A New Year I
Evangel
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BY
jOHNBSEQCEIMBGE ELLIS
ILLUSTRATIONS BV
O.'IEJWINrMXESS
SYNOPSIS.
Fran arrives at Hamilton firfiororv'a
home In LJttlebursr. but finds him absent
conducting the choir at a camp meeting.
cue renairs tnitner in search or mm.
lausrha (1 urine- Cho sorvlea and la naked to
leave. Abbott Ashton, superintendent Of
.schools, escorts Fran from the tent. -He
tells her . Oree-nrv la a wealthv man.
ep!y interested in charltv work, and a
plUar of the church. Ashton becomes
jrreatly Interested In Fran and while tak
ing leave of her. holds her hand and Is
seen by SaDnhira Clinton, sister of Rob-
rt Clinton, chairman of the school board.
tsui tells Gresrorv she wants a home
"With him. Grace Noir, Gregory's private
secretary, takes a violent dislike to Fran
mna advises her to go away at once.
S"ran hints at a twentv-vear-old secret.
Ud Greeorv In airttatlnn aakst Grace to
Jeave the room. Fran relates the story
of how Gregory married a young girl at
Springfield while attending college and
men aeserted her. Fran is, the child or
that marriaee. Greeorv had married his
present wife three years before the death
f Fran's mother. Fran takes a liking to
Mrs. Gregory. Gregory explains that
Tn Is the dauehter of a verv dear friend
who Is dead. Fran agrees to the story.
Mr. Greeorv Insists on hpr maklnir her
home with them and takes her- to her
arms. Fran declares the secretary must
gt. Grace begins nagging tactics in an
ffort to drive Fran from the Gregory
koine. Abbott, while taking a walk alone
At midnieht. finds Fran on a brldfi-e tell
ing her fortune by cards. She tells Ab
ott that she Is the famous lion tamer.
ran Nonpareil. She tired of circus life
ad sought a home. Grace tells of see
ing F"ran come home after midnight with
a man. She guesses part of the story
and surprises the rest from Abbott. She
decides to ask Bob Clinton to go to
Springfield to investigate Fran's story.
Fran enlists Abbott in her battle against
Grace. Fran offers her services to Greg
ory as secretary durintr the temDorary
absence of Grace. The latter, hearing of
Fran's Duroose. returns and InterruDts a
touching scene between father and
daughter. Grace tells Gregory she in
tends to marry Clinton and quit his serv
loe. He declares that he cannot continue
Ilia work withnn twr fnrrtert nwav hv
""passion, he takes her in his arms. Fran
,wux in on mem. ana declares tnat
Grace must leave the house at once. To
Gregorys consternation he learns of
Clinton's mission to Springfield. Clinton
returns from Springfield and. at Fran's re
quest. Ashton urgest him not to disclose
what he has learned. On Abbott's assur
ance that Grace will leave Gregory at once.
Clinton agrees to keep silent. Driven in
to a corner by the threat of exposure,
Gregory is forced to dismiss Grace. Grace
la offered the Job of bookkeeper In Clin
i ton's grocery store. Gregory declares he
vrfll kill himself If she marries Clinton.
Gregory's infatuation leads him to seek
Grace at the grocery. He finds her alone
and tells her the story of his past. Grace
points out that as he married the nres-
nt Mrs. Greeorv before the death of
i Fran's mother, he Is not now legally mar
ried, xney decide to nee at once.
sO...... .
OMXUIGHT 1912
BOBBS-MEReiLUO.)
CHAPTER XXI. Continued.
"We'd better separate," Gregory
loavely whispered. "We'll meet at
i."Tf he sees us, what would be
s-rfBe? Anyway, he'll have to know
tctobrrow . . . everybody will know
tomorrow! No," said Grace, overcom
Jyi slight Indecision, "the important
V ' not to be stopped, whoever
Aforoe this way."
uvi. lueieg uu tuttutu uui, uiai
ay," Gregory returned, with the ob
stinacy of the weak. "And if he does
eee us, it won't do to be seeming to
try to hide."
"But we are hiding," Grace said definitely.-
"Possibly we can keep moving
ut, and he will go away."
Why should we hide, anyhow?" de
manded Gregory, with sudden show of
spirit.
- To that, she made no reply. If he
didn't know, what was the use to tell
him?
Gregory moved on, but glanced back
over hia shoulder. "Now, he's getting
"yJown," he said in agitation. "He's
I making his way right toward us. . . .
1 ah ngnt, let mm come s "
: Tn here quick!" cried Grace, drag
ging him to one side. Quick!"
A voice stopped them with, "Your
tickets, please."
0h, no," wailed Gregory, "not into
a show, Grace. We can't go into a
1 V&, lit. I 1.1 ,.
-miuw. lib lis lmposBioie.
3he spoke ranidlv: "We must. We'll
Isafe in there, because no one would
r suppose we'd go into such a
ace.
But Grace," said Gregory firmly.
I cannot I will not go into a show."
The voice addressed him again:
s first-class in every particular,
y. There is nothing here to bring
blush of shame to the cheek of the
Jst fastidious. See those fierce man
ling lions that have been captured
phe remotest jungles of Africa "
Gregory looked back.
obert Clinton was drawing nearer.
yet he had not discovered them.
his eyes, grown fiercer and more
atient, were never at rest.
ith a groan, Gregory thrust some
ley into the showman's hand, and
land Grace mingled with the noisy
Iht-seers flocking under the black
It;
CHAPTER XXII.
J " The Street Fair.
JLittleburg was trembling under the
'arful din of a carnival too big for it,
jen Abbott Ashton, after his weeks
absence returned to find himself at
'arailton Gregory's door. He dlscov
&S old Mrs. Jefferson in the front
ora this July night because old
;o is on no friendly terms with fall
a dew; but every window was open.
"Come in," she cried, delighted at
Bight of his handsome, smiling face
m had been smiling most of the time
faring his drive from Simmtown with
Hubert Clinton. "Here I sit by the
window, where sometimes I imagine I
hear a faint,' far-away sound. I judge
it's from some carnival band. Take
this chair- and listen attentively;
your ears are younger now!"
Abbott did not get all of this be
cause of the Gargantuan roar that
swept through the window, but he
gravely tilted his head, then took the
proffered ear-trumpet: "You are
right," he said, "I hear something."
"It's the street fair," she announced
triumphantly. "But sometimes it's
louder. How fine you look, Abbott
just as if your conscience" doesn't
hurt you for disappearing without
leaving a clue to the mystery. You
nedn't be looking around, oir Fran
isn't here."
"I wonder where she Is?" Abbott
smiled. "I'm dreadfully Impatient to
tell her the good news. Mrs. Jeffer
son, I'm to teach In a college it's a
much bigger thing than the position I
lost here. And I have a chance - to
work out some ideas that I know Fran
will like. I used to think that every
thing ought to be left precisely as it
is, because it's been that way so long
I mean thechurch; and schools;
and and society. But I've made up
my mind that nothing is right, unless
it works right."
Mrs. Jefferson listened in desperate
eagerness. "A watch?" she hazarded.
"Exactly," he responded hastily. "If
a watch doesn't run, what's the use of
Its being pretty? And if churches de
velop a gift of tongue Instead of char
acter, what's the value of their pray
ers and songs? And I've concluded
that if schools don't teach us how to
live, they have the wrong kind of
springs and wheels. Where is Fran,
Mrs. Jefferson?"
"Still," she temporized, "we can't
get along without watches, Abbott."
"No, nor schools, nor churches. But
they must have good works. Is Fran
down at the fair, do you think?"
The other bent toward him stealth
ily. "Ask where Mrs. Gregory is," she
said, wonderfully significant.
"Well?"
"Abbott, listen: She's gone a-visit-lng!"
"Visiting!" Abbott was surprised.
"Yes, visiting, she that hasn't been
off this place to visit a soul for ages.
I tell you, boy, timeB have changed,
here. Maybe you think nobody'd be
left at home to visit; but Fran has
found that there is a woman in town
that she used to know, and the woman
has a mighty sick child, and Lucy
has gone to sit by it, so the mother
can rest Think of that, Abbott, think
of Lucy going anywhere. My! Have
you heard that we've lost a secretary
at this place? I mean the future Mrs.
Bob. Yes, she's gone. ''I'd as soon
have thought of the courthouse being
picked up and set In the parlor."
Mrs. Jefferson drew back and said
succinctly: "Fran did it!"
Her cap quivered as she leaned for
ward again. "Get her to tell you all
about it. We darsen't speak about it
mw (Jjhfy
h
Her Handclasp Was So Hearty That
He Was Slightly Disconcerted.
much because of the neighbors. We
conspired, Fran and I. Yes, she's
down at the carnival, you boy!"
Abbott hastily departed. Later he
found himself in a cloud-burst of con
fetti, on the "city square" and when
he had cleared his eyes of the red and
white Bnow, he saw Fran disappear
ing like a bit of crimson glass at the
bottom of a human kaleidoscope. Fran
had thrown the confetti, then fled
how much brighter she was than all
the other shifting units of humanity.
He fought his way toward her de
terminedly, finding she was about to
be submerged. Was she actually try
ing to elude biro ?
-"Fran!" he cned reproachfully as
Hie reached her side. "How have you
the heart to run away from me after
I've been lost for weeks? Nobody
knew I'd' ever be found."
Fran gave up flight, and stopped to
look at him. A smile slipped from the
corner of one eye, to get Caught at the
corner of her demure" -mouth. "When
you disappeared, you left me yourself.
A friend always does. I've had you all
the time."
Abbott glowed. ."Still, it isn't exact
ly the eame as if I had been able to
touch your hand. Suppose we shake
hands, little friend; what do you
say?"
"I dont say anything," Fran retort
ed; "I just shake."
v Her handclasp was bo hearty zhat
he was slightly disconcerted. Was her
friendship so great that it left no room
in her heart for something greater.
"I want to talk to you, Fran, talk
and talk, oh, just about all the long
night through! Come, let me .take
you back home "
"Home? Me? Ridiculous! But I'll
tell you the best place that ever was,
for the kind of talking you and I
want to do to each other. Abbott, it
won't matter to you will it? at what
place I say to meet me, at about half
past nine?"
. "Why, Fran! It's not eight o'clock,"
Abbott remonstrated, glancing toward
the courthouse clock to find it stopped,
and then consulting his watch. "Do
you think I am going to wait till"
"Till half-past nine," said Fran, non
chalantly. "Very well, then."
."But what will we do in the mean
time, If we're not to talk till "
"We?" she mocked him. "Listen,
Abbott, don't look so cross. I've a
friend in' town with a sick daughter,
and she's a real friend so I must go
to help her, a while."
He was both mystified and disap
pointed. "I didn't know you had any
such friends in Littleburg," he remon
strated, remembering how unkind
tongues had set the village against
her.
Fran threw back her head, and her
gesture was full of pride and confi
dence. "Oh!"Tshe cried, "the town is
full of my friends."
He could only stare at her in dumb
amazement
"All right, then," she said with the
greatest cheerfulness, "at half-past
nine. You understand the date nine
thirty. Of course you wouldn't have
me desert a friend in trouble. Where
shall we meet, Abbott at nine-thirty?
Shall we say, at the Snake-Eater's?"
"Go, Fran," he exclaimed, "I'll wait
for you as long as I must, even if it's
the eternity of nine-thirty; and I'd go
anywhere in the world to meet you,
even to the den of the Snake-Eater."
"That's the way for a friend' to
talk!" she declared,' suddenly radiant
a full Fran-sun, now. instead of the
slender penetrating Fran-beam.
Seeing a leg-lined lane opening be
fore her, she darted forward.
Abbott called "But I can't promise
to talk to you as a friend, when we
meet I mean, Just as a friend."
Fran looked back at him, still daz
zling. "I only ask you to treat me as
well," she said with assumed humility,
"as we are told we ought to treat our
enemies."
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Conqueror.
After the extinguishment of the
Fran-beam, Abbott wanted to be alone,
to meditate on stellar and solar bright
ness, but in this vociferous wilderness,
reflection was impossible. One could
not even escape recognition, one could
not even detach oneself from a Simon
Jefferson.
"Got back to town again, hey?" said
Simon. That was enough about Ab
bott; Simon passed at once to a more
interesting theme: "Taken in the
Lion Show, yet?"
"I'm' just waiting for nine-thirty.
. . . I have an engagement" Fu
tile words, indeed, since it was now
only eight o'clock.
"You come with me, then, I know
all the ropes. Hey? Oh, yes, I know
mother thinks me in bed for good
ness' sake don't tell on me, she'd be
scared to death. . But actually, old
man, this carnival is good for my
heart 'Tisn't like going to church, one
bit Preaching makes me feel op
pressed, and that's what scares me
feeling oppressed." He rubbed his griz
zled hair nervously. "Just for fear
somebody'd go tell, I've had to sneak
into all these shows like I'd been a
thief in the night."
Simon urged Abbott along in the di
rection taken, but a few minutes be
fore, by Hamilton Gregory and Grace
Noir. "You see," Simon ; panted,
"when the girl fell off the trapeze
heard about that, hey? Mother wae
overjoyed, thinking I'd missed the
sickening sight But bless your soul!
I was right at the front, hanging on'
to the railing, and I saw it all. ".'.Why,
she pretty near fell on me. Her foot
slipped just'vso " Simon extended
his leg with some agility.
"Was she killed?" Abbott asked,
concealing his astonishment over Si
mon's evident acquaintance with the
black tent before which they ., had
paused.
"Well," Simon reluctantly conceded,
"n-n-no, she wasn't to say killed but
dreadfully bruised up, Abbott, very
painful. I saw it all; this carnival has
put new life into me here! Get your
ticket In a jiffy, or all the seats'll be
taken. You can't stand there like that
give me your quarter, I know how
to jump in and get first place. That
ticket agent knows me; I've been In
five times." .
From a high platform before the
black tent, a voice came through a
megaphone: "The Big . Show. The
Big Show. See those enormous lions
riding in baby carriages while La Gon
izetti makes other lions dance the
fandango to her violin. See those "
"Here, Abbott, follow!" called the
breathless Simon Jefferson. "Of course
we'll see what's there no use listen
ing to him, like an introduction in a
novel of Scott's telling it all first You
follow me."
Abbott laughed aloud at Simon's
ability as they pushed their way un
der the tent.
. "Uh-huh, now Beevthat!" groaned
Simon reproachfully, as he looked
about "Every seat taken. I tell you,
you've got to lift your feet to get into
this show. Well, hang on to the rope
don't let anybody gouge you out of
standing room."
At least two-thirds of the space un
der the tent was taken up by tiers of
seats formed of thin, and apparently
fragile, blue planks, springy to the
foot and deafening to the ear. From
hardened ground to fringed tent-ceiling,
these overlapping rows of narrow
boards were brimming with men, wom
en and children who, tenacious of
their holdings, seemed each to con
tain in his pockets the feet of him who
sat Immediately behind.
The seats faced an immense cage
which rose almost to the roof. As yet,
it was empty, but smaller adjoining
cages promised an animated arena
when the signal should be given.
Gregory and Grace Noir had sought
refuge on the highest seat, where they
might overlook the crowd; here, with
heads bent forward as if to avoid the
canvas, they hoped to escape observa
tion. , Thanks to the Influx of country
folk, Littleburg citizens were rarely
to be seen" at such shows until a later
and more fashionable hour. Gregory
was relieved to find his topmost plank
filled with strangers.
"All goes well," he said, pressing
Grace's hand. "Nobody, will find out
that we have been in here."
"Watch for Mr. Clinton," Grace
counseled cautiously. "If he comes
in, stoop lower." .
. "They're all strangers, Grace. Provi
dence is with us there's Simon Jeffer
son!" He was too amazed to think of
concealment.
"Hush! Yes and Abbott Ashton."
Gregory pulled his hat over his
eyes.
Into the tent streamed a fresh tody
of sight-seers. Simon, swinging to the I
rope that was stretched in front of the
big cage, grumbled at being elbowed
by weary, mothers and broad-cheated
farmers. - '.
The band entered and squatted upon
blue boxes In one corner. Showy red
coats were removed, in deference to
sweltering heat, and melody presided
in undress. Three bears, two clowns
and a bicycle sharpened interest in
what was to come, whetting the mind
upon jokes blunter than the .Intelli
gence of the audience. Even the band
ceased playing though that had not
seemed possible; its depressing an
dantinos had not only subdued the
bears, rendering them as harmless as
kittens, but had mournfully depressed
the audience. ...
Into this atmosphere of tamed inert
ness, suddenly flashed a little figure
whose quivering vitality communi
cated electric thrills. Even the clowns
moved less like treadmill horses, as
they took their stations at the smaller
cages, waiting to lift the .gates that
would admit the restless lions into the
central cage.
The form that had appeared one
knew not whence was that of a slight
woman, dressed in a short skirt of
blue, and bodice of white satin. The
trimmings which ran in all directions,
were rich in pendants of gold and
rubies. Above all, there was the al
luring mystery of a crimson mask
which effectually hid the- woman's
face. '
Simon whispered Into Abbott's al
ways unready ear: "That isn't La
Gonizetti. Wonder what this means?
La Gonizetti is much more of a wom
an than this one, and she doesn't wear
a mask, or much of anything else. La
Gonizetti doesn't care who .. sees her,
Why, this Is nothing but a more I
tell you now, if she ain't on to her job,
I mean to have my money back." Si
mon glowered.
Abbott stared In great perplexity.
"Then who is she?" he exclaimed "Si
mon doesn't she remind you of of
some one we know?" ',
"Naw. She's got on La Gonizettl's
dress, and her roice has the show
girl's clangy-tin-panny-whangdoodle,
but that's all I recognize."
Abbott wondered that Simon failed
to notice the similarity between the
show-girl's movements and those of
Fran. This woman had Fran's form.
To be sure the voice was entirely dif
ferent, but the rapidity and decisive
ness of action, and the air of authority,
were Fran's very xwn. However, the
show-girl's hands were as dark as an
Italian's, while Fran's were well, not
so dark, at any rate.
Abbott's brow did not relax, Ha
stood motionless, staring at every
thing before him with painful intent
ness. Up near the" roof, Gregory and
Grace scarcely observed the entrance
of the lion-tamer. Secured from
espial, absorbed in each other, they
were able, thanks to the surrounding
clamor of voices, to discuss their fu
ture plans with some degree of confidence.
Simon told Abbott "Anyway, nc
amateur would rub up against those
beasts, so I guess it's all right They
ami but two lions; bill says ten:
man that wrote the bill was the othei
eight, I reckon." -
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
By REV. PARLEY EL ZARTMANN. D.D.
Sroetarr ol Extension EVpartmen!
- Moody Bibl lattitule, Qjicmso
i TEXT Being confident of this very
thing, that h'o which hath begun a goqfl
work in you will perfect it until the day
of Jesus Christ
TRULY A VALUABLE HOUND
Visitor From Costa Rica Tells Story
Which Some People Might Find
It Hard to Believe.
At last the existence of the banana
hound has been shown to be a fact!
A man - who just arrived In this
country from Port Limon, Costa Rica,
not only knows all about the banana
hound, but has a drove of them him
self. The gentleman ia Hezekiah
Spottiswood, and for many years the
owner of a banana plantation in Costa
Rica.
"Is the banana hound a new discov
ery up here?" he asked in .surprise.
"My word, how singular! Why, we al
ways have them. They are a very es
sential adjunct to a' banana planta
tion; Indispensable almost, I should
say. What is the breed? They are
a cross between a pointer and a South
American tapir. N
"It's a very necessary thing to know
when to pick the bananas from the
trees, you know. When they have at
tained a certain shade of green, then
s the time. Now it's Very difficult to
have a man so thoroughly up in color
that he can determine this matter.
That is where the banana hound
comes In. He trots the groves with
a man behind him, and scents the
bunches which should be picked. He
stands in front of the tree and gives
a long moan, which sounds familiar to
the siren at Sandy Hook. Then he
points to a particular bunch with his
tall. -
. "The scent of the hound is unerring.
It has never been known to fail.
"And you never heard of them?"
No Joy Visit
A Glasgow, journalist who was care
less of his personal appearance was
assigned to write something about a
show at a leading Glasgow theater.
He presented his card at a box-office.
The maanger came out and looked
at the disheveled visitor dubiously.
"Did you come here to write some
thing about the play to work?" he
asked.
"Do you think I'd come to your
theater for amusement?" asked - the
journalist as he stalked out. Satur
day Evening Post.
Paris Dress Expert
In Paris the authors have a woman
who sets them right as to the dress of
the women they write about She
tells them whether they have used the
right words to describe the dress and
whether the colors that are fashion
able are named. The woman who does
this is always anonymous, and no on
but herself and the author is awext
of her existence. .
The blessed as
surance pro
claimed in the text
is indeed an evan
gel for the new
year; it opens a
door into a large
place, in which
... Christ Is every
thing to the soul;'
and "its appropria
tion will mean a
happy New -Year
for. saint and sin
ner. Two recent ex
periences have
fixed the text in
my mind and heart for the work and
need of the year. One day I was in
the oflice of a Christian business mam
and when he told me of,, his up-and-down
experiences and his fear of fail
ure I gave him this verse and asked
him to put it on his desk. Before the
day was over I was engaging In per
sonal work in an evangelistic meeting,
and to a-man who said he was afraid
to confess Christ for fear he could not
hold out, I said, Take Philipplans 1:6,
and count on God holding out He
made the venture on faith, and finde
Christ meeting every need with suffi
cient grace. -
How Can I Get Through?
How many Christians are fearful
and doubtful about the continuance
and completion of that new life which
began In them when they took Christ
as their Savior. To them the Christian
life 4s not only difficult, it is a daily
struggle, and a daily fear of collapse
and defeat. They began well, but
something has hindered them, or they
stand in dread of some spiritual ca
lamity. Service for Christ is irksome.
Praver has little moaning ntifl Ipsr
blessing or power. The Bible is neg
lected or" forgotten. Joy has fled front
the souL and gladness from the life..
Some days are bright and ' other
gloomy. Some days are happy, but on
others you wonder whether God Is still
alive. You begin to question the real
ity of . your conversion, you wonder
how you will ever get through, and
you despair of winning heaven at last.
Remember the assurance of the text.
It takes two to live the Christian life
Christ and the believer; and every day;
you may have -all of him you need.'
Always remember that the Christian'
life is not a matter of attainment, but
obtainment take it from Christ This
is a truth that needs to be magnified.
When God moves Into the heart of a
man, and. a man yields up his life tn.
th instruction and guidance of God '
God. will take him through. There may
be disappointments days when every
thing goes wrong; there may be temp
tations days, when the devil presents
the strongest and most alluring ap
peals to eye-gate or ear-gate or to
other avenues of the life, seeking to
get your consent to some enticement
and to bring you into subjection to the
powers of darkness; there will be days
of sorrow days when friends fall you,
when loved ones leave you, when you
look Into an open grace and reach out
after help; there will be days when
you doubt when you think your
Christian life Is a thing of no conse
quence to yourself and no contribution
to the cause of Christ of the coming,
of his kingdom. But and be sure of
this God will see that he wins in the
end. This Is his will'; this is what he, .
loves to do; this Is what he has begun,,
in you; and nothing Is too hard for
him he will perfect It. Always he
is working to perfect in us the very
image of Jesus Chri3t
In all our need we may count upon
the persistence, patience and perfec-i
tion of Christ's work. .
i nc Mii-oumcient savior.
The text is also an evangel for the
Binner, and he who hesitates to begin;
he Christian life may be assured here ,
and now Jthat "he which hath begun;
. . . will perfect" All he waits for.
is your faith, your surrender, your
obedience; then you will enter upon a
new year which by the grace of the
mighty God of Jacob will go on .into
an eternal life, and this life is in his
Son. He says, "My son, give me thine
heart."' When you do that he will
enter, in and take possession of that
throne and from it rule every region
of the life Just so'-far as you yield it
to him. Do not hesitate to do it You
will find Christ an all-sufficient Savior.
As your substitute he will deal with
the guilt of sin; as your Righteousness
lie will deal .with the defilement of
sin; and as your Lord he will deal
with the power of sin. Nothing is too :
hard for God.
There is a three-fold card in the
New Year evangel. 1. Prophecy
"Until the day of Christ" when you
will be complete in him, BPromise
"He which hath begun a good work in
you will perfect it." God will not rest
until his work Is done; and when .it is '
done he will call it good. 3.. Persua
sion "Being confident of this very
thing." May you have the confidence
which says, "I know when I have be.-'
lieved, and am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have con
mitted unto him, against that day,