By a way that they knew not

Front matter

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Chapter I

^OU would have pronounced Susie Keith every inch a lady, from her neatly booted foot, to her dainty head, crowned with its wealth of dark-brown hair. She sat in a low rocker by the open window, in her room at Mt. Celia Seminary, bending intently over an open book. Turning occasionally, she let her bright eyes rove over the beautiful landscape, — stretched out like a gigantic panorama in the June sunshine ; then she resolutely turned her attention to her lesson, and her face was statue-like in its thoughtful quietness. She was something more than beautiful, this gray- eyed girl, with the grand, sweet gra- ( 5 )

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ciousness of a noble woman’s soul imprinted on every feature. And nigh to her, about her daily path, had ever been the heavenly influences of love, and truth, and beauty.

Quite unlike Susie Keith, in every respect, was her room-mate, Edna Byford, who nestled up in the broad window- seat of another window. She was the petted darling — or perhaps doll would be the better word — of a wealthy home ; an only daughter, indulged, and spoiled, and allowed to have her own sweet way in everything. And, something as a baby mother will dress up her waxen doll, in silks, and ribbons, and fanciful attire, so Mrs. Byford delighted to enhance the almost perfect beauty of her child. Indeed, it seemed sometimes that hardly a thought had she above and beyond. What shall we eat, and drink, and wear? Certainly the text-books that she most studied were instructive of fashion only. Without question, Edna’s was a face for any mother to be proud of ; it was

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also a face for which to pray heaven’s protection. But not a thought of prayer for the beautiful girl entrusted to her care, had Mrs. Byford. Ah no ! With her, the important question — the thing to be careful for — was, whether pink, or blue, would suit best the delicate complexion, whether high or low neck to her dress would be most becoming, and so on through the endless round of fashionable quibbles. Now you are ready to admit, that, under such circumstances, it would have been quite wonderful if Edna had been anything but vain and superficial.

“ I declare, I wish there wasn’t such a thing in the world as a book ! ”

It was Edna who said this, in a tone half petulant, half playful. She tossed back the light rings of hair clustering over her temples, as she spoke, and her eyes wandered longingly out into the surrounding beauty.

Susie smiled, without raising her eyes from her book.

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Edna drummed on the window impatiently. “ What a provoking old book- worm you are, Susie! I really don’t believe you ever get tired of studying.”

Susie looked up, still smiling.

“‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.’ ”

“ Oh bother ! ” returned Edna, quite testily, “for pity’s sake, can’t you speak, without quoting the Bible? How’s your graduating ^ dress made? I’m more interested in that, than I am in this stupid old lesson. What’ s the use in learning all this fol-de-rol anyway, I should like to know ? I never intend to be a school-marm, and who else in the world needs to know all this rubbish ? ’ ’

At this point Sasie expostulated.

‘ ‘ Please do keep quiet, Edna ; it’ s against the rules to talk during study hours.”

“Humph!” said Edna, “who cares for the rules? Not I.”

Nevertheless, seeing any farther conversa-

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tion was out of the question, she betook herself to her own neglected lesson.

Presently a bell sounded through the building, saying to weary students that study hours were over.

“There, I’ve got it,” Susie said gayly, closing her book.

“Well, I’m tired of it, if I haven’t got it,” said Edna, throwing her book 9n the table. “Is it against the rule to talk now % ”

“No,” Susie answered, with a soft little laugh, “I’m ready to talk, or walk, or anything your ladyship feels inclined to do.”

Edna puckered up her face into a thoughtful expression.

“Let’s see,” she said, “I believe I want to see your graduating dress the most of anything just now.”

So Susie opened her trunk and brought to view a dress, so exquisite, that Edna exclaimed,

“ How perfectly lovely ! India mull! And trimmed with real lace, too ! ”

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“Do you like it ?” questioned Susie.

“Like it! you sly puss, you know it’s just too charming for anything. Well, in one more week it will all be over, and then — ”

“And then, you and I will be homewardbound,” interrupted Susie, her face all aglow with gladness.

“Is Sycamore a nice place questioned Edna.

“/ think it is, delightful,” answered Susie, “ maybe you won’ t like it, though, you are so accustomed to the city.”

“Oh, I never stay in the city through the summer ! ” returned Edna, “the heat and dust are horrid in hot weather.”

Now you are prepared to hear that Edna was going home with Susie, for the summer vacation. A strange friendship, it seemed, but those of you who know anything of the close intimacy of boarding-school life, will easily understand it.

‘“I warn you, beforehand, Susie,” said

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Edna, “that I’m a terrible flirt; so, if you have any special gentleman friend, perhaps you had better take good care of him.”

Her eyes sparkled with a daring, bewitching light, as she spoke, and Susie looked at her, thinking how charming she was, with her pretty, changeful, coquettish ways, but not a thought had she of what a dangerous rival she might be. Indeed, I think she would almost have scorned to believe that her lover, or particular friend, could thus think of Edna By ford.

“ I expect Nelson will fall a victim to your charms at the first glance,” she answered, laughing.

“When does your brother return?” questioned Edna, demurely.

Susie could hardly repress a smile, as she imagined her grave, thoughtful brother, yielding homage to her thistle-down, thoughtless friend ; nevertheless, she answered, gravely :

“We expect him the first of August.”

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Meantime commencement day— well named commencement day, for on that day ends the old, happy, careless school life, and a new life begins — came, and crowded to excess was the spacious hall with expectant friends and relatives. Presently, to slow, marching music, came the graduates, and fair as two lovely brides looked Susie and Edna, in their snowy dresses. There were a few preliminary exercises, then Susie stepped gracefully forward and delivered the salutatory address, and her clear, distinct words of welcome broke the utter silence of the room.

Following the address, Edna sang. Now it so happened that this was Edna’s special gift, — a voice so rich, and rarely beautiful in tone, that her hearers were usually thrown into a transport of delight. Exceedingly proud was Mrs. Byford of this God-given talent, and no pains or expense had been spared to give it the highest cultivation. It was a tender farewell piece that Edna sang on that particular

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afternoon, and, exquisitely tender, her voice rolled out every word, distinctly spoken, of the class song —

“ Now the time has come for parting:

Classmates, we must say good-bye.

We’ll go forth with lofty purpose,

And fulfill it ere we die.’^

“What’s this!” said some one in the crowd. “A prima donna at a boarding-school commencement I ”

“I actually pity that girl,” said another thoughtful man, looking searchingly at Edna’s lovely, flushed face.

“Pity her!” cried the flrst speaker, “I shoAild rather think of envying her.”

“I tell you, her beauty, and talent together, are dangerous weapons in unskilled hands. If she hasn’ t a praying mother, her feet stand in slippery places.”

But other exercises took their attention then ; and almost before they were aware of it, the principal was saying a few last words of earnest counsel to the graduates, and then

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it was all over. Life was all before them then, — it was the spring of their year, the time of budding promise, of fearless hope. Were they prepared to make the most of the rich possibilities awaiting them ? To so live that other lives would be better, and happier, for their living ? Ah me ! how few realize what a fearfully solemn thing life is, until it is too late, and they stand, clutching in weary, drooping hands, the harvest of a life — nothing but leaves. And yet, how well worth the living is life to those who can say at its close, “I have fought a good fight; I have kept the faith.’’

But nothing of this thought Edna, as she folded her graduating dress, with its numberless ruffles, and planned out her campaign for the summer.

Chapter II

WT was an inviting picture upon which their |r eyes rested — that glorious old homestead, ^ bathed in the rare freshness and beauty of a perfect June day.

‘ And what is so rare as a day in June ? ’ ” said Edna, her eyes taking in all the details.

The house, large and square, with broad vine-wreathed verandas ; the lawn, sloping away like a rich velvet carpet of green ; and here, there, everywhere, shrubs and flowers scattered in careless profusion, where the bees droned and hummed lazily. The occasional flutter of the leaves, stirred by a passing breath of wind, or perhaps the touch of a wandering butterfly’s wings; the twitter of the birds, as they flitted here and there ; the sweet incense arising from myriads of unnoticed flowers,

smiling up into the clear, blue sky, — all con- (15)

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tributed to form a liome-like picture, quite new and charming to Edna Byford’s city accustomed eyes.

“Here we are, at home,” said Susie, as the carriage stopped.

“How delightful ! ” cried Edna.

Then Susie sped up the steps, to be folded in her mother’s arms. There was a moment’s forgetfulness of her friend, then she said, eagerly,

“ Mother, this is Edna Byford.”

Mrs. Keith took Edna’s hand, and held it in a close, warm grasp, and made her welcome with a sweet, motherly grace.

After which, the girls went up-stairs to their room, to freshen their travel-stained toilets. And what a perfect bower of beauty this same room was, with its soft, delicate carpet, and rich, massive furniture, softened by curtains of exquisite lace, that swayed idly in the summer wind.

Edna was charmed with everything, — with the perfect beauty of the day, with Susie’s

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mother, and with Susie’s room, where the blossoming elm -boughs were swaying in at the open window. Then the dainty tea, served in the cool, delightful dining-room, where the doors were thrown back, and let in the breath of budding shrubs and blooming flowers, .was altogether enchanting. Susie and Edna talked and laughed about the meagre boarding-school fare, and Mrs. Keith smiled at their nonsense, or spoke gently now and then, and studied, meanwhile, her young daughter’s friend.

When the repast was ended, they went out on the piazza, and gradually the soft, rose-tinted twilight deepened down around them. Then Susie slipped away to the piano, and the sweet melody of her song floated out from the open windows and lingered all about them, and the beauty and stillness folded them in like a mantle.

The elegance of the Keiths’ home was nothing new to Edna Byford. But the genuine comfort, the refined pleasantness, the family 3

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joy, tliat reigned there, and welcomed her into its midst, were wholly new and strange. She drank in the sunshine and beauty, and the sweet loving-kindness, and Christ-like courtesy, together, and thought of them — if she thought at all— as parts of one another. Still, she had never seen just such sunshine and indescribable civility before. She was totally ignorant of the fundamental principle of goodbreeding, which teaches us to ‘‘Be kindly affectioned one to another,, with brotherly love ; in honor preferring one another.’’

Meantime, Mrs. Keith, with sweet, motherly grace, and gentle womanliness, held high her gospel-lighted lamp. And the summer days went gayly by ; and in due course of time the evening of the weekly prayer-meeting came ; and out upon the evening stillness the great bell in the church steeple sent forth its invitation.

Within the church Rev. Br. Gordon waited the coming of his people — with the least little unacknowledged feeling of discouragement

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tugging at his heart-strings. As he waited^ he hummed, softly, —

‘ ‘ ril cast on Him my every care,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.”

Then the people began to drop in, one by one, pausing in the vestibule to chatter of any and every thing but prayer.

“ I just know I shall laugh,” said Edna, as they entered the outer door, “I always want to when I’m in church.”

Susie looked grave.

‘‘But you mustn’t,” said she. And then others came in, and they went quietly to their seats.

And presently Edna nud-ged Susie, and whispered,

“Isn’t he handsome?”

Then Dr. Gordon — a man of perhaps thirty, with a grave, thoughtful face, and deep, dark eyes, expressive of fire, and earnestness, and almost infinite tenderness, — arose, and looked around upon the upturned faces. A moment

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he paused ; then, in a clear, low voice, read their evening, lesson, ending with the impressive injunction : —

“ ‘ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus/ ’’

Immediately after the reading, they sang that inspiring old hymn :

“ Am I a soldier of the cross, —

A follower of the Lamb, —

And shall I fear to own His cause,

Or blush to speak His name ? ”

Then Dr. Gordon said : —

“ Let us pray.”

And then, for perhaps the first time in her life, Edna listened to real, heartfelt prayer. Not as if speaking to some far-away, strange being, but simply as a child, tenderly, as a large-souled man would ask some much desired favor of a beloved parent, so Dr. Gordon pleaded the cause of his people. And not a thought of laughing had Edna, as the wonderful words, spoken by the low, earnest, tender voice, penetrated to her inner consciousness.

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As for Susie, she could have repeated the entire petition — almost word for word — so deep was the impression it made upon her soul.

After the prayer, the congregation sang : —

“ Work, for the night is coming.”

At this point Dr. Gordon announced that the remainder of the time would be devoted to testimony, and recommended that every one in the room take part in the exercises. He glanced at Susie as he spoke, and her eyes fell, and the color rose in her face.

^‘What! stand up before Edna and confess her Lord! Indeed, indeed she couldn’t,” her thoughts ran.

And Dr. Gordon — with his profound knowledge of human nature — saw and read her indecision, and girlish cowardice, and gladly would he have given to her of his abundant courage.

“ Ashamed of Jesus! that dear friend,

On whom my hopes of heaven depend! ”

he sang softly.

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Susie’s lips parted eagerly, then closed again, like one afraid to speak, her breath came quickly, and she trembled from head to foot ; nevertheless, she rose to her feet.

‘‘Jesus is my friend, and Savior,” she said, timidly.

Then she grew strangely calm, and strong.

“ Thank God,” said Dr. Gordon, earnestly.

Then, after a few words of testimony from old and young, he spoke a few solemn, closing words.

“My friends,” he said, “if you go forth from this meeting strengthened to do whatsoever you do to the glory of God, then your coming has not been in vain. Your allotted task may be hard and distasteful ; your daily round, irksome and disagreeable ; and you may feel tempted, in utter discouragement, to say, there is nothing you can do to the glory of God. But the Great Teacher taught that ‘ a cup of cold water only,’ given in the spirit of love, was worthy of reward.

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‘‘Christ said, ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ray brethren, ye have done it unto me.’ And only as you realize this fact, doing whatever you do as unto Him, can you live a broad, beautiful, Christian life. Thus understanding it, the most commonplace action becomes sublime. What matters, then, where your feet stand, or wherewith your hands are busy? You need not say, ‘ Oh, if I could only do some grand work for Christ ! ’ You have but to ‘Lift up your eyes to look on fields white already to harvest, but the laborers are few.’ Let none hear you idly saying,

“ ‘ There is nothing I can do,

While the souls of men are dying,

And the Master calls for you:

Take the work He gives you gladly,

Let His work your pleasure be ;

Answer quickly, when He calleth,

Here am I, send me, send me.’ ”

Chapter III

® R. GORDON, my friend, Miss Byford.’’

I It was Susie who said this, a few moments later.

Edna bowed, with that inimitable air of grace, and her great childlike eyes looked up into his, — grave and questioning. She imagined his look said : Miss Byford, are you a Christian ? So, from pure contrariness, she said some trifling, nonsensical thing. Then others pressed up to shake hands with their pastor, and they went their separate ways. And home, through the glorious moonlight, walked Dr. Gordon, thinking deeply of his people’s welfare. For the young he felt especially anxious, and his grave face brightened when he recalled Susie’ s

modest testimony, realizing, as he did, the ( 24 )

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moral courage required to give it, and to himself he said :

‘‘Unless I am very greatly mistaken, she has the elements of a grand, Christian character.”

Strangely quiet was Edna during the homeward walk, and Susie’s conversation was wholly to herself. It ran something in this way:

“‘Whatsoever.’ That must mean every little thing. It would be truly lovely to live so, but — would it be possible ? Let’s see — if I should try — in the first place, mother is very particular about my appearance. She wants my hair combed nicely every morning, before breakfast, and my collar and cuffs, and everything about my dress, exquisitely neat. Now, for my part, I would much rather give my hair a quick brush, than waste the time combing it so nicely, and as for collars and cuffs, I don’ t see why they are necessary at all. Then, mother says order is heaven’s first law, and

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she is constantly speaking to me about my disorderly habits. I really don’t intend to be careless, but it is so much trouble to stop, when one is in a hurry, to put every little thing in its proper place. But I suppose ‘ Whatsoever’ must mean to please mother in every possible way, and pleasing her means doing all these little homely duties. Why, if I start trying, on that principle, there will be no endto the things I ought to do. But how strange it will seem to think of doing such trivial acts ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus.’ ”

However, before they had reached home, Susie had determined in her resolute little heart to take that one word, “Whatsoever,” for her motto. Thankful, indeed, would Dr. Gordon have been could he have seen the earnest purpose, and known that it was born of words of his.

“It’s just too ridiculous,” Edna said, the minute they were in their room, “the way people go on at a prayer-meeting.”

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She took the pins from her hair as she spoke, and let it fall, like a rich, golden veil, around her. Then she looked in the glass to see the effect, and curled her frizzes round her finger. It was one of Edna’s besetting sins, this admiring herself in the mirror, and — to those who admire pink and white prettiness — the face she saw refiected there was very lovely.

Susie fiushed deeply. .

“ Did you notice anything very absurd this evening?” she asked, anxiously, and Satan had the pleasure of disturbing her spirit by the thought that Edna alluded to her testimony.

Edna laughed.

“ Of course you didn’t see anything but Dr. Gordon’s handsome face,” she said, “ I shouldn’t object to going to prayer-meeting myself, if I was sure of meeting him there. But the idea of being obliged to sit and hear some horrid old woman say : ‘ The blood of

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Jesus Christ cleanseth me from all sin,’ is too absurd.”

Susie was folding the pillow-shams, and she finished folding them, and laid them neatly in the drawer, before she answered :

“ The Bible says, ‘ He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto Grod by Him.’ ”

“Humph!” said Edna contemptuously, “you are welcome to believe such nonsense; for my part, I don’t believe one word of it. I think religion is just another name for fanaticism.”

Saying which, she shut her lips with a dispute-me-if-you'-can expression, gave her hair an energetic twist, and went on with her elaborate preparations for the night.

As for Susie, she drew her Bible to her and turned its leaves a little nervously. She was so unused to religious controversy, that Edna’s careless words jarred on her with positive pain. But a wonderful panacea for

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nervousness is the Bible, and, though Susie made no effort to read, the touch of its leaves quieted her. And then she was ready for her evening lesson, and she slowly read :

“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, can not be my disciple.’’

Just there she paused, to ponder on what it really meant to “ come after” Christ. And she almost exclaimed aloud, so startling came the thought to her awakened soul, that it meant nothing more, nor less, from beginning to end, but the sacrifice of self. To followers of Him, the glorious leader, there was no promise given of temporal joy. He who said, “The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool,” gave only peace to His disciples. To them He said :

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you ; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.”

‘‘ Must I, then, give up all desire for happiness in this world?” she mused sadly. Then

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a rare smile overspread her face as she thought, that, after all, the choice did not rest with her. And presently she dropped upon her knees, and laid all the tangles down into the Hand that overrules all things so wisely, and so well. Very sweet was the peace that settled down upon her then, and the head she laid upon her pillow was full of tranquil thoughts.

The next morning, as they stood on the veranda, discussing their plans for the day, a firm, manly step startled them, and they turned quickly to greet Dr. Grordon.

“Oh dear!’’ Edna said to herself, “I do hope he won’t talk religion.”

But altogether too earnest was Dr. Gordon to let an opportunity pass without saying some word for his Master.

“ Are you ready for work. Miss Keith ? ” he said presently.

A rare glow spread over her face, but she answered quickly and truthfully :

“Yes.”

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Dr. Gfordon looked kindly into the clear, true eyes, uplifted to his, then he turned and said, pleasantly :

“We are sorely in need of workers, Miss By ford, can’t you lend us a helping hand ? ”

Edna laughed.

“ Why, Dr. Gordon, Pm a heathen ! she said, lightly.

If she expected him to look shocked, or in any way dismayed at this startling announcement, she was mistaken.

“Ah,” he said, quietly, “then I have a message for you. The King commissions me to invite you to a wedding ; but he bids me tell you that no guest will be admitted without a wedding-garment.”

He smiled pleasantly as he spoke, and Edna was at a loss to know whether he was talking “religion” or not. Nevertheless, she had no ready answer to his words, so he continued :

“ Come into my Bible-class next Sunday, and I will tell you all the particulars.”

‘‘What do they do in a Bible-class she questioned, feeling that she must say something.

“We read the Bible, and study its beautiful lessons,” he answered. “Then we sing, and have a good time generally. But come and see for yourself.”

There was silence for a moment, and then he easily brought on a conversation of every-day matters ; while Edna held a little talk with herself, that ran something in this way :

“His Bible-class ! The idea ! What would the girls say to see me croning over the Bible?”

Dr. Gfordon arose to go.

“ I shall expect you next Sunday,” said he. And before she really knew it, Edna had promised to go.

Well, Sunday came — a perfect day — and Edna’s first waking thought was of the “purple, and fine linen,” wherewith she meant to array herself. And not a thought

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liad slie for the solemn command, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

After breakfast she went to her room, and, after a brief discussion with herself, proceeded to lay upon the bed the articles of her toilet. There was a silk, with Worth’s matchless style stamped upon it, and creamy laces; gloves, matching the exquisite brown of her dress, and a dainty hat, representing a fabulous sum of money. The little lady’s face was aglow with satisfaction as she inspected the elegant display, and she said to herself,

“There, that will give the country people some idea of style.”

And the early hours of the pure, sweet Sabbath morning went their way, while her mirror monopolized her thoughts.

As for Susie, like an outgrowth of the pure, sweet day seemed she, as they walked down the quiet street to the church together.

Chapter IV

»NA settled herself, with all the grace imaginable, in a corner of the pew ; looking like a young princess in her elegant attire.

“ ‘ What ! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own ? For ye are bought with a price : therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,’ ” said Dr. Gordon.

And Edna listened to the sublime words, toying carelessly with her fan, thinking the while what a commanding oratorical tableau he made ; with his erect, graceful figure, his native dignity, his splendid head, and his face all aglow with that inimitable light, heartholiness gives to even the homeliest features.

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must personally know whereof he speaks. But the doctor was fully equal to the occasion, and garlanded the old, old story with so many flowers of poetry and rhetoric that the entire congregation sat spell-bound from the text to the peroration.

There is something contagious in religious enthusiasm, and Edna forgot her fan, forgot the effect of her dress, as she drank in the majestic sentences.

When the speaker touched upon the doctrine of holiness, and demonstrated how perfectly right and proper it was that a professing Christian’s heart and life should be pure and consecrated, her eyes began to dilate with wonder.

Perhaps, if an older, or plainer man had spoken the same truths, she would not have been thus impressed. Be this as it may, this morning, for the lirst time, she comprehended the grandeur, and beauty, of the Christian religion.

‘Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,’ ” Dr. Gordon said. “ ‘ For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people ; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness, into His marvelous light.’ ”

Edna listened breathlessly, thrilled through every nerve into an ecstasy of delight, until suddenly her attention was arrested by the sound of a loud whisper, in a childish voice, just behind her.