Story of Chester Lawrence

vigor of the open rather than in their stuffy state rooms. The two seasick elders thought it wiser to remain quietly in their berths for another day, so Cheste

heart talk. The fact of the matter was that the young man found comfort in the society of his older brother. For the f

ou about myself. When my story gets tiresome, call my atten

," laughed

s Anna Lawrence. I never knew my father, not even his name. Yes, I can talk freely about it to you. The time was when I shunned even the thoug

in the care of some of my relatives, and when my mother now wished to take me, they would not give me up. They were, of course, fearful that I, too, would become a 'Mor

d been abused among the 'terrible Mormons.' After a time I took a trip out to Utah to see about it, meaning to find this Mr. Elston and compel him to do the right thing for my mother. Well, I went, I saw, and was conq

yet.

home. Julia was mistress there. In the midst of the desert, these two had created a beautiful home. I went to their S

ested the listener with

was a living example of what 'Mormonism' can do for a person, and when I looked at her, learned her thoughts through her words, and saw her life by her every-day deeds, I said to myself, 'A system

thoughtless remark

iable you are for it,

in the Chur

rs there and was baptized. Then I went to Salt Lake City, where Julia had gone to attend school while her father was away on a m

blame y

n I believe Julia discovered that she thought more of Glen Curtis than of me. I do not now blame Julia for that. She

the end of

e. The team on the stage-coach which took her out to Julia's home, ran away from the drunken driver, and just before they got to Piney Ridge Cottage the wagon upset on a dug-way, and

ey paced the long reach of the promenade deck. Th

ory; but there is something in here," said Chester, striking his

tell m

voyage. But not until I had said more than once 'not my will, but thine, O Lord, be done,' and said it from my heart, did I get peace. Then I began to see that the girl had come into my life, not to be my wife, but to turn my life into new channels. I, with the rest of the world of which I was a part, had no definite views or high ideals of life, death, 'and that vast forever;' and somethi

ave to pa

to pay a trifle-no it was not a trifle; but I have paid, and hope to continue t

one's life changed from darkness into light; to have one's journey turned from a downward course to one of eternal exaltation; to obtain a knowledge of the plan of salvation,-these are important. If one is on the right way, and kee

f Stevenson the other day, purporting to be a test of a man's fortitude and delicacy: 'To renounce where that shall be necessary, and not to be embittered.' Thank the Lord, I am not embittered. Some time ago I chose this declarati

rength of the face. He arose, shook himself as if to get rid of all past unpleasantness and weakness, and faced the east as

, there is a scho

s a day of unflecked beauty. The decks were gay with people, some walking, some leaning idly on the rail, some sitting with books in their hands.

watching for "whales" and passing vessels; the looking at the spinning log in the foaming water at the stern; the marking of the chart, which indicates the distance traversed during the twenty-four hours; the visit to the steerage and the "stoke hole," or boiler room in the depths of the ship; an

ed and the company looked around at each other with pleasant contentment. The steamship company no longer saved on the provisions. The chatty old gentlema

what appeared to be his daughter making their way slowly down the companionway towards the dining room. Chester saw at a glance that neither of them was strong, but both tried to

Now then, steady, and we'll soon be there

e two seats opposite Chester

ile, when the elderly man was well seated. Chester bowed w

k at the girl to see if there was anything uncommon about her. He looked down the table, glancing just for an instant opposite. No; there was nothing striking, or to be disturbed about. The girl was still solicitous over her companion, meanwhile eating a little herself. "I musn't be rude, thought Chester, and then looked again across the table. The man was past middle

r did not remain for the des

y good for the fir

. "You're getting on famously. Sh

to get into the air. Run alo

w, and as they entered the passageway, the girl glancing back into the room, met Chester's eyes and smiled once more. A