IN HIS STEPS.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 2091, 30 September 1899, Page 4

IN HIS STEPS.

What Would Jesus Do? . — ♦_> By Chaeles H. Sheldon. CHAPTER Xl.— Continued. The door of the nearest saloon door opened and a man came out. A strong odour of beer floated up to Burns, as he stood on tbe steps. He clutched his broom handle and began to sweep. He had one foot on the porch and another on the step below. He took another step down, still sweeping. The sweat stood out on his forehead. Tbe saloon door opened again and three or four women came out. A child went m with a can and the odour of the beer came up to him. Ho took another step down, still sweeping desperately. His finders were purple as hs c'utched the handle of tbe broom. He trembled all over like a palsied man and staggered as if he were already drunk. Tho door opened ago. n and someone eair.e out. Again the hot, penetrating smell of tho liquor swept out into the cold nir, and Le took another step towa<ds the paloon doer, which hud shut behind the' customer. As be laid I. is fingers on the dcor handle, a figure came round the corner. It was the Bishop. He seized Burns by the arm and dragged him back upon the sidewalk. ' Pray, Burns 1 Pray as you never prayed before ! Nothing else will save you !' ' O God ! Save me ! O save me from my , heL !' -cried Burns. After that, they arose and Burns went into bis jooni. He came out of it that evening like a bumble child. J)r. Bruce came out, ar d tbe two friends talked over Burns and his temptation. *l)'d you ever make any inqui.its about ; the ownership of this property adjoining us ? ' the Bishop asked. • No. 1 haven't taken time for it. I will now, if you think it worth wbile. But what can we to, Edward, apain&t the saloon m this great city ? It is as firmly established as the churches or politics. What power can ever re»nove it ? ' ' God will do it m time,' replied the Bit«bop, gravely. ' Meanwhile, I think we have a risjht to know who controls Ibis saloon.' •I'll find out,' said Dr. Bruce. Two dajs later be walked int.) the tffire rf one of the members ol Nazareth Avenue Church, and asked to sf c him. He was cor«ii illy recei* e<i 1-y hie old parishioner, wh j welcomed him m o his room. • I called to Fee you about that property next to the ' Settlement. Clayton, do )ou think it i& ri»ht tcrent that pieperty.fur a saloon? ' The hot b'oud mounted to the face of the man. who sat ihere, a picture of business activity m a great city. ' Doctor, did )ou know that I took the pledge that morning with the other.B ? ' • ' Yes, I remember.' 1 But you never knew how I have been tuiint-nted over my failure to Keep it i,-"j this instance. That ealjon pinpeny has been the temptation ol l lie df\il to me. It is the best paying m\e tirent at present that I have. And yet it waa only a minute before you i-ame m here that I was m an agony of remorse to think how I wap letlirg a little earthly gain tunpt m? into denial of the very Christ 1 had promised to follow. 1 knew well enough that He would never rent property lor such a purpose. There is iio need, dc-ar Doctor, tor you to say a word more.' oay ton held out his ]<:id, and Dr. Bruce grasped it and ihcok it hard. After a little he- went uvay. Within a month the saloon next the tf ttlement was cosed. It chat ctd, by one of these remarkable coincide nets that eecm f« occui tlat oi c afteno. n, just as LMcia came cut of the- Ketiument with c basket of food wlrcli t-he was going U Jeave with a baker m the Penrofe district, -Mephen Clyde opened the deer of the carpenterVhop m the basement, and came out of the lower door m time to meet Pelieia as she reached the t-idewa'k. ' Li-t me i any your basket, pleaee,' he ea d " 1 Why do you say." please' ? ' asked Ffcliciy. • I wculd lite to say something eW replied Mephen, plani-ing at hei ' What e'se?' a.ked Felicia innocently, falling int > the trap. ' w hy,' Faid Stephen, turning },]> face towards her and eyeino- her- 'I would like tos.y. » Lei mo carry your bntket, d, ar Felicia." ' * Felicia never looud so bPautiful i,, her liJe. She walked on a little wav without even turning her face tow a ,di him linally B h.j turned and said shyly, while her fare grew ro*v, and Ut eyes tender, • Why don't \\ v tm it, then ?' ' 'May 1?' criH S.e.lei. n -il l e was so cireless for a minute of the «»V he Ju-ld tho bnfrket, that F e H c a i-»faiii.o' l Ve i ! JJ U% oh, doa't drop ■ Why, 1 «oii!,in"t drop snaliiujrso rrp,. : ,M,^f l)r H |] t , Je Wu .. ) ; |) , d - jr l ' v '\ 11 ' f fts-J Sirpl.m, who i.ow Vji-kedonairfo-M-Aeral block* j and v h .tc (to wua « ,i«] «l lir i,, X l!ial WH , k h \ private corie«p.M.dei.ee ij, v we have i.«ir. K ,,iiorßiil. U.Jv itia m.ut^rut

other direction, late m the afternoon, the Bishop, walking along quietly m a rather secluded spot near the outlying part of the,. Settlement district, heard a familiar voice say, • But tell me, Felicia, when did you bogin to love me ? ' 1 1 fell m love with a little pine shaving just above your ear, that day 1 saw you m the shop ! ' said the other voice, with a laugh so clear, so pure, so sweet, tbat it did one good to hear it.