Part 2 (1/2)
”Remember that in religion one must follow what he thinks to be right, and Catherine Elsmere represents a large cla.s.s of people; in fact, the majority of religious people.”
Kate was naturally inclined to be charitable, and this, added to her early training in a religious home, as well as her position as a church member, made her understand Catherine's position from a conscientious standpoint much more than Grace. She could readily appreciate the fixed law of conscience Catherine had made for herself by pledging her sacred word of honor to her father, whom she revered as an infallible authority, as most people revere the legends and doctrines of the church.
”I admit that it is right to follow the dictates of one's own conscience, but I believe in having an enlightened conscience, and a reason for opinions. For that matter, so did Robert have a conscience, and while I don't understand his religion, I respect his honesty and effort. There are a great many beautiful things in what he says, but there must be a mistake somewhere in a religion that can not save to the uttermost, and his didn't. I haven't found one that does,” said Grace, with some irony.
”Nevertheless, Grace, there is nothing to warrant your a.s.sertion in the Bible. The Christian religion is full of the most blessed promises of salvation in _everything_,” said Kate, gently, but flus.h.i.+ng a little as she spoke, for she disliked talking religion with Grace, who was so skeptical, although if compelled to do so, it was a matter of duty to stand up for her Christian principles.
”Yes, I admit it gives many wonderful promises, but where are they realized? It seems to me the very fact that the church has not proven them, made such people as Robert Elsmere doubt them even as possible of fulfillment.”
”Why Grace, surely _you_ don't disbelieve in the power of G.o.d to fulfill the promises?” exclaimed Kate, deeply pained.
”I am talking from Robert Elsmere's standpoint,” answered Grace, evasively.
”My sympathy is with Catherine, for to her, religion was a living answer to her deepest needs and feelings, and to doubt that answer was nothing less than sacrilege,” said Kate, with a bright red spot on either cheek.
”Well,” answered Grace, throwing down her napkin, ”I want to see a religion that will stand infinite investigation without falling into ruins, and Robert reasoned himself away from the old beliefs and dogmas because he investigated them. He used his G.o.d-given reason, and I think that is to be used as well as the blind, unquestioning faith of Catherine.”
”There are times when we need faith and times when we need reason, but faith applies to religion and reason to the things of the world,”
replied Kate, recalling what she had heard a few Sundays before.
”Well, to me the ideal of religion is a marriage, a union of faith and reason--but this is idle talk. What does anybody know of such perfection as I demand anyway?”
Grace impatiently pushed her chair away from the table, and went to look at her picture again, in a decidedly gloomy mood.
CHAPTER III.
”Such is the world, understand it, despise it, love it; cheerfully hold on thy way through it, with thy eye on highest loadstars.”--_Carlyle._
It was a week since the party. Mrs. Hayden had been to the opera and returned late. Her husband was absent on a business trip, and she felt a vague uneasiness come over her as she entered the room. She knew not why, but it seemed unusually lonely without him. She seldom went out alone, but to-night she had gone out as much to while away the time as to hear the music. After paying her usual visit to the nursery, she went to bed, but slept little for several hours.
About 4 o'clock she was awakened by stifling fumes of smoke and startling cries of fire. Was it too late? She sprang up and ran to the nursery stairs, but the scorching flames met her, and she retreated to the window, shrieking for help, only to get a glimpse of someone through the smoke climbing toward her.
”Hold on!” cried the fireman, and reached out his arms for her just as she fell back fainting. Grasping her firmly, the brave man dragged her out of the window, and began his perilous descent. When about half way down, the ladder fell, but its burden was expected, and mattress and bed-clothing saved them from what might have been worse. As it was, the fireman escaped with a few bruises and slight scorching, and Mrs.
Hayden with a broken limb. First they feared she was dead, but after a few moments she revived and moaned feebly for husband and children.
Little Mabel clung desperately to her mother, and sobbingly told her ”only the house was burnt. Fred and Jamie were safe, and now she must get up and be glad.” Poor child, instinctively she knew the value of life above all other things.
”How did it happen, where did it start, and who saw it first?” were the queries on every side. Some one down at the foot of the hill had seen a tiny blue flame licking the corner of the roof. The fire alarm was touched, the bells set to ringing, and the observers leaped up the terraced stairways and arrived at the top just as the whole house burst into flames. The fire company had not arrived in time to do anything, as it was impossible to climb the hill with their heavy trucks, and their hose was not long enough to reach the flames, so the house was gone.
Many people had gathered from all quarters in the fas.h.i.+on peculiar to fire crowds, but now they had seen the spectacle, and, as there was nothing further to see or do, they slowly dispersed.
Mrs. Hayden and the children were removed to the hotel and a telegram sent to Mr. Hayden, informing him of the catastrophe.
When he arrived, twelve hours later, he found his wife confined to the bed with a nervous fever and a broken limb. The children were safe and well cared for, and though his elegant home was in ruins, John Hayden was deeply thankful. Marion would, of course, get over the trouble, and things were much better than they might have been, he said. So he tried to look on the bright side, and after a few cheering words and a loving kiss he left her, to run up the hill and view the ruins.
It was early twilight, and as he beheld the smouldering _debris_, and realized that the comforts and luxuries, possibly the necessities of life had gone up in the smoke that even now curled in sullen wreaths from the blackened heaps, he bowed his head and wept.