank on rank, .?nd iShtff h V P^^i^^Pf^^^^ies and powers, i"g, then, to Sctentttlt o reSS'^^^JClfri"' d ''^^'■ give the nght to Religion, and cry • '0 n h'"^ ""•'"" eyes, that I may behold wnm1rr>n.fi-* ^ '^ *^^°" ™i»e than the .hinfl^rwirll"! ^ e\r ^^0^"^^^^^ T"^^^^"! promise. Religion doe^ w,l .^ / i.- ^^^dient to the fit our eyes toTe belfoirnrof Z^'^'' ^^^^"" "^' ^°«« These great worlds bri^n? ^1 ^^ wonderful things, stars in^the glory if 1 ' "1 n •' '""''.,'^^' ^^^ ^^^Se this new light^ Sie soul CL^^ "' ^^'" P^'^««"«e ^^^ love is all about ft throbWnn '\^^ "^^"'*« «^'^ of arms lift it, and it Itl .'^ «"e?f ^^H^^^^ I* ^^-^^^ting ness of a Father's love Tjtn i .? "^^^""'^ conscious- tJiese bright sta?s T" I, J T '^r'' *^'^ '^"^ ^^^^ that golden st^aSrs br^bicl/ thou'l,^^'tT''. ^''' °"^>^ *^^« S-i^jz^:^i5?-— ^^ we^fba^k to itSr wlh""/""^^ "^"' -^ ^^-n u.Robe.ashegrt;^l^5tl;:^^-~^^ • ij. .1 258 Tf>3 Hall in the Grove. Mr m - f ■ ■ n- : ^ ' irr 1 M ^^ (lero of the morniiig, she believed that hit* brain waa keen enough to grasp the thought sue wanv^d him to hold fast without further pusHiing. Bur I think her cheeks would have ^iowed wiih indignation, had she heard Kent Mouteith's comment made to the boy Rob- ert : "He mars his otherwise roatchiess eioquence bv putting in those platitudes at the close." Two forces were at work during tiiete daye va con- fject..r>... with Robert Fenton. Whatever spirit possessed kenc AToisveith, wVr^ther he was fascinated with the boy's keen iiiiellect, and wanted to see how far it would reach, or -.Ledier he was merely thoughHess, certain it is that ])ij was doing much to undermite the faith in which the boy had unthinkingly rested hitlserto. Mean- time, Robert Masters had apparently res(vlved on culti- vating young Robert's acquaintance. H" constantly sought him out, offered him books to read, discovered his favorite studies, and talked with him about them ; not from away above him, as the boy recognized always that Kent Monteith stood, but more as a companion — and yet a helpful one, who had lived more years with wide- open eyes, and was, therefore, in some respects ahead. Robert liked it, this meeting him on a certain equality, and Kent Monteith had a dangerous rival in his affec- tions. The more so because he, though invariably good- natured, was also invariably selfish, giving attention to Robert when it pleased him to do so, and gracefully shaking him off when it suited his fancy to do that. On the contrary, Robert Masters studied opportunities for serving him and giving him pleasure. He loved the woods, and so did the boy. He was wise in woods lore ; knowing a hundred things of which the boy knew noth- ing, it ga^ e him pleasure to impart. He knev the lake, every foot of it. He was at home with the ' 'i, and he planned certain fishing excursions, some hem by moonlight, in which they fished an'l talV • and tlie elder fisher < ' more than talk he v • ; 1, aye, and prayed, lor ht ;. as fishing for a soul. u CHAPTER XXV. there's no end to it." ,. , , for good that were wSU' '''''\ '}\' ^'^^'^^^ did Joseph Ward. He recom^.t ^ """""'^ ^"'"' t'''"! t^an while at home the uT^Hhr'" 'T^ ^°^^^^^^^ change in his brother and in S'i\^^'« '^"^^ increasing both almost as a pergonal "V'"^ ^^^^^T' '^'"^ ^'^sented lofty indifference o^n aH the^eS;^''* f^' ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^h ^tnmse him. He held aloof fmn' '"''^' '^ interest or would be likely to get he]/ IT '^^^>' P"^'^^ where ],e t.ons hinting to^varcf a defe/LSr^F ''' f f^^^^' Singers failed to receive any mW f ^ven the Jubilee were well enouoh " Hp nffi-^ ^f ^ ^^"""^ '"m. "Thev ;vould not compare with tfe' ^1" '"' ''''r ^"' ^^Y lieard last winter " ^^'° minstrels whom he sh^i: w ^};^;:iss:;n:?^' '''-•. ^^"^- that do with the fellow ; Se , I ^ '^1 "^^''"^^ '""^e to ruined, why let him Dr .f n": ^f''''''^^^^ to be patiently in his efforts o re^ ch the v ^' ''''^'''^ ^'^^Y nneonscious, meanwhile as m., v ^ "","" '"^"' "tterl> industriously his own Lon wa7.v f '^ ^^t'^^^' ^«' ^^ow he faith of another StUl so f^' ^^Z" "V^^^^'^ine had been as unavailing as any otW' ' « '''?^^ ^ ^^^^'^^ "0 means gave up effoft/ le o^st fe , r * h " '"'"^^ '^^ ^■>' he nothing at nhpnf..,..:-":/"''^ ^^^'i^^ : there seemed to " Hp i«'"n.,of -•-'•••"' ^4 «a Lo reach Joe Ward a?7 2.-8 The Hall in the Grove. J ;l \ ? m tf . I ..•i i to himself with a sigh. " I don't believe we can reach Lim." One morning the subject of all this solicitude strolled quite away from familiar avenues, exploring a portion of the grounds which he had not st^en before. He came upon an energetic young fellow of about his own age, engaged in flooring a tent. Stopping, hands in his pockets, and whistling slowly, he watched the operation for a few minutes, then asked : " What are you about ? " As the actual work that he was about was clearly discernible to the naked eye, the young man thus ad- dressed seemed to conclude that the question struck deeper, and answered accordingly : " Speculating." " Speculating ! What with ? Whose tent is that ? " " Mine, for the present. Do you want to rent it ? " " Not much." *' Know of anybody who does ? " " Not a body." "Oh well, there'll be people enough who do: no trouble about that. This is the place for people. Just lend a hand with this plank, will you ? then when you are raising your tent, I'll do as much for you." *' 3Iy tent I " and Joe repeated the words in an amused tone; the pronoun seemed to strike him strangely. " That is an article along with most otlier things that I never expect to own." " Why don't you rent one, and go into business ? " ■ "How?" " Easy enough : rent a vacant lot, then rent a tent, put it up yourself, add all sorts of nice little fixings that will make it look tasty, then rent it for a good sura as the crowds come in, and j^ou have quite a nice bit of money over and above expenses." For almost the first time in his life Joe was interested in a matter of business. There seemed to be somethhig 80 independent and so free-and-easy about this sort of There's no End to It'* 259 ve can reach worK that it took his fancy. For a full half minute he held liis end of the plank aloft, while he considered. t.ome, said the brisk young man, "step sprv I I want to get my house in order before the next boat-load comes in. I expect a crowd. " " Where do you get your money to rent your tent and lot and other things ?" asked Joe, fixing his end of the plank with precision. "Well, I have an uncle here who lent mo monev enoiigh to start with. It doesn't take much." "Oh! said Joe with emphasis. " Well, I haven't an uncle here or anywhere else who would lend me a red cent.^^ Bring on your uncle, and I'll consider your plan. •' But he considered the plan almost in spite of himself. He hovered about that tent nearly all the mornino-, sometmies helping, oftener standing with hands in h?s pocke s lookmg on occasionally offering some advice. That won t fit m there," he said, as the energetic younrr worker brought a board that was designed by him to occupy a certain niche. j ^ tu " That shall fit in there," he declared, as the board, as It to prove the statement of the looker-on, ground on its edges and refused to take its place. The worker dealt It vigorous blows witli his fist. " It won't go in," said tlie looker-on. "It sW go in," said the worker. And he took hia liatchet, and, adding the strength that was in It to the ^trength thut wasMn the arm, and the greater strength of will which was behind the arm, the discomfited board yielded the point and slipped quietly into place. 1 hats power, said the young man composedly. "I guess you didnt hear the lecture this mornin-, or you wouldn t have been so sure about its not goingln." it ' Did 9'^''-' ^''^' ^ ''^'Slit sneer. " I didn't hear " That I diu . And a famous one it was. I woulan't have missed it even for the sake of getting up this tent |..fi fiS iJHi n I ;!■, III' 5 ; ' ' '. I^k 260 2'h>. Hall in the Grove. 9 two honrs earlier; and that is saying a great deal." Seems to rue you mix things." *' " ** " p>ui^e " Haid tiie other, dealing sturdy blows with his hatchet, and making n. w..:,,r tor his board. You clou t suppose I mean to .tick to renting tents and put- ting them up all my life, do you? This is only h step- ping-stone, 80 to speak, towards the house I mean o W t.^ent. That's why I went to the lectures H;; abotu'tlJ:;?' '"^ *' ""' ^^"'^^^^ ^^- ^'- ^-ture thinIi'''fnrl"°n^i!'^K';.*^""S-'' '^S"°^ n^^»y other things, in fact. Bishop Warren, you know- he's the astronoray man ; you wouldn't snppose that astronomv had anything to do with renMng houses now, would you '' iiutyoiiseeitwas one of those lectures that ir vie a man remember that he lived in a wonderful world" with wonderful worlds all around him, and wonderful thh!. going 01., and that he had a wonderful mind, and was meant to do wonderlul things himself, and that he could accomplish almost anything that he set about with . de- Inrirw.:".''.!^''-''.!^''''^ ^' ^1°"^^' ^^-^^y^ if 1- s-v beliVf tW T ''°''' '"^ ^" ^°' '"^'^ ^'^^ ^ reasonal)le rwlVr.V^T; rP"' ^"»"'«^^-o- At least, that Ls what I got out of the lecture. I came home twice as " What'l tJ^j.f,''?,™?^^"^^ ^^'^"^ 1 ^^^ve undertaken." "What's that? " repeated the young man, and he "Tnftrtfl/" h P"^^^f -^iT ^ -'nuteSheT'la'i.h Haul to tell, he said briskl, - There's no end to it • ^l\l^^.^T.f''^''''' '-^''^y^y ^vay at Chautan.' qua tor the first thing; - ,t v my way at .diuol this ro'Io'l^n/r^T^n^'^^^ '^ nioifeynixt summer, ad go 10 CO lege finally, ana build my house, aid rent it and build another, and do ten thousand thinosf".!': worla that ought to be done with the monev I earn """ "And join the C. L. S. C," adde.l Joe, Uose letter. " here's no End to Itr 261 representing to him the heijrlt and d^nfl, r.f i bition. "ci^i.t ana aepth of human am. " Oh, I've been a member of the r T money would be about ha'f gone. Folks have to work fast down here." This was true, and Mr. I^ontoii felt the force of it. He was exceedingly troub- eil. He wished that he had never seen Joseph Ward or his brother Wasn't one boy as much as he could be expected to think of and plan for? Let Mr. Ward do tor his son. He was the one to assume risks' iii his behalf fetill something held him from saying an immediate No much to the waiting young man's astonishment. He had expected it iu less time than had pn.ssG(i, - Well," said Mr. Fenton at last, slowly, irresolutely, 1 can t answer you just now. Money isn't very plenty with me, you know : but I'll think it over to-day, and et you know iu the morning. And meantime you tiniik it all oyer again, and perhaps you will change } our mind, and conclude it's too much of a risk." And Joe Ward chuckled, hardly waiting until Mr i^entou was at a respectful distance. '' I won't change my mmd he said aloud, "and neither will you, old lellow. Your mind is, that I won't get a cent of your money, if you know yourself, and you think you do. I Hgie«^ with you : vve are of the the same mind for once. * d(m t expect it. Mrs. Feiiton was washing the tea dishes. She had banished Caroline, and asserted her right to command tlie kitchen into order herself. Meantime she was freely expressing her mind to her husband. "The idea! the impud-jiit l)oy! That is all the thanks we get for the kindness we have shown him. He just wants to waste it, and disgr.ice himself and us. I'm f?"?'_ . ^^^J came \yith our party. There is no u?-e in B dollars. indeed ! jnty. It seems a good deal of a pity that the first notion '■■ H 1 it- tt I •' ,, ■^ ■' If J- ■1 1 ^^'1 : ^ r ;i I^ ■l i . H'< t i ■ i i :: Mi ' \ , ■ ' H.: ■ 1;r 264 ^e ^aZ^ m the Grove. the boy ever had toward doing nnytliing for himself should be crushed," Mr. Fenton said, thoughtfullv. "1 Uont suppose he would do anything with it, though; still he might. Paul Adams, if he had time for such an enterprise, would make a good thing out of it, but Joe ia made ol otherstuff. I don't know as there would be anv very great risk ; I think likely his father would pay me back it I told him the whole story ; still I don't know.. Jle might say I deserved to lose it, for trusting the boy. Joe told me frankly th.'-, his father wouldn't trust hira with twenty-five cents. And John Ward, while lie is lonest IS cross-grained, and might take a position that he wd no call to pay for the follies of his boy. Still, it is a laixl case. I can't help thinking what if it were our Kooert I "Small danger of it ever being our Robert," the motiior said, pitching the dish-water with enerrry into the sink. " He is made of different stuff, at least." Still she winced under the reference. It made her mother-heart go over all the arguments in favor of doinff something for the Ward boys. She was disappointed in James. He still took too strong an interest in Aimie Allison to please her. She war in a chronic state of disappointment over Joe, and jet she felt unwillincr ulmost unable, to give him up. Her sleep that night was disturbed by troubled dreams. She rented and set up and put in order many tents. Young Joseph Ward ap peared and tore them down again, and swam away with tliem into the lake, her own boy Robert smuggled under one of them. In the middle of the night she wakened ner Jiusband with this question : "Have you the least idea that he means anything but nonsense and waste ? " •' & "Who? What?" asked Mr. Fenton, struggling to get awake enough to understand. " Wh}^, that Joe Ward ; have yon any faith in him ? " "I don't know " — awake now and "thoughtful — " I Wish he meant it? if he doesn't mean something socn, " There's no End to It:' 265 «icnv4 . aooert, i ve been thinkino- anH r Ar nV u ul we ought to do it " ""i^ing, ana 1 den t know remotest expectation of reeeiv:,,^ tCn^L^ZTXhl one dH.ed,,„,d ga.ed first at 1'^".!;'^™'.^ ';r,e7,j;: 26(3 The Hall in the Grove. fifJH'i I 'i rr the fh-st ..e in hJ^Ji^S te tlJ- ev^!^;:;;^^"^ ^ Ins hand that he was to do witn as he chose. ^ 1 would go with the boy and buy the tent for \.\r^ and make sure that he was not deceiv ng vou If ™' don t he will be as likely to buy cakes an3 lemonade for all the boys in the grove, as anything el«e." huJbtdXo,?^£ hfr "' '"''"^^ ^^^-^ ^^^^- trillt^him ^ ^mZl ""'^f "P ,''"r' °^"^*^« *« *^"«* '"«^' let's comsP tT,;. V ^' •^^'"'"^'^ ^ expected as a mat er of touise that he was going to do just what he said and maybe it will astonish him into doinc. it " ' ^ i;ffl Yf '"f ^^^fb"ut the astonishnient. « About that 1 ttle matter, Joe " Mr. Fenton had said, beckonW him from across the lawn where he stood l^^aning Ses«Tv against a tree his hands in his pockets. Joe^came w f "' c'ooiedT" ^^^ '' r^T"" ^""- Mr 'Fent'n "had cooked up a way of good-naturedly sayin? No I Thi« was the way the boy put it to himse f,Ld he was curious to see how he would do it oudft^no^^^T'. little matter, Joe -I've decided that I ought not to let you have so much money without vo„r lather's consent He might not like it, yo^u kiow and Tf loTif '^'"w°" .^ r "f PfT ^^ ^^^'^' -^^ I can't afford to Jhn 1* . ^^"""f ^ \' ^^ ^^1^^1>^ <^o «ay it that way ? Joe Javs'^'r T ''' "^'^^ "^'^ '^''''''-' th« e"do twenty days - for I suppose you will be readv to pay by thH me the assembly closes. Now if you will sign the no e we^Il be all sh,p-shape, and I hope you'll succeed." ^ Joe examined the note curiously : read it «ln«rh. " u wu^'V^ examined the smooth surface. "" Who s security ? " he asked at last. ** There'* no End to It." 267 will remem- was actually Id money in mt for him, ou. If you emonade for e ; but her ist him, let's a matter of le said, and About that koning him g listlessly came will- ^enton had No I This nd he was ded that I thout your low, and of t't afford to vay ? Joe when the tie twenty- 1 that you of twenty y the time note we'll "^-y, turned Your word and your name. I'll risk it, my !,cy Im a poor man, as you know very well, and I S afford to lose even twenty-five dollars; but I'll trvU and I believe If I lose it, it won't be your fault '' ^ ' A curibus lump came into Joseph Ward's throat A .unous fluttering in his breath.^ He felt h^ nnlsP. quicken. Somebody had trusted him, and hat a inan , .vl''^'^''' ^,^"f°"'yo" —you won't repent this." It wa'j eve y word the poor fellow could say, and he turned and walked rapidly away. "It's some tiling in the aW pi^ere of this queer place I " he muttered. m CHAPTER XXVI. :| % hi m fii; THE CENTRE OF THE CIRCLE. hVE o clock of a lovely summer afternoon -^ an August afternoon ; one of the sort that receives ditterent descriptions, according to the different localities m which people happen to be. In the liu-e pities It was " sweltering." In central and inlund towns It was "a veiy warm day ; " and in Chautauqua it was 'perfectly charming." A brisk shower, lustincr only long enough to subdue the dust, had strewn the "leaves and grasses with pearls, and made fairyland of every wooded avenue. -^ Sometime before five o'clock many feet had trodden the avenue^s leading more directly to the hall. Ten minutes before the five-o'clock bell rang, everv chair m the hall was taken. It was to many of the audience a momentous occasion : the first " Round Table " crifhp,. n.g of the C. L. S. C. To a student of humL Tiatte this was an interesting audience. Not by any means young foces, all of them ; on the contrary, almost the fiist thing that would have struck a looker-on was the large numbers of middle-aged men and women sprinkled in among blooming girls and beardless youths. The next point of interest would have been the evident satislac- tion ot the groups m being just where they were. A look ot pleased expectancy was apparent on nearly every tace, and they exchanged smiles and bows and cordili greetings without regard to the rules of formal iHr "A large gathering, ' remarked one middle-aged man 268 The Centre of the Circle. £69 " ^ecj^ed increase on the first meeting of Inst ve-ir " CircbV"" -PP<^«« the«e people are aH'meLeS o'^'the lar Jnlrei^Tlbem w ' ^"' ^ ^'^"'^^"'^ ^-^^ ^^ « Then in mediutel he T^n"' 'TT^ ''^'^ ^^^'^ ^'^^ ^t." right: '""'^''^^^^^ ^« addressed tlie gentleman ou hia "Do you belong to the Circle, sir"*" fr:e.rMr'#;ntt"'Hn:f .'' '^""" ^^^-^ ^'^-^ «- .nembers ;f jS pa;tv and V t^.^^ ^'"^^^ ^^'"«» ^'^ ^^^^ in tiie feeHn^ dS' Z ^^' ^^ ^'^"^ "^"™«"<^ indulc^ing affirmative '" "" P'''^™"'' "'"' "'""-er in th? ""d this iJ ilr Bu™;„/,oTa^" '^'''''™ "' ^''^ ^"■■'^• religious !StW h ! ^"/<^hing outside of positive - 1 h,-.,r ^' ''^ '^'"''^ ^^^" attempted." i tnink so, assented his friend liP'n-fn.r **n reason why I like if i< fV,^ p * !, ' . ' /^eaitily. "One the vonn/Jnl'/^t, ! .*.^." ^f.^^. ^'^^<^ ^tj« "ot confined to cieiy ,s dt work divorcing young people iVom 270 2%« ffall in the Grove. .:^'^. f m those in middle life ? We have our separate social f sufficient of his valu- imes," said " He seems know him, ' was, and esire to be interest in GentT€ of the Circle. 271 young men. So Mr t? *. Jack would appUe'sd "^^,^0^ '°"^^^°^ ^^-^J-r august shoulder, and m ke t e T-'^' ^" ^""^'^ ^^^^ The two strangers were ffPnt I Z^?''?'^ P'-esentation was one of tha=t unfortinS^c^'a^tii^^f "^^ ^^'^- "« t|;^^^^ person i.h.wJo\^e^'^,;-Cpt^^ PreslTsa.^r?lftj^^^ Mr and shook his head ""^^'^ ^''« elegant shouldera ^^^^l^S^^^Jr -el^ an entertain- and am preparing o become " h I ^™ ^ ^""''^ «tnden? take up law. Til societ/^f, ^.^t' '"'' ''^^ ^ ^^P««<^ to a good deal of amusement^ ^ tvi-IlZ '''™' /" "^^^^^ atust^nt?'^ ^^-'^- ^---to\trn?;K^ gen'demtwrce^^^,^ ^or a moment over the " Still, some of the ZZt f "^^eous answer. '" act as a sort of inteTle tu rmsUm^? ^" '^ ^- ^' ^' C affordmg him recreation Imrn. ° ^ ^'''^^ student; fame tune, and giving him Tt '"'^'^ '^^^"^"^^s at the i^is nuellect aga!,«t t^^l7 :uZ:FST'''^. ^^ ^^^^P- It may be a very crood <-M. / '^ ''^^'^^ ^ay." for those who have had no othef /"' ^^f'^^^de men and condescendino-lv u t u "° ^^^her opportunity," said J-^X in regard to it^^icelse'ILr'"'''^^ «^^^^"|ed my /nh d be hopeless are rea ly' 'it .^-r "^^ ^^ tnasses, t may do very we " '^.^^^^"^^thing,. for the 272 Tlte Hall in the Grove. the thoughtful twisting of his moustache. At that moment appeared young Robert Fentou, his face full of suppressed satisfaction of some sort. Coming to his father's side, out of hearing of the two gentleuier, but in direct line with Jack Butler's ear, he spoke in a boy's poorly suppressed whisper. " Father, Mr. Bennett is two or three seats behind' you, ami he wants to know if you can't hunt up an excuse of some sort for introducing him to Judge Pres- ton ? He says he has wanted to know h m for the last three years." "Judge Preston!" repeated Mr. Fenton in a maze. " Where is he ? Who is he ? How could / introduce him ? " " Why, he is that gentleman right besHe you; the one with glasses. You have bef>^- an.;;g with him ever so long. Mr. Bennett says he is one of the most prominent lawyers in New York.'' Poor Jack Butler! He twirled his moustache until the ends were like fine cords. To have made such a mistake I To have talked his platitudes about self-made men, and advantages, and law studies, before Judge Preston ! For he too recognized the eminent name as soon as the title was attached. To what depths of hu- miliation was this horrible Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle destined to sink him ! Before he had time to compose his nerves, or decide upon a course of action that should restore his self satis- faction, a little rubtle through the Circle announced the coming of its chief. He could not have been other than gratified by the sight of the many eager, smiling faces raised expect- antly to him. His sense of gladness over the -^even at this early day — grand result of his experiment, showed in his voice and in his first heart}' words : " It is good to be here ! I greet you as members of the Chautauqua i-.itciciij- n.in.1 k3uici;tiHu vii'oic. vv iiuti live xaCltiucrs (U classes belonging to the several years were called upon The Ventre of the Circle. 273 to rise, the two distinguished lawyers nodded their sat- isfaction to each other over the hirge mnnber th t responded. More than that, strangers sitting hlZl each otiier thus made aware of their IVaternityT as they re sumed their seats, cordially held out hands of g eetinl wnich were as cordially clasped. These litlfe 3 an'over' l'".";r''^^." ^1^^ pVnnme were going on all over the hall, making hearts that a few minutes before had felt lonely beat faster with u sense Tf cZpan wenT„'"jt";fT 'r"r^ ^^"" '''' familiaiTlic went on. Jt was the Circle's opportunity to find fault 1 like t- at church, said a man, speaking .)f a certain back at the minister ! Perhaps something of this snirit Now w'.. t^' ?°"^-^'"^«^ g-n'iblers in thelill that Say Now was their chance to - talk back " at those who had "Have no undue modesty," urged Dr. Vincent "or timidity about stating your difficulties. If hey reflee' talk away ! We are anxious to be right. Better to be n^ht, than to be president! And wt wanf from your wisdom to grow wise. •'^ " ^ "o»'t see what fault they can have to find " mnr. mured Caroline. -It seems to me that the "ykem iC J.'eaiy perfect. I have nothing to say " ^ '' I s'coit'aint'^''i'Tl^ her companion, and he shouted out n,l f "P;^"'^- ' V^"^^ '^ ^" occasional lack of asrree- ment between the large book and the Chautau!aa text book: as, tor instance, in Merivale^, mstory^^^ nave to call Dr. Menvale's attention to that, and have him set It right, called forth bursts of lauc;hter tm those who knew that tlm sr,o..ker n",= i-;- -ir ■. " 01 the little text book 'refeSed '"' '''''''''' ^It utLie lexc Dook reterred to. is easy enough to grumble," said Judge Presto: - i t II SI''' 27-1 ^/it Hall in the Orove. "If that la what he wants, I can lelp. I had to wait two weeks for my copy o£ Merivale,'' and he called out: " A failure to have the books published as announced, is one of onr troubles." "Now," said Dr. Vincent, "let me tell you a story. Take MerivaWs Rome to found it on : One morning the publisliers of that book received an order after this fash- ion : ' We want you, to-morrow, to send up a thousand copies of Merivale's Rome ! ' They look at each other I ' Why ! ' they say, ' we haven't three hundred copies of that book in stock ; every press is busy getting out new books already promised; we cannot possibly fill this order under ten days.' But before the ten days have passed, in comes an order for another thousand. Then some Western publisher writes for five hundred, and another for two hundred, or one hundred, and the pub- lishers viftk»> up some morning to find orders for seven thousaul copies of Merivale! What on earth is the matti-:' ;' ' Amiil greeted Fenton ; lie outburst of applause and the laughter that this explanation, Judge Preston said to Mr. " I'm glad I grumbled. Aren't you ? " There is nothing like a chance to find fault to open people's mouths. There were plenty to talk, and the replies that they received were prompt, clear, and good- naturedly given. In utmost good humor, at the close of the half hour the Circle adjourned, most of their troubles fivvept away by being let behind the scenes and per- mitted to see the troubles surging over those who had been trying to serve them. " The fact is it is easier to sit at home and growl over the mistakes that other people make, than it is to correct your own," declared one gray-haired man as he passed down the aisle. " I guess they are doing the best they can for us ; I won't fret if my next volume is twenty minutes behind time." A general greeting time followed the more formal meeting. People who had passed each other in the I The Centra of the Circle. 276 aTb?acq„atT"' '"" ^°"^^"'^^ '^ «^^^^ ^-^^« " We ought to wear badges," said a cbeerv-fappd ni^ gentleman, shaking tfm hafid of a pretty 'm'! He ^ we young people all belong to the d rcle and there is no means of our knowing it unc vve stumhli upon each other at the Round Tabfe ! " ^^^ "It 18 suggestive of another tliouffht," said a ihWA gentleman, holding out his hand : - I Euve been wonder ing how many of us are children of the same familv travelling towards home, and failing o recognize the ms name shall be in their foreheads: Sometimes I Tm in a hurry for the name to be put there so that m^ brothers and sisters may all know me '' ' ^ fnr'J ^^1^"H*« both Circles," said a middle-aged woman turning to the speaker. " I'm a D T ^ n woman, myMerivale anS all that tok eep io^mpa,^' viml'v^o^ wh.le he ploughs and I bake a,,d ohm' ^ We aLt^;^ ^"^5 r^BSer^'ffi I z t?? S very best out of the Circle." ^ ^ ''° Just behind her stood Mi-s. Fenton. She had reaohsd forth her hand, desiring to grasp that of the pW.Xed ^ra^IUtle'^h"' sl" '"1r"'^'^ ^'- cl'Te't" ittl' 4^'p;^.^^, JlLrlte^ "o^^^i''. riiuiugi ujjixiu Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 (716)872-4303 \ V .> 1i^ im ' M ■ ' ■jl: B^^ H 'I I lU\i\ 276 77it' //tf^Z z?i the Gfrovg. satiop ; in every sense one with these men, while Jack Butler hovered on the outskirts, and heard the names. Young Robert was but a boy ; not advanced enough in real manhood to keep this last thought from affording him a dash of amusement. His father, turning just after some specially honored introduction, caught the liglit in tlie boy's eyes, and kid his hand caressingly on Robert's shoulder. It was a pleasant thing to the father to feel that his young son was unmistakably proud of him. "Is this your son?" asked Professor Burton, and behold, his hand was stretched to clasp young Robert's ! "An embryo C. L. S. C, I suppose ? " " Yes, and an enthusiast about tne whole subject," laughed his father. " Good for you, my boy I See that you join us as soon as your special school-days are over. The C. L. S. C. will almost have encircled the world by that time. Meantime, my young friend, I hope you remember that there is nothing to hinder you from belonging to the circle of Christian workers." So they were more than literary, more than scientific, many of these great men. Their splendid minds had bowed in lowliness before the cross of Christ, and they counted it an honor to be numbered among His followers. Be sure that this fact was not lost upon the keen-eyed boy who was watching every word they said with such eager admira- tion. "They are certainly greater men than Kent Monteith I " he said to himself, as he hovered in the background and listened. And the unspoken comment of his mind was, " That one or the other of them was certainly mistaken in regard to the Bible, and the man Christ Jesus. CHAPTER XXVII. r*^ ^«AN IT, AND I MEAN IT POKEVEB." was the pretty Ariiewh^^ ""'^^ '^'^ ^^ ^^'i^en ? It Even m1 F^ton Tdm UlhaTT""^' ^" ''^'^ ^-• the days went by. Her co nmr o, ^?T P^"''^^«^ ^^ on this particular morr^TrM"' 'f '^""^^'^ ^'"'^^ As thatiady emer "ed v if!.' fln i ^'^ ^f"^^'^ '^^••«<^If- domestic task in t^^" little Icltr-^''"^ ?^^''^' ^^"^"^ «°'"e she exp.essed her n .inllto cSinr ' '^""^^^^ ^^^^' ^--•' wan^of ,^ "^SZ^r^'^T^ -d -Mte child hall Ltst night and S me if r' ^^^ "W^^ «^e in the bit of a valk with htr ^Tl rf ^^o^^I^^^'t take a little " Who, Aimi^ J ' ' ''" ^^^"'' J"^^ ^« ^^^'iy as I could.' thli^S ^JSlJm^f l!ay:::!:;?!V'"^p^"^ ^^-^^^^^^^^^ -Ives, and she w'ant I^ confess'u^^'.lf ?^ °' ^^"™' Ket me to uegotiat. with he mother j/'ti^'' '"^'"^ simpletons have eno.,crprl tul " "^"^'^- Jt these two tl.e same age auJwlvjin''' •"""'" "'"» " S"' "f 1 to do ? " ° ^ ^- ^"' ' J'-"*' «Pect it. What ,uu " I Uon-t .ee how you can do anything," Caroline said 278 The Hall in the Grove. n \ with troubled face. « If I were her mother, I would try hard to bring her to a sense of the ridiculousness of it all ; but 1 don t see how we are any of us to blame." " Yes, that's the trouble. Her father and mother will blame us — blame me, at least ; because she was put spec- ially iM my care. I wish I had been asleep when I said J would take care f her ; but hew was I to help her beins a simpleton, since she was born one? I hadu't the least idea that James Ward would be guilty of any such lolly Were they intimate before they came here, Caio- line 1 " He used occasionally to walk home with her from the Circle, Caroline said, thoughtfully, « but I iievei gave the matter any thought. Her mother knew all tibout It, for I met them one day w dking together, Aimie,and her mother, and James. They all seemed equally p easant, so of course I didn't think of it twice • but here it is different. We feel, in a sense, responsible lor one 80 young, and I've tried hard to have Aimie realize tliat she ought not to be so much in company with James while away from her father - ' mother. She has been doing better for a few days, ink." ^ " Well, she's going to do worse this morning, you mav J.epen.l, and I m sure I don't know what to say to the little dunce. I wish she were at home with her mohlier. m glad I haven't any girls to bring up. They are worse than bj^ys, I believe, though James is quite as foolish as Klie. It my Robert ever gets to parading around in thl. fashion, I don't know what I shall do ! The only youii.' woman ho cares about as yet is you, Caroline, and [ feel comparatively safe about that." Saying which, half iaughing, halt vexed, and wholly troubled, the motherly wonmn set her sun hat in order, took her sun umbrella, and joined the small, fair creature in buff, who stood outside waiting. " It is good in you," said the little Aimie, " to leave all your cares and take a walk with me this moriiinjr I hope It hasn't inconvenienced you." " I Mean it, and I Mean it forever." 278 18 managing it. She is worth hlf^T^' ^?^ ^^''^^^^ time. Caroline is a grind Jh a,-^^-'"° °^f^^' ^^ any niake a grand woman^ Shel^asn't f^J.V "V^ ^^^° ^>» girlhood on foilies. She is frpT \ ^"".^^^^ away her offer her womanhood I In't livf 7^"''^'^^ ^^^^ ^^^ play at being women Tf n.f J ^ ^'^ ^^^ ^»"le girls being true wome^ but spo ir'tt-P'"'- '^^^" ^^^^^er wards." She looked keenfv if fhr .""JJ^^^^^t after- Iier, and wondered "DM iilv ?'^''^ ^'^^^ beside * meant ? » There was a hlvht?''/"^'^^"^ ^^at she young face, but at the samf tt^e th. '^'"' ^'^^ ^^^' ber eyes, and a sweetness abonfT '^ ^'^^^ ''* ^^^^^ in sense of being conscious tvv^ol/r"^""'^^ '\^' ^^ve no 1^ enton did not know wither t? Z ^^"^ ^^°^^'^- ^^' contrary. If Aimie wire so mnnh ^.^'^^^j^ged, or the .ot^reason, what was trbe^M^'h^erl'' '^'^^ «'^^ -"^^ ^^tXl^^ ^^-^ Pheasant stinctively to bend ])e/stem in fi f'^.'^'"''^ ^^^^^^ in- Fenton with curiou surmi^i„'VfoI l^^^''."!^"^ ^"^^ ^^r«. knew that the child 3e7that '7'^ ^'' ^'"^- She sometimes quite early ^^ '"^^^ ^^^^^ morning, bce^'io'^Srd tTit :z-afi:''V^^'r ^--^ cool lake breezes were nhv^n^fK ^"^"f ^^^^^here. ThI an air of sumn^er calm &7onYt'"^^^ ''^ '^"^^'^^"^' ^^^ x>om; 1 didn't come in th^ - . , ^"^"''^• So many people say th^y ,1^ '^''jf]' f'i^'f' ^^^^^^e. enough to enjoy them sllZlf ^i ^"^ ^ ^o"'t tnow I was here ..r/earlvVh?/.'!!'..^^^ '"''^P^- Oh yes'ml ^re up. I like the Ha^T thX «!'.? nT k'*"''" ™^«* P^^P^e oth«r hour of the day '' ^°'* "^"^^ <^ban at any ■■«..■ iUi yi f^t 280 The Hall in the Gr ove. i.'M' I [:L twis Malk, if It had a special object, buttalketl in -idp^nl cory manner of the lectures, the concerts, nd vh i no " "Did you hear the lecture yesterday afternoon?" " Wasn't It just splendid I I think I liked it better than anything yet except the Children's Meetings ;yo. ao jou / Well, Mrs. Fenton, you would be surprised to see how much the little things are learning wu^Ut lon^ h '^""f • ^ ^"I^P^^^^ I ^"gl^t to ^^ ve known long ago all those lessons about the Bible, but I didT When I went to Sabbath-school I used to be very much iTonP :.''"r ;? 't^'^'' ^''^^^"^^ a reference Ci?nd m one of those little bits of books in the Old Testament because I could never find the place. I've fumbl'd an I umbled, and grown red in the face over it many a lime ; but I never thought of learning them until I vent to the Children's Meetings. They have such an iiu Je t ing way of remembering their position that I learned 1 'J too. Now the truth is that Mrs. Fenton herself had been unn:,yed more than once in that very manner. Hosea bonl '' ', ^f ^"^"' ""^^ ^^'^^'^'^'^' ^"d ^^^ the list of books with few eaves were mixed in inextricable con- the r Vl' r^^'^;'"^- ^^ ''^' ""^^ ^' '^^ l^«t meeting of then Circle that some one asked her to refer to a prophecy ,n Micah and she looked her Bible over before the Psalms -ind alter the Psalms, unable to determine wheie^ Micab was located. So, while she laughed ove? 7 I nf •& '^f '''if ^^^^> and resohed to look in on that Children's Meeting the very next morning, and " ^ ^""' 't' "nd I Mean it Forever." 2S1 she hJnot yotCdr ''"'"" '"''''''' ^"""""S- So. Jo. Am.^ Ob. Jo. Mi. JVa ; with the minor Cpttl"''P' '" '^'"">''' "» conneo.iou io..dVehSn;:;tr'^Lr>r'^:i "°-» "- doesn't do, I wonde, I " ' "'^''^ "'"' """ ""n thi:g'!';:oi.' .rJixf:- j„r"ovt: 't^v^,^^?7- think thW tr thi sLVr";:!:"'"'''' """ ■'"" "-■'' Chifd^n-sTreefi;' „t7iXV™' Al"'^'^ ""--'- she could think o^rto "n ta'-r'^I^f FeZ"';" ^'"f at her watch, and decJ-irpH ,> i.?!. ^^^^^•.■*' en ton looked inust hasten back, or tW wl Id lof'T"'^' ^^^'f ' '^'^^^ at the Auditorium wl,?Jl. I ,,^^^S'''^"'^«P<'"i"S thing. TWa id't^S ^'^f . ^^•^^d" fc n"ss for anv^ faceLd dowr tt eyes a/d ^ little, and lower tones sa^d- « 7 T P' ^'^^^ quivered a you, Mrs. FeXi.'' ' ^ ^^^^" «otnetlung to tc!J '' Have you ? " a"?X»p-.S'! "Ho:r'o:i!;rd'iej"r t '^^ encoui.aging\vhen .he feTuu'er dX *» "™'l 'i ""' measures; to unhesitatingly einLintn tL ^ ■{, 'T''' 'ill ma i'i I 282 The Hall in the Grove. :^ 1 ■ : . ' • . :| ■ She wont on hurriedly : . "Yes'ni; 1 felt as though I ouffht to tell von n,,.! 11 1'nLTufhet ^'r^^ ' ''^'''y knew teot It. 1 need youi help; I am so young and ignorant " IwTZt j;^; V-,^- Pl^-Jing notein the^almosf baby iipb, but Mrs. Fenton in spite of herself felt severe t^ sr h:;"iiL^^ ''- -''' ---'^ - -' = oide\^ to fee?sevet!"'' ^"* '^' '^'"^^^ '^ ^'^'^^ helped her " Young people are expected to be ignorant of a aood nmiiy things, and to remain so," she ./d coMly? i?TWr time for knowledge will come fast enou^rh if it \hl height of folly to hurry one's life." ^ '' ^^^ Ihe drooping blue eyes were raised a moment to h^r tied thing : settled for Tife." ' "' *"■ ^' '' » *«»■ vi<.n . " t"^^ I?",' ^''"''''" "''^ ^"''1 suddenly and with ■Mgor, "I would bring niv srood spr.!<. fn ui„ ■ it- matter,- I would resolutely ^resolve to thinlf n'" **"' She was looking full at the prettr child r,.„ ,n^i„,„ mora than she could tell, as to the" result of h^r words! tell you, auJ iw how to do ignorant " i almost baby ;lt severe. It fy much older 3rt helped her mt of a good Idly. "Their h. It. is the ament to her ^ain. t to do great •tance in any :now, and to y that I may It is a set- She would ssionate curl all talk so, the child by be a woman, 'eel that this ol-girl whim ly and with 3ear in this ik no more of the same uch serious )w, an 10119 her words. " / Mean it, and I Mean it Forever r 283 '^'ek^hJl """^i^^^^kable deepening of color in Aimie's cneeks, but the voice was steady — stpadi-^r fKo. -i i f been at all - and her wide-open blue ets fill "f ^'^ gravity, were leveled at the matron ^ ' ^^ '^^'* I cannot," she said simply ; " I havA ma^« o i pledge. On my knees in this verrhall I tnl'^'^r." one came to think of it what » T». j ,, ™*» was I Here had she aetuaty beenlSLt? m"""*'", " young girl to wait until she was twe'ily beC Z"''' " her heart to rhn'cf r tu 1 1 , *^"y oeiore she gave 55,n^^Sf^?£?B mean hat I Li ^ "V?,: '^ S^'ive innocence. '• I only ough", ^^t'eli s'ot" U^c^d'er'tha":'^' Zl ' '^7^^'^ tnr^ There are thing, tha I miZ do^f I t"'** f''"'' on hf^t To^^o^C faT ^^^ ""PPosTtllrf abSnt it all that'Atl, TeoVaS "•'l t" '^T'"" w^. ch slje had suttered to'cTeep oVer'^ir ontrnW* h"s little girl i ,t was but a surface irritability aft«r all Had 284 The Hall hi (he Grove. V i l.er w „Zr^' 7 ,"'"""',^ ^'-'J '-"ve watched ove, wo'illh ve b „,,i ;r ',; te.„ler„e», tha„ Mrs. t^.l" neas, too. She S a d. rirT?""^ ' ''''''"'"' ""'J'»- both how, and wilt an 1 t^l i l' """"T ^lie knew Aimie wanted to know fow L fi? , ""^' "1 ''"'"S- ""^ or loop her skirt, "rdear-Tfri .""' f^" ^ '^'<">^- could and would h.LL- '""■ ''"""'• '^'«- i^'iton Had it been the „„eltio,o"f,f"""'^' "'1 ^''»'' '«»'»"'"«''• of food in a houSwr's iS'^hl'"' " """" ""^ »'•"'='» brought skillful h3 to the t-k 'irtTi'"'' \V', upon to direct a vnniio- ri„.i- ^™'^' ""'■ t" be called and what not\7r L? wo i 1 T'''*',,''','^'' ''"^ ^^rist, this indeed w,« work fZ li^-l"'''^'' "S"'"-^' '"™. appalled I ""° '''"'='' ■*''« shrank back thafrn,i:roo\:drirtiri''''''' ^"^ ^° '™" '■-«"? hercon,pa,do„re™'i'w:r:Zaof'?<:r' '""» ^''"■"' """ one whilelwasyoun" bnti ?fv ^"•^' T"''' """^""o help you, dear oh'M"g.;t'l'd , -rklttw' 7li } T""'' IS, to be very dad thai- vr.., ^„ "^""^v now. All I know good a choice.^ I? I were vour Z,?"^^t '? ^"^^>^ ^"^^ «« glad of that than otZyZlfhlr' ^ fT^^ ^' '""^« fioiu you." ^ ^^^ *^'^^ ^<^"1J come to me Woi.S'e'r! "wirMrfFent^n'w^'"^?' ^*" ^^^^^-^ Once more Mis Fentnn V ?'/ *''.?."^^'^t yo« ^vere!" that Aimie h'ad s"u Jl^" iTr ou IXZ'' '' "^^ ^^'"^ whom to talk, witliout ^ vLrr 1 f? f. ''^'^'' P^^'^o" ^^th of her not hZtin.fZ^^^^^^ woman who always ommied f'- fi?^i """^ l'"' *'' ^ front in their chiircb w f ^^^^' '^^^ ^^'o*" the cnurch , who was nearly always in her I watched ovei Mrs. Fen to L ikiJJful teiider- 1. She knew doing. Had ' pretty dress, , Mrs. Fonton ise assistance. >st any article 1 would have to be called lo for Christ, agahist him, shrank back long lasting found that r child," she don't know myself. It am glad for mother waa uld become nsh I could All I know arly and so dd be more ome to me wide-eyed I were I " t was true >erson with possibility her as a ■ from the t.ys in iier " ^ """' ''■ "»<' t Mean it Fore,»." «^ coffee at all tl,e cin're fl|j„„, ''''' ""''"■« "f delicious tables ,u„l decorate rnm,''tl,e«L,r,h'''' "r'"' ''^'l*'' »t was boinpr ,l„„o. g, ^l^r"^"y^^"'S fov the eliurch J^ere aiway, appeaLrr". ie s^^i, ^ "''r" '"^ ««« renton, do von turu ^ht , ! sewing-cu-cle — " Mv^ is this the w y to nu i^ f f '^'/"^ ^"™ " " ^rs. Fenh n" ^)3nton, she vl'ilU^t" ^'ifi^^rF' ''. "^^^'«-kMrs: little apron go together " A wl' , "^?i'' ^^«^ ^^es this comn.union.'' Mow IL shp ,'1 ^'""'f ^^ "^^^^' stayed to wine wore never offJej ?o fh° ^"^7 ^^^o^ ^'^« ^^^ad and to Prayer-rneetinc eke f R "'?.' " ^'^^ ^^^ not go to know that the kntonswPr^^^^^ '^^ ^^ ^^pected pf this woman only as oiTpv^. ''"^'''^'^^^^•' Sheknevv i" every goo.l worif oT^ chur'ch'rf '^ ^' P^^"^'"^"! n^acy with all such. VV ' so nmn f ""i •''™' ^^ '"ti- "ew-found hopes and wi hes to co^'fi /"• ^'""''^ ^^^^^ ^^r under whose motherly c- re .Li T^'^'^ '"' ^« the woman ''Von sho.dd have^c^ise, n ^^r'^'"." *« ^^^^^ «aid Mrs. I^^nton ^ith a" ?ea7^H' ^T a confidaiTte," her heart, and a tw 1 alin . v^'''^• ^^ ««"-o^^ at thought: "What nfr bov RoV^^ ''""^'^"'^^ ^^ she help i.Uhe same direct- 9 ''""^S^.pfSr^"" ^^^^^^^^ ^or could his father I ' ^^'^ ^°"^d not give itT nor foolish little girl on wLnf^ i, ^i embarrassment. The had -adenlf soaL7l™v;''hL'?J!h^^^^ ^-^ed down' thought that she was unable ^'^-^nKs ol a%look upon this dainty Vt nPfl , ^^^»^"«t actu- ^espect hereafter! For Mrs fI^'^ ^"^ ^^°°^ ^^th Christian wherevei found ; and so..''"fJ''P'f'^^ ^ ^eal -a sort of sweet dignity and nn.^'"^/^^^"^ ^^"^ never noticed in her before 1^ 'S'?'^' ^^'^ «he had Mrs. F ton's eyes as ot^f^otr^n ^^ ""' ^^ ^" ^rou hud suddenly foro-o^tpn hi/'"' 'J^opt^on. Tiie nia- m\ til' 286 The Hall in the Qrove. fair young girl, in great doubt as to what to say. Some thing ought to be said to her. ^ "Have you talked with any one about this?" sh* askeo her, hesitating over the words, as one painfully unacquainted with the dialect. ^ "Only Mr. Ward," Aimie said quietly. And indeed she could hardly say that she talked with him. It was rather that he talked with her. He pointed out the way for her — made It so plain that she could not but understanu, and himself led the way. ' "He tool" said Mrs. Fenton. She gave a little start, and there was a flush on her face. Wlis she Had ? Yes ; really and truly. Looking on, she knew enough of the power of the religion of Jesus Christ to be sure that an actually enlisted soldier, serving under his banner was sure of victory. Then who should rejoice more heartily than she to hear that .the boy whom she had 11^9 %f '\ her heart for these many months was ??i , ^V "^^^\ ^^°"* *^''* ^^^^"^e that was like pain ? Uh me I The real mother could not but have a heart- spasm over the thought that the boy to whom she had given just a small corner of her heart, a small fraction of her care, had strided ahead and reached the Rock, leav- ing her Robert still among the breakers I Yet, remem- ber, she had never in her life pointed out the Rock to him, nor urged his feet to hasten to it I Inconsistent mother ! It was a difficult story to tell to Caroline. Remember. Bho did not understand the language I " You are late," said that, young woman as Mrs. Fen- ton and Aimie emerged from under the trees and came into sunlight — Aimie passing the two with a bow a-id Rmile and going directly to her room. " All the world has gone to meeting. I waited for you and the bread. The last loaf is out of the oven, and Miss Butler says she wiU look out for the meat. She is not going out this morning. Are you ready now? " " I don't know," replied Mrs. Fenton in a slow, dazed say. Some this?" shei ne painfully id indeed she t WHS rather 3 way for her understanu, :ave a little lis she glad ? sv enough of be sure that his banner, ejoice more lom she had months was ts like pain ? ve a heart- lom she had I fraction of Kock, leav- et, remem- he Hock to nconsisteiit Remember, 1 Mrs. Fen- and came a bow a 'id the world the breiid. Butler says going out low, dazed ''I Mean it, and I Mean it Forever." 2.S7 in a peculiar state of mil,7' ""* ^""'" '""' '"^ ''" "I am a simpleton, Caroline ; it is all ridit Tl.« Uf usually bright:;:rch;e^^^^^^^^ i'- gaze eyes that were swimming in tears ***" ^« » J L I. i:: ti'i i; 11 fl I 'lii III ,ri U'»< mm II CHAPTER XXVIII. "THEM CHEISTIAN COMMISSION FOLKS." HE new houses, plans for which had been placea m Mr Tucker 8 hands, were progressing finely, ih.^ hi. 1 Adams having proved so faithful a workw that his employer daily congratulated himself on having " Drought the boy along." *» A very industrious man was Mr. Tucker. Few of the meetings beguiled either him or his workmen fr^m saw and plane. But there came a day in which he announced at day-dawn that he shouldn't do a stroke of work!- neither need his hands. an'tlv' ''u'tT/-!.^""''!' ?^ July day," he said triumph- n ^ • ^^o or three of 'em mixed in together. Them Chnsfcun Commission folks were the greatest fe lows WS had m the war. I used to read about them, and our folks used o send them things, and I thought then I'd go to hear them talk whenever I got a chance." By this you will understand that the "Christian Com- ToTZtK '^''' ^'"l!^^ " ^•^"""^«" ^' Chautauqu. To that meeting came Paul Adams, hovering on the outskirts. It was the first entire dav that had been taken from the two houses for meetings, and Paul was no yet decided whether to devote it t? ihe mSg o «. M '^^'^^i^^^'^' You will remember that hefiad "pitched into'' that -to use an expressive phrase bor- rowed from his friend Joe-and he had brought^to ft all the Prn'E ""Irr 'YV^.^'' ^' g^^« t« ^^^rivale. Already irroiessor Holmes hnH oi'ncrlofi u:^ „„+ „ , , . •<. I ^^ii^i^a i^iUi ^m ^j, yjjQ determiueU a88 i-'&M. " ^'""^ <«"■•«<.» Comnm>ion Folk,." 289 ;:eferakr,L«;r^^^^^^^^ "T H"*^ that he jealous of a whole dVa,,d hS «?""• *®" ^»"' ^^ spending it over his book, withon^ .^•""f 'T^"^'^ »■> num at all. Tlie extrnn,. 1^ S""? '" ">» Audito- ing in that ^reclZSoT^TZaT^?, '}"?} ^'^^ Pu»l* to Paul Adams, who had T'lf •"* 'P''^"^ "^^^"^^S ChrLstiaii, but the vo^ce hp ^ }'''l^^^ ^^^ ^»3'thin| -d the spell of cZTJc^ulZfl^^X f?" ^"^^^"*'«' to make him wait to hear wha7p,f ^"^'l^e^tiy upon him So he squared him elfaSusThe t'p' T'^''"^ ^««^^ port and listened; and by ?1 1 timo%i f'^" ^^"^^ «"P- had been reached : « J take 1^^. n'' "^"'"-^^ «^"<=««^« the officers of the Chautaum./^ i^ '^'?^^ "^ behalf of •n bidding you welcome S,^^^^^^^^^^^^ Assembly, our groves, to our temples to o.i^ ^"^ ''''' lake-side, to of our bells, the sinS nV ?,? ''"'^'' *^ ^^'^ ringing «"r prayers, W clasf ng of ha^fdHf ' '^^ *^^^^^'^"^^ «^ and thefurtl.eranceinfvervDossn.l "'"^^i of hearts, ffent Christiuu unity PmoStt!' 7^^ °^ ^" '"^^lli: flag, and who behave ?n^our iTl T^'^ ^^^" under our iand3 rang together S^^rehetrtih k'1? ^^^^^«^'" »« »ng longer than did tCse of ^^^^^^^^^^ ^'^'^ *? ^^^^ «lie«i- never, in the sense th«f- h, , ^-^^^is, albeit he had the Lord Je^us Chri J h! ;?;^^^^^^, ™^^"^' believed^ tis Latin as soon X. V^^ ^nS '""\^^ ^^^^^ to lie waited for thp Ph^.X ,^^^ "^^^^ but of course a handkerchief, and drew ff fl fj, ^*'' '" ^""l" Po^ket for deed, but loyal to t rocoaston ' ??"'«''''=",, -"<^i in- adding another to the white wits "°Vr''i ''" ''«'P o.al knowledge of the n^J'fftnerSVtki'aV/^ ffl 290 The Hall in the Grove. 'M ■i-f i . ■->' think would have turned away directly the salute wa« "Who IS General P^isk, anyhow?" J^ hereupon young Bennett, who stood with Jack Fenton just back of Paul, commented thus : -Shouldn't you suppose that any person who laid claim to t^ie ve"v ^ightest amount of general information wou d know General Fisk by name?" v»uum kuqw The half sneer whicH accompanied the words made Paul Adams resove to stay and see if he couM discover ^ho General Fisk was. Not that he Maid claim ''to a large amount of general information, but he Imrr^solved ^ometime before this that his stock should be increaled whenever opportunity afforded. "ic^reasea Much to his disappointment the General, whom everv- body seemed so eager to honor, was not the nex speak er, but young Bennett again held him by saying; "Ah now we shall hear something grand I George H StiSrt always does a fine thing." ^ ^"*" "Then it is my business to hear him do it," said Paul squaring himself against the tree; "a fellow who alww, does a fine thing ought to be worth hearing/' But ?au? Adams, although he was passably well posted in mIh^ .a?, was studying Latin with all his might, and S managed in the past few months to acq uir? considerable general information, had yet neglected his ea?l7opno,! tunities such as they were, too entirely to be deeX the little knowledge that he possessed. Therefore after standing first on one foot and then the other for a time he was again on the point of leaving, when Mr Sf n^S suddenly held aloft a sheet of paper^and sa?d : ^'"'^' "Mvrfifp 7' "^T^^ f"^"^^ *^ ^"3^ tJ^is letter." Myl said Paul, and he looked about him on the vast audience. Unmistakably there were those manv of fchem,^who had plenty of moifey. « What did 'the^^a^ le salute vras ioned another i with Jack : "Shouldn't I to tlie very would know words made >uld discover I claim " to a had resolved be increased whom every- next speak- ying: "Ah, ?e H. Stuart ," said Paul; who always ' But Paul ed in Meri- »t, and had 3onsiderable Barly oppor- • be deejdy some way refore, after for a time, Mr. Stuart • • this letter." lim on the se, many of id the man •* Them Christian Comnmslon Folksr 2!^ >va8. Let me tel vo. tl e L "» ""tosr"!* letter likely to sleep aga" HeS^tlvri T'^ •™",''' ■"•' '» is »oo„ as he came in co" c w I ff ■;"""'' '" ^"""''^ -vhat the word meant a ,1 ?n H,! "f '°"">y, exactlj- bit of chip with which 1m l„rl '",'' '1' ^^''^ it "" a he was listening ™when I arr:!/';'^'''t "^""""'^ Ihe speaker, "I'hope it win tut "■ "''■'' «'°"'''" =«»''' Jollafs to some maSti sin tl i C " '"'J'^^^'' '''"""^-nd heathen. It is written in tL *^;'*'I'?l°f Christ to the have heard of. XTe'tl^r'tSr'atSZf " """ ^°" Rkv Geo TT <; J/T^''"Tr^ Mansion, Washington, Dec 12 ififii panyingplan, both of w . cl are ro frne ^7"' '"''■'"'^ ^''^ accom- Jonnectmg this will, ti,ern 1 -.v^ i,, f i ^^ ^ convenient niode of u;d benevolent ^^m^u^^^ S:\^^ '^^'^- , , Your Cluistia, )Ubly proper and Kuisevvonhy f o wim , 'f ^ the soldiers is too obvi- l snioerely hope that the p a „ av i?a '""'^ difference of opinion 8 just aud general in concepU„;r^ ^" ^' successful in execulio^n as ii Your obedient servant, * t Now Paul Adamvj iv.,« 1.,, ^' ^^^-^'coln. "...tasnot to tavT hl'.d f t'^^t"™":™ v'""""^- 'S""" rememberthat his weak an, feeble ,t ^n" P"''"!"* ^"1 ' tvoKliipper, and one o f I Ir 1,„ "J"."'"'' ""» ■' l'e'»- UncoinT There wa sear y rSe'fu rf , ^T ^!"'''""-" ife, his wonderful career -i, 1 n ,f . • t , ''°"'<''^' early 'ii» tragic death, that shttfd „.;",''' P''^^"'^"'' '''''' igain to her boy so no .^n ^l '"''' °™'' "'"' "^er boy's to cheer, Ind he n eded Zv """' ''-"^^ "'"" ""^ to that tree. George HSh™/"."^,"""'' '" '"''• Mr. U ,00 „ Tvlfh fi^ " P"?' """""n *'"> sent it to VV V si onM fi u^^ ^'V^^ «^ ^'l^le^* to the soldiers did not set iiold oHt ^ „° f ?!'P* ^ ^'^ ''°"- He It w,« h^e;oi'e'"ti:*.t wi^ iti^^'j^'re'tdi'V- everv <.!,.. nfJ» <- ^u xr i?"' ^"^ ^* passed t hroiio-h uhJ bixiy thousand dollars ! " '"^''^"^ h he saU the I not monev ^Iio sent it to Lild use it in > Mr. Stuart, (1 earned for lars. Pjiul\ J was some- it astonished nee was evi- the soldiers, on between a side track line again, up a littla ; in Exeter id has been door. He lira with it. and I was ere; but I story. Do went in at ;d throufflj it reached IS between vas in the lessee, and 3 war." :an to be 1 between he figures e value in ■six thous- ad come ; > h mdred "> aye,.,., but what h^"™" f j'"^"/™'' *'■"* would Z> much money as that ! Hrcli h' i^''''''•• ^'^^ ^a-f as to the speaker just as ll« t. ",''. '° 8'^« attention hat the Christia, Commi,sk,„ ^P^""?S "« '"etl o3 ■"ff soldiers who fell "battle 7 ••*''^ ^^ '■^""g";'" pal ed an Identifier was c vL^ f^ ^'T "' ParchmenI rl""""' T'''^P'""<"' the fSlowinl. ""l ' "" Y'""'"' ''"' Company I, Regiment 34, Th rd Rri.; ,' I «"> John Smith, Fourth Army drps." And il Joi f o''«;.^?'»'d ^vision "ound his neck, he reads ^n it h ™'""^P""'»S 'ha God ,0 loved the world fh„^ I **^^ ,"'"''« = AW. *to whosoever W^. f Ar2"J"'^-'''^"«''» but have everlasting life "" '*»"'<' »w< perish, i'aul knew that ver^ii.- i> „ It had been one Tf hi; 1 .In,' "^ '"'' ""'her's. agam had his mother call d for I'"?''- .k^^""' ""<> 01 a Sabbath evening an,! t >i j ' '" 'he twilight wonderful gift of a Sf^ ""i.'^'^'' „'» him about the bee^ise it made him fee? so dl,?f,T ' '•«"'«»>hered that gruffly told her one even!,!^ "^adful to see her cry. He that verse, and never me"nt to' '"''.r^^"''' ""'' « ed of secret heart he had carried about?!?"" " '!^^'"- I" hi,, mother stood alone in the fuss tW J '""'\"=««» that his things, and that it was not th. ? '^^^ "•""" those Jj.ooki„g about on thStmme„ ^ „ T "^ '""^ ^^ hoys! the tearful interest wS?t ™ '?"^',™ e™" ^onow. What h tmnblei'Jr! '■'"'^"'' '"'' "'^■^^' """^ «-''= 'Oh. I am i„ .ueh tmn and prky. Thev Zl I ""."y '^•"^ "oin a„.l ments. ^ ' *"" '""^^ ^^e'ed with endorse "This was his storv: Whon fi,- ™ t, . i" east Tennessee. He had L , '' ^-"^^ "»' I'" H^J een. They botI> went i^?o i^^^j^' ^''^t^^" "■"' eight- them was wounded in bltt^e and il™' f™f- <^"« "f an.I his youngest brothfr IhnLl ' '° ""^ ''"^P""'- boy died:and°tl,e younger one 1, • ?"''^« l'""- TI,e liad deserted and cone hnm» t„' ''""fl'"'^ ""d lonesome, "t the time when^"«ti, w , « ''" '"", '""^'"''■- '' ■•«» and no one could uii'Z ? P"",'"^' '^"■- desertion, The old man had S to lh.TJ^T^'\' *'"= P>-«sident never made a mistake nr lo t ^ff ?"' "' ""''''«« - who H. Thomas, t?oeomn?a„der "''f"'^- General George herland. Be had wrf "4, ' t, ?l '? w™/ "^ ">« Cum- tl-e President, be^ri ' hinf.*"- "'<"/"*''«' a letter to hoy, 'And,-Lud^?'|, ™ '"th's Ifr "f '"'% ''■^ "it was ™'r' n,*^'-'""^ ^''"' ''^»' ""oi'' "'"' '"^ the private roon, oj "feter • re";?;:^ ' "^"' """ see t'hi^ pLlrnr^' "^"' '""' ' ^'^^J^ I -nt to "i Sliwhy'^Jt:^"" """'"" ^-«-' wL^b^gtr. ' wj^al^e toiri"; ' *";' "?'' ""-'he it in twenty minutes Thee?" '!,,'° f"' f"'' Annapolis in Cameron and iiuutor are°wait5n^''r" ""'"^f'^- ^'evens, roe, and we are ^oin^ ZVJ^'"?J"', "^ "' I' »*'■«'« Mon- w>« o J ■'•uuier are waiting for '"!:4",'', r ^'-5 Soiog to have Beaee.' Sam I: 'lou don't say so'l Bu t Mr. Lincoln must •o\v. Wiiat ifl i» I am in Bucli 'Look at tliat ere worn aii£ the Cum- f a letter to id save the liiy, and my ' a hundred I went into h I want tu reathe it in iiiiapolis in I. Stevens, rtress Mon- nooln must " What's //, a iVame f " 099 -ito'it^ hS'/^'^i'n 'r ^^^" ^^''^ ^'' --. I'll secretary took i^ in ; ^'''^ ^ '''''' ''' ^^^o^vs, and the "^^" :" ; und ho turned fs b.Sc n"'"'' '^^ ^'^ '^'' ^'^^l ""d senators, and judges ai^d vvo^l, ? Pl«»'P«tentiaries, of Mr. Lincoln.''^ ^' ""^ '"^^^^^^ '"t« the presence applause which instantTv folInw!i ..^-"^''^ J°^'^'"S "^ the ^vas that in the ml, !-- • T-"^,*'"' "^"^^"^^ There tohl that brought thbov"inTok^ '''\''''y '^-^ been the old nutn,a,rd made hi^ half ^iwti^?'-^'^'^ ^'^'^ thought (hat the father w.«onf 1. '^'' ^oy over tho presence of the President '"^ ^'^'"^^^'^^ <^« the and wltil;!:;; l^^aV::^^;^^ t^f ' ^^-"^ ^" ^^-^ was a n.en.be^of the C^ot v^-.i^'^^^^"^ '^«"bt there this «lip of the tongue S the nevt'^.p"""? '« ^^P^^t "Who? The old man 9'' T?-* ^"^"^ Tablef" who had left Ills tent l^n^ u"' question from Joe, all this crowd was aboat^ nn?f .'M""^^ ^"^^ ««« wha Injurs side a C^otnti^^^^ ^^^owed his way to ^ I lialf i« disgust. " The President " powe,. enough to open eh^^lU'd ZTaV/le'iTe tid' , " w;i';;u.":L''';;:^e'r^"h'ife 0,7/ir "<""" '"■" do such things?'' ^ ""^ °^^ ^®^l<^ws power to "Brauis." Hjiid T' ,.,] „r»— 1 " Mm^u^r " • r T * Suavely. money, said Joe emnhaticallv • «« i t have some of it." «'"pnacicaiiy , "and I mean to m.. 800 i 'I ? m I III ill I ;,' r P?!i' 'M eff.f ^-^^ y/a// in the Grove. "1 said to luvsflf r t«:ii i would liuve been err Iff v[ ^ ''^''"^ »» i"c-h ;— tl.i dimply a spirit of t2^ von'r"''','"^ '" «^"" it a gi-eut President pa L^a d sad . ''""'" ^ There-stoou C on the table. The ok U^'n Z^''"'' '^?^ «P'«^^J o U savy^h.m. Then he said: " ^ *^ ''''^ ""^^'^ ^^^re ho u * r '"? ^?" ^^'^ "la" that General P;.i, _'"' ^lon't know who sent m« ' -^ sent in here?' ♦Some one did.' ^""^ '"^' «a^d the old man ;' ; Now,' said the Presidp..f * * n ncldy." resident, tell me your story very ;; So he told him the storv. an^ T.;.,.„,.. . , . . qu "'My God I Mr. Presidpnf f ^ • lowe.l .vwaj. at once mtoLohLLtf"''^ "'''<='' '""l" " ' That reminds me of one n'?r ""."r "^ ^e said : let me tell it to you.' Gencjui i^isks storic,; «ndhe"aotu,|';;\^5^«°jd man down ..,,„ b j,,^ ' ■"'nutes ago; foldtt in^ mU7et^"' ' f°!^7™ '''-' At this point Joe o-avA M 5 • ,^^' "^^ ^ did—" and said iif a loud Xper " Wl^ f " ^™P^^"« ""%, A'asn\-. here." ^^ * *^^^^t was the story ? f '-'-'-n to read the old man's ^^i" '^ f\'^ ^^^^^^ have qnill pen th-it T "'^", '^ P^Per^, and then he f-.i, ..„ P that I woula give a hundred dolia^s^f:;^ Old *^ u mat' 'j" fortbestor/ l»"ff comes out, m inch; — that J^in njun it u;n Liiero-stoo,; t\m incl spread out lose before Jio sent inhere?' the old man. >ur story verv >ok Ills papers, ;» and you can hin him. He 'resident, and e attended to look of the wliich mel- ' as he said ; i?ks storiei; •y the table, Id you a few lid—" fiatic nudge, le story ? J '11 tell you "He took ^vould have dollars foj « in a Name?"' M, '••< nilnute, and 801 ^I-'!'o;.ed. aI^^^^J that paper: • Let (l.i. boy •»"« elokiMor sensation in his J I '"''''■ ^'um a '"'""ess about his eyelids .. 7 '?^' '^"•' '» Uv-mu. '""^''er and of her e^er- eJ^'J »»ade hin, think o| | ", 7' H« Lis thoughts we .toffte'; ^^Vi'^"""'>' • '""W^. derness of feeliiKr fh..f 1 1 [ *"'^^ niother all fi „ ,? ' o"t just then i„ a ,ZL^Z r"""?'"^"''' P""r«l ,',if but n, some nray ho would be t,fr '""' "" '''''"' '■. v- General Fi.sk shonld'Si/rwo 'TV""""""' "l" v™? 1 telt, sai" the lund of the n.a.rll.o^ " i"'!*' T'*' '" "l"«p f "' f"""»« to the United St^tJ c^u- ■ ''*""' ■""' h<.art I'oman who this , lav geett^J^^ £''Jf''»" Connnissi, , Kfthis moeting — GeomrHy"'"' "i« presiding „m,' l^ by l.i,s insf,irHti;° fha the y" "^ "'"'"''^•ll^.i,, Associations of this count,,, i °""S: Men's Cl„i„il,,,, f-> -ray of the L:.aZtitaT 1 ''" ""'"' '>'■■''''''• every encanipment an,? /Sa f W "f V^ "'" ('"'«" soldiers who niurched f..Ji ^ • , ' ^^ ''ad a Icr!,,,, „> knapsacks, prayi ,„ a s dtd P """' f?"'' ^^iW^s in ' ,?' ^'gingas the Swedes sLart'''!"'' '"S'™' I"4. u. ArfoIpLus led them bv Z^^ll^^'^"' "I.en hn^^a:,, '■".s mans attention and foi-fT,'„J'" P**'^"''"' voi<;o. |j,. '-.'ofwhiehhetold^trHtrtlSriir'"^: 302 The Ifall in the Grove. : > ! I ?■ ^oiaier in the field wlio knew iniythino- about it iviil bear me testin>o„y that I speak the trSth t was m ?ood fortune to see much an^ be with much of tllwori; -cs messengers. I heard their voices in entrp-.fv •i.ul .xhortatK,n as they broke upon us on ?he p ck 1 i thnf ft. ^ ''^ ^J^'''^" ^"^ unknown who died that this government of the people, by the people an for the people, might not perish from the earth!^ " Sl^ f 'ime's eternal camping ground, liiHr siloni L.M.is are spread; mu^!^.''y ^''^"^^ ^'^'i solemn sound The bivouac of the dead. Ne'er sliall their glory be forgot, VV Iiile fame her recoid keeps, ■,'xn '"""'■ P"'"^s ^''6 hallowed spot Where valors glory sleeps. Nor racks, nor chains, Nor time's remorseless doom bliall Unn one ray of holy iigi,t % That guilds their gIorious°tomb." ^ I do not think that Paul Adams had read a nopm rLtco'S/-^^''^"'' "« ""<' ^^''^' °- f°n: " ^Pt dogs delight to bark and bite. For 'tis their nature to." rt may have been a dim memory of this tryin- time tlio notice of a fellow with an ounce of sense Rnf -k ;'s -^..^^... w^.0,. vuiuc umi earnest words ihor came to h,m the feeling that these smooth-rto" in. i , we e different from auytliing he had ever heard bef e of pX ' ^"''"^ "^^ '™"''> '"'«°»'« » '"ver Altogether, it Irnd been a remarkable day to Paul Adams. Forces, the power of which he by no means real ...^^ tie, and every about it, wiii h. It was my ch of tlie work i messages and entreaty autl lie picket Jine nd the graves >wn who died le people, and arth. read a poem out for his trying timo iff un worth V ise. But as words there lowing lines I card before, ome a lover iay to Paul I means real- " W7tafs in a Naiyie ? " If i!:"''„^„!^" ^^''"^ "'"'"» ''"». and would 303 be to sleep again. " What a thing it would be to understand nil . i . such a speech as tli.H" ti • """erhtanu all about • walked away with J fme, W ,"•'' '1'" ''" ■*»"' "» l'° "gain found himself "'''' '" "''™« '^°"'P^"'>- ''» ingj7'"" '•" y-" "''^■'?" questioned James, won'-*«"^'"^J "«i>^tH}% luKl no sort of answer to make. He was littery dumbfounded ll^ jns^er to fmgmsm sometlung, «„d something new o.nTlZ'J \l\^^T wWch he caressed to,, ^If ^ExaeZw''Vr^ i" mean, tl.e future mu»t define " "'"'"""■gtt " te.. he left his oon.paniin ::T;™ ife tn 1,'ie thS the interview over; mused over F^„,r. .., '"""g"' tions ; realized th„ the I'nv 1, ,d c' nihf Tf,''""" "l""-" na„>e« and yearned over ti"in 'he l!f„: '^l^"^'' wasted tiu,e to nJSile n^ ' ""■■'*'• ""^ ™^ '"''o I""' As for Paul, before lie slpnf fi,.>f . • i .. i where Lutzen was. ',1 12' Guff' -''f ,''',»'^»™'-«J and why they sang tlat day. '""''''""'' ^Jolphus wa,s, eliev-e that is of answer to fie had been I pursuits to Hssociate: so lie force of a If uiiderstajid James Wnrd called "cua- Paul had no 3Ut it meant It was tlie ave to Paul lad ever felt ife he recog- lity being on there came ito his life, the way in i^hat it might ng lives, all 3r .' James, )ne thougJit erous ques- the strunq'e "He was "I believe ' thought of • I might 'le to help one that I who had discovered Iphus was, CHAPTER XXX. COMMISSIONED TO SHINE. ,, I covered tha 1^ e„l; Tct?. ^^^^^^^^^ ^'^- the " Hall in the Grove '' A hllv ''"^""^^'^^ ^'^^ ^^as old enough and grand enough tl"^ ^'""^1' ''''^' ^^'^^^ baptismal name - - St Pmm '" H^ T'^'^'y "^ their you have heard. White ^ n Ifr , ^^""''^ ^^'^ ^'^'^^ gestive of such, a bTil] 'n? nw^^ V^'»"' .Tot sug- {glorified future. I do r knmt T ^^'^V'^^ '^' ^^^^^ ^ you ~- the effect tlLtls bi^^r "^ to describe it to glimmer of lake betw ' , h d'Lf '1^1?:' "'^^^' V''^ « ^iiuquans. The simple tri thiJ; . J,^ ?^'!^'"^ ^^^'^u- t''--e. They loved e^veV^een leSlh^;'"' 'T''' "^^'^ welcome to them as the passi fg b.eeze st rl? > ^ """'-'^ " There were tho«e amon? them whn n 7 ^ '^'^ emotions. PHss one of the whuf coZ,^ n^.V^^^^f, «« '""oh as caressing movement sf..-rfo ''^V'^ ^^^^^ without a The vefy eS ^i rwH^h'ir^"^^ ^'^'^ 'V ^^'^^^"'- enough ol jeots as they weTe see. ed^^f 1'^','^' ^°"^"'"" "ahty, and in some Lhtul' f. ^'-?l' ^"^ ^^^^« "'^ivid- friend. What sr^H ^ ' '"^^P^essible sense to be a Pleasant melS P^~, ^hem ?_ I don't kno.v! Vet these, to son'o do nr.; .f , " °"' ^"tentions ? Yes. know the;e are ii.Ws C.Z^nl •'■ T^^^' ^^^"'^ >'«^ explain to some people vVon.^'i^''/^^'^'^ ^'«" «'^"not though it o.n-v« J'?,?. ;u- ^o" "i.'^y hiy bare your heurf.. «" it, and u"skr" WlTv r thl' 9" ''^"'/"'^U'^^^' ^^'^^ «tep ^ 1^ thi^? and "Of what use ia r -^n ! i> I: , r H I'l'f 30G ^e Hall in the Grove. that ? and « What does the other mean ? " until, unless you are a saint, you flee from them in dismay Doyou hKou'^ *^ ^^P^^"^ ^"^ f"^ther to youwhy the d^ luded Chautauquans loved their hall ? Oil a certain August afternoon it was in gala attire. H-very column was festooned with twining vines. The [)latform was aglow with flowers, and mosses, and bricrht werries. The treasures of the woods had emptied them- selves into this favorite spot, to add to its glorv. The occasion was a special one. Something in the air would have told you that almost before you caught a glimpse ot the special adornings, and of the speed with which the nali was nlhng. "Humph! "said James Ward to himself in a some- What discontented tone, as he surveyed the crowded building and then took his seat on the stump of a tree that had been left near the entrance for ornament, it (lid not improve the vines growing thereon, to call on the stump so often to assist in seating the audience, but people must have seats. James Ward continued his mental grumbling. "If this lecture was prepared expressly for the members of ine u. L.i^. C., according to programme, I should think the crowd might wait until they are seated; especially as it is not time yet for the lecture." •> i' ** J^ There was not much comfort, however, in grumbling ILT. • 'u- ' '° \^^ occupant of the stump presently Bought in his pockets for something with which to be- guile the waiting, and drew therefrom a little book which had been given him the day before, the attraction 01 Which was those fascinating letters "C L S C" A letter written by William Cullen Bryant about the Cluintauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. James Ward was not sufficiently posted in the literary world to have a very clear idea as to who William Cullen luiriT ^- ^'"^"^ that the name was an honored one, am. at it was esteemed by members of the Circle » rare tribute to have a letter bearing that signature. ? " until, unless may. Do you ou why the de- in gala attire. \g vines. The ises, and briglit emptied them- ts glory. The I the air would Jght a glimpse vith which the elf in a some- I the crowded ;ump of a tree for ornament, eon, to call on audience, but ambling. " If e members of [ should think 3d; especially in grumbling mp presently which to be- a little book the attraction 'C. L. S. C." nt about the ircle. James literary world illiam Cullen IS an honored of the Circle at signature. Commitiioned to Shine. 3Q7 organize th^ChlmmLthil^L^,^ P'iT^* ^* "le meetln? called tn 'ch d-nies a sin ,n e weapons to be used agail.st Chrl^/ank;?'''^'''"'' '" ^'^«^ «f «Senco ove^'r' thl^ tS KS ""^'^^^ J^?^-^' -^' leaning interested him so deeply ' ^^'"^"^ed to know what you s'el -r'''^ ^^'^^"^'^ ^^^^-'" -id James. « Have " Bryant's letter ! Who ? Tho r^^ ^ ^, , about the Circle I I remember & V 1 ^^' *^^^* ^^^^^^ but I want to." And hTle lmp^ f "' ^^^^^«»'t seen it, the reading. ^ ^^''"^^ ^^^^^rd and joined in th;:ik'hi w^c^:::t;f ti^ ^^^^^^^'^ ^^^^^^e. ^* i didn't " One of whom ? " he'S'aioud !""'"" "^"' "^^* ««-"ds like it." And ^^tr^iot^SotUer^^^^^^^^^^ confident that one truth never people at large to think? i^^dtf^welSp^fc'''^ '^'^ *« accustom th, giving a portion of their lime to a vi^'.^^ ?' ^«" »« '^«l>"eve. By a>.d a study of the best books, men 2 tb/n"'^'"'"^.^^ "'« "'l«"^cu ert"' 'do yout'' ^ " *^"^ ^^^" --'" declared Rob- « L'^,^W5«"PPose it would be." ^ive^'a Vig::;U;Tratrn''T r^'^^' ^ ^^«- ^-ven'b have about arunTaStolV v^vs"^^ '^^ ^'^-^^ puzzi ng questions as they couM W T f''"^ '''^^'' Mr. iMonteith! He mix^s « f.li "^^"^ ^* ^^«""g questions „„«■ be Wr^L^rUVVLr »;[ 308 Qi ,3i A . .. r. The Hall in the Otovb, feris a liule like thinking that nobody beheves anything thi..MS, ami know" iitT l"^'.""^" f^""""'^. delicto merely sayii)g: '' Hear this ! ^ l»imself, and that there is no law of tl,e fvme sub L^ "^ '"".'"^ *" f'*''"'' "t'''^''' may be. so worthy of bein- f u v knmln o m*" ^"'' ^^'""'l«rful as it njaiies hi.,, who obeys it a ble 's f- toTi^ .^f/''^ '^'V^ ^"^'^^ "^'i'^'' observance of which would put if end to K"'' ^""^ "" ""'^'^'■'^'^' evils which effect mankind." * ^^'=« P'oportiou of the "I say, Ward, Bryant must have bepn « Pi.,.- r he read on from the letter. "^ ^^'^" P^Zl-"as^i';77olt'fpe.';^o"\^,.^S^^^ f„tl-' -d -«^' of its }Kirposeof showingthedifrerei?tsDLfei^oipnnL!.'1' ""PO'-ta-'t for the ti:t?;^nt?oSic^r te? = "« -^ "'-^^ ■^'-'-s "Perhaps he hasn't knowledo-^ *»Tm„r,T, ^^ • distinguish between 'diverS^^ -"""" ^' " 1 perceive this important advanticro i,. tr.^ ^_ , namely: that those who e. la-e S if J i ^'^''^?'*'' organization, othe.-. It will give the membe.s . ^.T '""toally encourage eaci begets a feeling ^of bro,l.l..hool'''^,fey \TS^^^^ ^'^^'^^ '^'^^ays conveisaiionand disoussion n. r? ti«^>l * con.mon topic of who, if they stood aioJ.'e n id l,!^?, ^^ j^r^^^'l^^/' '' be, that\„any recommended to them, wij] be ind .oJ/f » L^ ^^ ^^"'''^^ ^''ich are which they see others laklllg in "hem.'' P^'''*«v«'-a«'ce by the interest Robertt'' ' ^ "^'^^^^^ compliment for our GLrdei isn't it elieves anything man who had ed James Ward mire Kent Mon- 3wnice, delicate anything; but the difference." cept to himself, >wledge so impurt- and to each other luJ wonderful as it law of Jove, which and the universjil proportion of tlio en a Christian ^ho thought all t he?" Then \ and such of its luportaiit for tlie science and relig- their divergence ilwajs hinting of science to tion,' " quoted p the story of ?ed organization, 'encourage eacli lit, whicli uiwiiys onimon topic of II be, tliat many udies wliicli are e by the interest LTcle; isn't it. Commienongd to Shine. 309 eo;.'- "•" ""^ «»'«'«• " And listen to this, i. U a p,.op„. iuni,„a,y as J «„ that you are 1 1 « ?°"'S '» '•« - young Ward had „o l°!!„t , "^ °" ""» stump." was .springing from the" tumramln' "■ """"'" *'"" '■« P'l'ce to a ladv who vV ,^f„f " T^"'« ''^"''y to give otl.erthan little AinWeheLl,-'^ ""^"'^' '''^"' >""'« Wliat'l" L't tjll'w/'"' '""'• b'-eatl'less. "I hun-ie,' a",«en, Hot^nl^ ' r^r^rrelr t'" "'^ "- Wh.^are .von reading ?"•* '"'^^ ""« ''"""P for me! Ro'bert^ '".'fc fjtt'i^^rsr "' '^*'-'" -P'"-'^ ■ Very trujy yours, To Rev. Di{. Johx h. VI^.ENT•• ^- C- Bryant. ;l e d!dUTje\t;tngr rf, "/"';-''■ «- -i'l = ^lid he? " ^ ^"^ ^° ^^atch tor the good result,. pi> J we will be at home for h . T •'? ^"^^^ «« "^^'ch. I "lean to recite T'W.^'i „ ^''n."^'^^^^^^ ^«»'t ^v^? -impose we will Jnu^e aTp S ^eet r .^"'l?' ^^"'^ ■^•"" /. "sed to recite ThanJtovTil wf f """ ^^emorial Dav? tnought it was doleful -^'..n'; I r^f.^ "i «^'^^-"J- " i 'en, and yet I liked it. B ut I 810 Tht Hall in tht Grove. U ' i i -ml knew almost nothing about the author. I think it is so nice to know things." Over that sentence Jnmes Ward smiled thoughtfully. He was still listening to the ring of Robert's words about Paul Adams : " Tm just as sure that he will be a lumi- nary as 1 am that you are sitting on that stump." Waa tliat the division? Must he sit on the stump and let Paul shine ? Was not there room also for his shining ? He was not satisfied with merely sitting and looking on. He would never be satisfied with it any more. _ " lam the Light of the worW He thoui^ht of the verse ]ust then. It had been quoted by P"ofessor Holmes in the Normal Class that morning. And he had immediately followed it with the words: " Ye are the light of the world, placnig a peculiar and solemn emphasis on the pronoun. It came to James Ward at that moment like an inspir- ation — the thought that he had been commissioned to shine. The glorious Light had shone down into his heart ; the life-giving voice had sent him the message : '' Ye are the light of the worlds Yes, he would shhie trora henceforth; a reflected light that should help to light the nations home. ;'Hark!" said Aimie. "It is begun." And the voices around the stump were hushed. Dr. Meredith was the speaker, and the C. L. S. C. people knew enough of him to have been on the ear'er watch for this lecture which had been prepared expressly for them. The stump proved no mean sitting, after all, lor the ringing voice of the speaker penetrated through the trees, and reached them clear and strong. Those golden sentences poured out so rapidly were none of them lost. "Leisure Hours" was the topic, and as the Doctor proceeded to unfold to his listeners the wonderful things that could be accomplished, if mo- ments usually wasted were carefully guarded, one per- son at least felt his plie*»l''« "]civ^ ""th - — ofv-;-- --- ,- ... —'■^ — !^.-,... ^iwr TTiixi owuietuiijg very like shame. Perhaps it would have been difficult to Commi$»ioned to iShiM, 811 [ think it is so thoughtfully, s words about rill be a lumi- tump." Was tump and let his shining ? d looking on. re. it of the verse or Holmes in I immediately ! liffht of the phasis on the ike an inspir- imissioned to Dwn into his the message : would shine onld help to " And the 3 C. L. S. C. on the eager :ed expressly ng, after all, ted through • 'apidly were 3 the topic, his listeners ished, if mo- ed, one per- ething veiy diflBcult to he listened, he made some strong and stem lesolves' II to what should be done with timi in the future Ihere were manv points in that lecture which seemed specially suited to Us needs. Aimie turned owardhhn with a meaning smile as the speaker told of havZ hir '^fa^fu^fr "'^?>" 'T% ^^^-^^ -y^!^" i- naa an awful memory I and after expressing in very strong terms his opinion of the ignorance and fcJ^ev^ denced by such an admission, added : -I tell you young man, you can secure just as good a memory as you choose to 1 ave." James V/ard returned thTsmile kughed outright, indeed, but at the same time blusTed ^nlvtoTpi^T-^' * ''^^ ^^"^"^ in that line. ^He has only to read a thing over once or twice that he really want^ to remember, and the yery language of it belong! No wonder he blushed ; but he gaye eyen more careful heed to what followed. In reality it was a guTde book of instruction on the acquisition of memoryf and more acqtre " " ^''^* ^'''''^^^ "^^^« re^olutt^rto "There I" said Robert Fenton. "Listen I he U dp scribing Ollie Chester, for all the world. The boys art always telling how she goes on. Do you knoTher! Ward? She is one of those girls who know all the people living in the big houses, and who the7married and when they married, and how they dressed, a^d what relation they are to Mr. So and So/of Bo«f.n .wul^ 7ttfnf ' Sh!'t?- I'^^i '^ ^^^ York,- an"d aillhrt sort 01 thing. She thinks she has a good memory because she I.' 812 Th% Hall in tht Grove, hK I: i .;,.( .» all hnnbore.) „p wit^, tl.at l^r'i of thi,^^ "'^^ '"'^ "'""' speaker. But t he ton> 'PPers, anil let hid tliou" «"e Jiaa have never bee able to^ira;^t J least, I ^..tnd\^to'ir':,i^:-ft^^^^^^^^^^^ pretty stump and throw Jn, L . "" '""'^ "" *''« From that moment Al™L "' ^°'"" ""«"« Ned ? " attention to Dr Me'edith'f/1 '"^ "f ,"'"' "^"'"^'^lo'' not only, but on what toni., 1 '"'" '"'"' '" 'l""k. When I caref"l7y conl°§er an 2^"^ "",'"'' *''""8'"- J< Chautauqna durh.g that ev.^ ff ,1 grounds gone over I return again to vhatt^ iff '""'"',"• ^ "'"1 ">'" elosion, tha! nothinjmorelt pf^Uo" t^/r-'''''''''''^ "°"- during the six weekl than flf ? tl'e Circle occurred some of them nnder difficul ies tlT *'"" '^7 ^'"'■^' ov:r:Ti;';ta"-r^ ^^'"-'^^^ ueiuDnties were ° ^"autuuqua ; but she is a ;ayH, lier mimJ trtl remindetl ^elf, was tlie not be kept lebcriptiou of ty a glowing Jiid tJioughts the ]aw8 of what Jie wajj Uraie. " He liis eyes full aJiy one haa ^f tliiuking 'At least, I » " What sort r conscience is made of lere on this tide Ned?" d undivided V to think, ch thouglit. i gone over I find that berate con- le occurred ther heard, ' afternoon, the lecture wer. The iiautauqua Commiaaioned to Shine, 818 n'ui , ^'' ''' ^f^ston pastor amoncr nflmr fi.j. ^ Bibie-clasH teadior. Fre.l ShV^.rf° '*^'^f \t''">SS, and a wonderful IJibL^ cliss Th., f'^' l'" ^'^' '' perfectly There are as nan v as* two h ™''^ 7^^'J^'-t>'"^t«^-"«'>"s. says, but it d^:e%4 se^^nn M''^'r'"^'"^'^^ ^^« ^>ed f"yvvuy,antuart, you understand, " D"K\^u tllik^ iff ^^'^ -^f '^ -'^'^ -P^'-is. " It oucrlt to be Of ^"'^"••^^^'» ^e published?" here^lipttway Lm us W. .' ^"'^ thing ^vo have had F..ton H^^^u'^nbs^l::^ t iJ^''^^ Okautau.uan. -"y<>f th 'Src^^;::=,rr^-^^^- Agreat only think of havLlt\B T ^'^ '''"'^^'^ "' '^' besides, ".uf Dr. M(^l.dit[/'"^,^rdf) ''"'■'*'' !^''^ ^'^■«^- ^''^^"«'« lectures that wi be pui;t^^%^"''^^f^"^"^ «^r"^«"« "nd the CV^aw^az^yu^n riibn V fof r^n"^^^ ^"^^'^ ^« t^^^« The afternoon' work was^J^er S "'i? ^'"''j " ers went their wavs It^L k ., ^aker and listen- depressed. HeTay have fin %^'-"\f^^' ^^^'^^^^ ^^^^ followed the exSenTo/Xrt "Laf the'el^^^ ^'^^^ yam, and the hour wasted I «!nlv it- ^ ,^^^^^ ^^'^^ It n,ay be that not on! of ThL I -^'T '^^^^ ^een. and sped their T.lus ^viv, f '7^^ ^'""f the avenues, thehe%thc.y,.urZi;e7Lm him tTnt'af;^ '^'" '^^^^ a word of tliH Hcrl.f ).« i i ^ '^ ''^^ alternoon ; not i"g Hubjectl , ft a vo 11/ T''" °" '''."'^^'" ''^"iW«- that 1.6 1,„,1 'reduced to !f„,"','', """'"='"« in their way re»olve»tuke,ra dtl.e.reatd'i tirV'' ''""^ "^ «« tlirough his eloquence^ Sn^r;?!"'^, "■""■"?" '"f"««"• jut begin to grow ? ^ ""* "*"» "» eternity "11 know, even »hed. Would that summer hat shall con- n ia eternity CHAPTER XXXI. THB BOOK, ^*^ ^Th^"^*** ^'"PJ^theatre was filled to f.. * *H*P3 There is really no more a/Jri.f "* "'"'''«'• * , found than that Amp^X^.i k ""^ ."P«^' ^" be up of an evening. At lettT^rcCrtr '' ''** ''>'''«d There is something very fascinatiL; i ^^'''l"""'* ^^'»k. tows of circling seaVrisiglS an! i? *''««ir««'H and ^ne of them with people. If f 1 ?« '*'?'*^''' ^''^'^ every seat on the platform of ^Hp rl ^ . ^°^® *^ «t" flHI 3 tr«' r^'t m Iri f 316 The Ball in the Grove, aftprnoon before in tlie T <3 r- again. All the people InvW f ' 7°^^ *« ^'^dr him h"n wanted to b^ nu nbereVl L^ '"' 1 '" ^ ^^^^^ ^^«*"-*' class contributed 1 Sv to T^ H'f ''^^"•^^•«- ^Jiis Besides the education frcha'taianff^f""^ ^'""^^^••«- When the bells ring, there iisor?nff ^°-^'' ^^ ^'^''^'-'- point regard::, IZCZt^ ""'^^7^' -<■ «' tin. thought there was any .nag.^fice'uce ln\^ '"" ''"»"' ^O" book to se Oct from ' " !,„ „ '; i • ^? .'" "' present text "Certainly I do'" ""f ^'^ "«l'»™glj-. Kent Monteith wouid hte seTn' iZ ' C'^^^"i'^ with He was much too scholarlv ,n ?n-. t ® "."^ "nnoyed. of putting his peculiar vLr ''l^V'";''•^"'t°'^'"''« W not such a fool.l trust, altobe „ nableT''^ ' .I"" ^ ••"» less imagery of lanfru i' "^ r:heU,iK and tfe Bible, ott:^ n' ."cfsS'vtr "'^ ""P™' '" ^-rrir^cS -- -'«t« lirpiif tlung very iike Tsn::; mSr^lTf T'^t^'^^' ^ZZ Kent Monteith. ffis ho^ of if '■■'»''^°"« &ee .,/ flights of eloquence, wi rson.e of H "'"^ '? ""'^■"^^sive the Bible for starting;" ntsM.^ ""^ f f """ P««^'K«s of self to listen instead 'to a ser es of nl .'f f'^ned him- excellency of a book in wl,M i Sf.P'atitudes about the fit back tliough l^e did w ,, (^f, '¥ ■'»' •'elieve. Still, look, it was impossib e no n •''^'^ !""" "»<' i-differen lowed. ^'"^^ "°' "> S've thought to what fol- "It may be well for us " s^i,^ tl,= , for a moment on the thre4„u ^^P^'Uer, "to pause lou" •in(ir,>,;f- 1 • '■'"eshold, and consider *'- -r - i '""' •'niiquity and vit:iii>,- nt .i.: . i. . ■ ;. _'^ ""= niiuvoi- 'i'r of this book." Strath;:;; ay 8 ff ■ The Booh. to hear him > hud heard ^arers. TJjis ig mimbers. fo to chur(;!i. KitioM about ^iiig for her said young er. and at this •t know you resent text linted with s annoyed, olesale way (^o. I am the match- etoiic and 7 appear in 3 to all the ig himself ''•" Simply ^« Some- le face of successive assaofes of gned him- about the e. StilJ, ndifferent what fol. to pause B miirvel- jhtway a 817 he might no^t av Stbned to l"^".f '"^ t''^'''^ ^^^^ inland in the ^"ean sea hi^ "• '* has has been cast into the fit IVt, ,* overwhelmed; it At this point Kent M^'n'rl^"* "^^"^""^ *° h«rn." Robert Kento 's astonhh d if 't'''^ «'"" "^ ^""3 the man of the world"s habitnnr^'/;^ ''^''- J^««P'te flush appeared on his fiee »« 1 '"^'(-"ontrol, a slight this statement, though ?can'l,:'r''f ''''<' '^' f""' 'hat but the day before been Treated I """'.'•'"'^""on, had manner that Robert was left 'fli I ''"°. '" ^""^ » aotly contrarv conclusion tII'T-'"-''™'""' «" earnest youn^J- evp. »!„ ''" questioning in those found oJuse'i7 thaTKbieT -rrThe'";' ^i ^"."'"'^ dozen seats divided then tf ^ '^*''' "'"' half a then for a question fi.omThel"p: ""' P^^P^^** J''^' BibTetno'l'l ^?:f:Lr,l^;! >« -n'-ce: "The ...».., ^auk ji4Uier nodded and the view of the liold thisgi-and le most stiipen- srhtj!" There act, and in the suggested, that ' the sarcastic 36 as the latter : his back to f the rush of and trampled o-"ight a man ' had outlived e sea and not inot burned, son and vas at the broad and he had 3 heart of a 'an. It has whelmed; it burn." ze of young *s. Despite oly a slight le fact that liction, had in such a raw an ex- ? in those '. Monteith hat half a pared just 3: "The odded and The Book. 819 sermon was concluded tIo ^'' Positions before the the truth of th?s • ^^' ""''y "^^<^ «««^ence proved ef^r; rh:%t1ferofV:atnT ^l ^'^ Christ our Lord Rnf ^ sanation through Je^n« tionofthi^t'etiaftut^te" tothe facts of the phj a S rfe i"f "f V.^""^^-- not tnown to men when tho S!' ^^f ^^''^ ^^^^o these allusions of the Biblo nt% ''^^ '^""^"- ^nd strictest harmony wh thP wll? ^""""^ *^ ^^ ^n the latest science. HeJe t*fn T.f"'''''^^!^^^ facts of the wears; for in tl fs Ko^^^T^.r^"^ '^' ^^^^^ science it stands in str kT^'r^^l.t to 1^?^"^^ «^ books of the heathen nation! A 1 tl n ^" ^^ '"^^^^ of religion, and all the pliilosophersanHt •'''"* 7'^^"^^ so far as they are kno wn -- Z !nf • ^ "^'"^ "'^" «f «ld^ as absurd as^their thel^ in gII^^'T ? ^" «^i-'«« osophy for instance, thf heaved w'V""^ ^^'"^ P^"^" Aristotle called it a snher/ " f J^^? '""^'^ ^^"^t- According to the Egyptian sa^e; f hi "^'1 . ^^^^ «^^^'«- by the motion of aif and tK., '7''"^^ ^^^ ^«™cd In the Hindoo philosouh v thp w ^iT'^ "^"'^^ «f Aame. structure, -vefS \ ^ ^^.^^^^^^^^^ flat triangular J'lgh elephants, who, when [hfj^u''^ ^^'^ ^^^^s of caused earthquakes ^^ '^°^^ themselves. abo^utThtld !^r" Hin""t'l' *^^^ *^-« -ere were ten hundred Id t^r^tt' ^ p!'?^ '^^ ^'^-« from him, and made the "^Cj^ t^^^ cweniy-six. Mahomet ^1ir^ tiVl" . " hundred and t"» .arth b, God. s^'Cutnr r:;i r rt,-- 18 a strikin 'g 820 The Hall in the Grovt ^^^'^.^^:^^X^--:' -iters of the of the nations tha he'd t p.p v' "l^"^ °^^"" «^ ^^^^^r J wtt Hhows favor to ^e o them'"^, i^ """^^ ^ ^ine I3ihJo with the discoveries ofsPi.n • ^^'^^"^«"3^ of the wonderful thino- aiuJ T V ^""^^ "' ""i" day is a instance, it s^eSLrof tl 3,?^?'''^ Fo? I>en(|ed on nothing. I tl^ust}t^'.,^^'^' ""^ ^« «"«' ii solid sphere ^bift i ho„l ii ^*^ *^'^ heavens are not »"t-^«de,it of' the 'sun .".dlnrP'T- ^'^^* ^i^'^* i« anticipating the Lne aliv r -'PI"^,""* ^^ it; thus t"-day. Wherit^sr^^^^^^ of science a thousand, but savs^tW '^ ^"^^ "«t talk of the telescope shou^to hi .''" innumerable host, which Then folWed certain sn^PiT" ' ^^"^^ of speech." of the san.e fact and Km^.P-!;:'"^'"^ illustrations self embarrassed by he cL^/"''''^^^^«^^i" ^^"nd him- eyes of llobert Fenton '^1^^ ? °^'»"ty and searching «ciousnesB of havinl n;te.lld if h" "/'^'^^^foitable cou- certain statements of {.nVR n ,^'^^^0J« company to tions by Dr Sed th dl .f "'" '^^^^^^ these ill ustra- listenecf in sile^^fce ei^,.^r ^7 '""TT^''^'''' He had Jack's ignorance and thpL;-"'''^ ^^ ^^'^ ^^i«Pl^^y of liobert ; then, at least, thieve, wo. S fl'^ ^T'^ T^'^V^ ''• rA^ - que.tion^ng."'"^' ''^^ ^^^ ^>-- seat with a triu phani ^r^T '^""'f! "^"^""^^ «» l^i« tlmt it was quite fim tC iea^lX "^ H ^P^'"! *« "^^^^ question, and then was asLme 1 nf r ""^'f/- ''^" «^" ^^^^ because that was an ins^m ti^n V^^ speaker had been one-sded and ,?. f^' • ^^ ^^^'^^^^ ^he which he knew he did not ani ^ iT '" ^^' statements, for the "caution P - We mnt?"^'^ 7', f'''^' ^«^ found two things that ZVlfK^^ v """^"^ ^««<^ ^e con- '« one thing, anf hum u ' ^tpi^n ''.'^l^^^'^^ ^he Bible altogether another thin" '^'''"'^""^ ^^ ^^^ ^ible are ivriters of the t' one or other written a line irmon J of the <;>ui- day is a ivinity. For ■I and as sus- s.vens are not That light is of it; thus y of science s not talk of > host, which >f speech." illustrations found him- d seai'ching or table cou- Jonipany to ese illustra- '. . He had display of n trying to ped young have been caution at ^nd on his d to Jack ide of the mediately, 5usrht the ;atements, ik. Novr t we con- riie Bible l^ihle are !l%e Book. 821 ".e' lt:::zs;'zz:'t '^"p' ^'-y. «?-■*. because be modified ImZT? ""," '""''iAed, and will .science onGofllwcrk Tn' P''*"'''^'' "» 'I'" "s''' "f intotl,emeM°tofa,,d' T "' '" '"'' """« <^<'<^l>h- ries will go b" 1l° ^oid P ' "■'"?" "^ ""' "''' """i" time when tlie Christh ri ',"'f r™"' ^'"'"' ™« » that thi» wo d w Se^ "'?'' '?''"'™'' «'"• to"gl>t tours eael,, about^ t Tl \ "" ''"^'^ "^ hventy-four that when I wL a^hii'j^''"^''"'' ^''''^ «go- I was tlught «ee l,„w it II made and tl "'' '■""* "'""' ''""'» *» according to the tesHmont iK"/""''/'? "'"' «"'> "«>' hundred? of tifoSdroV -^Iri'^ '^Lr'-"'' ""? to, an,I proclaimed the conclusion th^tivr.^ ^'""P"''- dieted, and that GenesisZTll^ t '"''''' ^''"'^ ''°"^'''- trary to the ficf, nf ti, "'*^' because it was con- devout theX. at „rewfri.T^^^^ 7'"!5 ^"P^'*""' bu't of the devil. " ^ frightened, and sai.l geology is of the .ooks vl ii! ^^l''^"S'fm went down to the studv (lie Iiib"e and ., geologists took up the study of monv of the rJ ^ ™7 "'°" •'""eluded that the testi tic?,v:.s :* betwee'n"?!,:'?'^,'-'''' *'"r' *''^ »"'■-"«- Genesis, but between tW ,"^f.""°"y "^ 'be rocks and l-retation of Ge.IsTs We ,? 'T"^ "'"', ''""""' ■'"'"- without minding our sto^s ""' ''''" '•'""'"'° "'^ ^'^ie X "" "*""^ ^"™ ""<^ "^^' *tiruf ml4* ;,h?!iT,i4-^^^^^^^^^^ S •:ii 822 TJie Hall in the Grove, f: i : (■ becomes of tl,e human^if o„l. fl . ™'''' "'atter what fluuThe' S tScre'd" ^1 '°'" "■<>, "oy «""-« . l.e «ot instanced th~pS "fl-.r "^^ ' ,"'"' entirely siJent as fn fi,J *^ poim r fiad he not been hadjus^t made' cl/'if L^P^"""™ t'"-" "r. Merodit 1«<1 1.6 chosen to deceive 5 fcf ""'• '"=P''">"ti"n, or face told as plainly as ;ordscouhlT*'°"r" ''"^ "^"y'" was revolving these alZZT t ""'^ '''"'<'' ""at he it to his comfort to" Kw"; '■""' ?r" '^^""'^"h ^"'"1 to face could not be stI>dS ^ """' ""^ '"""'• '" "''" ie"^sio«?cintt«t£^-»^i« tween young Robert ad In seffh''' ,f",' ""^^ ^e. upon! If it were not ab.n , 1 ■","''' ''« '""ohed that the boy bad bee , rf„f„n" ' .''^ "'«'" "'most fan„v which had LTsZ7e.fedtV: "'? "™"V'- ^"nlZ wonder that the youn. artist's fl I '''f"""'^' '^'"' "<> felt so conscious tliat thTht.l ?■ }'Y"f " ''"'«• He viewed in the IH^t iJv't7'""\'? ''^'' ''"««' out! appear wor^e than s ,a lo v to the "l-, "1 '"'"'?' *»"''' hmk that Kent M„„teitL felt In': 2 v""'"'.''°>'- ^ because he was not even an h„ . P°'''}">» the more iliffionlties which he n 'ci' tpd f ''°,''''''=''= "'« very roublesome to hin, tha^ h ' p .'fesld" '? ^'"f '«^^ br.li.ant young man souoht reE"e fm i ,^'=»'^»"y this conscience bv rretthiir fnt^ F "'" '"'* quest oniu" ,Wla.t right hacf h ' fo t ke"tl is7 -n!"' ""> -^P^^'^" hefore such an audience to ass i, I''/ '''"^ elbre this magnificent t'4l' ^??.T^'^^^^'^^, , ^-"self subject worthy of him -md vJ.l? - Vi ^^ ^^^^^^^' take a nuuchless eloq^nenc "LtLd iTe Tl^i I^r"^'^' ^^ ^"^ feet ui applause." Vhereuno l.V 7 ] ^ ^''^"^ ^« their ^m: "What a fool a e .3 n f ^''' "'"'^^ ^^^^^ to holds this assembly 9 Wid t ,p. ' 5 -^'"^ '"^ ^^«^^ ^e «aid to them to-niit? Wn'Z^'''' ^'''-^^ ^^'^^^t he has Don't you knowth s mo„ ent h'rV'i?'^ '' ^'^^^'^^It'? true? Don't vou beJlI^r-'^vm 'V'?^ ^^' ^'^^'^ ^'^^'^ ''^ to meet it ajrain nt fl.o • ^^^'^'^^^i tiiat you will have feltitstruthrA/d "no'ti""",' T' ''''''''' '^^^^ o- ^na 1. not this what angers you now?" n^U I,i' f. i I ' ti i * 324 n e Rail in the Grove. to study the Bible t; sSn 1 h •'' '' |™PO'-t^"'t for you questions that vou cu fi^u ^"^'' ^^,^^'"«« it unsx/ers ;y are spiritual. How c-in a n o^ f^ "''^' "^ ^^»'^^»- ^VJio will deliver niv son? I '^'- ^^ J"'<= ^^^1^ God? -ying I have fcHn7ar.Lot P ^^^'IS ^H V^ ^'^^ P'^' to the weary, tempest-tossed heart ^Pil '"^ P^""^ these questions and I am 'at fied " S .?'' ""'T''' ^^ earr^l? f"' f ^"^-"P^^.W I sU ai yo^, eet'"fone ."'" ears to listen to your words- m,r « • ' -^ ^pen my your answer to these trJmendo^^ m''"' '°"^ '^^^«it« in darkness concern LSim^^ P^'"^^«^"«- Leave me you tell me, life is a ?i kUe de IT '"'f ^'^^^^ ^^«« -»u. afterwards a hL^ and the tionJtriS;^ te^r^^t T'^^ ^'^^- ^-p- ^- ever tempted to snAk itui ^""!'^»'t3^- If you are Bible,jusL.odowna I ;^^^ "\''""^ ^'^htl/of the be without it. NomlTTl'"^T ''!? ^""^'^^ ^^«"W storm, and no coven f A lot I? "''l '"^ "" ^"''^ ' A Alas for us if thil w^re ilH kT'^T' ?V^ "" ^''"'^^n^ ^ were the only stai; to eaf us ui to'p" t' n^^ ^^'^"^« science at its hii^hest Ipavp^ L ^ i ^°^ ' ^"^ ^^here purest forms abandons Sr her; 'vIT'^ P^^^^Ph^ i" its «is up." "^ "'^' tliere revealed religion takes Of what use to try to moto ^f i nothing but food IW tL fnfpll!nr9' V ''^"^°" ^« this b;ick with folded arms aiXl^l // '"' ^^""^^^^'^ «^t He must not even grumbfend T ^^^ to annoyance, evening, and he was 0^0? -i ..i-f ' ^'"' 7''' Sabbath avowed purpose of wo "shinnincr r ^'^^ P'^^^""^^^ ^^^^ the been looking forvvarTtoS ^Imt which he had vertised as a sermo^ Wh./n. •"'f-^''''^ ^"^" boldly ad- ble because it was ex.^ iT? !" \^t«e»«e« could grum- -"St not even :::^orZ^t^!!^^I^^^^' He -c.t ovnicxiuu, clear-cut ise questionings, ticul. 3oitant for you 'iiise it iiiiswers nowhere else, eds of human- ist with God? *vn to tiie pit, H bring peace nie answers to ' "ligiity sons et ; J open my s soul awaits IS. Leave me ter wiiat else rror, and the deeper ques- If you are ghtly of the world would lo cure I A I no ransom ! r of science 15 ut where >sopJiy ill ita 'ligion takes ^on as this lonteith sat annoyance, as Sabbath ?red for the bich he had boldly ad- ould grum- mised. He ;, clear-cut Tht Book. 325 though it was; "MnvPn^ i^UZ'^^"^ "'^ •'lasting „,i,ue. Z -'.ffi '^^Z ■"•■el s irr/" ^?"' *^«"te'"' would h., • fintW^ ill ' ' '!< if : :. , I ail mi ' [fff-;^- ¥ CHAPTER XXXII. "ALL MIXED 0P" )^^n}?^./^°f.^?'''^^',^^^'"<' Fenton's had been ^^, °^J«^^« of 't^"^^,?" ^^'^ evening of Dr. Meredith's ^^-^ sermon. Dr. Monteith, sitting too far awav froni his son to watch the effect of the amument on Mm al ejt he thought much of him, gave :pTaraTt ntion To' P.iul Adams. The play of feeling on that young man's foce was marked. To Dr. Monteith it was puzzlh?^ There was more than keen interest, more even m astonishment, though that was evident. Therrseemed a so to be a feeling of incredulous dismay. The DoX studymg the changes, astonished at the display of ^elinj' became deeply interested, and at last resolved as soon S possible to have a talk with the boy. "There is certainly more depth of character than any musiniv'^'uT" ^^r^^\ f«-'"he said to himself Sie of thonL^t'7 '" ^r '^^^"^^^^ ^ ^°"^er what line ot thought he can be carrying out. I declare 1 believe the boy is a genius in disguise." ' ^tlTS 'Xl»S^ '^"^ th.„ug>f cowas to .eU' . " Well," he said, after they had walked a few stens in silence, "you wei;e interested, I saw, this even ng What do you think of such a sermon as that ? " "^"^ ""^• " i don't know what I think " The answer was prompt enoue-h. but wop t ^;^%.4. 336 ^ *'AU Mixed up,'' ti's had been h. Meredith's 00 far away iient on Jiini, i attention to young man's as puzzling. 3 even than 'here seemed The Doctor, ly of feeling, d as soon us ;er than an}* to himself onder what 1 declare, I , that made he close of f^ds to reach a few steps is evening. ts, I might 827 almost say, moody in its tone. Dr. Montaith was bewil- (^j, uui/ Hhorc ot pent-up iiidifniat on Hi. T\r i. -J l.er 'aw'to'l '? " '''"' '"^' ''«"^™ "" "'"t that lip pivnoher said to-iiigJit? " " riion I'm just dreadfully mixed un thflf'« «1? " a j ' mXtS;,rriT ^"i:""» voice. ^'"' "I Jon't quite ^fcu :'L;^r,:r"w1a:r^''^• knowT,' n P""'- "P^al'l'-g ■•apidly, eagerlv, « I didn't Known, iltnewaboutmotlier, of oohiJb 1,^„ v. the Sunda::llVel,T.d' Z £ . t^orr^it r'd'd"^^ L^^'^;::»c^ir«-r^°e irii\t-, h":i k: his"ir;"eVs^^^^^^^^^^^^ t^'th With of common sense didn't we «t..cl> If 7 " ."'^ """"^ nimd back thero fli..f «..,<■ • i Y '^' * ^'^'^'^ wp my. wouid .now'ii^r- «'- ■■■f tot a'n^^h^^Vd 328 lii I I f (I I 111 <|li» i T/ie Hall in the Grov*. ^U\ 'k' ^S::i^;^:"^;;f-;t ..o.. ... r so.oho. ...Med that tJ,ut book dlo ' /ot"'?:\ ;j ^'-;-3'3-. talM there was, and I went .Ti //'' ''.^ {'"^^^'"^^^"^ «"« ^;"nd out that other bo oks in.l rn I ' '. ^?."^ ^'^^'^ ' ^w len I came down iierr V M ? ^^ ''^"''^^^^^ too, and taki heard that U rwl, S^ '" '"^ ^^'""^ "'i the thing, and so I plinued in «n *'"' '^"Portant as an 7. could spare.- ancV 4em "a^^^^^^^ ^^^ of thn7l tant book there is in t?e worU L^""' ,"'" "'"'^^ ^''"P"^- tirae, and I „ever read a mr^i T ''^.'' ^^""^ had all th(. ^hat I don't undersS .^ ;P ""^ '^, ^" "^y ^^^^ I No v ^^« hook didn't tell ur?.ioutT.^''"?'' ^^" ^"^^ ^^ wa« went at .)/..,',«/., yZ know ?" i ''m? '-^^ ''' ^^« ^e ^tf^t,:!:^^-^^ti-Lelfi'S'^^^ f^^S^rtS-^^^^^^'-^^-^e^th Silent ^-^vJioni'^^^^^^^^ the />/«., y much and as careful a to nftn f •1''' ^'^^^' «"d we gave a*8 "Oh yes," sjd S "and fT'n^'^*^^---^^^^^ afterwards whether there could\«\^°'*^" wondered m his voice. -J know we'^^^^^^^^^^ Bible, but it w isn't tho 7?;A7 '''^"* '^^ » hook about the kr.ow that the book we w e'rL'in'" . "^^ "^« ^ to ^ok was the most wondeTfuIbook T.f.f '^' "^ ^"«ther |«^ I suppose it is because I am anl ^^' ^?'^'^ ^ *^act thought likely that th it hnnt ^ffnorant fellow, but I you wouldn't'^liave ak n f unTnt"!? 'I '^'' ^'^le oJ you see how it is, ProfeL^K T^'''"^ °^ that. Don't the Bible. Nobody ever talked 7""'" '"'l^ ""^ ^t all in ;«other. It is thiZy hoik ,h« ""' '^""^ ^^ ^^^«Pt thought that was the rea on sh« n Z'' '^''''^'^ «"^^ I know ,t was a grand book '" tUv^ ''' .^"^^ ^ ^^dn't was distinctly Marked, and tiuJe if ''"1'^ "^ '^^ *""«« «f fee ing, as one who had op ehoTi '^'' '1 T'^ge^^^on W8 rights. '"* somehow been defrauded of )chow <]oculed iiy .you talked inpoitiiiit ono '>'ig before f ilied too, and from alJ the I'tiuit as anj- J^it of time I most impor- iiad all the life : No^,v knew it was at it as we riow a good into it with iteitli silent lie Plan of ^e gave as Merivah:' ^'ondered lost a sneer about the "f was I to n another Itl? Fact low, but J ' Bible, or t. Don't r at all in it except s, and I 1 I didn't 'he toMos igcrestion auded of •M« Mixed npr 329 Huoh Strange conchisio.m n/H.^^ '^' '^'"' J'"";'r(i ut At lea»t the Dc)ctor eTn^e v tn 'riV '"'*^"' ''-V ''^ct '■-'ted By this timeX; l^d S^^^ T"" ""war. age, but he laid a deta'nim^^ }' 'f "'^ '" . "'t'''*'" cot- He could not let the boy Zivru. ;■, "" " '^'""•'^'^'''• had been in some manne^r a.fswS^ ^ ^"' q"OHtioning« Come in," he said earnestl v « n« I want to talk with Z I Thf ':^^™^ "P ^^^ '"r «tn(ly ; question to me, I mi^t confess "S^ T^ ^''"*^° ^'^ ^^^ tiful little study, bv the rrrll? ^^I'^"^''' '» ^''0 bcau- «»mded light, t^he LoctoflooS t'- troubled face of his visitor 'L" '"'''/''" '""'"eHt understand you to rne-xn ihl\ fi ^' ">" ^'''"'"'i do J l^ave had wit'h ?he cTd d you to^l'T^lT ^'"'' ' ^«" the most important d1ip« m Ji v ^'""^ ^'''^^ ^v« KHve Bible out?"^ ^^''^^ ^° ^t'^^'' ^"«J^«. and Hhove(f the " Well, I didn't put it that wav R.,f tmi i you to know what a fellow isSrr i.^ • ' ^""V^ »* ^o a year I heard talk about aH ??.'""''• ^"'' "'ost studying, and J never heTd a wo r»!''"'S:H woVo been as we would looklnto ifonce ?i '^'•;' ''? ^'^'^ «nly copied from it a verse o't^o^ 1 dhh'i 't/^''^' ^'^"^^^ about the book, you see • Wnf fK ^'"""^ anything And when I camVhe^VaTt Id "oVT '"^^l \ ''"^ U.n^ because eve^b^ so I thou'ght A TiTC^l^tZ'Z'T^^ P ""'^•^^'-' '• hard at it; but if what tlmt m.? • , ' ^""^ ^^® ^"''^(^d seems to me IVe brgun a the w -n'"'^ 'T '^'''^ '« tr"«' got the foundation? after .t I ^^i^^^.f'^l' '"'d haven' toM you. I don't know ^if t I t ,h,k''' "^^^^^ "P' -« ^ You would have been sorrv fpln. .r__, .. , you have seen his distressed Un^ u " -^^-^"tuith, could to walk back a,.a fo^rL^ Sr,it.^%r.; -.t, j^^ 330 imi i/s; ^^iff?j M i ! LH i-M The Rail in the Grove. this soul from thetuJtfl' ^^ ^'"^ ^^^P^^ to start without so much asTvtihirt?''"" "^ ^^""^^" ^e^^^ning the Hock ! ^ "^'"'^^^ ^^^«°^Pt to set his feet of ,4' He "iThilTt I" :^^^^^^^ ^' the Doctor's dis- kindly thought would retiven to T"" ^^"" •" ^^^'^"^^ had not imagined thv nlF \ .? ^"^ perplexities. If? could say wo^u d have ZZ'f^ that anj^thing which he teith. He watched iLd ^'°^^^^ ^''^'''^' ^on- of awe. For fnllv fi7/^'^^^'/»^Jous face with a kind boy n.edit;tiug"'^Lnwhl?e"7o'' f'' '''''''' ^^''^^^ i^^e b;« apology an!^np:;T/;';,rtheD'"^ \''' ^^P^««« close to his side, and laid ^ a Zt f ^^^«^^?F ^^^ew a chair "My friend," he sa d - A """f ^" ^'^ shoulder, loving the Bible s fdo nlZ^'T^' " ^^'^^^ "^^^take, and my daily study as j'dTl^'S^^^',^""^^ ^^ ^7 life have made upoii vL thp?.^'. -"'^ ^'^^^'^^ ^^ ^^ *» ^e to in importance^ -Jn mv 'T'''^""/^^^ '^ '' «ven «... J in my^fear lest I s ouKuS/To? '" J'^^P ^^" "P^^^d, the highest way, Have b'^? « 1 ^ - ''* ^^^" ^^^^^^^ Book.' Too much we have Ip?^ f'^i' ^^^"^ ' "^« We have, as you say studied if .-.''"' ^^ «"^ Circle, ing at the fountaSead but n ;^-' "?^^^^ ^'^ ^^^^y- ttiade this serious misS. o i ^ ^"^"^' ^^"e I hav-e the first intere2iT£onlv hi'" ''''^'^ ^« P^* ««ide prayed for you by name oi^r^vT '''""''^- Paul, I have first invited you to ^oin o n ?^ T' 7f^ ^^^ «i"ee J Author of the B^ble to lead v t'' \ ^^^^ ««ked the Now, what I ougi'rto do nl{l"V ^^' *« Hi««elf. the pardon of every member of ,1- ^^ ^""i' ^''''^''"' ^"^ you and them. The Biblp i. fi . P'''^^' ^^'" '"i^leading incomparably above an^ and all'otL.'h*' f ^^ '"*^^^«^^ message to us. Paul if Tl «{f ^books ; God's own ftudylong enough to'fi\iTnirvours"'-^^""^^^ '' ''^ iove it with all your soil V ^ Saviour, you would mothers, my boy"^ are aln ^ ^ "' ""^^^^"^ i« ^i^^t: ^nnW 3 I'oj , ai e almost always right. She is a |ood told Iiim had leJped to start iniun learning' et his feet on Doctor's dis- 3Hn a passing )lexities. He ling which he ■ofessor Mon- vvith a kind 'e lasted, the best express drew a chair i shoulder, ave mistake, e of my life 3 is to me to even second ou upward, you against i about * the our Circle, d of study- ^ile I have • put aside *aul, I have lay since I ■ asked the o Himself, ardon, and misleading t, highest ; jod's own self to its ou would 'ht: {Tnc\f\ IS a good **All Mixed upr ggj Ka*aot:.^i",,4'ir. ^^^^^^^ to^.r than so^e of yon?" »"• •""y'"'f'»-g'™ me for misleading ^?^:,^{^^ J-^;oice .as W and i"g fault with you. I never Wl « "^ "" ^ ^'^«»'t fiiid- - wein there's no use fn try^^^ Zt^^^. ^?' >^«"' ^"^ ^ with i?f.nr,a^., often and ofte"^wl?p -l'^' ^"* ^ ^^^P^ on to me just because I thought I wnfii y^ '''"^^^ ^^^ i>o«h but this talk to-niffht ahon H D i"^,^'^^^ to please you • by surprise, and I said rlk^^^^^^ didn t mean to blame you/'^ "^^^^ ^ ^^^«"g'»t. I "1 know it, my fHpnf^ r i would say ; there if „o S for aooZ' '^^'^'^ng you lou have shown dip n n,; , i "P^'og'^s on your Dart "."Jde. What I wa," to Cvt^''"" ' ''"e^ertalSy exerting influence^ "'' """"^ '» "''« 'he chance of The Doctor, wlio had stnrfio^ i,- nature carefully, toolcnromnf '5 '"f ^o^ewhat singular ™okless promiS. ""^KP'^dvutage of the seeminX promise to »tudy this wonderfunl°r^-i" f*^ ^O" *" daily care, looking all the t'me to fi,?^" ^"!' «"^^>^ of your own heart, and the 1„- ^ '?•" "'^ h'-'tory needs." ' "'"' '"« t>awour which that heart .voice-'" r,/*d: ^, P-^, -ith strong emphasis in hi, t* ought to be r..,;i ;nt T ' • P,"^ "'""' '"■'"■"■''t til"? ''<; be glad to betold t; t^^I^P^t "« ^^^ and o -^ vv. ^c tuiu just ilOW to There 8 another thing, Paul just hovy to read it, Are you willing to L]-> M 882 The ffall in the Grove. kneel down with me and ask God to formve me for leading you astray?" ^^ifeive me lor Can you credit tlie fact that in this Christian countiv he^dhitelrprl^^^^^^^^^^ ^^"^^ "^^ ^^^^ ^^"^^^-d, ii'' CHAPTER XXXIII. AN EAELY TRIBUTE. ii'i'''i 4tJL HE Sabbath which closed so eventfully to one of . ^ our party was followed by an eventful Monday astir and^afnvf ^""'^"f ^ ^^^ly, Chautauqua wai astu, and as many as could get away from household cares sped early down the hiil towai^ the olirnW face infif'^nn^'lV"^ ^"<>ther glimpse of a distinguished ace, and, if possible a word from the great soldier. I have not told you that General Garfield was amonc^ the guests at Chautauqna during Sabbath, neither ha%e I said a word of the strong and silent homage that wa Had toTpp"! ''". ^^^"J^"^"'^' too reverent to ci^eer, too slbl th tL^>, "."""''^ ^"?' *" "^"^^^ "« demonstiulion, babbath though it was, with one consent brought forth handUerchiefs aiid fluttered them high and lo^ng. \ou will readily imagine that no more enthusiastic ImonrthorM^"^'^'' ^^"?°'^ ^^"^^ ^'^^' been fou!!;^ T.h^u . Monday-morning crowds hurrying down U hill to say good-by to the General. He had beguiled his mother into taking the trip with him ; an easy^hi g to accomphsh, for the mother, being a patriot was sc.im3ly less proud of the gallant soldlr tLn was he lero-loying boy. They discussed ^.im as they hurried mother?"" " ■*^"" '^ ^'"" ^^'"'^ ""' 333 I 884 i< > H 1 1 i '1! *^^ ! *' U IN' I;;! ■.i '• T7ie Hall in ths Grove. j; J ,?»"■' ^""^^ Wl.at Ici„ J of a boy do they say l.e to f<;p beinff the best scholar " °' """ ''° """• ''™' " An,) i.^,. ,> ? . *" gr-'raraatieal arraniremeuf; *i,- ,"r ^'"' "'"^ "" 'l'»t n liis face mv hn-„9 %i i think It must be a grand face." ^ ^' ^''^" ' close to'^l/ryekerdal td 'r ''"''"'^"^ly. "I stood I wish he id"''sts j t\^r,f:r ^''u" 7^' "• suppose i,e wouldn't, w/,e„ e..ryC7tZ%:l\rZ enL^e3walwn"\'n7i7'-'- """'' 5'''" '^«"'' >>i' face ? Only see what a crovvd her; i 5 ^ l^', ^ ^^'''^"^ it wasn't announced on Ti?2 '^ ^"^ "^^^<^ ^"'"^ »"fi crowd I I ^r^^^ Vir oPnr^fT'? ^"^ ^^^^ «f a crowds with^out tl^ hi oAVr ^"^ ^^ ^^"^ g«t up Mr. Masters I" At t i^LiL fh/T^'"!'';"'- ^here is Btopned his eager tonm^^?i^^ he had^^^^ ^"'"'l'^''' ^"^ ingcfistance,andSenaSrLvoo^ofT' '''''"" ^"^'• This was what they heL "^ ''^ ^^^'^ was speaking. to an, honorable Lnhood t u'^ne ^^ G rS^'/'^ been just where you are. He hi^ f.u • A^'"^^'^^ ^'''^ He knows your v/ants, h^ l^^^lj:^^^^^^ ^-^• .voiir needs, he knows your usn^tl'Mf! 5 vl'" ^^"^^'^ tiiizes with them all." ' -r— -r.^ns, and ho sympu. ,( An Early Tribute. 835 the J say he and strong I le ever went ientences to frangemeiit. Tiien I T? "I Stood all over it. ^hy do you 1 J dm to so know hia d moment, famst him, ted for our iiies ? He as election Don't you ^e a grand t him, and fear of a m get up There is thless boy thin hear- speaking. J me, and imself up ■field has you feel, lie knows e sympif What curiously insignificant things sometimes wei-h Z^nlT.^ m''T^^"T'\'' ' ^'''' ^^^^^"«« ^t that m^o. ment Dr. Monteith, looking among the sea of heads espied Joseph Ward, and bowed and smiled, the young man accepted it as Dr. Monteith'.. recognition tlmt hf was making that very endeavor, and the lialf-recognized fee ing of his own heart that he would like to be soniV body after all, took definite shape and decision for ?ha first time, that mornino-. Following General Garfield's introduction by General tisk came that wonderful white-winged salute which Chautauqua reserved for its special occasions, and which It never seemed to give in such utter abandon as now Then at last Robei-t, perching himself on the stump of an old monarch of a long past forest, listened vvith 3k '^'Vif '^''^^^ ^"^'""^ ^^^^^^^« t« the hero's woids: "Fellow citizens, you have done so much for me since I arnved on this shore, that I am quite unable to tell wha sort of a man I am this morning. 1 had never been here; I really did not know what you meant here; and I went around to Dr. Vincent last night and asked him rathcT b untly to sit down and tell m% what he means; what Chautauqua means; what your work here means ; and he filled me so full of your idea that I have not yet assimilated it so as to be quite sure what manner of man I am since I got hold of it. But this I say : V^ou are struggling with one of the two great problems of civilization The first one is a very old stru^ggle ; i? 18 : How shall we get any leisure ? That is the problem of every hammer-stroke, of every blow that labor has 8truck_ since the foundation of the world. The ficrht for breau is the great first primal fight, and it is so abs"n-bing a struggle, that, until one conquers it somewhat, he can have no leisure whatever. So that we may divide the t^f%^^''^^f.\ ""^ tl^e human race into two chapters: first the fight to get leisure : and then comes the second nghtof civilization -what shall we do with our leisure when we get it? And I take it that Chautauqua hag 'I ■ 836 TJie Mall in the Grove. u • a f I fullv'hif ;?•'''"'"', P™"^-"- Now, leisure is a dread- trvino- to nn«wor. fi ^ uJKierbCdncl that Chautauqua is with thTuiht T;.l • ;'f-V^^'^"^'^"^"''^ h'^^ fi"ed me beW our op „ion«, I helieve, deeper dow ha , oufiartv te^arr^irre^titr;!;^^^ iieait, can lift lum. And tliat s a career that, nno-lfr;; ...spire every young man who hear,, me thi! ™o.°,"^^ 1 heard las .nght and yesterday the son^s o^th" e^;„l., wt-re iacelj redeemed, ""-' ^ ^-ii^ ., . .,° '-•'•*^ "^'O »ed, and I felt that tlfere too' was one e is a dread- man with a liis hands, is I self, tired of iat shall you lautauqua is out fields of of mind, a ih scratched rnishing our etting down St in it, and garnish our rather than culture, it is s filled me '. have filled ude for this tdng. You I I will not ussing con- men of all hope, and 1 our party iience that es it possi- id then for something le light of dl occupa- nimble, to ■ arm, the of a pure ought to •rning. I T was one An Early Tribute, gg^ beli^fVretetfoflo^^^^^^^^ ' '-- so.e the ages behind us,:nd I woml , H the"? "-'^'/^""^ iad not distilled its sweetnesr-ind f h '''^'''''^ «"" tunes of slavery had not dfstilled t f ^''^^ "^ ««"■ voices which wrre unnHpr. f .' '''^"^'« "»to the sing the songs o free Ion t^thr'-'' "'i^ ""''''' ^' to they go. I Ihank that hoir for "th^f '^''"^' f^'^^^^^^ taught me since I have been ^L TT '^^^^^ '^^^^e cU^ens, thanking you^.ll, I'^i'd ^good-b ' '""' '^^^"- boy Robert Fenton I douSt f L' n H '^""^^ '"' '^' rise into higher importance in h;^ • V^'""^ "^^^^- ^i" happier hea?t than ife hac? wh n Robe'tl"; fl ^T « his arm on that eventful ^^^..'^^^t the elder touched small paper, covere 1 wl i ."'°' "/"g"; '^^^d showed him a readabl^lntrce trt Is ""^T^P^^^^ ^^ '^r'' ^^- oni;' ""'^i:.:^^^-: /ns1-ac^- was'J-LiiLr ^' ^^^•^-"^' |--h1"' Cias ';^tho.S? %^'''^'' ^'^' i'ls eager boyhood wanted o 1 f '/^^^^^ «« even he in the bells and the wlvi" ' ofht;]) ' T T'^ '^' ^'^^ ^^ many voices giving th^pl^^^'''^;^^^'' ^^^« »'>t the And when, aftI^3?dtdinto7rf) ^'""'^^^ ^^^^^'d? shouted: "Three chelr f" ^^'''^'' "" Prophetic voice enthusiasm knew XunSs^'ln"?.' ^-f^^"^-'" the came a hush, for the " um^t tLn ^^ "^l^^^ «^ ^t all singing: unutterably sweet " voices were "X'*'8 '8 the year of jubilee. You8ba I gain the victory: The Lord has set his people fre«» You shall gain the day." ' bo an like - -' ■^ '^ ■ ■ n.ade a path of gold for ti.e^^r^i 1% ^ay •? S ! * 338 Thi Hall in tU Grove. the white wmgs of salute fluttered aloft, the musio changed, and the great company of people joined the Jubilees m their farewell chorus : " Ou, glory hallelujah I " and the steamer slipped swiftly and aUently away from I- s gar.' t! ti.'-i i a I t, the niusio le joined the Miallelujahl" Y away from CHAPTER XXXIV. EVADING THE POINX. most circuitous fout^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ great famih-arity with OlnnLV ^^"*^ Monteith in his " W- shall be'^iaT^" sh haffi fo'?" "''^ '^"\^ P^^^' speaking anxiously, and with iht T T"^^^ *^"^es, truth, which is a 4it wi^ Le to'^nt '. ^^""'^^^^ ^^' had answered : " Oh no I I tS n^ ''^ c' ^'f companion conference was lost to Caro te Thi. ^' '^' ^''' «^ ^^« informal meetings of the C L ^ c^'^'a I ^''''^' '^^^ teith hadtayd;"'«\Ti3"s;m^^^ ^^V^'" ^-* ^on- to-day all about th ni wh^?^^ N'^f '^"^ ^'^ ^^^ing h-fe-time." ^ ^^'""^ P^^P^e have known for I I'ossibly more, than e^^'^r" '^"T"'^ ^« ^^«^ -ery day it had cea^ld to t srs\7'%r 'TT^' When they entered the Hall Vha fi • S"'?^ *« ^^''' her was the one that the vounlrnlT J^^'^ ''^""^^^^^ give her pleasure- the w^^i-^ ^'^ ^'^"^ "'^^"^ should that Hall,\itn;nf Les o^;X^^^ of least, knowing that shpl. ^'^' ^""^ ^^^'^ some, at Monteith the foung art S who ?r'"P'"^^^ ^^^ ^-"* 339 ^ I '■} il.iiJL 340 TIte Hall in the Grove. of several mistakes which her companion made in hU judgment of her cimracter. Only seconl in X; her annoyance over the undertone Lnve,"ftion k wh^h thiil^'^wi? oT?e"'n?*i -^'^ ^'' P"'^^°^^ ^^^^' *hJ« «-^t of ining, was one of his comments. "It is a mark nf genius I suppose, for a scholar to be so lodrtlui.u over wliat must bore him immensely ZlTe a m n '« having to stop in the midst of a flow o^tk)imhr lo explain to somebody how to pronounce mottachf'' '" Yet, It somebody doesn't know, why shouldn't Dr Vincent tell him ? " persisted Caroline " S kn't ^hl time for a 'flow of thousrhf it hihlfirr..^ T ^^^ tions and have them answered "^' *^ ^'^ ^"^'- co^U^fcfr timsdfT?''^ ^m'° *^^. ^^^^^^"^^^ -"^ dis- cover lor nimt,eit, if he considers the pronunciation nf the word an important question? It is the tXt ?/ I the interruptions with ^hich I am q^ar eLg ' Tlfs ?s m;o;iion ' "^"'^"' ^"^^^^°"^ ""^ --^-1 --ers!in but of which some of their less foTtm^Itl];!!' ^' in utter ignorance." fortunate listeners were " Such as the pronunciation of moustaehp fnr ;« u But the trouble is, I should not discover myself in the Evading the Poipt. 3U n made in hia i to this was ation in which at she wanted ■h this sort of is a mark of good-natuied tagine u man's >f thought to ustache I " shouldn't Dr. This isn't the e to ask ques- >nary and dis- Qunciation of 3 triviality of ing. This is I answers, in . "No," she 3 fault of all d themselves e pleased to II talk about rs, it is true, steners were che, for in- )ne in good- ie wrong way the right?" tionjiry and time to tell ayself in the HOW I „|,,,|,i, „,;.:,. ' "°"?"' 3-011 siiy /)m,-eil,.iiop: fcircle refer to "a, an ^rr^ " ' '""'''^ " '"""''""'f "«> j.^;;Are you sure?" he a.,ked her, his face flushing , faJer'hart spokelTofit ZZ '"""'■'""'' ^T"'" '™ "-» younVM'mSv'p'" ''^r''','""«'''"f^- '' ^'^^ ""« of his owrlr, .1 '""■'"'* """ ''^ <=""''' ''»>S^' Railv over undivide,. IZtZt^: fe wtllTlo iTelr/k '"r« you'Sinf s'y "oed another argument to convince wish you often rM^ri- ^ "^^ """^ understand. I ea;Lrnriu''s?r.^:„Ji'l'l----'';^>^-.tl,e Ihe boj sat just ,u front of tliem. ignorant of thci- 812 Th€ Hall in the Grove. Qenc. wholly absorbed i„ the enjoyment of th, Th;™tShri,te''ber"''^'' '"' '""'^^«-" h.^ friend,.- 18 so unfort.nuite as to believe a ymi sav • L m1 "^^ ''" than you xav. He dnw^ JnflV ^ ^ ' P"««'^»ly »"oie nuiy not intend It s^;., ,'•'"'' P"',''^^^'*' ^'^'^'^ )'"" 4 i«. 1 mnnoc tnnik what your obieot i« " enoush. ^ °"" "" '"" '^"'^*'' •"" lie spoke lightly no sort of an"we, If 1, » n, J '": ""?'"■? """ «''« ""de toward her Sn ' " YoS n^tZ''i "'''T ''^ 'f'"^'' ike the whole Chautauqua move i.et '"lL"J ^'' V ■"terested i„ its literary }„ten"h,™« ever b^f ^^^''^f'^ I uL„s with ^r^outend •• ^''""'' "'y '•'»•-"' en:;S;e^rr::::z%s/a^^^^ I don t know," said Caroline very quietly. .t. S'^'T'^^''''''^^ "»tieedtlmt every lecture o, «t least nearly everv lecture ivo )...„» u. i'.°' I bav€ not discovered it. What i-* fh^ r.^ r characteristic of a sermon ? " "'® peculiar hue, private! V rfisolvi„f. fk-^ ^h^ ^^ia \ " ^'*^"" ^ --si,..ing .He., bhe Would teke occas.ion as meijt ot the 1 his friends/' iroline's voice t. "And he possibly , no: e 's, wliicJi yoij g much trood ise "' can be so readily under- jf hftri''si!:j^'rt-fe^r"'f:r,'!''^"''f -'- f-*-.- h.s early edueation, not fouml,^ , "l '^* '"'^ ^nvly But what use is therHn von. < -^"^ °" '^"'i'l "-ook:' whieh he stands ^ ^^l li'i'stef. " "" "" ^'"^ «» nor, inSdrbe:;oli„v;'^;rr tftir? r'^T' "■■- K''^- " Mr. Monteitli, I do care " S ""f «»,ton Rohertf" nestly, and the color fius ej d«n ' 'P"^ tl'" w,rds ear- entirely mistools the caut U^^ '" .'l'"' '='"'«'^^- "e «l>e blushed over tWht STT'".'' I^" '"'"^^ '1'^" very little time or prave! to ,V '° '""' ''«"'"? given " Thank you " he S,! . "f .y°""g mun ?•'''' Then afte/ a^tt! ' If": , .TT? T -^^ S-""' Iiarm to the boy, JVFi.s rnni; A f ^""^ «ean any fellow, and I like to tWn ? '* ^^ '"^ ^ bright youn^ scramble out. H^nt^^'Z.^l^^.^'^^^^ ^d ^^ ^^- ,iiinj ; he is too quicWit ed T ^7 ^ ^''^^^ ^"J"^'eci lo^v as I ppea/to b y I im 2"; ''•' ^^"^^^" ^""'"^^ ^'^^ good many things than von h. ^ '.°, ^''*''"^«<^ '-^^out a cere in thinking tha we have iT^d Tit"" «^- ^ ^"^ «i» "re of loiigion here thU ^ ^ ''"^® ^^« "'"c^ mixt- scientific le?tu,Vw?thout anv"?'^!"- . ^ ^"J«)^ P»'-e^ "ot strict] V hpln.,; f, f"*,*"^ ^»"<^ of that which dr.o. ce in the tone she answered cheeks deep- 3 said. « Mr. k you have no that you are less that you lith in which ►r, and in the >i but hean- •ddily under- nuine faith. has simply solid rock.' the sand on » Miss Ray- )n Robert." ' wortls ear- leeks. He know that -ally given 3ry gentle, mean any ?ht young i see hini ^e injured bad a fel- t about a I am sin- iich mixt- y pure!" lieh doea Evading the Point. j^^^ "o means inte,,ded to tt him Ilin "''" "'f''^''' ''I"' ''r sopliistry still on his liL i T '"™'' '""' """ '''' of point. •^ '"" ''P"' ^o >*''« >>'te,-upted at this gentle's he'e^fs' l^:-^'^''''' "'^''"^ "^ "- -ien.ifio Ke has in ...X into^ Ws •1^^"';^ ^°' '"'^ '^-'k ^.a? »t.;ictly belong t?,:,.rf if j^ ^J^ 'J 'i^'V'"- ™« coo^,rir 7or'hf:airuf r'-^«?"^ ^-ph noyed. " I am not nf fi ' "'''^, '»«Shi"g, lialf iii- J^.ck Butler. Let us dron hT """^'^ "^ "" '■■'>"'. I will even admit tV^tt IT M J""' °^ ">« -liscnssio,, strictly belong 4'i'n tad irwh"''' """"''^ """ ''"• ""' eminent soholl^t" w '„ 'f iS ir'%^r"""'T, '!'« tmn men ; flriu believers in tS It ■ . "-^ '"''' ^iliiis- I am not. That nmZ a tl e d fff''"' °^ ''' '«'""' ""«' presume. B„t sunnoLti'tu- •"?"'''' "» "'« ^^Id, I taste; I have never fL ^'"^ '" ™' 1""« '» nr' ChauLuqiaTdea wasoridlSd"-'"'' '''"^™'' "'"' "'« my tastel* Now vWlTvoS of "" ^t^'"'^' '° P'«"»« " Will irr.M « V •^? '^'^^^^ "^ something else?'' " lci^\d\f-f'y''''^ "^^ something ? '^ ^ anything.!' '"' ^^ "^ "^^ ^^^^^ ^o promise you almost I alk^?;;;;' o7one tha? ^11 tr^ ^*^^^""« P--- that I simply want to knotlf vou w^?? generosity greatly, talk such as you havT LlT' a\ """^ '^''^^^ '"^ *«^''" of talk calculateHo 'rhiin to "i "^ ?"^ ^" ^^^^'^ ^^^^^^rt; instead of resting'' ^ doubting and speculating The boy is of an investin-aW t!, 7 f " ""y g""'!- get at the root of tWng " h! k T^.f ""'' "'"' ''" ''i" to be put in a corner if; »1'.'. ^'°^ '}}% »■'' ?f ffHow lesson and recite it to his teaclier U • , " ''"' '^''''^ --.at it mean, and also ^K^eKer 'tl° tf'Z 346 The Hall in The Grove. to answer the questions that he ask^ mn i« ««f •' '"fiviL'r 'T '^""'"s the t"thro™/„°'ifer§ eyf/wt fla"hi,t^ ""*^-^ '^^ --"><»»<•. Carilf^e's " I hope witli all my soul that he will learn the tr„H, - 8he said ; " It is what 1 constantly pray for Mr Mon tpl h hin^"'1ffn^''^"°f'""'"°>■^i^"™'"■g»--^^^^^^^^^^^^^ tning. It, instead of answerino- hi« n7iouf,Vr,c • -^ dll^^t^?"'" '""^^^ *» '"f"™''«''n. it'till He winced under that. How could he heln if 1> K„f lead to more harm in the end thnn fhl ""''/'"'^ ""'g'l' ^™ friendship e.i^ti'rbetwL^n te^n? r ""tt no opportunity to show you the wonderrof'this place or Evading the Point, is not going >ner or later, led, Caroline's rn tlie truth," Mr. Monteith, loranceofany- s in your way it, after thinif 3f answers — lation, it will help it? but d well in her ^ the last few sophistry, ^reat show of lole thing, I 7ond a civil autauqua : I 3uld readily time might fc apparently ] do ; yet it ittle by his easily. She least meant ! answered Id drop the id that she } always in I have had is place or If so much 847 beu^,lorified by the settCsan^-^^^erlto^^pl^dT: man'^aid ^'" 1' f '^'?f f actual inspiration," the young man said : "Let us sit down. It would eive me much pleasure to tell you about it-about the old hall ' which It IS modeled, or at least, that suggested 'yII wonders of the Partlienon, that grand old mass of mo ' blevvould have just delighted you. J can imagine I v irr;iT^i;oufbo^[T,^>-^ ^^^"- '--^^^ ^^ •-- ani^&L^r sr^i^^sr^^?^ ^t another time it would have given her df light to lean that he had wounded her; had shown himself to be sdf sh and indifferent to the mischief that lie did. He was by no means willing to dismiss the Parthenon so so^i! He had counted on it -on his description of its ancie^i g.ory to hght up her face with one of those rare, ea'er Hlf on, "' r'^"," '" '^'^^ •" '^' '^^y^ half-narrattve Lalt-conversationa way in which he was so gifted, but a every point Carohne annoyed him by merely assent ifg to lis statements as something that she had known before and no glow came to hei face. " Yes, I know " she said simply when he told her about the statuary ^ilat" nnlTTt *'f P\'' T ^«?«^-ibed the view from the-poii.t « T u^ he stood when he last visited the ruins. 1 thought you told me you knew nothing about all these wonderfu things ! " he said at last, I shade c, annoyance plainly visible in his tones HahHv''^l!TT ^T"' ^^"^ ^'""^'" '^^ «^i^' speaking ITfk I ^^""^ ^T"^^ "" S'^^^ ^«al ^^ Chautauqua.' And then she insisted on going immediately, and by the most direct route, to the cottage. ^ I: 1- it H •l:A I : i' ' CHAPTER XXXV. "THAT IS A IF act:* you know anytl.ihg about tent life / I wondpf fjZir: ''""^ "">^ ^^^^^^ «f how prett3 a spot nothing if 'and b?er:'n'?^"^^- «'^^ 3ou\'nrn W>'b "1 Jt, ana oeen able to ston in«t/iQ ^p , Bid's, when the finishine touoL- if.^i 1 -^ ^"""^^ you could hardly lmv"SLrf If l ' ^ 'i""" 8'™" '» '^ der» had been dm,e with i Ih H «^ f'"',™'"'- ^°"- w.;h covered witi, mrtS ' „f a'ntt t h*'''''''''* ^''^ ""'^ coloring. Josenh Wan) hL if ^ ■ " """^ P"e"r elegant. bnttPlIX ef.hCX ,ad''fl"^^""" Sonerromheroutintothewori; r,ri„ • , ? ® ''"•^''• the youne mui.v. eVZ-nriJ •., , ''"^"'«ss. '"'d watched e«i.i had*lo"n e1ed matt .„ h"' n"""^ " '"°*''"'« "'""- her advice rydrl^h I !,,^f° " T""'' ""'' ^"f"<=<"i enoush to cover tK ft Z' ^"-S'''' ""P"''""^ ""'« the Fenton cottace seen ll t^ i T ^"^''^ '"''™'""' °f interested in " xfnt No tw.J'''^ Hf^'^ "'dividually Imd given it as soon as' lie It"' "''"'='• '"""« J"* knew the reason the?efor '''" '""« '^^'•- ""'^ h. «hfet::Xds'eTr';:nt:s''f/™".f ?'' "--^^-^ -■'•-» .IgureJhLautn^Lndfe/^lS r^ -v„„v..uciii,o mat curtains wpi the roomy tent into compartments. Mich nonsense I " declared Mrs. 348 1^'enton. AB ir «( TiMt is a Fact.' 849 •' I wonder )rett3'- a spot yon known 3 of young given to it, led. Won- 36, the floor and pretty any such fi^'e boys, ad watched hev's inter- d enforced cious attic member of idividually name Joe ; only lie ed certain »n at a low '' 'irts of '^'i' /hich ab persist- to divide "As if nobody ever set up a tent before, and as if it would ever lofl fo'lP^''"^ • ""^^ ^" ^" ^^^-"^ -Id over th^t Tiien she went down into the depths of her trunk and fished therefrom certain old-fashioned chintz curtah,s of delicate pattern, which she admitted she har'4tuffed n moved thereto by some dim notion tha houseS ng in the woods might demand something of the so?t^ but the well-furnished cottage had not needed them They were pronounced by a chorus of eager voices "the very thin.^ for Joe's tent," and Mrs. Fenton, S inJst m&n d t "r ';^".--!"-'." -wed steadily awa^Tto miUught-- shortening, turning, hemmin I T}ie Hall in the Qrov. e. •t I if f I > 4h Miss Effic B„«e , wMe uZlt'^'"' '''■ 'r^'*"' '»' decared she shonl 1 ■-.iV 1 *'""on was elate( , and for t„e ente^rir'hLrtS:*.!^.::, I'^'T^K"-'"^' doing something usefrd I a„ ' s tl . !■ ■, .^''"^'' """ . When the separatit curtain %e„ '"",'^'""«« g-^'-v- ing more than enou"?, "™ffi ,"' "P' ''■■"•"'"'«- find- off a corner by itself for tnnlt"^ ^"'" ""^ curteined after .!!, g'.riii-d th, wtt "^"'« ''""'""' "''">^l'. of ^:^:'Zu7rJ^rZ 'TS' '^" ' A '^^ 3-ards the toilet , ,■< , d ;„d th. nni ? "^ 5'"? '""■'"■'<'• »»d lo ! hatraek aime in for it?I? •'^i .. ^''?" '*'« ""provised James Ward, directed a 1 the hWl,.T'''"'^' »'"• '^^en ^imie's skilled eves am t ''"S^t. happy afternoon by with hammer attacks a f"?t ''^''"i'''■''^ "■" ™* perch, all the helpers stood hfJ''*''. '"'"''" f™"" ^is admired. ^ '''°'"' '''"='' and exclaimed and bits of cambric andTer"edt«nd- '=r"^'" "'"• ''" forms the place so th'^wTdtCtogn .I-^t - """ "■""" AimL''ti:,ri^^ntty'Ltr'h^"'^4-'^'"^-'-<' they be worth wifet&:rist:^:fj^^^^^^^^^ well^e'as'ed ^^it/t'n""'" "'<" -^o" "^^'y- ^u' he wa, I.: wt:?hf rt to?2'"4"""!r' ?p^™-- *» j-- that le ever remelhri^ ' °^" ^'"^^'^ '""> good-bv others. M::h':rr: 3tara,i';i;^'- "i "A people at work : Wm with ' ^^ ^^^ reall these the3. expected t^ ..^::2 1' ^^t^ ■:^Z v"^'J iii^.. kuovy whether h« lit^.i n,. „:_."■; '^"^e^'Ouaia no results I f'art of ti. time J liked the new onkz v>r thi iigs or (« That 18 a Fact. 851 ■f respect foi t-^ elated, and trouble now, e Butler into shinjifs grew. ■f^voline, find. m curtained ut H; was left Lichea whioii, A few 3'ard8 )ric, and lo ! tor windows > improvised r, and when fternoon by d his work n from his laimed and e have been in with her ours trans- >» ," declared '^hat would ishes?" 'ut he was Jes to Joe. ra good-bj? 'lelp from ^her had i that the B all these IS though ie t;oe did things or ThL "** ^^^* '\ * constant state of embarrassment There was another who was embarrassed somewhat Accidentally Dr. Monteith had discovered someThw'of twen V fiZ 1 ^ 'T:, discovered, also, that the loa^ of twenty-five dollars had given Mr. Fen ton an influence Ihe instant question became, " How can that influence fJT^ '- "''""?' ^"^ '^' b«3^^" Seeking out Mr! whelZd h""? '" ^""^"^ ^^^^"^^' ^'' Mont?ith over! whelmed him by presenting the case to him. bn J"'\ ""''•:!. ■ "^""'^ ^"^^ ^«^^ *« do anvthing for boys he said in a tone that was almost pitiful in its I Wf ;r Mt\r?'' Vr' ^^'-^^ ^ caif undersTant anything. It ],as worried me ever since he was born I don t want to have influence over other boys I don't know what to do for them." ^ ^ you let ^tCI •^"'"'^' y'^'i!'^^' i^fl^ence over them, you see. Ihere is no possible way of escapincr from it This young fellow because of your kindnes^s to him ^* uZl ^'' ""* ^.''^'7'^ ^"^h «f tl^^t article on him htTru^^- concluded that you are the best friend h™ has and he is almost ready to do anything you suZst That ,s a heavy responsibility in connection withfust such a young man as he." "' forehe'ad""^ "I t:Ol '' ^'V' t^ ^'' ^^°^^"' ^^P^"? ^s ^retead. I tell you, I don't know what to do with it There is no reason for it, either. I'm nothing to the boy I only lent him a little money ; a mere triflL busineli transaction. Nothing to think of twice." ^ "'^^'new mnn. K ^'^''^' "^^ ^"^"^ ^ ^'"^ ^^^ l^^d the boy the money because you recognized in the matter an excellent wrnTeTtohTd "'?*' Ti ^'"^ 7^^ ^^"^ '' because you W down ?hp 1 -n* ^ ^'^P?^ ^""^ *^ ^"^ ^J^« ^a« very "I suppose," said Mr. Fenton, dropping his eves and blushing as though he had been caught in a meatines^ Ml ml fill I 'I m ! :-t til 852 T7te Hall in the Grove. "I suppose I wjus trying an experiment that I tliouffht might help him a little. I hadn't much hopes that it would amount to anything." "Exactly! Don't you suppose the boy understands^ He knows you did not do it for an investment. He is not used to kindly deeds. You have the boy's heart somewhere 111 your hands." ^ - What can I do for him ?" said Mr. Fenlou, mopping his forehead again, and looking actually frightened. He Had te t the responsibility of his own boy so greatly, how could he have it added to ? J 6 y^ ""«^ " What does he need ? " " What he needs," said Dr. Monteith with a gravely sweet smile -IS to accept of the Lord Jesus Christ, and serve him foiever. Jt is the only way of safety and honor for him, as for others." ^ ;' Yes," said Mr. Fenton, the nervous flush on his face rising to his forehead. -I knew you would say some- thii.g like that. Now you see I'm not the one; I don't know the hrst thing about helping a fellow in any such direction ; or influencing him." j^o^^t^ ^ ^^^^' ^y *""^"'^' ^'^o^e f^»^<= it is that you do It was a gently put question. The tone was tender and grave, yet it carried such weight with it that it seemed to Mr. Fenton's conscience almost like a blow 1 suppose It IS my own fiiult," he said slowly. "But* Professor, tell me this : How can I direct anybody on ii road that I know nothing at all about?" " I don't know." It was all the answer that this question received. Positively spoken, accompanied by the gravest of looks There were no other words, but the look added nearly as plainly as words could have St ? " °^' ""'^"^ ""^ ^^^ ""^"^ '^'"''''^ y'''''' ^^«P°"- ^ Meantime, the white cots in the tent were not spread m jam. There were several reasons for this. In the farst place, it had been made, as I have told you, most 'i ii'\ " That u a Factr 8ri8 lat I thought hopes that it understands? ment. He is i boy's heart (on, mopping fhtened. He greatly, how ith a gravely 3 Christ, and I safety and 1 on his face Id say some- one ; I don't in any such that you do was tender h it that it like a blow, wly. "But, lybody on a r that this npanied by words^ but could have our respon- not spread is. In the you, most iiviting A few shilhngs, m New York parlance, a few hours of skilled labor, a careful expenditure of space, an unusual display of taste, had made fairyland out of the Z\Zl rT^ ^f'' }K P^'">^ ^""•^ ^^« daily adding to these efiects, by bringing mosses and ferns, and scarlet leaves and berries, wherewith, in lieu of pictures, to decorate tlie canvas walls. Who is so fool- ish as to suppose that men -most men -care for none of these things } Many of them have not the least idea that they care for such trifles. Yet the most obtuse speci- men among them is well aware that one room which contains all the necessaries connected with brief livincr he hates; and another, containing not another articFe' that he IS capable of mentioning, he likes. Why ? He doesn t know. Ten chances to one it is the bit of blue or pmk cambric, or cheap Nottingham lace, or bright mosses and berries that he has not seen at all, and might affect to despise, if he did. Certain persons who liad reared tents for renting at Chautauqua, ignored this phase of human nature, and the consequence was, that young Wards cots were all rented before theirs. Another reason was, he had fiiends: Dr. Monteitli, for instance. When the boats came in laden, and the question of importance was, " Where shall we lodge '' " as hotels and cottages, filled with permanent guests became out of the question, it was easy to suggest a specially neat and well-managed tent on Lake Avenue. btiU a third and all-important reason was the fact that CL'owdfc of people — unexpectedly immense crowds — poured into Chautauqua, and filled every available space. Ot course, the five white carefully-made cots found pleased occupants. Five dollars a night for the privilege of occupying young Ward's tent I At that rate, how Ion- would It take for the boy to secure twenty-five dollaiS with which t,- pay Ins note ? What an enormous price topayforr ..vht s lodging! gro.an the uninitiated. Well, \8 \i-ue there were cheaper cots than that. They could be hnd m some of tlie tents for fifty cents each I il - ^ M ■jn '■ I ! i r^ri r I : i 111 1 '■ B54 T^i- Fall in the G^rove, But them were home, many, it transpired, who chose the exqu,«,te neatness, the careful conveniences, the con stant attention to comfort, the touches of refinement seen everywhere, and cheerfully paid the dollar a d^ w«nf L''"'''i^;''t "'^"^"'' -'^ •" *^'^"^ unless you want to, would Joe say innocently to any who hititc'd Imt his cols were high-priced. " There's cheaper ones in th.r' ^''" fi% cents a day spent in extra work on these and we ca cu late to keep them looking just so 111 the time. And whatever the "just so " covered it took the fancy of the people. ' The sensation with w])ich Joe Ward fingered over the frst twenty.fi ve dollars he had ever earned, may po^ W ^V^^'^T"'^-' h ^™^^g"'^^^ but it cannot be described. What o do with ,t was a question that kept him awake the half of one night. T . give it to Mr Fenf h was his first thought. His second was to wait for that unt 1 the second iwenty-five was earned. There was aln os no risk .bout it. The first week of the assembly^ haidly over, and here were the crisp bills representiiKr -i quarter of a hundred! What did'he wu Jto o n^f It.-* Mrs. Fenton woi-ld surely ],ave forgiven 'lin could she have kno .n that he just longed to en lo^e h of tr"^t^^.rV^'"l^ ''' ohisfathe?. The though ^J. T 1 '''arc litter mazement and incredulkA, made Joe lauga alo.id in the middle of the ni^ht, am TtTer. *' ''""^'' ^''^'' '" ^^« world^wi; the "Dreaming aloud," said Joe; and he laughnd acain. What fun it would be I W. father had told 1 im dozens of times that th^re ..-as no hope of his eve earning a cent. Joe lik to disappoint people It vr s a great struggle. He a-g d the question for one mortal hour; told hims.. several times that he was tool, and turned over, and turned his pillow, and answered his invisible opponent snappishly, to the efi-eet .Ml, ot course, he would liave another twenty-five, and there wasn't the least danger of his niaking /slip'Vnd! 01 ho chose the es, the con- f refinement Uiir a duy. unless you who hinted leuper ones; extra work >king just 80 ' covered, it red over the d, ma} pos- e described. him awake Fent n was •r that until was almost sembly wu.s •resenting a to do with given him, o enclose it 'he thou2cht incredulity, night, aiid fid was the ed again. told him f his ever le. It W:i.s n for one he was a illow, and > the effect y-five, and i slip, and, " That it a Fact:' 855 vt course, he meant to f.,ke up his note: never meant Bnytlung more in his life. Then he lav still for awhile, his eyes ixc( on the strongly defined rafter., and at Jast, sure by the steady heavy breathing that James was asleep, he expressed his determination aloud : " No sir/Jni, Ward, you don't do it. He trusted you, and you were never trusted before in your life —not even by your father. He couldn't help it, to be sure; there Y^s nothing to trust; buf the other one did it I A>id he bUall be paid to-morrow ; ..ot one hour later will [ wait. lu Z? if ''*''%^ twenty-five, and maybe a trifle nmre. In fact, I know I shall. I see a way to do it, and this hist one shall be in Mr. Fenton's pocket before nine o cldck to-morrow morning." Then Joe went to sleep. It was owing to this resolution that he dressed himself w, I, unusual care the next morning, even waiting to blueken his boo s. Phc occasion was a peculiar one : he was to take uj) his first note. "Suppose it was twenty -live hundred!" he said oounti r th,, bills over lingeringly once more. " I'd like' to pa.) it money; as true as I live, I would — always supposing I had it to pay. There is a kind of exciie- men ab(,ut it. I jnst believe I shall pay out a twenty- hvej.undred yet ; twenty-five thousand, maybe ! Folks ' This wild flight of fancy made his eyes s^-arkle, A close student of human nature, watching llin. w< .dd have been sure that Chautauqua had either created, oi awakened, iM this boy a spirit of enterprise. In the nsar itui-e, the l.oy with his twenty-five dollars will devdop into the man with his twenty-five hundred, an-^ thev will seem as uothmg to him, compared with these five crisp You understand, I suppose, that during this time our y-ung buHiness man was an inmate of the Fenton cottage, his proportion of the expenses duly arrange.l for by his father. It was not, therefore, a rare' thing to meet I ■ ■ 856 The Hall in the Grove. i !(i' Mr. Penton ; yet the boy's cheeks glowed with excite- merit. Ha pn on an air of as complete indiflferonce m tnougli this httle business transaction were an everv- «f7 \f''Z^''''^' """^ sauntered into the sitting-room after Mr. Fenton. ^ Once there, he talked about the weatlier, the meetings, the crowds that constantly gathered, and even the hope- fu look of the peach crop, before he reached the grand object of the interview. b***"" " Well, sir," he said at last, laying down the book he had been opening and shutting for the last five minutes, Y^come to take up that note this morning.^' ''What?" said Mr. Fenton in genuine astonishment. My note you know, that I gave you. I'm ready now to take it up." -^ . " Why I " said Mr. Fenton. " It is only a few days since you borrovved the money. You can't be ready to pay it so soon I ^ " I am reaJy," repeated the young business man, and he gravely and tenderly counted out the precious bills for the last time. Then he dived into his vest pocket, and produced four shh.ing coppers, laying the whole with an air of great satisfaction, on the table in front of Mr. renton. "What is all this ? " said that bewildered gentleman. When Joe gravely explained that that was, as nearly as he could calculate, the interest due on the loan, the tace of tlie elder gentleman relaxed in a broad smile. The ludi- crous side of the whole transaction presented itself to his mind, relieving the embarrassment. "fV'*,!^^^i."^"'^*.'t^^^^^^^^°^"^ investment I ever made in my ife . he said heartily. " I have been almost as much p eased with your success, and especially with the vim with which you went to work, as I would have been 11 3^0 u were my own boy." Then^, a memory of Dr. Monteith's hints coming forci- Oiy to liim. the embaiTassinenfc returned. How "was he to say anything toward helping this Soy to the place " That it a Factr ijr)7 ivith exuite- liflference ns J an every- iittiiig-room e meetings, II the liope- '. the grand be book be *'e minutes, onisbnient. I'm ready a few daj's le ready to i man, and cious bills !st pocket, he whole, n front of ntleman. i nearly as the face of The ludi- self to bis r made in almost as with the lave been ing forci- w was he he place where according to Professor Monteith, bo oufrbt to stand / I wonder to what extent the gracions So t of God hovers near to snggest and help tiiose wIk ever a.k for bi3 help It would be perhaps a xi =ac.i appuuls lu a thoroughly amused, good-natured manner; but for some reason, Mr. Fenton's singu ar wav oi putting It took hold of him. "That is n fa<' h« III i*r1 n 358 The Hall in the Grove. repeated still in, utmost gravity ; and he put on his hat and nent out, without saying another wonl. The thhil the length of the avenue, down toward the lake still with the grave, preoccupied look on his face, and thei ie said aloud once more : - That is a fact." \ \ > ^i ill CHAPTER XXXVi. COOPERATION. HE next thing that our Chautauqua friends did, was to absorb themselves utterly in a scheme of . cottage-buildmg. It is not known in whose w,se brani he first thought concerning their brilliant plan had birth, though Mrs. Fenton believes that it grew out of Joe Ward's earnestly expressed vis tha hey had a house of their own. Caroliue took hold of he thought with vigor, and Robert Fenton mav have beeu said to dash into the centre of it on first mention! I he fcheme was a novel one. It grew bv inches • hn/ vvhen fully developed, was unlike a^thing'^^hat had been' planned before, even in that most original of places. 1 'Pa? %J'''''^ cooperative all sorts of things nowa. days, Mr. Masters had said. - 1 wonder why it wouldn't be a good idea to have cooperative hoube-buildinjr?" bomebody repeated that sentence to young Ward, who «iid It wiuv exactly in a line with what he had been fchmking ot. So, what was at first simply talk, grew in a rery short space of time into actual deeds. A cottage it Chautauqua, owned and controlled by the Centreville ... L.^. U bucli was tiieir ambition. After diligent mvestigation it was discovered - and the discovery was reduced to acual figures- that one thousand dollars would not only buy a lot, but build and furnish a ^o;.uage. x>iotwitnsLanding the skepticism of some on tills point, the enthusiastic you-.g people succeeded in gertn.g Liie signatures ol respoiisible parties to the st^ite- 35.) il i ■ ,L iiiiiiii .m 360 The Ilall in the Grove. It wis Mr F!.nV^'"^V" ^''^'^ '""''^ ^« ''^''' tl.e money, uollars should be divided into shares of fifty dollars each and that each person who chose to join them sho Id take Ttt^r with Ir" Then young^Robert took up th matter with gl^Q-, prepared a paper and circulated it that very evening at the-tea table to secure the names of stockholders, his eyes shining like stars over the Sc or h" buro?n ^*°^^^ "^^'^^ ''' ^""^-^^ --^ -e another fiftVr^"/ ^"'^''^ ^?'' f "'« "^«^^' ^"'1 ^dded another my. Caroline surprised them all bv £rivin«- J.er signa ure. Mrs. Fenton knew her as a ^reful^eco f omist but even she did not understand hoVfif^y dollars could have been saved for this purpose. TirDrettv Aimie unhesitatingly took a share, admitting tlnfk would only need a little careful planning^ her pin nioney to meet such a small amount. O^f course fie President of the Circle took one, but carefulirrefr'ined from doing more than that, and counselled 'SachZ's .™Sresr'??r' '' ''"^f '^"°""^' "^ ordeno rk an equal interest. This required some correspondence wifh ."ry'Tdf XT':*,'''?'™'!"'''?"'' ''«'« f^'i'to -" « ueiay, until the President proposed to go securitv fnr certain absentees^ So, before the close ^of the "econd day, the amount named was secured It was a surprise to some that Joe Ward's name wa. among the stockholders ; but sundry long talks STh« resident had been held before he finally stoned t\^tl the wise ones hinted that he had given liis ifote for u ol the payment, and that the President of the Circ e h d promptly discounted the note. The new scheme met with great favor, even Effie Butler rousing to the importance of it, ind a"tu.nv offering a suggestion or two as to the ength of th^ front windows, and tlie size of the parlor. A builde? who^ could do wonders was tlie next requisite A^ wistATL'whM''' h' ''" ^"'''^""- "« «'^««k his head' wistluily who». the project was explained to him- Cod'peration. 861 e tlie money. lie thousand dollars each, should take took up the iirculated it - the names >ver the fact self and one !, and added 1 by giving areful eeon- fifty dollars The pretty ing that it of her pin course, the ly refrained t each one's der to make ide nee with 'air to cause ecurity for the second name was :s with the led it, and te for part Circle hatl iveri Effie J actually th of the A builder site, Mr. his head to him ; admitted that the whole thing just took his fancy, and he should hke no better fun, but them two houset that he had promised for the professor were larger and finer and had more work on them than any on the grounds,* and would take every single inch of his time while tlm meetings lasted. "You see," he explained, " his lots is so near the Amphitheatre there, as they call it — thouel, ( Cm t bPe no theatre about it — and they won't let a tellow saw a board or drive a nail while the meetings is OM-and they are on most of the time; so we make slow work, and I can't go into it nohow ; but I know a man who can. ^ H,s name is Scott, and a likelier kind of a builder I ain t met very often. He is just finishing of a house down on Janes avenue; it went up like light- ning, f never see anything like it. One morninlno Mgn of a house on that lot, and the next, there it stood ! 1 hat iellow worked ! I ve seen a good deal of fast work in my day but I n. free to confess I never saw anything m our S ate like the way that house went up. No sham work either ; I watched it. Fact is, it kind of fascinated tne, and I hung around there at all hours and watched • and neither that man nor the other — there's two of hem and they worked together; the other's name is Brooks; well sir, neither of 'em shirked a hair; it was just downright honest hard work. You see their word was at stake. They had promised, the house at such a ihiy and hour m good shape, and says Mr. Scott to me : When I pass my word for a thing, 1 calculate to do ft it It IS a possible thing to do. And if I have to go with- out my dinners and work all night this house shall be done at the time.' Well, sir, it was, and they moved in, and the owner himself told me that l.he house ivas every bit It promised to be. You might go and see it: it is right round therQ on Janes avenue neat the corner." i\r' . -^u . "f" "^i"^ *'''" ^'^^1' ^''^ir word," said Dr. .40!2.euii, lo wnoia tins explanation was made ; and he wrote in In. notebook the names of the builders in question. IH I 862 T^ie Hall in the Grove. 'A t f M lif * ■ ; ■ thai Mr^ "tl ^^"' ^«"f«»-«"«« '"1^ several others was. ttlZ I "• ""'^ r "^^»'^ '^ ^"^^^^ ^J'« cooperative eSVnf n7 ^'\"f ^J^^'°" t« '-^11 tl^eir other pursuits, the excitement of watching a house of their own tro swiftlv ha never really expected to own a foot of land, can be better imugnied than described. Perhaps to none wL it more of an inspiration than to Joseph Ward. Helpent , every moment that could be spared from hi; two tent! ng. You did not know that he had two tents ? Wei it chanced that a tenter living near to him, with whom he had exchanged certain neighborly kindnesses wa^ esS^Tn'^^'"'""'^""^/ ^"^ ""^'^^ becomeLrr! ehtcd m the young man's enterprise, placed his well- rent at his discretion with the understanding that when houtdT" f I'^r^'' the tent and all its^belongi gs of b^ a tf\ ' ' '"'^ ^" ' ^'^P"' "'^"^^^^- So a strangfr tou. 1 1 1 ^ ^ ^'' ^^q^'-^^^tance, contributed his mite toward the young mans education. For that Chau- evu cut. H,s first taste of enterprise had been so thor oughly relished that it had taken complete hold of hs" Z^TL ^ "" i'^^' ^^"f ''^''^'^ Vfardrevelled in a Z Pi/ I 7^.,, wherein houses and lots owned bv b n .elf, abounded Meantime he was no mean helper at the new h<,use whose walls rose swiftly as he sawed and p aned, and hammered, guided by the skillfureve and cheery voice of the niaster-builder. A m<^t he ownt;!.!!:' '^ "^^^' '^ ''"^ «-" -'P-^^--' building t There was one stockholder whose name I have neff- lected to mention. This was no other tbuu Pau Adrmf The fact astonished nobody more than himself. He was' beyonii on;^i:o;^sS;;^;;Ms^;;;:^^^ t: n Coffperation. 868 il others was. ! cooperative pursuits, the ^n go swiftly o some who land, can be ) none was it I. He spent is two tenta e new buihi- nts? Well, , with whom Inesses, was jcome inter- id his well- ;r mission to J that when belongings a stranger id his mite that Chau- 5 man, was ieii so thor- hold of his evelled in a owned by lean helpe'r i he sawed, skillful eye Almost he •uilding his have neg- lul Adams. E". He was s name on jures, that und. Yel the explanation was simple. I have told yon that Mr. l^ucker was deeply interested; had many questions to "So you don't let anybody in unless he belongs to your A. B. C, eh ? " was one of them. ^ " No ; " said Dr. Monteith smiling. " It is connected with our own local Circle " „,i".yy^"'" ^'^^"^ ^ meditative pause, during which he whittled a chip, as he always did when in deep thought, I don t belong to no circle, don't expect to — not of a book-learning kind ; but J know somebody who does, and I don t see his name here. I want it put down in black and white. Never mind if the number is made up. Drop out one of the folks that ain't here to speak for themselves; if they'd wanted to be in, they ought to be here, and Im bound he shall be in anywav. You are better at writing than I am —more used to'jt; you iust write his name and the figures while I count out the nrty. It isn t any more than I meant to add to his wages ; he deserves it, if a boy ever did. I hired him kind of low in the first place, because I didn't more than one-quarter believe in him; and I ain't raised 'em because I was kind of afraid of setting him up more than would be good for him. Folks are uncommon afraid of that, you know, in this world, though I think myself people get set down a good deal oftener than they get set up. Here s the fifty : good clean bills. Have vou got the name ready ? " > & "You Imven't given me the name yet," Professor Mon- teith said, his McKmnon pen unscrewed. His srailinc mouth told the story of his satisfaction. " Why, Piiul Adams, of course," said Mr. Tucker, astonished that any one should presume to be so dull as not to know the boy in whom he was speciullv inter- osted. So it transpired that Mr. Fenton showed Paul - .,., ,,„, .,^,„^ tiiiio uveiung written in beautiful characters, with the remarkable sum of fifty dollars set down opposite. After the first astonished whistle, and iM mf\ m 864 The Rail in the Grove. the silence that followed, came a look of iniense gravity " I t^on't know about that," he said, shaking his head! .tact IS, I made up my mind to drive my own naiia right straight through this world, and I kind of like to stick to It. I'm obliged to whoever did it, I m sure, but 1 dan t know about it, as true as you live." "Every nail of it is your own," Dr. * Monteith said with a pleased smile. He liked Paul nono the worse for his strong ideas of independence. " Your employer told me that the sum put down here was not a cent more than he owed you, above what he had already paid. He has been contemplating a rise of wages for some time, and he thought you would like to invest the monov in this way. -^ ;'Did Mr. Tucker put it down?" said Paul ; and his voice was eager, and his eyes were bright. This made It certain that thus far in his business life he liad been a success. Oh, the pretty house! If you are the fortunate owner of several houses, or even of only one, you will hardly be able to enter with complete success into the feelings of certain of these Chautauquans who had never possessed a foot of land before, as they watched from day to day the magic process of house-building, realizinn that these rooms were to belong to them. "^ "Little pieces of home I " Caroline called the dif ferent rooms. " And I, who never expected to have even a piece of a home, should enjoy it thoroughly." Mr. Masters looked down at her almost pityingly ag sue saici it. " Did you never really expect to have a home ? " he asked her; and Caroline, detecting the undertone of teeling m his voice, and remembering that he also had heen one of the homeless ones, answered brightly - " Oh, yes ! indeed I did, and do. I would not' for a moment forget it. I look for a house not made with nanUSy eternal in tlj heavens.'" This young man who was himself a builder, you will I Ah led the dif Cooperation. 305 remember, liked to watch the progress oi the new housA almost as well as did the stockholders. He wa'a to time engaged i„ directing the uprearing of fee new and elegant cottages on one of the main avenues Thev represented thousands, where the cooperat he oott ?e fn tli""^H^'' '-vertheless the heart of ^the builde":| in ths cottage which he was not building. He hovered lnZA'J'"u^r''^' '^^Sgestlou now a.fd then, keep ng ^;:t^rthe\i^l^iir^^^^^"^^"^-"^ ^^^^-^^ ^ --^^' " ^ don't know how it is," he said laughing ; " but I feel as though 1 were somehow a piece of the LterpHse I wish I could have taken hold of it myself. The S nt fascinates me, though I could not have done better work than IS being done for you. Why, Mrs. Fen ton, you have the corner cupboards ! " ' ^ " Of course we have," said that lady briskly. « I do not believe Caroline would have invested in the enterprise if we had not included them in the plan! fmportant/' "'^ ^'"^ "' '^' housekeeping line Fs so wL?' u'T ^'!i^T ^ " ^^'^ ^^^'^^"^^ ^^th a deprecatina ^?vi\ ^1 '^' ^'1 "^V'^^P ^^^ ^''^'^^ ^^^"^''^"'^ tongue. " .u IJ'^ ,7''" '""^'^^ '^^^ «^^d when she first regulated them, Mr. Masters. She assured me that some woman must have p anned them ; that no man would ever have though of them in the world: and she was sure the builder a wife must have insisted on them " "I wonder where his wife is I" was Mr Master's rejoinder as he laughed lightly. "He pl^lmed hem ta efu ly, express y for her benefit, and she has never W .If T""' ^? ?'^"^' ^"°^- ^^^ ^^" take no credit to herself. I wanted to economize her time and her pa- "Of course I do ; I wouldn't be a housekeeper if I ti^tl 1 1 f T^V"'^ l?''"" ^^^^ ^^"'^ the benefit of them, I think, Mr. Masters." M IV- !H m 'I 11^ sec TJie Hall in the Grove. " Sometimes I think so," he said quietly. " I wish I were sure that she uppioved." Caroline had moved entirely away, and was studying the view from one of the western windows. She was in no mood to hear these two froiio over her little dream of home. Perhaps the one whose absorbing interest in the building scheme astonished them the most was Effie Butler. She was not a stockholder, for the reason that she had never become a member of the C. L. S. C, for whicli Mrs. Fenton unhesitatingly exnressed herself thankful. " She doesn't belong," vvouUr that emphatic lady say with energy. " She is off of a different strip. Don t you know that people are in strips ? Whenever I see a new face I can calculate in a few minutes from which strip it came. Now Effie is a good enough little goose, but she isn't one of our strip, and I'm really glad she isn't connected with this thing." This was early in the housebuilding. As it progressed it became evident that if Effie's money was notin the enterprise her heart was. She watched the progress of events with the deepest interest. She entered with zest into the discussions about furnishing, exhibitincr such decided talent for originathig prettv things, and offering to show how to get them up at" tritling cost, that it became the custom to defer to her opinion. "She really hasn't gotten herself up like a wax doll all these 3-edrs for nothing," Mrs. Fenton admitted. " She knows what is pretty, and how to plan it. I wonder if everything about us, rightly managed, would become a talent ''•' ' *» And a power for good ? " said Caroline. " That is an idea. I suppose it is so. All the pretty little pla*i!,' that Effie and Aimie and girls of their stamp seem to have, bubbling up continually, were intended to influ- ence for good the people with whom they came in contact.^' " Dear me ! " said the matron, her cheeks flush " don't speak of Effie Butler and our little A inff Ml imie in the ^ffperation. 807 7. " I wish 1 i had moved from one of lood to hear ne. erest in the •st was Effie ) reason that L. S. C, for ?ssed herself lat emphatic fferent strip. Whenever linutes from 3nongh little a really glad t progressed 5 not in the progress of ntered with , exiiibiting things, and :rifliiig cost, ler opinion, wax doll all tted. " She I wonder if d become a " That is an little plans up seem to ed to influ- y came in IS flushing, limie in the same breath, I beg; as if they belonged to the same strip! Why, Aimie has more sense in her little lincrer than Effie has all over her." * And Caroline, smiling quietly, was content to have It so, remembering, as she did, that it was hardly a week since Mrs. Fenton had expressed herself in equally plain and uncomplimentary terms about the pretty Aimie. Others beside Caroline looked on with satJ-fac^- tion over the fact that the sweet-faced little girl waa taking such strides into the motherly woman's heart. She did not forget that Aimie had come to her first for help m the new life that had opened before her, and though she liad been unable to give advice, still she looked upon the child as in some sense belonging to her and watched over her with a new and tender care. As for Aimie, neither did she forget that Mrs. Fenton was the first to whom she had spoken of her new experience. 1 erhaps it was this that awakened in her heart an intense longing to bring this woman into personal acquaintance with the Lord ; and perhaps, though the matron did not know it. It was the subtle powerful influence of answered prayer, that daily twined her heart so closely around Aimie's. In more ways than one was the new recruit working. Mrs. Fenton had refused to consider the two girls as fDra the same strip, yet it is true that heretofore they had bean quite too much alike to have the slightest interest in, or patience with, each other; but new inter- ests had developed at Chautauqua; a powerful charm held them both: both were singers. Aimir- not by any means a remarkable one, but she had a sweet, clear voice and a reasonably ^"^^'^ "^"?' ^'"^ ^^'^J ^«en greeted by the d.l.ghted isteners with such deafenin-^ bursts o^ ll^h'vou:' t T ^'i'^^' ^-^PPear again, thathe' (K)iihli jouiig heart wejit over entirely to the Chau> ou?d\rLnd" U^'^^l' r .r^? extrivagant devoL" Ihun Erne Butler ""^'"^' ''^ ''''^''' ^*' ^^^ -^"-- "I wonder if everything about us, rightly manajred wouhl become a talent ! " That was the u.iy MrrFeifton had expressed it, you will remember; and Caro ine had finished the sentence in the way in vWiich sl^^e w sure watv^litU Ltiie Butler s voice, God-given, lead her stead- ily into daily companionship with v?hat ;as ennobling «h. . M 7'^;^*^«'^" t'^at through the channel of song she should be led up to Him? What a grand thiL it would be to have that voice sing only hisVuse I And tha t Idea, from that time, took hold of CaEe. I ■ } 1 it IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I •^ iid 1122 " lis III 20 11:25 ■ 1.4 18 1.6 6" — k * m M / t/. A V <^ /. Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^l^/-^^ o l/u ^ o"^ i «-'»ffl l.i ;»! ( ' CHAPTER XXXVIL "THE FIBBS OP GENIUS.'* lRS. FENTON'S face wore an air, not only of perplexity, but anxiety. She sat in the low chair by the western window of her own room ; but she was not looking out at the lovely sunset. In fa(5t, she was not looking at anything but her own tioabled thoughts. A shadow passed the window, caus- iLg her to look up, and she seemed relieved to discover that the substance was Caroline. " I'm glad you have come," she said, calling after her. " Come here, please, as soon as you can." And Caroline, wondering, washed her hands in haste, set aside the peaches she had been preparing for tea, and obeyed the summons. "I did not know you had returned from the Hall,** said Mrs. Fenton. "Sit down! How long have you been in the kitchen ? " "I don't know: half an hour perhaps: long enough to pare the peaches. Why ? " "Have you heard anything peculiar? Any unusael sounds? Oh, I don't know that you could near them from the kitchen! Well, Caroline, have you noticed anything strange about Irene Butler during the last few days?" " Nothing more strange than that she seems to have deserted sculpture," said Caroline, laughing. *' There is an unfinished dog stanuing on her toilet shelf v» ho has stood there with half a nose, and not a suggestion of a 370 *l , not only of it in the low er own room ; Ij sunset. In but her own oeindow, caus- ed to discover ling after her. ands in haste, ig for tea, and m the Hall,** ng have you long enough Any unusual Id hear them you noticed I the last few }ems to have f. * There is ihelf who has ^gestion of a " Tfie Fires of Qenimr 87j tail, for three days. I remember thinking it strange that she didnot take pity on the poor creature and finish him " " That is one of the signs 1 " exclaimed Mrs. Fenton, by no means laughing, but in real distress. " She has not been to the class for nearly a week, and vou know how completely fascinated she was with it. Caroline, I am thoroughly alarmed about her." "For what possible reason?" asked Caroline, looking as though perhaps she ought to be thoroughly alarmed about the distressed little woman before her. « That a woman like Miss Butler abandons a new fancy suddenly 18 surely no cause for alarm. I suppose she has gone back to her first love, and means to devote herself to painting." Mrs. Fenton shook her head. "No I that is another strange symptom. Do you know only yesterday morn- ing she brought brushes and a tube of paint, and threw the brushes into the fire, and the paint into the alley, as she said to me with a strange sort of half-laugh : •' I have done with all that senseless folly ; henceforth my life is— hsten I " '' "What do you fear?" asked Caroline, changing color suddenly as there arose on the quiet air a sort of sullen murmur or mutter from the room above, rising higher nnd higher, until it expended itself in a half-yell. and silence followed." " Caroline I " said Mrs. Fenton leaning forward and speaking in a distressed v/hisper : « fhe has been going on in that fashion for half an hour. I came in here lo write a letter, and I haven't been able to do a thing but listen to her; I've really become so frightened that the cold chills run over me. I never heard anything like it. I believe in my heart that she is insane I " " Much painting has made her mad," said Caroline, hardl;^ realizing vhat she said ; then she rallied. " Whv "*!"' .^ ""*■""' ^"^ puicij utis uoc given you ground for thinking that ! She has seemed perfectly rational in the family." 872 TJte Hall in the Gr ove. 'W jirz. Fenton shook her head. "How much ground do you need ? How many brains has Irene Butler to be turned, any way ? She has appeared strange for several days. ^ Dian't you notice her hast evening stirring her tea with a knife? And when Robert passed her the butter, she tried to take it with i spoon ! I tell you the poor girl's mind is giving way. Just listen I" For the fc^trange muttering sounds had commenced again, rising as before to what resembled maniac yells, then sinking away into silence. "She ought to be looked after," said Caroline, rising. " She may injure herself. What can we do, Mrs. Fen- ton? I am worth very little, for I frankly confess that the one thing of whicli I stand in mortal fear is insanity. Where is Mr. Fenton I " ^ "Gone to the five o'clock meeting : so has every other mortal in our family. We are all alone. Suppose she should take a fancy to come down-stairs ? Shall we lock the door and run away ? " " There is Robert ! " said Caroline with a relieved air. Startled as the nerves of the two women had been, the sight of the cheery-faced boy, whistli; strain from one of the grand bursts of triumphan. ong which the Jubilees sang, had a reassuring effect, boy though he " Robert," his mother called, " come here and listen ! " The muttering had commenced again with renewed vigor. "What's up?" the boy asked wonderingly, for hw mother's face was pale, und so v/as Caroline's. They told him briefly their fears, and bade him listen to the sounds. "u'n ^^^"^ "P there," he said positively. "Just in the hall, mother, near enough to hear what she is saying. That will give us an idea as to what fancy she has, and we can know better what to do with her. I shall have to hunt up Jack, and I want something definite to tell him, though I don't believe he has brains enough to ''The Fires of aeniusr rf78 much ground Butler to be e for several I stirring her ssed her the I tell you the For the i»> ^•ain, rising us then sinking roline, rising, lo, Mrs. Fen- confess that ir is insanity. 10 has every le. Suppose i? Shall we relieved air. ad been, the •ain from one which the y though he and listen ! " th renewed igly, for h\9 ine's. They isten to the . " Just in he is saying, she has, and [ shall have inite to tell I enough to comprehend the very mildest f(»rm3 of insiukil.). O, mother 1 of course I am not afraid. I will only sta.id in the hall ; she need not see me, and if she did, I o.m quiet insane people by looking steadily at them. I ciin, really, mother. Don't you know when I went with Dr. Pierson to the asylum, how the noisy ones would stop yelling, and come towards mt as quiet as mice ? I'm going up as far as the head of t le stairs this minute." ^ And leaving his mother divided between her admira- tion for his bravery and her fears of the result, he darted away. Then the two left behind to listen did it breathlessly. They heard the boy's nimble steps up the stairs, pausing in the upper hall, and all was still again. Suddenly the niutter arose on the air, growing loader and louder, until It culminated in that yell which was growing so fearful to the listeners below that they shuddered. Then they lieard the boy coming swiftly down the hall; down the stairs — - almost fly 'ng, it seemed to their excited fancj'. Had the insane woman caught sight of him, and was she in hot pursuit? The instinct of motherhood sent the frightened little mother toward the door to meet and help her boy. He rushed into the room and instantly Caroline closed and bolted the door, and stood trembling to discover that Robert had thrown himself, face down- ward, on his mother's bed, and buried his face in her pillow, where he \yas shaking as if with an ague fit. "■ Whftt is it, my darling son ? " entreated Jiis mother. " What did you see ? Oh, why did I let you go ! " Then Caroline, in firm, low tones : " Robert, you are not the boy I think you, if you are not able to control yourself for your mother's sake." She knew her material, and felt sure that even though he had gone momentarily insane himself, a plea for his mother would reach his brain. Listantly the curly head was lifted frnm A h ii i' . .1:1 1!' IS . IJII 876 The Eall in t,he Grove. Trn .h! I I P^^" ""f paintings. The common n.ind IS pitclie(I on too low ,1 key to respond ; but u!,en vou do come in contact with a soul capable of understandinc. elocutkm/' '^ '" "'"'''^'^ rn\gh^\\y. It is just so with "But Miss Boice succeeds in moving the masses I should think," dissented Mrs. Fenton. " At Lst the're hv hpf?'! '"?-^u ''""" '"''." ^'^ perfectly carried away by her style, %yhich yon say is so quiet as to be unworthy the name of elocution." ^ '"a^^^^ is precisely an illustration of my meaninff," said Miss Irene complacently. « Thank you for su^r. gestmg It. M,ss Boice has a sort of imitation of the real — hke lace. Don t you know there are plenty of common people who wear imitation lace and are per- tectJy satisfied with it; even think it is real? I never could endure the stuff. Now this lady who presumes to teach IS capable of reaching the masses by Jier imitation ot the real thing She is commonplace, and they are commonplace, and she and they suit; but there is nothing ot the tragic about her. I could never be sa^ isUed wuh any commonplace selections such as she makes. Nothing less than Shakespeare or some other mighty genius fits my needs. Oh, I shall never trouble her I fehe is on too low a plane to realize even this I can see m class how absurdly jealous she is. She actu- of. "!k ««?/;«'°"?".y to repress me. She is foolish. Our paths will probably never cross again. I consider my range of talent as so different, from hers that there is no more danger of our being rivals than there is that hat evening star over your head will undertake to rival that bit of a dewdrop at your foot." It is distressing to be obliged io tell you that Miss Irene s small audience belonged so completely to the class of people described as on a lower plane, that she impatiently brushed the dewdrop on^ of evi.fl...^ „ " ! rudely said, « Oh nonsense I " a'.d abruptly wentloThe kitchen where, as she stirred vigorously at a meek-look- iH.tPMce. and " The Fires of Genimr 877 in? mixture in a large yellow bowl, she «aid : "I wish 80UH, people didn't have to be either insane or i.liots I " Ihe poor woman did not know that this Avas to be but tul nightij sighing over the Jhought that «he ever sug- gested (Chautauqua to Miss Irene. That poor, bewitchM woman also spent wakeful nights rehearsing her poems. Boon after midnight, and Mrs. Fenton, whose room, you will remember, was directly under that of the mas will be worth something when they reflect lustres from such feces. I shall remember that sentence. J want such a 'diploma." "So do I," he said with emphasis, and then thcjy hushed their talk, for the bands were playing the most exquisite strains of Oft in the Stilly Night. "I declare I" said Mr. Masters at last, breaking the gtlllneSH* " T riflvpr aaxv an fij.o .. f]:„^|„.. __ il.-'_ M ° "It sanctifies all legitimate things of life, and turns them to a holy purpose," quoted Caroline, and Mr. if many- colored brilliant sparks ning in beauty, its possibilities dream, and the lite, and on the rims marching, niniating their orld for God'a to God whom in the address that you don't » said, "but I ua sanctifying On the face of Is the cross of quiet answer. » great many fellow in the » »» 1. Our diplo reflect lustres ; sentence. J nd then thoy ying the most breaking the . XI. •_ »♦ I tllitj. ife, and turns Ine, and Mr. Decided. 883 Masters laughed, and said she would not need a cony of the AssemUy Herald ; she had evidently memorized that lecture. These two peoplo, enjoying themselves, were either entirely unconscious of, or indifferent to, one of the boat s party who was standing near and observing them closely. The truth is, Kent Monteith occupied a go XI deal of his time, during these days, in watching one ot tlie couple. A veiy strange experience was this ele- gant young man passing through. You will remember that It was because of what he called a whim of his tather s that he first made oline's acquaintance: that he had continued that acquaintance had been at first the result of accident, and then of a sort of good-natured curiosity. He could not tell himself when, and in truth he could not understand how it happened, that his good- natured curiosity deepened into what, to say the least, was a very different feeling. This is by no means what is known as a love story, though I should really be very sorry to have to write the Rtory of a life without love in it; but it is not my inten- tion to chronicle much of this sort of history. Still in order to explain certain things, I shall have to tell you that Kent Monteith was passing through a singular struggle. All his pride — and he had a great deal of it —rose up against his having more than a kindly passing interest m a girl without education, not only, but who earned her living in a way chosen usually by only the owest in the social and mental scale, that, you wiU understand, was his way of putting it, not mine. He chafed oyer the folly of it all. He called himself a bramless simpleton, and various other hard names as he tosssd of nights on a pillow from which sleep had tied, or took long lonely tramps through the woods ; yet the tact remained that he was more interested in Caro- line Ray nor than in any other person living. Un the evening in question,' he alternat°ely paced the steamer s deck, seeming to be one of the promenaders yet alone with his thoughts, or leaned against the side if. 11 X ii: is 884 The Hall in the Grove. ) ( ' in position to get a view of Caroline. Ho was going over again the problem which had troubled him during the lust week. He was astonished over the conclusion at which he had almost arrived. "I shall live in Florence, in any event," he half muttered, his eyes fixed on the side face that was lighted up by the brilliant surroundings, as well as by the pleasure of the owner's thoughts ; " I don't know why I should care what certain upstarts would say: I am in a posi- tion to be above them if I choose. For that matter, who is going to know unless she or I tell it, that she had any other than the most respp^table position I Her style of face would do credit to any society ; hang me if I under- stand how she comes by such refinement of feature and manner! They must be her legacy from some old German aristocrat; royal blood in her veins possibly, wlio knows? That would account for a certain inde- scribable poise about her tiiat is very marked. I don't know why I should care, really. As for that sleepy old town of Centreville, I should like to give it a sensation that would last for a twelve month, perhaps — until I brouoht her back from abroad, ablaze with jewels and all the rest of the gewgaws that make up the average woman. How exceedingly well they would become her ! The style that she would aflFect — she will always be exquisitely simple in her tastes; and in that again she will show that curious, high-bred air. I wonder what she would say to Venice ! She would be more inter- ested, though, in Rome. Curious, how thorouglih convei-sant the girl is with the ancient city. I should want to blush for almost any travelled scholar who undertook to talk with her about it. How I shall like to take her to the Sistine Chapel I Then I'll have a picture taken of her just as she looks when she stamls Btudying one of those old masterpieces." You Can see how this young man confused his tenses. What he vyould do if — seemed inextricably mixed in Ids mind with what he intended to do as sooii as possible. W. .<; V Decided. 885 Ho was going [ed him during the coiiolusion vent," he half face that was J well as by the 't know why 1 : lam inaoosi* at matter, who at she had any ' Her style of me if I under- of feature and [•om some old ^eins possibly, I certain inde- rked. I don't hat sleepy old it a sensation laps — until I ith jewels and p the average 1 become her ! all always be :hat again she wonder what >e more iiiter- V thorouglils ty. I should scholar who w I shall like m I'll have a en she stands ied his tenses, ibly mixed in Jii a.s possible. Perhaps it may seem a strange thing to you that the with Carohne had never received from Mr. iMonteitl, "a second thought He had inquired casually one lav who that Mr. Masters was who seemed to be ever I where and had been answered that he was a builder who had been associated witli the improvements -it Chautauqua from the first. '^ A more n^chanic,'' had this elegant aristocrat said within himself, and thereafter dismissed the sub ect. Not that he really intended to be aristocratic in the disagreeable sense of the word, but It had been the habit of his life, and the education of 1 s foreign experience. By what curious process of reason^ ing he was sometimes able to think of Caroline entirelv apart from her surroundings and experiences of life, I do not pretend to explain. It cannot be said that the young man enjoyed the wonderful disp ay of nature and a?t that wis spread before h.m on lake and sky that evening; indeed, e nardly saw it at all, while Caroline and \Vv friend con- stantly interrupted their conversation with such excla- mations as, "Oh see that rocket!" <'Look at those Tulle r-r' ''^"^ ^' M" "^-'^ "^^ exquisite ? How gorgeous tlie JameUoxon looks ! " and the hke. He, busy with his thoughts, saw neither lights nor colors and heard no music save as it all mingled in a confused and rather distracting way in his perplexities for he saw perplexities in the way of his cLrisl ed wishes. It was Kent Monteith's misfortune to have niv i'll Pr"P '''''^'' "' ^'^ P"''^ '"^^^^^-t" 5 almost no obstacles to overcome ; consequently he chafed under these as they presented themselves. Still he grew more and more fixed in his resolution to have his own way! cost what It might. •'♦ Presently the tu'o one of whom was holding his attention, espied him leaning against the railing of the foTl' mleir' '"' ^""^'- ''''''' '''^y ^-"-d ^"™ Hi i ji! i 1 :5 i ; ^ > !i i'.t Kt 886 TJie Flail in the Grove. "That young man looks almost out of place in this gay scene; lonely, I mean," said Mr. Masters. Isn t he singularly without special friends? I should expect so^ brilliant a man to be surrounded always by ;'It is very hard to be friends with him," Caroline said quietly. " Why ? " " He so constantly jars on one's sense of what is right. J^rom a Christian standpoint, I mean." "I know. Hasn't he rather dropped Robert Fen- vOll ; "Quite dropped him," Caroline said, her face takin? an annoyed expression as she remembered the scene con- nected with the dropping. "That is an illustration of T i ^ ^u ^" ?''''^°, ; ^""y '^ '« hard to be friends with R "?• . u^^^'^l^ ^''^'} ""^ ^^'^ ^^""''^ «li« '^a^l n^ade to have Kobert shielded, and the indifference he had manifested toward the boy "It tried me," she said, "to think that he cared so little for Robert. It was not friendship at all ; just the following up of a passing fancy. Mr. Monteith impresses me as though most of his friendships were no stronger than that, and as though his profes- sions of regard, if he ever makes them, might bWr^ /e«non« merely. What a lovely transparency on Siat boat! See the motto in letters of fire! Oh, how beautiful that is! And thus Caroline dropped Kent Monteith quite as easily as he had dropped Robert Fenton It was about that time that he turned from the deck and weht down-stairs into the saloon with resolute step, saying with firml.v-compressed lips, and a look of decision on his handsome face : " I shall certainly do it" of place in Mr. Masters. tls? I should ied always hy lira," Caroline what is right. Robert Fen- iT face taking the scene cou- illustration of 3 friends with made to have ad manifested id, "to think not friendship »^ fancy. Mr. lis friendships fh his profes- light be pro- ency on that how beautiful 3nt Monteitli jnton. rom the deck •esolute stepi »k of decision >it" CHAPTER XXXIX. "THE BLIND GROPINGS OF GENIUS." [OST unexpectedly, at least to the sufferers, the ' current of Miss Irene Butler's thoughts waa changed. Before the change, however, came two eventful days. I do not mean the anniversary exer- cises of St. Paul's grove, nor the organization of the Class of '84, though these were events about which I design telling you, as they will always be remembered by many who joined in the exercises. I do not mean the lecture by Josei)h Cook, a lecture in itself so won- derful that an attempt to describe it, or even quote from it, appals me. I mean the grand temperance meetiu<' inaugurated at Chautauqua on a certain Saturday even"^ ing, by a lecture from that remarkable wouiun, Mrs, Yeomans of Canada. It may be possible that she has spoken to even larger audiences than that which gl-eeted her in the Amphi- theutre that evening; but she certainly could never find a more enthusiastic one. Those who came t:i hear thi' hicture, expecting simplj to be entertained, were entet. tiiined certainly ; but they were also treated to clear-cut, directly-put, incontrovertible logic on the liquor question! and especially on the license law. " The fact is," said Kent Monteith, " if there was a man in the audience to-night who advocated the license law, 1 feel rather sorry for him, on the principle that a degree of sympathy ought to be bestowed on the one who is down. They certainly wera terribly scathed." 387 88S Tlie Hall in the G rove. 'I :} 'J It .'.U ( , ! ' wo Id ' 1 fh?,nl "I'^'^'Si" ^^^"^'^ "^^* ^^^^'"5 for there h? &t^of h". ^^^""' ^r-verp.ssecrwa/Xd ^ peonle irfpvL^ 7!"V ^^ '^^^' ""^ submitted to the Koea ed T% f -^^ u' ^?™«^J^>ed, and it never ^ull De repealed. I und m the Bible the awful inionitv of n^oiL'tilTXr '"™ ^'^^^'^""^ traffic, and pultnl that ^M government. Listen ! '^ Woe unto him iL wdh placed there for our "primnf Ao t * ""^ the sacred pajres the oLp hVh As I turned over and I thoucrlff tI^ ^ • """''''' ^'''"^ *o »ny ^iiid, Rn V ^tl g ' ^^^'"^ ^'^ ^" instance of legalized wroufr He bough a government license to kill hfSowr^en' carefulW 'TcP^'^"^"^"',^^^^'"^^ thought the matter over ?^pon th'at V::Lnr ^ ^ ^^^^ to suit m, "You are intense in all your feelings arpn't vn,,?" dUrnotin^"'"^'.^^ "^^^ ^" interSsmle. "^^Y . rii Ll not impress me in that way at first." It he wanted her to ask how she impressed him at (•arne-tlv"''" TfT " T'^ ■•™arkable effort," she said l.»rd for a wo„a„ to follow rbutaTitt: TuLVSlZ despite the repuhition which si iiave trembicd. It was a catie of wasted Je has. I need not sympathy. " The Blind Gropinga of Geniiui.' 38& f, went ovei leard in the the liquor the United il ; for there rone Woe to "I find that as passed in itted to the t never \\ill iniquity of d piittino' it ^oe unto him sheth a city >lo, and the instance of f therp was turned over ) my mind, ized wrong, 'ellow men, vernment." natter over to suit my sn't you?" ile. " Yo J ed him at th the talk she said Cook had n quite so em bled for need not atliy." " Then you think her quite equal to Joseph Cook ? " " What a sentence ! " said Caroline, laughing. " No person in his senses would thiidc of comparing the two for a moment. They will never be rivals, as poor Miss Butler says." " But you know I do not more than half approve of women occupying the place she takes before the public." _ " Don't you ? " she said indifferently ; and her compan- ion could not determine whether it was indifference to the subject, or to the person expressing tlie objection. " Do you ? " he asked, resolved upon knowing what she meant. " Why, I approve of a woman's occupying any place that she can fill, and we shall certainly have to admit that she was able to fill it." " Weil, but Miss Caroline, what would induce you to come before the public in that manner ? " " The talent of Mrs. Yeomans," she said, gaily ; '^ and that I shall never possess, so my friends need not be troubled about me in that direction." If he hardly liked the Saturday evening lecture, I don t know how he endured the day following. With one exception, and that one Joseph Cook, the platform was filled all day with lady speakers. Mrs. Lathrop of Michigan, Mrs. Woodward of Ohio, Frances Willard of everywhere. What a day it was ! Whether Kent Mon- teith approved or not, he was present all day, an atten- tive, even an eager listener. How was it possible for a man of sense to be other than attentive ? For ceitainly if ever women had silver, nay, golden tongues, and lifted their voices grandly for the cause of truth and right, it was on that day at Chautauqua. The different meetings followed each other all day in quick succession, and all day the crowds gathered, each gathering seeming larger if possible than the preceding one. Grand work for the cause was surely done that day. In some directions more was done than many dreamed of. For instance, the inhabitants ©f the Fen ton cottage realized disastrous 890 I7ie Hall in the Grove. .! if consequences. It was Miss Irene again, and tin's time she took for her confidant the pretty Ainiie, thereby so astonishing and embarrassing that young lady on whom she had hitherto looked down from a lofty height, that the fair-faced girl could hardly recover from her flutter enough to listen. " I want to talk fo you," Miss Irene had said ; " because you appear to me less selfish than the rest of the family ; they are all so absorbed in their own put", suits, that it is almost impossible to hold their attention. Don't you think they are intensely selfish?" But Aimie, flushing hotly, declared that she did not think so at all ; and this little episode served to bring back her self-control. She had no fondness for listening to criticism of any sort on these friends of hers. Still Miss Irene insisted that they so impressed her; but magnanimously added that it was not strange, there were so many things going on calculated to absorb the com- mon mind. " I have something of importance to tell you," contin- ued the artist and elocutionist. "I talked with Mrs. Fenton before, but she is a very difficult person to talk with; she has so many ideas of her own, and like all persons set in her mould, is very hard to move. You know what has been interesting — I may say absorbing me for a few days ? Well, I have given it up entirely ! Not that I do not plainly see that I have talent in that direction, of a marked order, but, after tiiinking the whole matter over most carefully, it has become appar- ent to me that it is my duty to hold the masses. You get my meaning ? I explained it carefully to Mrs. Fen- ton, but perhaps she did not make it clear to you, that elocution, like painting, is extremely limited in its reaches ; that comparatively few people are touched by either of these sublime arts, while one's own ideas, Clothed in glowing language and accompanied by appro- priate gestures, will hold an immense audience spell- bouud. We had an illustration of it last Saturday evett m T}i.e Blind Gropings of Geniui." 891 nd tins time e, thereby so itly on whom height, that m her flutter i had said ; n the rest cf eir own puti. ir attention. she did not '^ed to bring for listening hers. Still 3d her; but 5, there were rb the com- ou," contin- l with Mrs. rson to talk ind like all nove. You y absorbing ip entirely ! lent in that linking the 3onie appar- isses. You 3 Mrs. Fen- :o you, that ited in its touched by own ideas, i by appro- ienee spell* irday evea !ng and oil day Sabbath. There are those who speak of Mis. Yeomaiis and Miss Willard and tlie rest as rare geniuses set apart to a special work. I admit that they are rare, but after all, tliey were commonplace — intensely commonplace — by the side of what I feel myself capable of doing. You see I speak plainly. I hold it to be mock modesty that restrains a person from recognizing and admitting her manifest talents. It is only an undue esti- mate of one's self that is^o be deplored. I have quite determined to enter the lecture field. I don't want to appear in the light of a rival to these good ladies who have done what tliey could on this platform, and for that reason, among others, I don't intend to confine m^'self to the subject of temperance. In fact, I think it more in keeping witli my range of talent to take a very wide sphere. I shall not ignore a single one of the topics which have been discussed on this platform. Joseph Cook's last lecture impressed me very favorably, and started a train of thought that I believe I can carry out in a way to startle the world." Little Aimie was certainly a good listener. She sat aa one spell-bound under this avalanclie of words. In truth, she no more knew what to say to this woman than did the pretty red and brown bird who just then stopped at the window and chirped a good-evening to them. At last Miss Irene seemed to observe her silence, whether or rot she did her dismay. " You are overwhelmed with the magnitude of the undertaking," she said kindly. " I do not wonder. It takes a determined soul to grasp these lofty possibilities. My education in painting has been of great advantage to me I ere. I know ray power in that direction, and there- fore I am not afraid to trust it in another, toward which I feel the same mysterious yearnings. I tell you, my dear, when I sat there on Saturday evening, and saw that immense audience listening to that woman, and heard the outbursts of applause, and when I saw the throngs Slather all day Sabbath, no less a crowd to hear thoH* 892 Tha Uall in the Grove. Hi i «1 ( II, . ' women in the afternoon than came to hear tlie piant Cook m the morning, T tingled to my finirers' eM(ls''with conscious power. I find that I crave this i-ecogn'Lion Irom the public ; need it, indeed, to inspire me to greater efforts. I have been living a selfish life hitherto, absorbed in my own paintings, content to reach a very few who were far enough advanced to sympathize with me ; it was just so with sculpture, or rather, it would have been, had I allowed myself to reitain absorbed. In a le-a degree it would have been the same with elocution, only* the comparatively few minds capable of appreciatin"ference, « Shall you' . cull for you in t?meTr th^ t^^llv ^'^^ ^^ '^^^ -« ^o feeling ttt^'tlmtsTa^lfi;'^ ''^^' ^^P^'«^^' ^^ then addedt with fl si i,rg Le " Bvtlle r""?,''^ "^^^"•"^' engagement to walk% I Mr.^Io e IKli T' "^"'^ f " wisiies to consult me, I th nk h! evening.; he wish to talk with me '' ^ expressed a special hada?^cy t'iLS cLn'fi' ^-^^-^^ edly. .j She saw^nothing of Mm duSt'.;" f-"' company." sion; indeed, the VeirdL t Jvl l^''"^'^^^^^^ P^««««- ceedmg, gav'e her ^HtL t^^ ^ itt'S llf^^ P^- friends. There wfl« oi ^ "PP^'"^"""} tor recognizing connected crverrationTf'^P?''.^"^? ^'"^^ ^^^^"'«« f«? hold his compa' ion to* onp f f °"^'^^^^ ^^P^^ted to chatted gaily, poinUnt nnt h. '"«',<'''f™'"'«i lier. She .e.lges oAhe^Jva'Sftoth^Hrmtt: 'f "^ "i ?^' i"g over the beautv of .; fl """""'■''' «='«'»"'"- .Ifp c anotC wthThe^'^'f""'' «''"T"S f^°» »"« HbLdoned hetif "o'e ,!j;;S ""'" °' "'" "'"' ''^ II J , wm i: ill »,( ' ■ » M , ! -^m ' 1 ! i " j J t, ,L :3 404 The JltU in fh' drove. Kent Monteith hr.d never seen her in exuctl}- this mood, and it interested him wonderfully. Hegri>,cioasly uccommodiited himself to it, taking the lead presently in pointing out the exquisite effects of the lights and shadows in such fascitiating language that despite the shade of annoyance with which :,he had commenced the walk, she found herself enjoying every moment of it. As last the great procession began to coil itself arotnid the massive pyramid, built to blaze twenty feet in diame- ter, more than twenty-five feet high, so carefully planned, and so carefully fed with oil that when the torches of six eager boys, detailed for the purpose, were applied, the whole mass burst, as if by magic, into flame. Then burst forth the exclamations of delight, and delighted recognitions began to be exchanged as faces hitherto shrouded in the gloom of night flashed into full prominence, their features shining with the reflection of the flame. Then it was that the [jcople began to realize how large their procession had been as they looked up and down and around the hill. Higher and higher rose the pyramid of flame, the people retreating from its glare in regular order. " Ha I " exclaimed Kent Monteith, his artist eye flashing ; " wouldn't this be a scene for a painter's brush ? I wish I could sketch it.. I wonder if I can carry the picture in my mind and do justice to it ? I would like to make a grand painting of it, and hang it in that Hall of which you are so fond. Do you really like that place better than any other spot in Chautau- qua?" . " I think I do," she said smiling. « I saw the Hall on a wonderful evening. It was the first real view I had had of the beauty all about me, and the spell that was woven then has gone with me all the time. Then I get my special helps there. Little, almost chance words, dropped conversationally by great men, tliat seem, to lift me right up. Ah , I vvould like a picture of the Hall I " "It shall be my pleasure to make you one," he said Abliue, iOB eagerly —so eagerly, that for some reason which she could „ ,t readily define, «he was sorry she had spoken, and relapsed into sudden silence. ^ ' But some one was speaking, mounted on an exten.- pnrized phitform ; so they gave attention. On Caroline's part It WHS undivided attention from that time ou until the immense company broke into song, and made the night vocal with the grand old words : "Sliould aiild acquaintance be forsol, And never brought, to mind? " Altogether it was a scene not only for the eye of an artist who transfers paintings to canva., but for those artial souls who transfer living pictures to the canvas of theii minds, and there they hang, and are feasted over for fw' o JJ"°^"'®' ^* ^^""^^^ ^""^d J'ever forget the first L. L. o. u. camp-fire. " What was all this for ? " It was the first question Kenb-Monteith asked her as they turned to descend the \xt\ ^•'* ^^^^ first jar on the evening's pleasure. 'Why It vvas for — delight," she answered slowly. J^or — I don t know what. It cannot be put into words : >'0" 7 "ot see what it vvas for, I cannot tell you." .' ,, ^ / ^f ^ 't from an artistic standpoint," he said quickly, havnig no desire that even she should possess quicker perceptive faculties tluin himself. . » It was a beautiful sight, certainly. I was only wondering what was probably the mind of the author." •'■ .*.^*"^ '/^ '^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^"'^ '^ poet in disguise," she saio ; and this is a painting and a poem, both of which deserve to be immortal." _ He laughed, not unpleasantly. « You are au enthu- mst, lie said, " and enthusiasm becomes you well." liien immediately was Caroline sorry that she had said anything ot the kind. Directly they had reached the foot of the first hill. Mr Mcnueith struck off abruptly into a side avenue.' We Jiave had enough of procession and torch-light and music and people for one night," he said authoritatively If ii 1 ! ' ?| p f V' ^^ fl • j ^ ' fl i^^^i , ' H~ ^^1 ' ii ^^^^^H lpfllf'-^» 406 T/te Hall in the Grove. \\ I ^^'"*'". 3-our promise now. I told you I had some- tiling ot importance to say .o you." He talked rapidly and well. I suppose you know in substance what he said. He had fully resolved at last on bestowing the greatest honor in his power on Caroline Kaynor. He realized what an honor it was. He did not even forget that he was making some sacrifice in iinuih pride in order to do it. Still, he had reached .ho point wiiere he M'as really glad to make it. He expected to overwhelm her with astonishment. He had so entirely believed in her honesty of manner that he knew die hail not the slightest conception of the truth, therefore ho was prepared for the absolute silence in which his earnest and manly explanation was made. Had Caroline been Jes^a astonished than she was, I think she would have detected the under-tone of condescension. But if she were astonished, what can I call the mi.n at her side when she interrupted him suddenly with an earnest prt)test, the opening sentence of which was : "Mr. Monteith, I beg your pardon. I should not listen to such words." For a full minute after her earrer voice had paused he was still. Could he credit his own Jiearing ? Had she possibly misunderstood him ? Could she actually be plainly and pointedly declining the honor he had bestowed upon lier? You will remember I told you that Kent Monteith had been acci tomed all his life to having his own way ; to securing just what he wanted when he wanted it. I do not think the possibilitv of a lailure in this direction had ever crossed his mind." Is it any wonder that at first he could not credit his senses^ I have no idea of attempting to tell what either of them said. In fact, I am sure that not even Caroline herself could tell you. The feeling uppermost in her mind was dismay. There are those, and by some they are called wise people, who say that no true-hearted girl ever recfiives an ofPer of marriage which she must dechne. That the attentions preceding this conclusion are so strongly marked, that one who wishes can check Ablaze, 407 fi I liad some* you know in >olvehe must conclusion can check them and save an ordeal humiliating to both. Whetlier ornot this is a general rule, certain it is that it has its exceptions. Never was any person more amazed and bewildered than was Caroline Raynor. It is true she had been completely absorbed by other matters; but even if she had not, the fact was, that the gentleman in question had been too uncert.ii as to what his final con- clusion would be, to mark hi:, preference for her very strongly. No sooner, however, did it begin to dawn on his astonished mind that the girl to whose lowly position he had resolved to sacrifice himself, while he raised her to the very summit of human honor — for lie believed firmly in himself, and intended to rise to the highest, and of course take lier with him ; no sooner did he see the possibility of disappointment, than ho became, as was his nature, a hundredfold more deter- mined, and although Caroline's words were plain, earnest, and unmistakable in their meaning, he persisted in arguing with her, in cross-questioning her as to tho strange wherefore, and at last, losing his very small stock of self-control, lie exclaimed irritably : "You may as well admit at the starting-point that your interest is centred on some other person. It; is the only possible way of accounting for such a state of mind." Up to this point Caroline had respected him. In this pomence it was impossible not to recognize the ring of a selfish nature. The voice in which she answered was earnest still, but cold. " You are light, Mr. Monteith. There is another in the way. If there were no other reason for my answering you as I have, the fact that 1 love with all my soul One whom you not only disregard, but of whom you speak carelessly and lightly, would be an insuperable, barrier between us forever." He was so utterly unacquainted with the subject that he actually, in his heat, did not recognize the " shibbo- leth." 1 II II i I i i jl 1^^ i ii I ' ii >'.'■ f'i i j { ,- ' ! [fziii:liii£ tWffI 408 77*« iZa^/ tM the Grove. " Wlmt in the name of nil tlmt is extmorainarv can "pt'ct ? " ^""'■' ''*' ' ^''^"^ ^^>^'> 'Ji'^ro- " The Lord Jesus Christ. The best unrl dearest friend I ever had, or ever expect to have." cientlvTo^'r'' "^''' '^'•''' ^'^«» ''« ^^^^^^••^^^ -^"ffi- cnanpreU, and lie m^j agani the courteous gentleman a tnfle condescending,, it is true, but still notoffen veyso He essayed to explain. He believe.l now that he under-' stood her; that her pointed refusal was because ,7 this H^^i?" ^^";'^^'^l«"i .^'^i^J^ '»'^d entire possession o he He was profuse in his assurances that she was mistake. He did not think lightly of her religion or an^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ re Igion. He respected his father too much for [hat He He bok^ toT. f ^^? T" ' "^ '^" ^""^ « ^^J'^^^n abroad He looked to her to help hun correct all such mars in his he C L • S ^tl'""''^'"';; C-^'li- '^-« reason to remember tne (,. L. b. C. camp-fire. She went home humiliated She went over, in the silence of her own room, as mmv of the details of their brief acquaintance as she coS recal , and tried to discover whether, in her ignomnco of society, and her meagre experience with the^oi si e had done aught that could justify Kent M^nte ii in nsw^er" Tl'""^^^^' ""^ ;^PP-e"tlJ indignant ovh' answer. There was another thing to think of. She had prayed for an opportunity to witness, before him! br ?tu ^l 'T! '^^"^^>^ ^^^^"^^^ ^'^y- Could the words be caiw' ^f ^'^\i^Ve}hd to speak in haste and Lea thJtf VTr^""'T? ^°' '"'"^ Much she feared hat when Kent Monteith thought of them afterward^ they would serve only to anger him. «erwaius, So the eventful day closed in her doing like manv another; tryiner to neer into f},- fnf.,,.^ ' '• whether God could possibly use to his "* hers to honor him that evening. aiiu discover glory any effort of eaiest friend CHAPTER XLI. "PAUL A SERVANT OF GOD.' O one i.iember of the Centreville C. L. S. C. the Chautauqua meeting closed unexpectedly eurly, Paul Adams, who had expected that work on the new cottages would det.iin him some time after his friends were gone, found, a little to his dismay, that work progressed much more rapidly than he had phmned, and that Mr. Tucker was ready to leave on the morniiKT after the camp-fire. That gentleman apologized as ear- nestly as though he Were violating a previous contract. " I meajit to see the thing through," he told Paul, " and I meant you should see it through ; but there's that man Ht home waiting for me — been waiting ten or so odd days, and getting in a hurry. I ought to go. If it wasn't for that stop we've got to make fifty miles or so this side, and there wasn't some work to see to there, that I needed your help in, you should see it out any- l\ow; but the fact is, I've got so kind of used to having you around to do the right thing at the right minute that I ain't no kind of courage to stop and tend to that woik without you." And Paul, his face aglow over this frank acknovvledgment that his employer found him necessary, exp^e-^ed his willingness to be ready for tlie morning boat. Nevertheless he was sad over it. In parting from Chautauqua he was, in a special and more i)eculiar sense than others knew, parting from a friend. Late as the hour was, after the "camp-fires had faded, and a heap of smouldering hes was all that was 409 410 The Hall in the G rove. '■;( J.'{ I > 1 left of the bnrrl.t story, he hovered around them, pl)oto- graphing the strange scene on his memory. Then, alone in the quiet darkness, he came down the hill, follf)wing the lamiliar avenue that led to the Amphitheatre. Let- ting himself in at the little gate, he passed down the loiig platform, and took a seat just behind the desk where ho had seen Joseph Cook sitting but the dav betore. He recalled to mind certain sentences he hall heard. the great orator utter; sentences that, thougl'i Joseph Cook may never know it, will be likely to in- fluence all the boy's future. Imagine Paul Adams understanding and treasurinrr up sentences from Joseph Cook! Well, J do not know that a higher compliment can be paid to his genius than to say that the boy Paul understood at least some of his Avords and treasured them. Some of them ? Why, during the time that this uneducated boy sat in the darkness on that lonely platform, he recalled entire sentences trom Joseph Cook's sermon on temperance! Sentence^ which will surely help to make a keen, clear-headed^, logical, temperance man of liim, from whom the world will yet hear. He recalled entire paragraphs from that wonderful lecture, The Recent Atrocities of Infidelity paragraphs which built an effectual wall about him', high enough so that modern spiritualism, that subtlest and vilest form of infidelity, can never touch him; and he can look down over the wall on the silly crowd below and laugh at their vapid imaginings. Oh, 'yes ! he under- stood enougli of what the giant intellect poured forth to be iorever led upward by it. ^? r\.r\'''^ Sive thoughtful attention to one question ? Whci^ else, save on a Chautauqua platform, would the boy Paul Adams have been likely to have secured an opportunity to come within the sound of Joseph Cooks voice? Nay, more than that. But for the v,liautauqua tmnung, through the aid of one of its local circles, would he ever have cared to listen to such as Joseph Cook ? From the Amphitheatre, he took Ion- 9 *'Paul a Servant of God.' 411 them, i^lioto- Then, alone lill, following heatre. Let- ed down the ind the desk but tlie day snces he luul that, though likely to in- 'reasuring up o not know i genius than b some of his Why, during the darkness re sentences ! Sentences 3I ear-headed, m the world hs from that f Infidelity; about him, hat subtlest ;h him ; and irowd below, s ! he under- >oured forth ion to cue ua platform, :ely to have le sound of it. But for >f one of its sten to such le took loii:» strides to get a farewell view of the Hall in the Grove. Like Caroline, that was, after all, to him the place of places. It was the legitimate home of the Circle to which he belonged, and which he had grown to love with no common love. Its Round Table gatherings had given him a start toward that form of culture which, as a rule, society alone can give ; had put iiim in a way of acquir- ing; had, in short, taught him how to teach himself not onl}-, but had made clear to him the importance of giving heed to his opportunities. Arrived at the white quiet building, he entered it with soft tread, and, under an impulse which he did not in the least understand, uncovered his head. He stepped softly on to the platform, drew the arm-chair, which was Uie seat of honor, forward a trifle, and settled him- self in it. Then he brought up before him in review the many, and varied, and wonderful experiences which the weeks had brought him in connection with that spot. What a memory the boy had ! A special gift from God which he had been in danger of abusing — burying un- used, save for the commonest and lowest needs. How he had increased the power of that memory by his vigorous dashes into books, and his indomitable resolution to con- quer them ! What a long line of honored names he brought up before him one by one, and in imagination heard over again their grand words ! Dr. Patten, Pro- fessor Holmes, Professor Seward, Professor Sherwin, — and a long, long list of men who had influence, and whose faces and words he could then recall, came troop- ing; up before him. Not least among them was, of course, as is the case with every true Chautauquan, Dr. Vincent himself, whose facts and words, and kindly acts, this boy, unknown to him, had enshrined in his heart of hearts, to be remembered forever; to be talked over when they should take a walk together sf^mo day in Heaven I This is actually the way in which Paul put it. He was growing ambitious. He had settled, long ago, that y 1 , --^r-^ 412 The Uall in the Grove. il' 1 • i ,v . ': f' V t ' 4- I J ' \''\' 1 ' ■iky i. some day wlien they had both been a good while in Heaven, he would seek out this friend of his, who vet did not know he had been a friend, and tell him all the wonderful story of what the Chautauqua idea had done for him. Was Paul Adams, then, so sure of living ii, Heaven? Aye, he was I That most momentous of all ques- tions had been settled at Chautauqua. He had earnestly kept the pledge made to Dr. Monteith. He had attendel' many lectures since, and heard from each one of the sDeak- ers, no matter what his theme, some direct and reverent allusion to the Book of books. It had been indeliblv impressed upon his heart that the Bible was the book to study. Only a little afterwards he took the next steu discovering that the Bible was the book to obey It was scarcely a step from this point into the communion ot the Saviour, so clearly shining forth on every pac^e of the book; and Paul had declared allegiance to hini forever. Oh yes I he meant to take walks in Heaven with Dr. Vincent, and many another whom he expected >"ot to know on earth. But my faith has a nearer sight than his; I beheye that some of them will yet be proud to take Pan Adams by the hand ; be proud to hear hini say -- as he will surely say -^♦^ Under God, I .)we what f^'»<^o the working out of the Chautauqua idea." . "Ha lop I" said a familiar voice, as he sat dreamincr in his chair, and Paul gave a sudden start and came to his tcet, to discover that another than himself wa'^ taking a late walk, and his old friend Joe Ward stood before hinr. " Dreaming ? " asked tliat worthy. "No, thinking, ' said Paul laconically " Planning how you will build a great pile on4;his very spot some day which will make the Doctor laugh away down to his boots ? All right ; do it I Build of marble, Paul.^ We'ngo shares.^ VW furnish the gold, and you mrnisa t^e urains ; anu netween us we'll make some of the to-morrowi that Dr. Vincent talks about come to pdSS. **Paul a Servant of God" 412S ood wl)ile in liis, wlio yet 11 liim all the ^leii had done of living in us of all quea- had eari.e.stly had attendei! ! of the apeak' and reverent ;en indelibly i the book to le next step, to obey. Jt ! communion I every paj^e ance to liini Heaven with xpected »;ot ii' sight than be pi-oud to to hear him I owe what idea." fit dreaming md cams to liimself way Ward stocul on^ihis very laugh away :1 of marble, Id, and you ike some of it come to *♦ His to-morrows will come before our time,'' said Paul gravely. " No, they won't ; not all of them. He's the kind of nian who will keep on having \.o-morrows as long as he lives. By the time I get my million ready to spend, he'lj be just in the mood to have a good bit of it spent here. It won't be long to wait either. I'm going to have the funds ready befoi-e I'm gray. You be on hand, my lad, with your plans. I've a notion that you and I have got to work together. You will have the brains, I know ; and we'll do something or other on this spot that will be worth thinking about. Meantime, old fellow, you are going home in the morning, I hear ? Well, I came out to hunt you up. If you feel just exactly like it, and happen to meet father, maybe you will tell him that I've made up my mind to a thing or two since I've been down here. I can't be James, and I can't be you; but I kind of feel as though I wanted father to know that he needn't be sorry any more that I'm Joe." " ril tell him." Pa-il said this most heartily. And then he got down from the Professor's cliair and put his arm through Joe's, aiid after a silent last look at the Mall, he walked home with Joe, they two speaking words together that were better than marble columns or millions of money, for they represented manhood. ^ Counting from the Almanac, Paul Adams had been but nine weeks away from home. Viewed in the light of ali the experiences through which he had passed, and the many tears which his mother had shed for him, the time should have been counted by years. He went over it dl as he shouldered his old-fashioned satchel, after bidding good-by to Mr. Tucker, and walked up the familiar street from the depot. How entirely natural, and yet how utterly unnatural, evervthinn- lonkpd ! Pan von niwl^,.^ stand the two states of feeling possessing iiira at the same time ? The Paul Adams who looked about him on the familiar streets and homes was very difierent from 414 TJie Ball in the Orove. i -i H the Paul Adams who hiicl walked down that same otreet on his vyay to the train one June morning. h...T tI ^""y^^'^'^ ^^'^"1^1 ever be to him af it hud SPn p'n J tI"""^ ""^"^ ^^'"^ ""'^^'"^ ^'^« "^««n»^^ ^f that sentence. There are many to whom it applied Well for them if hke Paul Adams, they can smile joyfullv when they think of it. He was so glad to have all I M.gs differen ! His ,^,other had been looking out a, absence. The boy had many lessons to learn: One of them was that yvhen away from home he ought to write to his rnother. Beyond the first sorawl, that told of hi' safe arrival - and even that was suggested by Mr» Tucker - she had received no word. It had not occurred to heJ son that he ought to write. Oh, the trials of those nine weeks o his mo her separated from her one treasure for the first time in her life ! When Paul is older and wiser he will look back on those bright weeks with one or- Wul_ memory: through ignorance, he neglected his The widow Adams had been true to lev nature and borrowed all the trouble that her fertile inn gatton could concoct out of the scanty crumbs of knowledge which she possessed. Chautauqua might have been u lair lor wild beasts, or a settlement of Indians, for all that she ^ v7liV l'r'*'''Y- 9"^^^ ^I^i« bright f\ict she hud, to give her what comfort it could : she had herself g;ne to the depot to see the delegation from the Centreville C. L. b. C. start for its distant centre. She knew that that centre was Chautauqua. Someway, it made lier seem u htt e nearer to her boy to be anumg the eage crowd at the depot and hear mentioned again and ugdr the place to which he had gone. Then, too, Mrs. Fenton hud shaken hands with her and told her they would find Paul and take good care of him, and she had sent u clean pair of stockings and a handkerchief by the same carefnl huiu^s Dr. Monteith also had told ner they should see Paul the next evening, and gVe him news of his mother •* Paul a Servant of God:' 415 liat same ucreet him a? it had eanin^ jf that appliet Well smila joyfullv i to have all ooking out fox y clays of hiA learn. One of ought to write lat told of hi& by Mr, Tucker ccurred to her of those nine le treasure for Ider and wiser with one sor- neglected his ^r nature and ! imagination uf knowledge .ve been a lair :>r all tliat she it she had, to herself gone e Centreville le knew that it made her iJg the eager tin and again Mrs. Fenton y would find sent a clean same careful y should see f his mother, Tn 1t^wh^;.h I'^'^i.^f ""^^ ^""^ ^'"^"^^' ^"^ left a paper P«nk nl ^n^^ ^''' ^'^^ *° ^° errands for her in bn?f"l,p^'! ^^Y^: rf • ^^^"^^ ^'^^ &°"« l^o«^6 comforted ; bu tl e comfort did not last. She lay awake of nights nd planned her disasters by lake and by land, and wept ooVp 1 Tl ^''"'''1 "'^^ P'^'^^^ ^''^ sorrowful prkyers, aifd ooked older and more worn than Paul had ever .een her look when at last he opened the door of the disn:'al little kitchen and walked in. Despite her watching, he came unexpectedly -as people generally do. It wafwhile s e tTiat shTh"! ^T}^'^ T'' '" *"^^ «"^ ^ jolniny-cake and k^slJ t 1^ '"' ^''' '"PP"' ^"^^^ ^« bent over her a^)d kissed her. She gave a startled little scream. She was not used to having kisses. I don't know why e road I ri; ."li'^^'Wr '^''' ^^""^ °^ '^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^the Ziri }^^ watched a grand-looking young man bid aZ ;i '""-Ttl^^' T^''''^y ^"« old mothef, and had w rid Z'^^^^^T\ ^^'^ '''''^'' ^^'' ^^iel^ ^e left on the withered cheek. I do not mean that the boy Paul was the first time in his life that had impressed him as an eminen ly fitting thing to do; had made him thi,?k of C mother s wrinkled cheek, and have, then and there a strong desire to feel it pressed against his lips. ' Uh Paul ! she said ; and then she set her johnny. tZ].7u\'''^'A'^''T- Had he grown tall? Cer- tainly he had, and sun-burned, and his hair was longer ; KnL. f i^^'^^^^f ^h^ "^^'"^^« ^^^^ «l^e ^"eant. She weie^^P '^'T^^ /^r ^''"^ '^ ^'^'- Hl« clothes knit t ^?/ 'pf 'r^ P^^^^l^^^ tl^em carefully; she knew them well. The hat was the same ; the boots were the very ones that he had taken to be mended but the through her—some nameless, distinctly marked chai *bout her boy. The feeling lasted while they were at 416 Tlie Hall in the Grove. ■i i Mm i 1 .' the tea-table, and they lingered over that meal as they two had never done before : and the boy praised the joinuiy- cake and the roasted potato, and said lie was glad to jjet home to her cooking again ; and the mother almost laughed outright and was secretly glad that she had been so busy with her work that day as to get herself no dinner therefore this royal tea. He talked with her leely, as he had never done before. Told her about that wonderful mysterious Chautauqua. Gave her bits o the life there ; glimpses of the lake, and the bells, UK the fireworks, and the music, which sounded exactly to her Irke the one fairy story she had read in her girl, hood. Then she had her bit of news to tell. She thought about It curiously afterwards. How diflferentlv slie told It from what she had intended. "Paul," she had meant to say, "don't you think l.T' w"^^^''"^ ''^' happened to us? Tester^ da.> Mr. Ward came to see me, and he said his boys were coming home in a few days, and he wanted things pleasant for them, and he hire-i me to go and live there and be housekeeper. He saj s you can have the little room next to the boys, and I can fix it up for you, and he gives me good pay. Isn't that news ? " She had never once thought of consulting him, though hors was a timid clinging nature that would have befn gl Id to consult, had Paul ever given her a chance. She did not tell him in that way. Looking up at him with that curious, bewildered look, slie said, instead: "I have got something to tell you." Then she re- peated Mr. Ward', offer', saying nothing about the little loan, tha was to be fixed up for him, and ended with, What do you think about it, Paul ? Hadn't I betted Then did Paul take to stirring his weak tea thought- fully with the pitiful little silver teaspoon - sole relic of his grandmother Adams' hnttflr rli,v^_o,wi ^;„- i..-_- selt up to grave thought. This was a revelation not in keeping with his plans. He had had grand day-dreams leal as they two seel the jolinuy- vas ghid to get mother almost that she liad to get herself Iked with her old her about Gave her bits and the bells, unded exactly id in her girl- to tell. She Dw differently I't you think us ? Tester- said his boys vauted things nd live there ave the little for you, and ', him, though id have been chance. She » at him with ead : Then she re- out the little ended with, idn't I better tea thought- - sole relic of A r*l 1 •_ '-I J^XVC iUlII* latiou not in I day-dreams **Pa%Ll a Servant of God** 417 at Chautauqua. If he did not write to his mother it was not because he did not think much about her I plf rnd'n^' '""^'i^ .^^"^^ ^''^'"^ transformed by paint and paper and white curtains and new furniture into a place of beauty. Even the transformed Schen Te^minf /"^' i^^ ^«"^- «« k"«^ that and altL.h K iffl .1?^*' '"^^'^ ^''^^^^^ f^tu'-e, delightinrr his bSild Toih""* '"f .u°^ ^T' *^^* he would%ne'='day K 1^ u h®'' and the adornings that her own room L'melarWtt^ ""'M^'f '^r^'' "^^^^ sweetlneSZ somewhat bitter one that a door, not of his opening was PerZ?,-^' V^'V^' ""^y *« « J««« toSsomf'lTf^ I'erhaps it would be better in the end. He could save more and work the harder, and bring the beauS "';fS??/,?f«^"" into nearer view. ^ ^''*'^'^ well, he said at last, his mother waiting with an ^^.l'*^ V'^h' ^^""y h«^« a °»««t convenienThouse «nl*^/^ t ^^"' '^ ^"'^h '^'' «"d sevens nowdays^I'm Ih^^hl -/^T' 7^," could -board there, you know^ She hesitated a little over what word to use. A cw- tt"t had Z^T- *t ^r' ^^i°g into the new light lav no^hinar V,- V' ^il^^ome eyes, that che must jay nothing to him about the room that Mr. Ward had Baid could be fixed un for him. She had supported hhn all his life but not with that look in his eyes^^ "But then, if you don't like it," she added eajrerlv " why we won't say another word about it. Let h?m find Inu^r^f^'^^'^^T \" "^^,- If y«^ would rather mother Iw ii ^' '""u^' ^''"^f"' ^ ^h^" ^i^« it a« well as ever! now tnat von havp o-nf Vi/>«,-> »» «« c»ci. "I guess I do like it," he said, after another thought- ful silence. "At first it went right across my plan to take care of you ; but I can't give you, just now, aU you I 418 The Hall in the Grove Slf ' ""^,^^'« ^^11 help out until I get squarely on my feet, and be an easier life for you. I mean you shaU have everything you want, mother." ^ ^*" " Bless your heart I " she said, catching up the corner of ber apron to brush away the tear. " I've got you Sn • and that is every blessed thing I want." ^ ^ ^ ' He rose up from the table — they had sat late, and his clocrinX^ ^'^ ""''V'"'' r''^^'"^ at th; dcking hn^vJl *^1.^«^"«^' and saw that it almost marked th? h« L^ }u^ always-tired mother went to her bed, and he had another thing to tell her. He busied himself steadily about the kin.dlings, and the fresh pafl of w^ter! though she protested that she could do it all as well as Jiot J then he came over to her, as she sat down by the little stand-table for a minute. ^ *' Your bed is all ready," she said. « I kept it ready, because I was hoping every night that you would come." Her old worn Bible lay on the table, and he knew that slie would struggle through a few verses after he was gone, and then that she would kneel down and pray for him. He reached for the Bible, and without a word turned the leaves and began to read : Paul a servant of J^'fu 'S*!^^, "^''*^^* of Je%u% Christ, according to the Jam of Qods elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which ts after godliness: In hope of eternal life, which U^od, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. These two verses Dr. Monteith had shown him one day. smilingly calling them "Paul's confession of faith" bmce which time the boy had studied them, until they had seemed to become a part of himself, and were adopted as his own confession. " Mother," he said gently to the poor bewildered little widow, « that means me. I am a servant of God, and I shall surely have the eternal life ; for God who cannot he has promised it to me. Mother,' let us pray." A moment more and mnt.lipr on/l on« nr^.^ «„ *u-.:_ knees, and the family altar was set up in the widow Adams kitchen. "Patti a Servant of &od." 419 arely on my n you shall he corner of iyou agaiji; ate, and his the ticking marked the er bed, and ied himself il of water, as well as own by the ot it ready, uld come." knew that ier he was d pray for ut a word servant of ling to the f the truth Ufe^ which rid began. n one day, of faith." until they re adopted lered little jrod, and I ho cannot Oh Chautauqua, justly proud of your grand Amphi- theatre, with its wonderful platform, of your Children's Temple, where the truths of the platform are put into use for His little ones, of your Hall in the Grove, named for the great apostle himself — a Hall which is the centre of the Literarj' and Scientific Circle which will yet encircle the world — you may well be glad that you are also a Christian circle, a Christian centre I You have reason to be thrice glad that the circle of your Christian influence reached far enough to take in the boy Paul Adams. For not only shall he, in the future, make a name of which Chautauqua will be proud, but his prayers, and plans, and labors, will ever reach out toward the centre that reached him. And rich indeed is that Literary Association which is circled by such prayers as the widow Adams shall offer henceforth for all who helped in any way to give to her her praying 80O. he widow ..^. /. ,'i ! I .' f it."- ' ! CHAPTER XLII. THB "yesterdays" AND THE " TO-MOEBOW8.** "I HE last day at Chautauqua I The evening on which our party reached those enchanted grounds one of their number had exclaimed: Only think of a six weeks' vacal "on 1 We shall have time for everything." The feeling with which some of them looked at that last day was, that somehow they had been defiauded of their time. They had mei it to do this, and that, and the other thing ; to go here and there, and lo ! one morning the talk was all of tickets and time-tables, routes and baggage. The holiday was gone. Yet they filled that last day full to overflowing. *' I'm going to every single meeting there is to-day I " was Robert Fenton's ambitious declaration at the break- fast-table ; and some of the others, though less out- spoken, seemed to be doing their best to vie with this undertaking. At the eight o'clock lecture, Dr. More- head filled the Hall to overflowing, and was the innocent means of sending away many grumblers who declared that they did not see why such a lecture as that could not liave been delivered in the Amphitheatre, so that all the people could have heard. The Normal re-union pro- gramme called out every member of the classes, and a great many who were not metnbers. " Of course oeoole will cttme to that I " oronhesied that wise young head, Robert. "Professor Holmes is going to read us a story, and f'^lks who wouldn't loam a 4*0 The " Yeiterdaya " and the » To-morrowt:' 421 n iBows; evening on enchanted claimed : 3 shall have ted at that defiauded id that, and id lo ! one kbles, routes ; they filled .8 to-day I " i the break- 1 less out- e with this Dr. More- le innocent 10 declared that could , so that all -union pre- sses, and a prophesied Holmes is In't Irarn a Normal lesson to save their precious frizzes, will come out to hear a story." Good for Chautauqua that she had a story to which the frizzes could be induced to give attention ; which waa yet 80 full of earnest thought and careful suggestion and delightful future possibilities, that the author there- of became, through that medium also, one of the edu- cators at Chautauqua. Don|t you hope, dear Chautau* quans, that he may some day be induced to put that story about My Pupil and I into print, for the re- freshment of those who heard, and the benefit of the many who were not there to hear?" One of the special features of the day was the proces- sion ; when the different organizations which have their centre at Chautauqua formed unbroken line, and took together a farewell walk through their beloved grove. Of course, during this trip it was the most natural thi.ig in the world for tnose who loved to walk together to be found in each other's company. You may, if you choose, explain in this way the fact that the pretty Aimie in her whitest dress and bluest ribbons walked beside Jamea Ward. "How pretty it must all look to those standing outside and looking on," said Aimie as the leaders rounded a curve in the avenue. *' Who are all those men just behind the band ? Oh, I know, the trustees of the grounds I Isn't the musjc sweet? I think that is a splendid band. Oh, how many children I I didn't sup- pose the Look Up Legion was so large. How many grand things they do here for children, don't they? There go the Normal graduates ! I wish I could see all our C. L. S. C. people, so I could get an idea of how many there are of us. I wish I could be in the proces- sion and at some point outside looking on at the same time." And she twisted her neck to get a view of the lengthening column, but it stretched away beyond her vision. What a\lovely walk it was I Past the Temple, the 422 Th^° ^^"S^« «" «^er inside to think that he ever heard of it. Isn't he a queer boy ? " " He 18 a genius," said James Ward. "We shall hear from him yet. nilnf^"""^ 'y^^""^- ^'°*f • ."^"^ ^« had to come to Chautauqua to find it out 1 Isn't that strange ^ " But James Ward answered with u meaning smile that thfLi' A ^""T- ^"^ ^t?"^?q"a t« find out a great many things. And Aimie, blushing rauch and smilii-r back was suddenly silenced. ^ ' There had been several concerts held in the gieat Amphitheatre, but, by common' consent, that last one, led jointly by the two leading professors. Case and Seward was pronounced the very finest of all. I think the beau' titul shower that came pouring down so copiously on the thirsty earth — which the great audience securelv sheltered looked out and enjoyed— but added to the pleasure of the hour. " It was all beautiful," said Mrs. Fenton, as they picked their homeward steps carefully over th« gnarkUn^ crass; -out oh, to think that it is the very last' 1 that they had the heart to close with the ffalle- wond ■y down the the Amplii- derly, somo )oked at the hut season. 1 1 What a 1 that floor, the Round those poor hat do they imes Ward ill, and the feet." rove ? He If :^ ' Paul's 3r inside to ser boy ? " shall hear to come to smile that jreut many ling back, the great «t one, led d Seward, the beau' )iou8ly on 3 securely ed to the , as they BnarlrlJjirt ' last! I he Salle' " The Festerdaya " and the » To-morrowa.'* 423 lujah Chorus, and there were tears shining in her eyes. Nobody answered her for a little; the spell of the swift- coming parting overshadowed them all. But at last young Robert remarked that he supposed they ought to sing hallelujaii because there was such a place as Chau- tauqua, and they had all been in it all summer." " Aye," said Mr. Masters, "and mean to be in it next summer." Household matters received very little attention in the short space between the afternoon and evening meetings. Caroline set the bread-pan away with a remark half way between a smile and a sigh, to the eflfect that it made very little difference what became of that dish, nobody would ever want any more bread. " Not mixed in that pan," said Mrs. Fenton, resolved on being cheerful. " When we get into our own house next year we must have one of the granite tins; they ire ever so much bpttf r." Very early .. the evening the tide set toward the Amphitheatre, where the farewell service was to be held. It had been supposed that great numbers had already left the grounds; but if this were true, they must either have returned or sent their friends, for all standing, as well as sitting space was occupied. There were many speakers at that farewell meeting. Promi- nent among them, Professor Seward, the apostle of the new system of music that began that season at Chau- tauqua its triumphal ma^ch towards the revolutionizing of the art. *' It is really a singular providence, ' said the pro- fessor, " that the first formal effort for the introduction of this system into this country should be here at Chautauqua, where the inspiring thought has been from the beginning to adopt great and good things for the masses." " That is a concise and truthful way of putting it," said Mr. Masters, speaking ia undertone to Caroline. " It describes both the Chautauqua idea, and the Tonic 424 The nail in the Grove. I U\ i.ii Sol Fa system of music. I think that is destined to become universal." And Caroline replied, that for the sake of suffering thousands who had been proved incapable of understand- ing the bewildering contradictions of the other system, she earnestly hoped it would. These two did a good , deal of under-tone talking between the exercises. Con- stantly there seemed to occur to one or the other of them a something left unsaid that ought to be put in betore the next morning's parting. " What has become of Kent Monteith?" Mr. Masters asked during a musical interlude. " Robert Fenton says he went to Boston yesterday morning by the early boat." "Did he, indeed 1 I wonder what hastened his plans ? He told me last week that he expected to remain in this region for some time." "Robert and he had a conversation a day or two ago. during which Robert spoke very plainly as to his change ot views, and the misstatements that he believes IVIr. Monteith to have made to him; and he— -Robert— thinks the gentleman was annoyed. He judged so by his man- ner. Mr. Monteith told him he was disgusted with the fanaticism of Chautauqua, and would be glad to cet away." ° *» During this explanation Caroline kept her head drooped and her eyes on the copy of the Chautauqua taroh that she held in her lap, so, though he looked steadily at her, Mr. Masters failed to get a glimpse of ner eyes. o *- "I wonder if he has been annoyed by other conversa- tions held at Chautauqua ? " She had no answer for this, unless a deepening flush could be called answer, and only smiled very slightly in reply to the laugh which he could not quite control. When Mr. Londin. f.llA vt^unmnaA ko«.,« ->* 4.V._ T..1-!1--^ , -Tn.^^vi Kraa::<\j yjL tile U UUllUHS, came forward to address the audience, these two some- what preoccupied ones gave close attention. There was iestiDed to )f suffering inderstand- ler system, iid a goocl ises. Con- le other of be put in [r. Masters yesterday his plans? lain in this »r two ago, his change lieves Mr. rt — thinks y his man- 1 with the ad to get her head hautauqua he looked jlimpse of conversa- aing flush slightly in ntrol. > T..U!1 : o uuiiuuSf iwo some- rhere was The " Yeiterdayi " and the " To-morrowa:' 425 jomething wonderful in the thought of the dusky-hued brother coming as an equal among the honored workers, and making his farewell offering. One sentence in his address made Caroline's eyes flash in special, answering sympathy : ^ " As I looked c -, upon this sea of faces to-n-lght, this Ihought occurred t xie : ' What will it be when we shall be permitted to look upon that great multitude that no man can number, with palms in their hands, crying, " Blessing and honor and glory and power to Him who hath redeemed ua and washed w in his blood.'' ' " "It is what these immense enthusiastic gatherings always bring to my mind," she said earnestly. The coming of Lewis Miller, the President of the Association, was the signal for a round of applause. The people always applauded when they saw their President.' Not that thtoy heard often from him, or, indeed, were very familiar with his face in public places, but those well acquainted with the Chautauqua idea knew well that the brains, and the energy, and the purse of Lewis Miller backed all its enterprises. The peculiar, white-winged salute which belongs only to Chautauqua, was given him on this evening with unusual energy. Mr. Miller is a quick-sighted man, and a man of warm impulses. He knew, by his own feeling, how very near the surface lay the tears of that.audience ou that evening. He is a man of judgment. He knew just how unfortunate it would be to let the closing meeting lose its control and become a scene of tearful memory. So, to the beautiful, silent salute he replied by first feeling in a pocket or two, and then saying lightly: "It so happens that I have no handkerchief with which to return your salute," and the laughter which always lies so near to tears, rippled forth. Of course the farewell address was by Dr. Vincent. . His closing sentences were so full of the plans and purposes that go far toward making Chautauqua what it is, that I copy them entire for us all to remember: 426 The Hall in the Qrove, "We live one life, we have one law: the law of love. Bitterness has no place in the ideal life. Gentleness, patience, long-suffering, the large, wide outlook from another s standpoint ; the charity that hopeth all things and beareth all things; the charity that is kind— thij IS the gift we covet ; and if we should come, sometime in the future years, to spelling our great word Chautau- qua over again, and should spell it ah-a-r-i-t-y, we shall have accomplished great things by Chautauqua; even a thing that shall live forever. May God bestow upon us this blessed spirit, that as representatives of all parts of the land, and all denominations of Christians, and all nations of earth, we may come nearer to Him who is the one centre, and reflect His glory and His beauty, until beii.g transformed into His image we shall be prepared tor eternal fellowship with Him I " I do not reiiiember having told you how Chautauquans siiig the Gloria. Ah, you should have heard it as the great congregation sang that night I aioru he to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; as it was mthe beginning, is now, and ever shall he, world without end. Amen. Some voices faltered as the thought would intrude that the aisles of the Amphitheatre and the hills about Chautauqua would resound with the swelling notes no more, but would be left to winter's pall of snow and silence. Still hundreds and hundreds of voices ro^e above the dreary thought and rolled forth the story: As it was m the hegmning, u now, and ever shall he, world without end. Amen. Even then there were determined spirits who would not let the sense of parting remain uppermost. Some- body, gifted just then with an inspiration, called for the Chautauqua salute for Dr. Vincent ; and surely all the white handkerchiefs in the world responded at that moment I " Let us put it into words I *' shouted a voice. Ihe seventh Sunday-school Assembly was over; yet the people refused to credit it ; refused to leave the Amphi- 2%« " Yesterdays " and the " To-morrows." 427 law of love. Gentleness, utlook from th all things, kind — this le, sometime »rd Chautau- t-y, we shall qua ; even a tow upon us all parts of ans, and all a who is the eauty, until be prepared autauquans ird it as the 'y be to the ■ ; as it was >rld without ught would nd the hills elling notes f snow and rhl " One cannot help wishing that the warriors could come back, and here, in their old camp-ground, get a touch of the new life that flows in its veins ; the old name spelled over again. Not Chautauqua, but Charity, which is love. Love supreme to the Great Spirit, love universal to mankind. « Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself: Don't you wish, by the light of our modern camp-fire, the dark-faced ones 3ould gather, and learn to spell that word ? '' " Chautauqua must reach out after their descendants, and help them to spell it," he said, in a low, moved tone. And then, « But, Caroline, it is possible that even amon^ the 'yesterdays' some of them groped through the primeval darkness of their woods and learned tie Btory. Listen I III de dark wood, no Indian nigh, Den me look heaben, and send up cry Upon my knees so low, Dat God on high, in shinee place, See me in night, wid teary face, De spirit tell me so. God send he angels, take me care; He comes Jieself, he hear my prayer If inside heart do pray. God see me now, he know me here: He say: ' Poor Indian, neber fear I Me wid you, night and day.' So me lub God wid inside heart, He fight for me, he take ray part, He save my life, before. Ood lub poor Indian in de wood, So me lub God, and dat be good! Me'll praise him two times moMl When me be old, me head be gray. Den he no lebe me ?.n i>^ ~~~. 'Me wid you till you die I' Den take me up to shinee place — See white man, red man, black man's two%. AH happy like, on high. The " Yesterdays " and the « To-morrows." 431 could come t a touch of lame spelled r, which is re universal '}od with all I thy mind ; srish, by the oues oould lescendants, low, moved le that even ed through learned t^e Pew days, den God will come to me. He knock off cliains, he set ine free, Den take nie up on high. Den Indian sing his praises blest, And lub and praise lilm wid the rest, And neber, neber die." He repeated the words with matchless tendernew, and the tears, which had been ready to fall all the evening, came unchecked from Caroline's eyes "It is beautiful," she said with broken voice : " Oh I wish so much that all the dark-skinued men of the woods could have felt the Lord lookingdownonthem!" "Ah I now, he said, "you have let tears come ; and the parting from the Hall in the Grove should be in smiles, because of its prophetic glory. Come, let me tell you a v;tory of to-morrow : Lift up, lift up, thy voice with singing, Dear land, with strength, lift up thy voice: Ihe kingdoms of the earth are oiingln"', Their treasures to thy gates, rejoice 1 Arise and shine in youth immortal, , Thy light is come, thy King appears. Beyond the centuries' swinging portal, lireaks a new dawn, the thousand year*. " Caroline, if ever pei-soiis had cause to rejoice over the to-morrows, whatever they may bring to us, it is you and I. For we have learned to look forward to the youth immortal,' where we fully expect to arise and shine, and the Lord has given us, through the agency of this very Chautauqua, and this very Grove, and this very Hall, the blessed privilege of walking through all the to-morrows of our earthly future together." _ Said Caroline : " Bless the Lord, O my soul." Then in the quiet of the hushed woods, as with one mind, their voices blended : " Glory be to the Father, and to __.. -....., „,,.^ ^ ^,^^ iiy^^ vriiubc; as it was in liie begin- ning, I! now, and ever shall be, worid without end Amen.*' ,;■■' Authorized Editions. HE IKANSY MOOKS. There are substantial reasons for the grreat popularity of the Panbt Books, and the foremoRt among these is their truth to nature and to life The genuineness of the types of character which they portray is indeed lemarkable; their heroes bring us face to face with every phase of home life, and present graphic and inspiring pictures of the actual struggles through which victorious souls must go. Best and Cheapest Editions from Original Plates. PRICE, CLOTH. 5Q CENTS EACH. FOUR GIRLS AT CHAUTAUQUA. CHAUTAUQUA «IRLS AT HOME. RUTH ERSKINE'S CROSSES. NEW GRAFT IN THE FAMILY TREE. MRS. SOL. SMITH LOOKING ON. ONE COMMONPLACE DAY. FROM DIFFERENT STANDPOINTS. THE HALL IN THE GROVE. THE MAN OF THE HOUSE. Others to follow of this Cheap Edition, cc A NEW BOOK BY "PANSY." ENTITLED (A Chintiuqu* Stoty.) Canadian Copyright Siltloa. Dedicated to the Class of '87. " Price, $1.00. WILLIAM BRIGGS, 78 & 80 KING ST. E., TORONTO. C. w. COATEs, Montreal, Que. S. F. HUESTIS, Halifax, N.S. ^OOKS. pularity of the Panat h to nature and to life, they portray Is Indeed b every phase of home >f the actual struggles iginal Plates. EACH. HONE. KINE'S CROSSES. :iNtt ON. MONPLACE DAY. VE. OF THE HOUSE. •Hon. riTLED Cdltloa. ICE, $1.00. E., TORONTO. IS, Uallf&z, N£.