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4 CHAPTER IV. (Continued from last week.) UST come right in, Miss Lura.’’ There was genuine welcome in the invitation, but the mountain woman stopped short at the top step as if embarassed. “I hope as J how you won’t mind,” she apologized, “but they’s a man a-lyin’ in there by the hearth. He got hurt down at the works and they brung him on up here.” “I don’t mind, of course,” assured the girl graci ously. “But shan’t I disturb?’ ’ “Oh, no, ma’am, not at all,” said Mrs. Shelton warmly. “Only—as Ben’s just stepped out, we can go right on through to the kitchen. I’ve got my churnin’ in there.” As they tiptoed softly over the loose, creaking planks, Lura shot one swift, curious glance toward the much bundled-up heap on the hearth. She could not see a single feature for the quilts and the arm which covered his face. Only the small pool of blood that had run out from under the heap of bedclothes caught her eye, and she shuddered. “Is —was he badly hurt, Mrs. Shelton?” asked Lura when they were in the stove-room; she herself standing behind the stove as if she had been used to pots and pans all her life; Airs. Shelton trying to hold a baby and churn too. “I think I must have seen him get hurt. Was he sawing?’’ “It sawed his leg right here,” Mrs. Shelton indi cated her thigh, “and run a snag in his side. He didn’t think he was hurt much at the first start, and he went back to work. But his side tore loose and went to bleeding and they had to bring him on up here. Oh, Lord! but I wish Ben would hurry back.” She looked anxiously through the window at the road. “I’m scared his side will tear loose again. The Doc come and fixed him up, but if anything was to happen, goodness knows I couldn’t do nary blessed thing but faint over like a fool. There comes Ben now,” as a step that would be heavy no matter how lightly he tried to walk, resounded on the porch. The mountaineer stopped for a moment and asked the man on the hearth a question, which, together with the answer, was unintelligible to Lura. Shel ton then stalked on into the kitchen and, after a respectful, “good evenin’, ma’am,” to Lura inquired if there was any fresh water up. Assured that there was, he filled a glass, and, turn ing to his wife, said: “Tildy, you’ll have to put down the brat and come and help me give it to him. You know what the Doc said about me movin’ him and I’m so shaky and bunglin’ that I can’t by myself.” “Oh, Lord! I can’t,” protested his wife. “You know I can’t stand to look at no blood.,l’d keel over as dead as a mack’rel if I—” “Maybe I can help you, Mr. Shelton, “It came out quite naturally and Lura stepped from behind the stove. AA hy should it matter? He was only a poor rough son of the hills; it need make no difference whatever. And then—now that she was to be thrown upon her own resources, she had just about decided thinking out for the future to learn nursing—so here was a good practical chance to test her talent. Ben Shelton glanced a little doubtfully at his would-be assistant. It occurred to him that the touch of the dirty, coal-blackened garments of the man in yonder would contaminate those dainty hands, that spotless dress —and there was the blood. WATCHES JEWELRY W* ELGIN, WALTHAM, HAMILTON WORKS Gold Band Rings - $5.00 to $7.50 $7.00 to $32.00 Gold Tiffany Rings $3.50 to $5.00 Tell us the kind of watch you want to own and we will make you a LaVallaires, Solid Gold - $5.00 special price. See our bargain, 12 size 15 jewel open face $15.00 eS for c ’ atalogu ; and Bp ; cial price tO ss °° BANTA-COLE JEWELRY COMPANY Af/SS A. M. COLE, Manager 5 SOUTH BROAD STREET Tta UnS'.VS ,hls ATLANTA, GEORGIA THE GOLDEN AGE FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 1, 1914 TEST AND TEMPTATION “You ain’t faintified?” he inquired bluntly. Lura laughed softly as she looked into his face. “Not one bit,” was her cheerful assurance. “But I kinder hate —,” he began. “Y es, but you needn’t,” Lura interrupted, her eyes shining now with sympathy, at the thought of being of service to the humblest. ’Tis a good way to bury heart-aches —helping oth ers. For one brief moment she forgot Walter Brandt, who had so cruelly deceived her —forgot Alden Meire’s lady-mother who was ashamed to have her boy marry her because of their “’money differ ences;” Afeire nimself, who was not brave enough to take a stand for himself, Airs. Holman, who had been so anxious for her to marry Alden, her cousin; her Aunt Helen, who would be so mortified and angry,--yes, she forgot it all in the thought of service to a suffering human being. “Here now, Miss Lura, just kinder slip that arm under his head —that’s the way. Easy now, we ain’t a-goin’ to hurt you, Air. Brandt.” Lura started violently. But, no, no, it could not be of course; that other one had been dead four years, ’twas just the name. This might be a bro — The sick man let the arm drop slowly from over his eyes, and the firelight shone full on his features. In spite of the report of suicide, in spite of the coarse dirty shirt at his throat, or the tanned, un shaven face, she knew in a moment that it was — Walter Brandt. Lura did not cry out nor faint, but her face suddenly lost its color and the arm under the man’s head trembled visibly, as did her whole frame. The mountain man looked uneasily at her. “Losin’ your nerve?” he whispered. “I’m a-goin’ to wash up that blood direc’ly.” She could not tell whether or not Walter Brandt knew her. At least he did not appear agitated, and she comforted herself with the thought that in his weakened condition, it was possible he only half realized her presence. She was soon to find out. “Thank you,” he said very faintly, as they laid him back down. “It was kind of you, Miss Bon durant.” Lura’s gentle face grew hard. “You —you —” she began, as looking back at him, she reeled toward the kitchen door. Just inside the door she sank dowm, a huddled heap on the floor. “Oh, Lord! I never seed such a time in all my life.” Lura opened her eyes and found herself in Mrs. Shelton’s huge feather bed in the corner. She saw, as in a maze, the peppers and newspapers that adorned the walls and Airs. Shelton’s tearful face bending over her. She raised herself on her elbow, half expecting to see no form on the hearth, no puddle of blood beside him. The blood had been washed up, but it was no dream. The man lay as when she first saw him, one arm on the floor, the other over his face. He had not moved. Airs. Shelton tucked the cover in about the girl. “Did the blood make you faint, honey?” she in quired tenderly. “I want to go home, Airs. Shelton,” she half sobbed, trying to rise. “Do help me up and let me go.” In spite of Airs. Shelton’s protests, in spite of her efforts to detain her by force, Lura got out and staggering across the floor made for the door. Brandt Ethel Tupper Walker. did not so much as stir. At that moment Aljr. Holman drove up. “Airs. Belden wants you, Aliss Lura.” he announc ed. “Why, what’s the matter?” he asked with some concern as Airs. Shelton came helping her out the door. Mrs. Shelton explained what she thought to be the cause of the girl’s condition, and helping her into the car, watched them drive away. (To be Continued.) OUR PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION FOR PRAYER. TESSA W. RODDEY OR months the forces of evil have seemed to hold sway in Europe and —so far as trying to combine on food values —in America. There are two mighty powers in this world — F Good and Evil. Sometimes it seems they are nearly evenly divided —sometimes it seems Good has pre vailed —sometimes it seems that Evil has prevailed— for two months it would seem that evil is in the ascendent —and has been using all the powers and weapons of evil to win against the Good. Envy, hatred, malice, spite, selfishness and greed. These have led to murder —wholesale murder. The forces of Good have seemed vanquished; we have tried to see some way to meet the situation without using the same evil weapons that arc being used so cruelly across the seas. A country that advocates peace cannot consistently sight —cannot use the forces of the evil one even to bring about good. A voice has come to us revealing the way. The most powerful forces for good in all the cycles of time have been prayer and faith —we are asked to use them in our efforts to bring the forces of Good again in power. A voice came to the people saying “Alobilize for prayer on a certain day. Mobilize the thought forces —mobilize the psychic powers of the soul —the strong currents of thought into channels of good— mobilize the souls of men to co-operation against evil.” What a powerful combination! What a wonder ful effort! AA r e are soldiers of the powers of God. Our God is Love. Our great Ruler is so great He can win by using the forces of good. On this appointed day we are to join our soul forces in a mighty battle against the evil. Think of it, people —a great and powerful and wonderful current —torrent of love sweeping up to the great white throne —the throne of power and grace and of mighty tenderness and love! What can we not do when in such powerful soul touch with the forces of Infinity—of Immortality — of Eternal Love! What is the promise where we are “agreed as touching” that for which we ask? Methinks I see the great white way of His love extending all along down to the world, lightening and brightening, glori fying and forgiving, bringing a wonderful calm out of the chaos of storm. Afethinks I can hear the mighty chorus of angels that will sing the hymn of Peace and Victory in Heaven. (Continued on page 5.)