429
TH E
K I N G ’ S
B US I N E S S
October 1925
n jjT
R T j
-------------------------------------------------- F I NE GOLD O R T H E P E A R L OF G R E A T P R I C E JO S E PH IN E HOPE W E S T ER V E L T £
H
t
One man in particular annoyed Louise. More than once she suspected that he had been invited by her parents to accompany their party for the express purpose of trying to win her affections. Worthington Randolph was a scion of a wealthy family, and had nothing to do but devote him self to his social affairs. Louise could plainly see that her parents were interested in her attitude toward this man, but when she compared him with William the man lost so much in comparison that she despised him. Several weeks later a newspaper forwarded from Brook lyn by interested friends contained an announcement of her engagement to Worthington Randolph. Louise was furious and showed it to her parents.
(Continued from last month) CHAPTER 10 LOUISE’S TESTING AND TRIUMPH H ILLIAM returned to his work with a strong faith in God that He would see him through the diffi cult places that he felt lay before him. It was two days before he knew that Louise and her parents had left the city. It cost him many a pang to know she had departed and had left him no word; not that he expected her to reconsider her decision of the few days before, but she had parted from him in anger, and he felt he should have liked to see her once more and tell her he
Mrs. Birdsey laughingly said, “It is a lit tle premature, but what difference does it make? Anyone can see how affairs are turning out.” “But I am not engaged to Mr. Ran dolph nor will I ever be, and you may both' as well understand that first as last,” said Louise, her eyes blazing. “I despise the man.” . Nothing more was said to Louise at the time by either parent, but later they talked it over together; they were distressed. “It is time that I let Louise know what is what,” said Mr. Birdsey. The mother,
bore her no ill will, and had he known about his father’s conduct before he would have told her all about it; he did not want her to think he would have told her nothing. But there was now no way, he felt, in which he could honorably reach her. So putting his shoulder to his work, he flung himself whole-heartedly into his neglected duties, and his service soon bounded forward as never before. The mission he conducted in the poorer part of the city outgrew its quarters, and they began to talk of erecting a real church building. His young men’s club from the
There is no surer way of leading our friends into the l i g h t than standing true to the vision God has given us. Our very steadfast ness may lead them to seek the vision for themselves.
puzzled over her daughter, agreed. “Louise,” said her father one day when they were walk ing the deck together, “I want you to understand that you are to have nothing more to do with that preacher. I won’t have him in the family. I want the thing absolutely stopped.” “Dad,” said Louise, “it was all ended before we left America. There is no danger of there being anything more to it.” She sighed a heavy sigh. “I am glad you were so sensible, daughter. You can see for yourself it would never do. Or,” said he as if in sud den doubt, “was he the one that ended it, and is that the reason of these sulks?” “No, Dad, I ended it, but I was needlessly cruel, and I’d give anything on earth to undo my mischief, for,” proudly she threw back her head, “I love him as I never could love any one else, and I have no one to blame but my own selfish, worthless self.” All her pride left her, and to her father’s consternation, Louise wds crying. He led her away to a darkened corner of the deck, swearing under his breath at that preacher-kid. Louise left him soon and went to her stateroom, and no more was said to Louise about the matter by any of them for many weeks. The parents talked it over, glad that the affair was ended, but troubled by Louise’s evident grief. When they reached home, they planned a series of social events calculated to take Louise’s mind from her trouble, but she refused to enter into them in her old happy, careless (Continued on page 458.)
factory were interested in their Bible study, and three •of them gave up their work to go to Bible school, and fit themselves for mission work among their fellows. William was happy, yes, even contented. His will was lost in his desire to please God, and although he thought of Louise and never forgot to pray for her salvation, he found that God comforted him as only God can; he felt no loneliness of spirit for he walked and talked with God. Louise and her father and mother went to their home in Brooklyn, but stayed only long enough to prepare for a winter in Bermuda. Mr. and Mrs. Birdsey felt that a trip of that sort would win Louise away from her minister-lover. They did not know, for Louise had kept it to herself, that she had completely broken off her engagement, although they noticed that she was not wearing her engagement ring. Louise was not happy in those days; she was restless and ill at ease. She did not seem to enjoy the voyage, nor the companionship of other young people, and she positively avoided the young men who endeavored to press their atten tions upon her. Her parents were distressed. “Can it be,” said her father, “that she is pining for that preacher?” “I certainly do not understand her,” said the mother, but she kept to herself the fact that more than once she found Louise reading a Bible, but had herself been unseen by her daughter. Louise was, impatient to be home; she begged her parents to return at the end of two months, but they refused, and not till three months were up did they sail homeward.
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker