Pittston Gazette

              ( D 1 m - Itabllahed 1850. (, TOL. L Mo. 31 ) Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Vallev PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1900. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. jtl.OOsTwr 1 In AdruM. not proressionai roDbers, but young men about town who bad been drinking late and were evidently out on a lark and were holding him up just for fun. besides that, It Is necessary that ue re- warm. People were clearing off the walks. and the ringing of sleigh bells was distinct In the office, even over the Incessant hnm of the big engine. Idle! Woe unto you who speculate In flesh and blood and call no man brother unless he lives in as fine a house and has as much money in the bank] Therefore ye shall receive the greater condemnation!' word. He raised hit bead, saying: "I do not believe Clara Is going ttf die wben I do." "Why, father, what makes yon thlntt that?" cried Alice. "I don't know. I can't give any ex* act reason. I only know that I don'# i & op* Tuts. Wed. Thura. Fri. /: I 1 2 3 4 5  1 JL ROBERT HARDY inr .SEVEN DAT5 5 H i LI A DREAM AST) ITS CONSBQ • mmmm • • mmam • BY REV. CHARLES M. SHELL ; author "in £H« 8UV-" "The Crucifixion uf Philip Strong," ........ [Copyright, 1800, by AdTftDM PnbllBhlnf ! m ! A\orD* Tu—. Wed. Tburm. PrI. 1::| 1 2 3 4 5 i ttmmtnmfflnmffmttnffly turn with me. This is a case for the crowd gathering.' They had some difficulty In gaining entrance. Mr. Hardy at once passed up to the platform, where the chairman of the meeting greeted him and said he would expect him to make some remarks during the evening. Into liquid tire and smote nis Judgment and reason with a brand from out the burning pit Sat. SuiD law of God. This belongs to a higher The officer hesitated; Mr. Hardy stepped nearer his son. court." "If I had stumbled upon the three corpses of my own children night before last, I could have exclaimed in Justice before the face of God, 'I have murdered my own children,' for I was one of the men of Barton to vote for the license which made possible the drunkenness of the man in whose care were placed hundreds of lives. Mr. Hardy guessed exactly right What could he do? Two of the young men were known to him, the sons of the Bramleys, who were well to do people In Barton. Mr. Hardy's next Impulse was to discover himself to them and beg then to quit such dangerous fooling and go home. The three other young men were in shadow, and he could not tell them. All this passed through his thought with a flash. But before he had time to do anything a police officer sprang out of a doorway near by, and the group of young men, dropping their hold of Mr. Hardy, fled in different directions. Toward 3 o'clock one of Mr. Hardy's old friends, an officer of the road, came tn nnd said there was a general movement on foot throueh Barton to hold a "George," be said as If forgetting for a moment that the officer was present. "O self, god of the earth yet! With 2,000 years of the Son of God written into its history, still goes up the cry of those who perish with hunger, who break into the sanctuary of their souls because they cannot get work to do and are weary of the struggle of existence. Self, thou art king, not Jesus Christ But, oh, for the shame of It, the shame of it! Were It not for the belief In the mighty forgiveness of sins 1 would stand here tonight with no hope of ever seeing the paradise of God. But, resting in that hope, I wish to say to you who have beheld the example of my selfish life I repudiate't all. In the world I have passed as a moral citizen and a good business man; In society there has been no objection to my presence on account of my wealth and position; In the chureb I have been tolerated because I gave It financial support, but In the sight of that perfect and crucified Lamb of God I have broken the two greatest laws which he ever announced. 1 have been a sinner of the deepest dye; 1 have been everything except a disciple of Jesus Christ. I have prayed for mercy. I believe my prayer has been answered. 1 uarcm  Robert sat down at one end of the platform and watched the hall fill with people, nearly all well known to him. There was an unusually large crowd of boys and young men, besides a large gathering of his own men from the shops, together with a great number of citizens and business men, a representative audience for the place, brought together under the Influence of the disaster and feeling somewhat the breakiflg down of artificial social distinctions in the presence of the grim leveler Death, who had come so near to them the last few days. believe It will happen." "God grant that she may be aparedF "did you know that Clara and Bess night?" and Will were In the accident last to us!" said Mrs. Hardy. "Oh, Bob* ert. It is more than 1 can bear! Only' today and tomorrow left I It can't M reaL I have battled against yon* dream all the week. It was a dreauf only. I will net believe it to be any* thing else. You are not 11L There it no indication that you are going to die* I will not, I cannot, believe ltt Gkxf is too good. And we need you now* Robert. Let us pray God for mercy." Robert shook his head sadly, but firmly. "No, Mary; I cannot resist aa lm- George turned pale and tremblingly replied: "No, father. Were they hurt? "For what is the history of this case? Who was this wretched track Inspector? A man who, to my own knowledge, trembled before temptation; who, on the testimony of the foreman at the shops, was and always had been a sober man up to the time when we as a municipality voted to replace the system of no license with the saloon for the sake of what we thought was a necessary revenue. This man had no great temptation to drink while the saloon was out of the way. Its very absence was his salvation. But Its public open return confronted his appetite once more, and he yielded and fell. Was Bess"— The boy seemed moved as his father had not yet seen him. "No; they were not—that Is, Bess was not hurt at alL But Will was se- •ON, "Malcom Kirk," JWe. verely bruised, and Clara still lies in a state of stupor or unconsciousness. Co.] be. 1 was on my way Just now to get and we do not know what the end will The officer made pursuit and after a short run captured on? of the young men, whom, after vigorous resistance, he dragged back to where Mr. Hardy stood, exclaiming: some needed articles from the doctor's Sat. Sui* bouse. You must come back with me. There were the usual opening exercises common to such public gatherings. Several well known business men and two or three of the ministers, tncludlng Mr. Jones, made appropriate addresses. The attention of the great andlence was not labored for, the occasion itself being enough to throw over the people the spell of subdued quiet. pression ao strong that 1 cannot C anything but a conviction of n that somehow, in some way, I sh called away from you Sunday nif have struggled against it, bnt it i upon me even more firmly. G merciful. I do not question his ness. How much did 1 desert* this week of preparation after ' I have lived? And tbo time ' be long before we shall all me God grant that It may be an t company!" Mr. Hardy spoke as any C condition could. The cbllC about him lovingly. Bess c his lap. She laid her face father's face, and the stro bed as be thought of all neglected affection in tb cle. The rest of the ever in talking over the prob George, who seemed t bled now, listened r even tearfully to his concerning the dire* and family matters. The boy was The law has no hold on you." "Maybe the law hasn't any hold on him, but Michael Flnnerty has. I don't "Here's one of the rascals, sir. I heard "em when they held you up. We're been looking for this gang some time now. Just Identify this one If he Is the one that Just now grabbed you, *r." Inst like the Idea, mister man, of let- I Lord, keep me from living m selfish and ueelen CHAPTER VIII I and proud a life u Robert Hardy once lived I" Robert finished moat of the work, fC* u thlJf^tlL. tolling as never In all hi* life before. u i^TrTt and started for home at 6- On the way j that u, who i» afflicted at this present ha made Inquiries concerning George, time may find peace in him who bore the world'* b« DOtad? tad MO bl» dta. «ta in: W evening before. When he reached the ChonM as it la, i am suffering, home, be found that his Wife, Utterly but It Is not the suffering which follows an worn out, had lain down for a little eclipse of hope. I believe In tbe eternal life and *»■D.udinc.wu..ills'orth.». j^serjasasa;isr.? dents With a calm courage and quiet Jt neceaMj7 under the circumstances. 1 ask Cheerfulness that revealed the girl's yo»r prayers for me as your petitions go up for Strong, self reliant character. Clara's , the afflicted and repentant everywhere. I am, condition had not changed. She still your brother m Christ, Row.* Hawt. Uy as If sleeping. Alice reported that | The impression n»8de by the reading once In the afternoon she had moved of tbl® l®"er w®*, pro "n(^h17 n her Ups and distinctly caUed f«r water. ne88 that followed was deaUiUJkev Then Mr. Hardy and Bess sat down to the «• of the oldest men in tbe room rose ,upper table by themselves, and Bess In a prayer of great pqwer pwej again told how she had been saved tor Thfl^r^! from even a scratch In that terrible for his guided strength. The prayer fall. It was Indeed remarkable that wa? «°Uowed by others, and then one the child did not seem to suffer even and another of the members who had from tbe general shock and reaction on really good terms with Mr: Hardy arose and confessed and asked After . brief meal Mr. lUrdr went torsi™«»- The of the people „pu,a*.n«j ™•lfjsvz anxiety now was for her. He believed ***** "» "1B uoua' , "7 TTJ™' — that If tbe doctor's fears were realized meetlQ« Christians. Are there anj -Duia As tbe evening wore on Mr. Hardy J"** My J* felt that his duty lay In his own home ggjfS!  for that night, and he would have to 7 james see his minister some other time. He W *T *v_,TvV„ tho 2^ht f tbe_ prayer meeting with „ Mme JJJ* within * ® bed of tbe un- d without him were forcing him to cobscloua glrl wondering bow It was hta He grasped Wb chalr as If to "i C8e f t bold himself down, but the Holy Spirit s*2££? t- :2s, "SMS.* the beginning of a new life to thee/'- hLii rinffTflp And so Caxton arose and Bald fa&He beardtbei bellring to- *#rv- waated be a Christian, and from J bl! hands Xlng. tbat h« da^dtb'f.8t^«*; T* prayer meeting In Mr. Jon^1 t&moV\rx the world Jet, and his the be*,nn,n* of a new U,e *ood many P®°Ple In the church, church and community, but we Uy those who came to tbe meet- dweU 0B ,n thft of ' occasionally, thought It was ... . ** lth w" a fact Hard tte good „ ' " «oTd°S J3tS m— -»d tbe ones who grew , , ■«r In tbe Cbristfs^ *D• ——■- ting the boy go yet," replied the stub- I* born and unusually dutiful officer. "Who says he was to blame? Who are the real criminals, in the case? We ourselves, citizens; we who, for the greed of gain, for the saving of that which has destroyed more souls in hell than any other one thing, made possible the causes which led to the grief and trouble of this hour. Would we not shrink in terror from the thought of lying in wait to kill a man? Would we not repel with holy horror the idea of murdering and maiming 75 people? We would say 'Impossible!' Yet when I am ushered at last into the majestic presence of Almighty God I feel convinced I - shall see In his righteous countenance the sentence of our condemnation Just as certainly as if we had gone out In a body and by wicked craft had torn out the supporting timbers of that bridge Just before the train thundered upon It, for did tfe not sanction by law a business which we know tempts men to break all the laws, which fills our Jails and poorhouses, our reformatories and asylums. Mr. Hardy began to appeal to the Under the light of the lamp the policeman dragged the form of his victim and roughly struck up his hat. At that Instant Mr. Hardy looked into his face and cried out: man's tore of hl» own children. It did not seem to move him in the least until he mentioned the fact that it was Mrs. Hardy found htm kneeling down at a couch. monster mass meeting in the town hal. for the benefit of the sufferers, both U the railroad accident and in the explo 3ion of the Sunday before in the shop It was true the company would setili for damages, but in many casesthrough Barton the adjustment C claims would not be made until raucii suffering and hardship had been eu dured. There was a common feeling on th part of the townspeople that a meeting for public conference would resu! in much good, and there was also, a has been the case In other large hor rors, a craving to relieve the strain of feeling by public gathering and consultation.When the chairman announced that "Mr. Robert Hardy, our well known railroad manager, will now address us," there was a movement of curiosity and some surprise, and many a man leaned forward and wondered in his heart what the wealthy railroad man would have to say on such an occasion. He had never appeared as a speaker i« public, and he passed generally In Barton for the cold, selfish, haughty man he had always been. cruelty to keep the suffering girl at borne waiting for her father's return. Plnnerty finally loosened his hold on George and said slowly and painfully: "George! Is It you?" "And if 1 lose me job I'll be knowing who* was to blame for it. 1 always "I am conscious that some here present may think that what 1 have said has been in poor taste; that it has been an affront to the object of the meeting or an insult to the feelings of those who have called the audience together. In order that the people may know that I am sincere in all I have said I will Bay that I have placed in the bank the sum of $10,000 to be used as the committee may deem wisest and best in the education of children in bereaved homes or In any way that shall be for the best good of those in need. This money Is God's. 1 have robbed him and my brother man all these years. Whatever restitution I can make in the next few days I desire to make. "But the great question with us all, my friends, Is not this particular disaster. That will In time take its place as one event out of thousands In the dally life of this world. . The great event of existence is not death; it is life. And t question of the world la not r nor the silver question nor ■ question nor temjprance nor nor the other. The great And the son replied aa he started back: "Father!" told Michael Pinnerty that he was too Iff The two looked at each other In silence, while the snow fell In whirling flakes about them, ■oft hearted to go on the force!" "You won't suffer, officer. Many thanks! Come, George." £& - And father and son moved off together, while the defender of the law And this was the end of Robert Hardy*s third day- stood Irresolute, watching them disappear through the storm and muttering CHAPTER X. " s *'.T CHAPTER IX. Mr. Hardy began in a low, clear tone: Mr. Hardy looked at his son sternly, standing at the little distance off he had recoiled after that first recognition of the boy. It would be difficult to describe his emotions. He had never been an affectionate father to his boys. He had generally given them money when they asked for it and had not questioned them about Its use. to himself: "I'm a soft hearted fool. "Men and Women of Barton—Tonight I am not the man you have known me these 25 years I have been among you. I am, by the grace of God, -a new creature. As 1 stand here 1 have no greater desire in my heart than to say what may prove to be a blessing to all my old townspeople and to my employees and to these strong young men and boys. Within a few short days God has shown me the selfishness of a human being's heart, and that heart was my own, and it is with feelings none of you can ever know that 1 look into your faces and say these words." pital nurse, I had." I ought to 'a* been born a female hos- sm Durlng that walk home, after Mr. Hardy had gone around by the doc- Rle to : i the 1 tor's with George, not a word was ex- "Can you come out to the meeting Hardy?" asked bis friend. Mr. Hardy thought a minute and re plied, "Yes; I thluk I can." Already an idea had taken shape in his mine which he could not help feeling wai Inspired by God. "Might be a good thing if you coulc com' spared to make some remarks I Is a disposition on the par of tbe public to cliarge the road wltl carelessness tnd mismanagement." "I'll say a word or two," replied Mr Hardy, and after a brief talk on busl ness matters his friend went out. Robert immediately sat down to his desk, and for an hour, interrupted on ly by an occasional item of buslnesi brought to him by bla secretary, he jot ted down copious notes. The thoughl which had come to him when hit friend suggested tbe meeting was this He would go and utter a message that burned within blm, a message which tbe events of tbe past few days made Imperative should be uttered. He went home absorbed In the great Idea. He bad once in his younger days been famous for bis skill In debate. He had bo fear of bis power to deliver a message of life at the present crista In his own. He at once spoke of the meeting to his wife. "Mary, what do you say? I know every minute la precious. I owe to yon Tut°r "C** -cred to some'ways" wba , J't t t. whprfi | I owe to my own kindred. I am awan h ' „ \ VMir_ literal that the hearts of the people are shock ly nothing for tta uplift toward God, ?™° «™bne«. ** the recentbJ^ -rtTs XJE.SMSS of the last enemy has fallen over m*nj thresholds in oar town. WhMD W this community. It seems to me this , A . . . .. .. . .TT , special opportunity Is providential" 1 D°ltTV li "Robert, replied his wife, smiling at ™ ***** f I stumbled ove aim through happy tears. "It is the w«U the*hMt]' f thatwreckmj ,f as he »ake. * J™ fS U had been an agisting week to the Ind tameif STsut wife. She anticipated Its close with a blackne88 of horror thl8 nl ht? Yea reeling akin to terror. What would meQ of Bart why lt that wC LbeKeDd tQ "I are so moved, so stirred, so shocked, bj to herself that her husband was not eveDt of death when the f„ mort nsane but the thought that he was awfu, cvent of Ufe does not U« really to be called out of the world in Jn leaatT »me mysterious manner at the end of „We wtth lo« the rapidly approaching Sunday had prldt) or  ieveral times come o\er her with a »peak In whispers, and we tread rower that threatened her w(tly ,n the pre8ence 0f the visltoi Nevertheless the weelj so far, la w^0 Bmites but once and then smites iplte o| its terror and agiUtlon, had a tfae bod onl but ,n awfu, pres »weet Joy for her. Her husband had ence of the „vl , of God we ;ome back to her the lover m he once our carel indifferent, cold lad been, only with the added tender- ..a8al(mleso selfish less of all the years of their oompan- (CI kQ0W whereof l speakD for j hav( onship. She thanked the Father for walked Ummgh the world like that my t, and when the hour came for Rob- ,And (katu &loaot com srt to go down to the meeting she rop 0'ne moment w,th ufe fo, Messed him and prayed lieaveq to tpaj€Styi for solemnity, for meaning liake his w ords to the people like e power There were 75 persons kill , , . . ed in the accident- But in the papert father, what do you want me o morning I read in the column nexl lo. Shall I stay here/ asked that in which the accident was ivho had not stirred out of \he house ln 8maU t7pe and in the brief f W*tchea by Clara egt of paragraphs the statement thai faithfully. She was still In that mys- certaln young man in this very towt erlous condition of unconsciousness p? had been arresteil for forginj .vtf.ch made Tier case so puzzling to tl\e s father's name on a check and wa( loctor. in the grasp of the law. Mr. Harfly hesitated a moment, then "And every day ill this town and It »ld; "No, George. 1 would like to every town over the world events iave you go with me. Alice can do aU and worse than that are ol hat is necessary. But let us aU prpy fc.€quent occurrence. Nay. in this verj ogether dow before (|0 QUI- The town of our8 more than 75 soulp are a' Liord l| (eadlug us mysteriously, but yjj8 very moment going down into « KQ shall some time know the reason far blacker heH of destruction than thC (vhy." down there under that fatet So in the room where Clara \ay they bridge, and the community la not taor ill kneeled down Will, who lay rifled 0ver It How many mass meet ipou a lounge near his unconscious lugs have been beld in this town with ilster. Mr. Ilardy as he clasped his last 25 years over the losses ol wife's hand ln his own poared Out his character, the death of purity, the de loul in this petit'W.- struct ion of honesty? Yet they havC ."Dear Lord, we know thou dost love outnumbered the victims of this latC is, evep though wo cannot always physical disaster a thousandfold, (now why thou dost allow suffering "And what daoa mere death do? I md trouhie, and we would tlmnk thee rcje&aes the spirit from Its house 01 'or the things that cannot be destroy iarth, but aside from that death doei nl, for the loves that suffer nothing to the person. But what doei leath, for tb? promises of ufe do? Life does everything. It pre ,he life to eome. Only we have been pares for heaven or for hell. It start! io careless of the things that beloug to molds character, fixes char hy kingdom. We have been so acter. Death has no kingdom withou md forgetful of the great ueeds and end. Death la only the last enemy o nifferingH sins of earth, fl'ardon y,e maivv enemies that Ufe knows IS, gracious Redeemer. Pardon me peath is a second; life is an eternity, lor I am the chief offender. Yea, Lord, p men, brothers, if, as I solemnly and Dven as the robber on the cross wat iruly believe, this is the last opportuivelcomed intq paradise, welcome thou ulty I shall have to* speak you In ne, Put we pray for our dear ones, guch large numberst I desire you to day they recoverC Make this beloved remember, when I have vanished from me who now lies unknowing among j-oiy sigh*, that I spent nearly my last is to come back into the universe of in an appeal to you to make tense and sound, to know us and smile the most of daily life, to glorify God lpon us again.. and save men. "We say. 'Thy wu: be done.' Grand -The greatest enemy of man is not wisdom, for thou#ksowest best. Only It »s selfishness. He sits on the Dur hearts will cry out for help, and the entire world. This very :hou knowest our hearts better than aisastfr which has tilled the town with my one else. Bless me this night as 1 sorrow was due to selfishness. Let us itqnd before the people. This Is no see if that is not sa lt.has been provlelflsh prayer, dear Lord. I desire only ;d by Investigation already made that by glory; I pray only for thy kingdom. drunkenness of a track Inspector But thou hast appointed my days to wa8 the cause of the accident. What ive. Thou hast sent me the message, was the cause of that drunkenness? ind I cannot help feeling the solemn phe drinking habits of that inspector. Durden and Joy of It. How did he acquire them? In a sa"I will say to the people that thou joon which we taxpayers allow to run irt most important of a(l In this habi- on payment of a certain sum of money atlon of the flesh- And now bless us into our own treasury. ill. Give ns new hearts. Make us to "sQD then, it was the greed or selfish'eel the true meaning of existence ness of the men of tlds town which lere. Reveal to us thy splendor. For- ues at the bottom of this dreadful distive all the past and make Impossible aster- Who was to blame for the disn the children the mistakes of the par- aster? The track Inspector? No. The Dnt. Deliver us from evil, and thine saloon keeper wbo sold him the liquor? ib&ll be the kingdom forever. Amen." No. Who then? We ourselves, my When Mr. Hardy and George reach- brothersl we who licensed the selling tD»p hnlt thev a H'-"* tfcc ©"'D'8 twn' changed. The storm was increasing. the night watC ent spirit I whether he j whether he hi when George walked into the ball at The two walked along in silence, but which breaks women's hearts and beggars blessed homes and sends Innocent children to thread the paths of shame and vagrancy, which brings pallor into the face of the wife and tosses with the devil's own glee a thousand victims Into perdition with every revolution of this great planet about its greater sun? He was not familiar with his older son's habits and only within the last few days bad be known that he was what the age popularly designates «a "fast" He had never mgde a companion of his son. H« had not grown up him, so that now as he faced him under the strange circumstances that had brought them together he was actually at a loss to know what to do or say. home he turned and saw a look on his V father's face that smote him to the V he&rt, for be was not yet a hardened soul. Mr. Hardy had lived years in that experience. No one could tell how his heart had been tortured by what he had endured that night, but the mark Robert paused a moment as if gathering himself up for the effort that followed, and the audience, startled with an unexpected emotion by the strange beginning, thrilled with excitement, as, lifting bis arm and raising his voice, the once cold and proud man continued, his face and form glowing with the transfiguration of a new manhood: "There is but one supreme law in thta world, and it Is this: Love God and your neighbor with heart, mind, soul, strength. And there are but two things worth living for: The glory of Ood and the salvation of man. Tonight I, who look Into eternity in a sense which I will not stop to explain, feel the bitterness which comes from the knowledge that I have broken that law " have not lived for those things alone are worth living for. "But God has sent me here t with a message to the '1 "Men of Barton, say what we will, we are the authors of this dreadful disaster. And if we sorrow as a community we sorrow In reality for our own selfish act. And, oh, the selfishness of it! That clamoring greed for money! That burning thirst for more and more and more at the expense of every godlike quality, at the ruin of all that our mothers once prayed might belong to us as men and women! "What Is it, ye merchants, ye business men, here tonight that ye struggle moat over? The one great aim of your lives is to buy for as little as possible and sell for as much aa possible. What care have ye for the poor, who work at worse than starvation wages, so long as ye can buy cheap and sell at large of it was stamped physically on his (ace, and he knew that he would bear itlon of t i to the The thought that his sou was gulky of a crime which might put him behind prison bars did not yet occur to his mind. He was only conscious of a great longing to get back home and there have ft thorough talk with his boy In the hope of winning him to better things. But he must say something to George. |t to his grave. Mrs. Hardy came running down stairs as the two came In, and as George turned and faced her she held out her arms, crying: "My boy! My boy! We have been so anxious about you!" What, not one word of reproach, of rebuke, of question as to what he had been doing all this time that the family had been suffering! No; not one word. Ah, mother love! It is the most wonderful thing on earth, next to the love The police officer stared In wonder after the first startled cry of "Father!" on the part of the young man, but he did not loosen his hold on him. Ht took an extra twist in the coat collar of his captive and looked sharply at Mr- Hft?dy as much as to say, "He may be your son, but be1! iqy victim, and I mean to keep a good clutch on him." of God for the sinner. It Is even that, for It Is the lore of God expressing Itself through the pother, who Is the temple of the loving God. George dashed away a tear and then, going up to his mother, laid his cheek against hers, and she folded her arms about him and cried a little and asked no questions, and after a moment's silence he stammered out a few words of sorrow at having caused her pain, and she Joyfully accepted his broken explanation of how he had not known of the accident to Clara and the other*, It was trup he hftd gone out the evening before, fully Intending to go down to the scene of the accident; but, coming across some of his old companions, he had gone off with them and spent the night in a disgraceful carouse and throughout the day had been under the Influence of liquor more or less, dimly conscious that a great disaster had happened down {hp jro&d, but not sober pqough to realise its details or possible connection with those of his own home. The sudden meeting with his father had startled him out of the drowsy Intoxication be bad fallen into as the George wa« the lint to speak: "Father, yon know I wouldn't do •ttch a thing really. We were only owt for a little fun. We didn't know yon. of corrse. We didn't mean any real barm. We were only fooling." "It as dangerous fooling," replied his fatiier. ble to tbe devils of other worlds? talking done. Prom beginning to clow H *M nearly all prayer. Mr. Jones Aid not feel afraid of tbe long pause*. He believed modern American life to be bo full of nervousness and hurry that ft would not hurt any one to sit ■Mil and think a minute or twow That was the reason, so many people CftJled Mr. Jones! prayer meetings dull, because they were not rushing all the time with sensational or exciting remarks and incidents. Mr. Jones didn't believe that was what a prayer meettag was for, and be planned for it ae- "What is oar aim bat to make money our god and power oar throne? How macb care or love Is tbe re for flesh and blood at times when there is danger of losing almighty dollars? Bat, O Almighty Saviour, It was not for this that we were made! We know It was not. selfish genius in art, letters and diplc macy will sink us as a people into i gulf of annihilation. There is no salva tlon for us except in Jesus Christ. Le us believe In him and live in him. "I have said my message. I true you have understood it I would no say otherwise If I knew that I shouli step 9CC this platform now and stam before the Judgment seat of Christ God help us all to do our duty! Tim is short; eternity is long. Death i nothing; life is everything." He still stood apart from the boy and spoke quietly, but bis face was pale, and his beart was wrong with torture for bis firstborn. Ah, how careless of him he had been! Bow little companionship the two had had! How very little help the boy had received from the man! "To whom am I speaking? To myself. God forbid that I should stand here to condemn you, being myself the chief of sinners for these 25 years. What have I done to bless this community? How much have 1 cared for the men in my employ 1 What difference did it make to me that my example drove men away from the church of Christ and caused anguish to those few souls who were trying to redeem humanity'? To my Just I make answer that no one thing has driven the engine of my existence -*ver the track of Its destiny except self. And, ah, for that church of Christ that I professed to believe In! How much have I done for that? How muoh, O fallow members (and 1 see many of you here tonight}, how much have we done In the best cause ever known and the greatest organization ever founded?Now, believing that only four more davs lav before him to use to the glory of God, Robert Hardy felt the sting of that bitterest of all bitter feelings, uses less regret, the regret that does not caiv, ry wtfh it any hope of redeeming a selfisb past. cordlngly. Bat this particular evening wu an exception. The great railroac accident eo near them bad stirred thi entire community to Its sympatlietii depths. Several families in Mr. Jones t&urcl) bad been sufferer* It bj tacit consent there was an unusuall] large gathering at the church, and th« •object of necessity the recent i . ... diuiiiter - I And to Jama Caxton arose and said 1u * m«tinr wanted to be a Christian. hHT rnZ i fhp pt For was It not thy word that firs ***** brlefly opeBed wlth the ei- soul to con Dressed desire that God would bless I . . . 'w " / _ .. »lder what he owed to Jesus thC the mfferlng, prepare the dying ana comfort the living, and almost instant- Wa har • .it a _n _ Vvr»/w»n ...1.i.i, I To COIB© DflCK lO xVOD6ru *40 OftC i .% as M r„ Drv 1" " "v h. tie after the bell ceased ringing, and at S£n££!topiiT ~«j»~°id^•'■«*?» TOI «nd gnrh oravers had not been heard I Church W|S peftf by, a9d 1'- Hardj Mked him to take the note over. Hi . . .. )f _. . went pver to the church, with the re w t?itfi Jnrn^ion d!s described, Bp did not come bad E . S nJS,!!' at once, and Mr. Hardy watched or in 1887 in a church near the accl- Alio®. ' The entire morning service was TT, . . . „K. , to PMnterafferlng w,th hte dreama of the'accideqt Mrs vi « tn the *D'clock by the doctor coming in. H« Joor and gavei a note tosome on#ln the finished a visit near by. I?« back seat with a request that it be sent ♦ up to Jones. He then turn*} {u if !L. in lxt™ nne to F. j. ■ *iCi D _„ j n —i, __j I wu 4i) eitr&orq 1 OQ61 to cotti( be..tated.cam.baok)and I He #„mlneC, clara.g face pipped into a *aca®t seat and waited, nQd then sat down by the bed *r tha Dote' anced at for an instant After giving certain Its contents and then row. There was medJclnw b„ found that he was 1e • singularTemotlon in his voice Mbt of anotlier articleD wlllch at 0pok0. % I tiouBfc -I haye J,st handed a note from (CI wU1 go and get lt( doctor. rt.« n0, »ne of our members, Mr. Robert Har- { think ft little freih lU? will K, with th«& request that J W*ff U jj0 g00Cl «jd help me to remain rod to the ckurcb tonlgbti awake better," said Robert to Ton, My Dear *Pa«tor, and Tim, My Brothers He went down stairs, and the doctoi '• and 8istC?rs in Christ: followed him as he went out into the I suppose it is ktovrn to most of you that Urns I , . . , . w _ ot my children w«c on the train daring the re I hall and flung on his Mr. ant accident, and (wo of them escaped with \mt Hardy turned before he opened the Bight Morie*. tfut my d*ugh»es Clata was se' ' . -s • \ * ,»«th« S"'h *bou« Miog jnay be spared and lier possible injuries I 8lr' • What her CPfld|t|on^ wore w within the p» w«: J "It Is serious, but more than that I i bad planned to b« with you tonight I cannot say. There Is a possibility that wanted to tell the ehurcb of the eh*"e« tha* { by means of a slight operation the dlshave lately experienccii. 1 do not need to tell I * . «U that f« the 46 year, that I have been . astrous consequences of the shock to member of (be church I have been a member only I her eyes may be averted, It Is POS te nami. | hare ifWom sppeared lr. any of the gll)le that the Other results Which I hinted may be altogether dltterent. It (mi preaching. I law been a hard man with is not-ln medical power to decide with friogi in nj employ. I htve been cold and even I CCrtEinty." rerenfeful toward other member* of thi* church. I £q Mr# Hardy Went OUt into the nlglit I hare been a rery proud, un-Christlan, aelflah ft gUn,mer 0f hope in his breast. the fight of Pod ? hare been an It Snpwiqg »galQ. and a strong Tpembei of the Aurch ot Christ. 1 do not wind was blowing, so he buttoned bis like any pride to ntyself In making this conies- Jjfg coflt close Up, drew his hat down ATS bJD brows and, leaning forward I speak to you as I hare lately prayed to God. I Walked as rapidly as he could agalDit ft to not necessary, neither hare I time nor (he Wind in the d&?Ctlp« Of the do^ ftsength, to teii you bow j h#»c tD«n b"D««ht tp Wa house." The streets were almost tjrstrzz ?»««"■« C°zr Oere tbAt I hare misunderstood rery largely the flickered and showed pale through the light meaning of human existence. 1 want to lamps. *ray with you and for you. You will let me say I he down a narrpw street, & S^ri^s,oW,w iTyw in "iy pending io make « short cut across a ISsstr £*»• the church «f Christ, all you who pftrk that lay near the doctor's, he was fire taken upon you tu rows, with enthusiasm suddenly seized by three or four young and loyalty, stand by the superintendent of the mjn and one of them said in a tone ftundhy school, attend thia week night Service betraved a drunken debauch: when you can, malting it the most Important eerr- wnicn oexrayeu a arunsen aeunw u. loe of the week, and, more than all. lire true, "Hold PP yOUll hapds and deliver! •— flSK|de, loving Christian eyefy (l*y. I YoU'Vf got plenty of chink, and TV6 It may teem strange that 1 am preaching like taven't! So no squalling, or we'll this to you who hare probably done your duty far . better than I ever did, but I wish to say what I Shoot you for it. ... lies deep in my heart to say tonight, if th»r* Mr. Hardy was taken completely lDy D*» tojr young men in the meeting tonight, I I surprise. But he Was a vigorous, atil♦ to say to them, become Chrlatlans at the I man_ and his first impulse WBS 10 shake himself loose, to knock down pray to God to keep you from a selfish I two of his assailants next to him and x *"* *» 1 j # run for It Hla next glance. * I WiKHt. showed him the nature of wTT-in, man ml-* my. " ' group of yeong Thev w re Five years after this speech of Robert Hardy to the people of Barton in the town hall one who was present In the audience described the sensation that passed through it when the speaker sat down to be like a distinct electric shock which passed from seat to seat and held the people fixed and breathless as if they had been smitten Into images of stone. After his father had spoken George sullenly remained silent Mr. Hardy bowed his bead and seemed thinking. The officer, who had been waiting for another move on the part of the older mail, said: speak to them." Barns bad been t this week that, altho month to say sometl seem able to pronounce after staring blankly at - a minute he turned and Wv execute the order. The great engine was stopped. men from the casting rooms an carpenter shops and the stone and the repairing departments C trooping into the big machine shop sat or leaned on the great, grim ph of machinery, and as the shop 111 the place began to take on a stran aspect never seen there before. Mr. Hardy crossed the yard from ti 'office, followed by the clerks and m slstant officers of the road, all curtoot to bear what was coming. Mr. Hardy mounted one of the planers and looked about him. air was still full of gas and smoke and that mixture of fine iron filings and oil which is characteristic of such places. The men were quiet and respectful enough. Many of them had heard the manager's speech of Thursday night at the town halL Most of them were aware that some change had taken place hi the man. It had been whispered about that he had arranged matters for the men injured in the Sunday accident so , that they would not come to want In any way. — that grimy, hard muscled, featured crowd of 800 men all turned their eyes upon the flgwe standing very erect and pale faced on the great planer, and he in turn looked out through the blue, murky atmosphere at them with an intensity of ex* presslon which none In that audience understood. As Mr. Hardy went on with his speech they began to understand what that look meant. day progressed. Now, as he felt his mother's arms around him and realized a little what the family had been called' upon to endure, be felt the shame and disgrace of his own conduct. yiv. Hardy went up and pulted the doctor, whp wondered at his protracted absence- There was po change In Clara yet She lay In a condition which could not be called a trance nor a sleep. 8he did not seem to be In any great, pain, but she was unconscious of all outside conditions. After a little talk with his mother George came np and inquired after Bess and WI1L They were bftVU sleeping, and after "bad gone oui; father and1 mother and son Bat down together In the room where Clara lay. isy * "Well, we must be moving on. Ifs warmer In the lockup than out here. So come along, young fellow, andtfci jj»u* talking' tomorrow 'morning' with the rest of the drunk* and disorderlies."The effect on the chairman of the meeting was the same. He sat motionless. Then a wave of emotion gradually stirred the audience, and without a word of dismissal they poured out of the building and scattered to their homes. "Stop!** cried Robert Hardy. "This Is my sonl Do you understand? What are you going to do?" f® church after reading the Sunday morning paper, saturated through and through with the same thine* we have had poured Into n» ejfr ery day ot the week, as if we Begrudged the whole of one day out of seven. We criticise prayer and hymn and sermon, drop Into the contribution box half the amount we paid during the week for a theater or concert ticket and then when anything goes wrong In the community or our children fall Into vice scorn the church for weakness and the preacher for lack; of ability. Robert found George waiting for him. The father was almost faint with the reaction from his address. George gave his arm, and the two walked home in silence. "Well, governor, that's a pretty ques- tion at this time of day. Do! I'm going to jog him for assault with Intent to commit highway robbery. It's an affair for the 'pen,' I can tell you." "But you heard him say It was all a Joke.. u * 1 ' '1 - 1 We must pass over hastily the events of the next day In Robert Hardy's life. The whole town was talking about his surprising address of the night before. Some thought he was crazy. Others regarded him as sincere, but after the first effect of his speech had worn off they criticised him severely for presuming to "preach" on such an occasion. Still others were puzzled to account for the ehange In the man, for that a change had taken place could not be denied. How slow men are to acknowledge, the power of God In the human heaj£ Mr. Hardy went about his little moved by all this discussron. He realized that only two more days remained. " Hardy did pot fay a word to, about the Incident of tbe evening. Thp Shame of it was too great yet. When men of Mr. Hardy's self contained, repressed, proud nature pre pained, It is with an intense inward fire of passion that cannot bear to break out Into words. George had sense enough to offer to relieve his parents at the burden of. watching during tyff tyt, and during the exchange Of along toward (uarniug. as Mrs. H. flipped Into tha room to relieve the buy, she found him kneeling down at a couch with' his face burleCJ In the She Si&ed her face in thanksgiving to God id tfeht softly out 1 The morning dawned gray with sgo.w. which stiU whl»"leC\ ift wrisaihs about sorrowing homes of Barton, but Robert Hardy thought of the merciful covering it would make for the ghastly plies of ruin down under the bridge and along the banks of the river. He said to himsej£. "Ttys 1* my fourth dfty. How can 1 beat spend It? shall I do?" He kneeled and prayed and rose somewhat refreshed. The forenoon went rapidly by, before be knew It noon, near. The time ha3 passed In watching Clara, visiting with Bess and Will and doing some necessary work for the company in his little office down stairs. He did not feel like saying anything ty?, Geurga yet, James Caxton had been in, and tbe first thing be had mentioned had beeu his own act in the meeting the night before. Mr. Hardy thanked God it, and a prayer went out of his heart for bis son, that the Spirit might touch him In his sin and bring him in | to the light of Christ A little after noon the storm cleared up, and Robert prayed V1 down to tjie shops. Clara had not yet come oat stupor. The doctor had called •Mid done what he could. There was nothing In particular that Mr. Hardy pould do In the case, so he went out about 1 o'clock and entered his office at the shop, hoping as he went in that would have no trouble with the men- Mr. Burns reported everything quiet, and the manager, with a sigh of relief, proceeded with the routine duties of the business. Nothing of any special 1 Interest occurred through the aftertoon. The storm had ceased entirely, *nd the sun had not clear and **A pretty Joke to try to hold a man, up on the highway and demand his pioney! Oh, no! T%t'q £|irryto|fft Joke too far. I'm bo.iind to obey orders. We've been after this gang of young chaps for a month now." "But officer, you don't understand! "Shame on U9, men ot Barton, members of tbe church of Christ, that we have so neglected our own church prayer meeting that out of a resident membership of more than 400, living In easy distance of the church, only GO have attended regularly and over 200 have been to that service occasionally. Yet w« call ourselves disciples of Christ! We say we beMevo In his blessed we say we believe in prayer, anil in the face of all these professions we turn our backs with Indifference on the very means of spiritual growth and power which the church places within our reach. VJf Christ were to come to the earth today, he would say unto us, 'Woe unto you, churoh members, hypocrites!' He would say unto us, "Woe unto you, young disciples In name, who have promised to love and serve me and then, ashamed of testifying before me, have broken promise and prayer and ridicule those who have kept their vows sacredly T He would say to us men who have made money and kept It to ourselves: 'Woe unto you, ye rich men, who dress softly and dine luxuriously and In palaces, while the This Is my son!" "Well, what of that? Don't we Jug sons every day for some deviltry or other? Do you suppose you are the only father whose son is going to the deyUy, wa «• ? -T, ... • "'Q tiod, nor* cried Mr. Hardy, with sadden passion. "But this Is my older boy. It would kill bis mother to bare him arrested and put In jail for trying to rob bis qwu father. Yet he was once Innocent— "What am' I saying? He might now If I had done my dutyD. " He spent the afternoon and evening at home, but was interrupted by several calla. After tea the entire family gathered in the room where Clara lay. She still remained unconscious, but living. As Mrs. Hardy was saying something to her husband about his dream and the events of the day before Clara suddenly opened her eyes and distinctly called out the words: Mr. Hardy confronted the officer With a certain sorrowful dignity which even that hardened defender of the law understood. "Officer, let the boy go. I will answer for it If any blame falls on you foj "Father, what day is it?" "My brothers," began the manager, with a slight trembling of the syllables so new him, "as this may be the last time® shall ever speak to you 1 want to say what is true to me and what I feel I owe to you. For 25 yean I have carried on the work In thla It was like a voice out of the long dead past. Mr. Hardy, sitting by the side of the bed, replied quietly, while his heart beat quickly: "This is Friday night, dear child." Another question came, uttered in the same strange voice: Continued on page six. "Father, how many more days are left for you 1" "Tomorrow and Sunday." The voice came again: "I shall go with you then." The eyes closed, and the form became motionless, as before. It was very quiet in the room at the close of Robert Hardy's fifth day. -» msm DR.RI CHAPTER XL Those words of Clara, "I shall go with you then," filled the family with dismay. Mr. Hardy bowed his head and groaned. Mrs. Hardy, almost beside herself with grief and terror, flew to the side of the girl and, with beseeching cries and caresses, tried to bring back to consciousness the mind that for a moment or two had gleamed with reason and then had gone back into the obscurity and oblivion of that mysterious condition in which It had been lying for three days, but all In f Pi Hewl After 24* "Stop!" cried Robert Hardy. "ThU to my tonl" was rigid. The others, George and 14 f am, by the graced God. a »cuDcre«- Will and Bess grew paleand Bess ture." cried, almost for the first time since poor cry aloud for Judgment and the the strange week began. Robert ww i. * orvr f.v. -*.■ for Uiv luxury of the tW f to liffsl; the grk'f with n qniot valii. The eyes were closed; the form I I "M m 3 /W%£ He was not at fault In this matter. He wm not the one who assaulted me. He did ma loach me. You coukl not get a particle of testimony against Itliu. And.