Olivet Nazarene University - Aurora Yearbook (Bourbonnais, IL)

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come a distinguished prima donna and social leader; and could she hold true? Would God not forgive her if she continued the pathway she was on? He, the great God of justice would understand how circumstances were against her. She was veilding when her own words came back to her with a blow, A more elevated standard, the world seldom produces real men and women. She hated weak characters, yet now she saw herself yielding to her own fancies, re- gardless of her convictions. She heard the great hall clock as it began to strike twelve. In a distance she heard the faint ringing of a bell ; soon other bells joined them, the great whistles blew forth with mighty volume and hundreds of other bells began to join in the glad refrain. They were ringing the old year out, and seemed to be singing their testimony in the cool, clear atmosphere. She listened wonderingly. Her imagination caused her to almost see the silvery sounds as thev left the iron bell, never to return again, The steam, after leaving the whistles, was free to wander into unlim- ited space. Could not she, likewise, break away from the social bonds, — the sin-stained world that held her? Her lips tightened to a firm line, she would be a real woman. She would live for God. Two arms were raised heavenward, two beauti- ful eyes were looking up to God, she had given all to follow Him. The old bells were now hanging silent in the belfrys; their work was finished; they had rang out a life of ungodliness and rang in a — woman, — a real woman. -C. B. J. I 29 |

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had arrived, but he was not there. As she glanced in the room her eyes fell upon an old Bible stored away on the top shelf with volumes of other books, which were termed as drv subjects. A hunger to read its contents seemed to hold her as she gazed upon the word Holy. She glanced around to make sure that no one saw her and with faltering footsteps walked to the shelf, and after seizing the book, shuffled to her room like a frightened fawn and locked the door. A soft death-like stillness prevailed in her room, the furnishings were plainly visible in the bright silvery moonlight. She let her cloak drop from her shoulders and stood before the oval mirror of her little inlaid ivory dressing tabic. The beauty of her fine cut features seemed superhuman in the soft moonlight. She leaned forward and scanned herself more closely; never before had her leaded eyelashes seemed so conspicuous to her, her low-cut gown had never looked so exaggerated and the sparkling jewels that decorated her hands, neck and hair seemed like the eyes of huge demons. The Bible was still in her hands; she opened it mechanicallv and tried to read, but the light was too dull. She went to the window where the rays might fall directly upon the leaves, and read the words Vanity of vanity, all is vanity, just as the diamond in her finger ring gave an impudent flash. 1 1 seemed to mock her, she took it from her finger with an impatient jerk, she tore the rest of the jewels from her person and threw them on the dressing table. A greater eagerness, a greater hunger to read seemed to hold her. She read of Christ ' s love for humanity, of his sufferings for us and his great enduring patience. She fingered the pages eagerly. The next passage read, All you who are wearv and heavy laden, come unto me and I will give you rest. The beauty, the simplicity of the lines seemed to hold her spellbound; she longed for that rest; her hungry soul cried for true holy love; her tired frame was trembling; her eyes were turned heavenward. She knew that God loved her; she could almost hear him say, Come unto me. She was again fingering the pages nervously, almost frightened. She was asking, herself, does God want me, will he keep me, can I look forward to a glorious home in Heaven? But then these thoughts came to her: what would her friends say?. She would be jeered at by the social world and her father, his greatest ambition was that she might be- I 28 |

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