Four Girls at Chautauqua

for something that she did not hear-that is, she did not hear it distinctly and fairly stated, so that she could grasp it and act upon it; and yet it was shadowed all around her, and hinted

y side as the meeting closed-bright, fresh words of greeting, of gladness, of satisfaction, but every one of them containing a ring that she could hear but not c

it belonged to the young man who had spoken to her on the boat the evening before. The face recalled the earnest words that he had spoken, and the tone of restful satisfaction in which they were s

verent tone to his voice when he said "the Father," and yet wit

wered q

cannot feel that

ad become of the other; only that chance meeting; he might never see her again. Chautauqua was peculi

ht, "but I am glad that I said a word to her. I

t Him find her!" Why, she was dimly conscious that she was seeking for Him, bu

y disappointed; she had looked forward to Chautauqua as a place where she could have such a "nice" time. That word "nice" was a favorite with her, and surely no one could be having a more wretched time than this; and it was not the rain, either, over which she had been miserable all day yesterday, nor her cashmere dress; she didn'

t, touching the subject here and there, thrilling her with the possibilities stretching out before her; but he was thinking of and talking all the while to those who had reached after and secured this "something" that to her was still a shadow. Now and then the speaker brou

Eurie put their desertion on the ground that Flossy had been exhausted by the mental effort of the day, and needed to be cheered and petted. She on her part was silent and wearily indifferent; she did not know what to do with her heavy heart, and felt that she might as soon walk down by the lake shore as do anything else; so down to the shore they went, and gave themselv

be nice in heaven

artling discovery and announcement aft

ed Marion, as she threw a tiny stone into the

e la

real thing. How exquisitely those voices sound! I'm very certain I should enjoy the music, whether I should be able

he

re; it isn't quite heaven yet, and you will take cold. Honestly, girls, isn't it a sort of wonderment to you how the people up there can em

oment remember hearing any one ever express a downright opinion, and I have always thought it rather queer. I asked Nellie Wheden about it one day when she was going on about her expected tour in Europe. She had bored me to death, making me produce all my geographic and historic lore for her benefit; and suddenly I thought of an expedient for giving myse

h asked, curiously, while Eurie

n't talked nor thought about any other journey.' Well, I enlightened her as to her expectations, and what do you think she said? You wouldn't be able to guess, so I'll tell you. She said I was irreverent, and that no o

it and partly because this recital struck her as very foolish. Every one of them saw its inconsistent side as plainly as though they had been Chr

another that they had been very silly not to go to meeting, and that another evening they w

if there were nothing else to do but to go flying off for a seat the moment the bell rings? I thought there would

to bring the first day at Chautauqua

me in. It took more than an hour, and much talking and more laughter, not to mention considerable grumbling on Ruth's p

th the silence and the darkness her unrest had come upon her again with tenfold force. She felt no nearer a solution of her trouble than she had in the morning; in fact, the pain had deepened all day, and the onl

tent life as she was a good deal startled she raised herself on one elbow and looked about her in a frightened way before she realized that the

ut and rounded the words were, like that of a man very decided, very positive in his views, and very earnest in his life. There was also a modulation to the syllables that Flossy could not

the low and yet wonderfully distinct sentences, and presently she ceased to wish to, for it became certain that he was praying for her. He made it ver

eelings as she lay there in the darkness. She had never heard any one pray for her before. So destitute was she of real frie

sought, all this long, heavy day. Help? Yes, plain, clear, simple help. How small a thing it seemed to do! "Show her her need of thee, blessed Jesus," thus the prayer ran. And oh! hadn't he showed her that? It flashed over her troubled brain then and there: "It is Jesus that I need. It is he who can help me. I belie

d's had heard his words of prayer, laid himself down to quiet sleep. Flossy lay very still. The rain had ceased during the afternoon, and now some solemn stars were pee

bed figure slipped softly and quietly to the floor and on her knee

me; make me

er by her side was totally ignorant of the wonderful tableau that had been acted all about her that evening. But if Eurie Mitchell could have had one little peep into heaven