WEBVTT

1
00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:05.480
<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty three of Cloudy Jewel. This is a LibriVox recording.

2
00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:09.279
<v Speaker 1>All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more

3
00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:15.000
<v Speaker 1>information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Cloudy

4
00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:20.600
<v Speaker 1>Jewel by Grace livingstone Hill, Chapter twenty three. It happened

5
00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:24.320
<v Speaker 1>that Miss Myrtle Villars had not confined her affections to

6
00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:27.800
<v Speaker 1>mister Bartram laws. She had been seen wandering about the

7
00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:30.760
<v Speaker 1>campus with other youths at odd hours of the evening,

8
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:33.439
<v Speaker 1>when young lady students were supposed to be safely within

9
00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:38.200
<v Speaker 1>college halls or properly chaperoned at some public gathering. The

10
00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:41.600
<v Speaker 1>student exec had had her in tow for several weeks,

11
00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:44.640
<v Speaker 1>and she had already received a number of her proofs

12
00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:48.799
<v Speaker 1>and warnings. A daring escapade the evening before had brought

13
00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:51.840
<v Speaker 1>matters to a head, and it was very possibly because

14
00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:54.520
<v Speaker 1>of some suspicion that they might have found her out,

15
00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:57.079
<v Speaker 1>that Myrtle had made of plans to be absent on

16
00:00:57.200 --> 00:01:01.000
<v Speaker 1>that afternoon. However, that was when the executive body, and

17
00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:04.760
<v Speaker 1>consultation with the Dean, sent for her. They traced her

18
00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:08.079
<v Speaker 1>to the Cloud's house. At least they came there about

19
00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:11.400
<v Speaker 1>seven o'clock to inquire and hoping to take her Unaware,

20
00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:14.719
<v Speaker 1>they had found Allison in a great state of excitement,

21
00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:17.959
<v Speaker 1>telephoning hither and Yon to try to get some clue

22
00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:21.680
<v Speaker 1>to his sister's whereabouts. They had remained to advise and suggest,

23
00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:25.599
<v Speaker 1>greatly worried at the whole situation, the more so because

24
00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:29.040
<v Speaker 1>it involved Leslie Cloud, whose bright presence had taken great

25
00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:33.200
<v Speaker 1>hold upon everybody, And now, without knowing it, Leslie Cloud

26
00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:36.040
<v Speaker 1>had taken the one way to put the whole matter

27
00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:39.840
<v Speaker 1>into the right hands and to exonerate herself. If she

28
00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:42.079
<v Speaker 1>had known that any member of the faculty was in

29
00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.239
<v Speaker 1>that room listening, if she had dreamed that even her

30
00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:47.719
<v Speaker 1>brother was there, she would not have thought it right

31
00:01:47.959 --> 00:01:51.120
<v Speaker 1>or honorable to put even an enemy in such a position,

32
00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:54.680
<v Speaker 1>either for her own sake or for the girls. She

33
00:01:54.760 --> 00:01:57.840
<v Speaker 1>had only wanted some wise true adviser to know the truth,

34
00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:00.959
<v Speaker 1>so that the girl might learn what was right and

35
00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:05.120
<v Speaker 1>have the responsibility taken from her own shoulders. She thought too,

36
00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:07.879
<v Speaker 1>that she had a right to be exonerated before her aunt.

37
00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:11.639
<v Speaker 1>So now while she wept out her contrition in Julia

38
00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:16.479
<v Speaker 1>Cloud's arms, retribution was coming swiftly to Myrtle Villers, and

39
00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:19.800
<v Speaker 1>her career in that college was sealed with finality. It

40
00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:21.680
<v Speaker 1>was only too plain that such a girl was a

41
00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:26.039
<v Speaker 1>menace to the other students and needed to be removed. Presently, Leslie,

42
00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:30.000
<v Speaker 1>feeling something strange in the atmosphere, lifted frightened tear filled

43
00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.680
<v Speaker 1>eyes and saw the grave faces of the Dean and

44
00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:37.080
<v Speaker 1>his companions. She held her breath with suspense. How terrible,

45
00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:40.639
<v Speaker 1>how public and unseemly she had brought all this upon

46
00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:43.520
<v Speaker 1>herself and her family by her persistent friendship with this

47
00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:47.080
<v Speaker 1>silly girl. And she fell to trembling and shuddering. All

48
00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.120
<v Speaker 1>her fine, sweet nerve gone. Now that the strain was over,

49
00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:53.960
<v Speaker 1>Julia Cloud drew her down upon the couch and soothed her,

50
00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:57.240
<v Speaker 1>covering her with an afghan and trying to comfort her.

51
00:02:57.639 --> 00:02:59.919
<v Speaker 1>Then the Dean stepped over to the couch and spoke

52
00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:03.240
<v Speaker 1>to Leslie, miss Cloud, you must not feel so bad,

53
00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:05.960
<v Speaker 1>he said, gently, as if she had been his own child.

54
00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:09.759
<v Speaker 1>You have acted nobly and no one will blame you. You

55
00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.520
<v Speaker 1>have perhaps saved Miss Fillers from great shame and sorrow,

56
00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:16.120
<v Speaker 1>and you certainly have been brave and true. Don't worry, child,

57
00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:20.599
<v Speaker 1>and he patted Leslie's heaving shoulder kindly. Presently, the Dean

58
00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:24.199
<v Speaker 1>and his committee were gone, taking the cowering myrtle with them,

59
00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:27.479
<v Speaker 1>and Leslie lay snuggled up on the couch with Alice

60
00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:30.159
<v Speaker 1>in building up the fire, and Cherry bringing a tray

61
00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:33.240
<v Speaker 1>with a nice supper. Julia Cloud fixed a hot water

62
00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:36.120
<v Speaker 1>bag to warm the chilled hands and feet. It was

63
00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:38.879
<v Speaker 1>so good to be at home. The tears rushed into

64
00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:42.639
<v Speaker 1>her eyes again, and her throat filled with sobs. Oh Cloudy,

65
00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:47.120
<v Speaker 1>She caught her aunt's hands. I'll never never do anything again.

66
00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:49.719
<v Speaker 1>You don't want me to, she sobbed out, and then

67
00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:54.240
<v Speaker 1>burst into another paroxysm of tears. There now, kid, don't

68
00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:57.800
<v Speaker 1>cry any more, pleaded Alison, springing to her side and

69
00:03:57.879 --> 00:04:00.759
<v Speaker 1>kneeling by her, smoothing her hair. Roughly. You were a

70
00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:03.599
<v Speaker 1>little winner. You had every bit of your nerve with you.

71
00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:06.680
<v Speaker 1>Why you did a great thing, kid, outwitting those two

72
00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.280
<v Speaker 1>brutes and bringing that girl back in spite of herself.

73
00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:12.800
<v Speaker 1>But the greatest thing of all was your making her confess.

74
00:04:13.080 --> 00:04:15.479
<v Speaker 1>Now they've got something to go on. If you hadn't

75
00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:18.279
<v Speaker 1>done that, it would have been her word against yours,

76
00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:21.879
<v Speaker 1>and I imagine she's always managed to keep things where

77
00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:24.399
<v Speaker 1>she could get a round people with her wiles. Now

78
00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:27.000
<v Speaker 1>she's got to face facts, and believe me, kid, it'll

79
00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.639
<v Speaker 1>be better for her. In the end. She was headed

80
00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:32.839
<v Speaker 1>straight for a bad end, and no mistake. All the

81
00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:36.079
<v Speaker 1>fellows knew it, and the faculty suspected it, and it

82
00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:38.879
<v Speaker 1>was making no end of trouble. But now the girl

83
00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:41.720
<v Speaker 1>may be saved for that. Dean never lets a student

84
00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:45.040
<v Speaker 1>go to destruction, they say, if he can help it. Oh,

85
00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:47.800
<v Speaker 1>of course he'll fire her. She isn't fit to be

86
00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:50.480
<v Speaker 1>around here. But he'll keep an eye on her, and

87
00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:52.839
<v Speaker 1>he'll fire her in such a way that she'll have

88
00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:55.240
<v Speaker 1>another chance to make good if she's willing to take it.

89
00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:58.439
<v Speaker 1>Don't you worry about spoiling her life. She'd set out

90
00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:00.879
<v Speaker 1>to spoil it in the first place, and the best

91
00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:03.240
<v Speaker 1>thing that could possibly happen to her was to get

92
00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:06.480
<v Speaker 1>stopped before she went too far from all you say,

93
00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:08.680
<v Speaker 1>I shouldn't think a marriage with that fellow would have

94
00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:13.319
<v Speaker 1>been any advantage to her. Oh he was awful, Allison shuddered, Leslie.

95
00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:16.839
<v Speaker 1>He smelled of liquor, and he had great coarse lips

96
00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:19.279
<v Speaker 1>and eyes, and he put his arms around her and

97
00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:22.240
<v Speaker 1>kissed her right there before us all. And they acted

98
00:05:22.279 --> 00:05:26.279
<v Speaker 1>perfectly disgusting. I'm almost sure from things I heard them

99
00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:28.720
<v Speaker 1>say that she hadn't been engaged to him at all,

100
00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:31.879
<v Speaker 1>She hadn't even known him till last week. She met

101
00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:34.800
<v Speaker 1>him in town, just picked him up on the street.

102
00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:38.720
<v Speaker 1>And that Fred Hicks, I don't believe now he was

103
00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:42.519
<v Speaker 1>her cousin at all. Probably not, but leave that all

104
00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.680
<v Speaker 1>to the Dean. He'll ferret it out. He went in

105
00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:48.360
<v Speaker 1>there to the telephone before he left, and from what

106
00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:51.480
<v Speaker 1>I heard, I imagine he's got detectives out after those

107
00:05:51.480 --> 00:05:53.879
<v Speaker 1>two guys. And they may sleep in the lock up

108
00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:57.160
<v Speaker 1>to night. They certainly deserved to, and I shall have

109
00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:00.279
<v Speaker 1>a hand in settling with them too. I can't my

110
00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:02.920
<v Speaker 1>sister treated that way and let it go easily. They've

111
00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:06.439
<v Speaker 1>got to answer to me, there, kid. He stooped down

112
00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:09.120
<v Speaker 1>and kissed her gently on her hot, wet forehead, and

113
00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.720
<v Speaker 1>Leslie caught his hand and nestled her own in it. Oh, Allison,

114
00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:17.079
<v Speaker 1>it's so good to be home, squeezing his hand appreciatively.

115
00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:21.920
<v Speaker 1>I'll never, never, never go with a girl again that

116
00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:24.839
<v Speaker 1>you don't like. I'm just going to stick to Jane.

117
00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.560
<v Speaker 1>She's the only one up there I really love anyway.

118
00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:32.240
<v Speaker 1>Allison seemed quite satisfied with these sentiments, and they had

119
00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:35.120
<v Speaker 1>a beautiful time eating their supper before the fire, for

120
00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:38.319
<v Speaker 1>no one had had any appetite before, and Cherry was

121
00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:41.199
<v Speaker 1>as pleased to have the anxiety over and waited upon

122
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:43.800
<v Speaker 1>them all as if Leslie had been her own sister.

123
00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:47.360
<v Speaker 1>Into the midst of their little family group broke a hurried,

124
00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:50.560
<v Speaker 1>excited knock on the door, and there stood Howard Lutchworth

125
00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:54.040
<v Speaker 1>with anxious face. I heard that your sister and one

126
00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:55.759
<v Speaker 1>of the college girls had gone off in a car

127
00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:59.000
<v Speaker 1>and got lost. Is it true? I came right around

128
00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:01.800
<v Speaker 1>to see if I could help. Leslie sat up, with

129
00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:04.600
<v Speaker 1>her teary eyes bright and eager, and her cheeks rosy

130
00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:07.319
<v Speaker 1>with pleasure, all her pretty hair in a tumble about

131
00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:10.319
<v Speaker 1>her face, and the firelight playing over her features in

132
00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:13.480
<v Speaker 1>a most charming way. Oh it's awfully good of you,

133
00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:17.720
<v Speaker 1>she called eagerly. But I'm perfectly all right and safe.

134
00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:21.920
<v Speaker 1>He came over to the couch and took her offered hand,

135
00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:25.639
<v Speaker 1>most eagerly, expressing his delight and saying he had been

136
00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:28.279
<v Speaker 1>almost sure it was some town gossip, but he could

137
00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:31.959
<v Speaker 1>not rest satisfied until he was positive. But Allison would

138
00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:34.800
<v Speaker 1>not let it go at that. I'm going to tell him, Leslie,

139
00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:37.480
<v Speaker 1>he said. He won't let any one be the wiser,

140
00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:40.560
<v Speaker 1>and if people are saying anything like that, he can

141
00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:44.319
<v Speaker 1>help stop their mouths. So Allison told the whole story.

142
00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:46.800
<v Speaker 1>When it came to the part about Fred Hicks and

143
00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:50.759
<v Speaker 1>Bartram Laws, Howard's face grew dark and he flashed a

144
00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:53.800
<v Speaker 1>look that boded no good to the two young Ruffians.

145
00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:56.759
<v Speaker 1>I know who that Law's fellow is, he said gravely.

146
00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:00.560
<v Speaker 1>He's rotten, and I shouldn't wonder if I could locate friend.

147
00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:03.959
<v Speaker 1>I get around quite a bit on my motorcycle. May

148
00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.199
<v Speaker 1>I use your phone a minute? I have a friend

149
00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:08.839
<v Speaker 1>who is a detective. They ought to be rounded up,

150
00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:12.160
<v Speaker 1>miss Leslie. Would you tell me carefully just what roads

151
00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:15.920
<v Speaker 1>you took, as nearly as you know, so, Leslie told

152
00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:19.560
<v Speaker 1>in detail of the wild ride once more. Julia Cloud

153
00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:22.319
<v Speaker 1>watched the young man's face as he listened, and knew

154
00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:25.879
<v Speaker 1>that Leslie had a faithful friend and champion. Knew also

155
00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:29.439
<v Speaker 1>that here was one whose friendship was well worth cultivating.

156
00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:33.360
<v Speaker 1>A clean, fine, strong, young soul, and was glad for

157
00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:36.519
<v Speaker 1>her little girl. Something stirred in her memory as she

158
00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:39.240
<v Speaker 1>watched his look, and she went back to her childish

159
00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:41.919
<v Speaker 1>days and the boy friend who had kissed her when

160
00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:45.120
<v Speaker 1>he went away, never to return. There was the same

161
00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:48.000
<v Speaker 1>look in Howard Letchworth's eyes when he looked at Leslie,

162
00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:51.480
<v Speaker 1>the age old beauty of a man's clean devotion to

163
00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.759
<v Speaker 1>a sweet, pure woman's soul. Of course, Leslie was a

164
00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:57.600
<v Speaker 1>mere child yet and was not thinking of such things.

165
00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:00.720
<v Speaker 1>But there need be no fear that that fine, strong

166
00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:03.559
<v Speaker 1>young man would be unwise enough to let the child

167
00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:06.960
<v Speaker 1>in her be frightened away prematurely. They were friends, now,

168
00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:10.480
<v Speaker 1>beautiful friends, and that would be enough for them both

169
00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:14.320
<v Speaker 1>for a long time. She was content. She watched them

170
00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:16.519
<v Speaker 1>all evening and listened to their talk about the Christian

171
00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:20.519
<v Speaker 1>Endeavor society. How beautiful it was that Leslie had been

172
00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:22.759
<v Speaker 1>able to bring the boy to a degree of interest

173
00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:25.720
<v Speaker 1>in that. Of course, it was for her sake, but

174
00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:28.000
<v Speaker 1>he was man enough to be interested on his own

175
00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:31.320
<v Speaker 1>account now, and from their talk she could see that

176
00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:33.799
<v Speaker 1>he had gone heart and soul with Allison into the

177
00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:36.840
<v Speaker 1>plans for the winter work. He had a fine voice

178
00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:40.159
<v Speaker 1>and was to sing a solo at the next meeting. Presently,

179
00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:43.480
<v Speaker 1>Leslie so far recovered her nerves as to smooth out

180
00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:45.919
<v Speaker 1>her hair and go to the piano to practice with him.

181
00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:58.519
<v Speaker 2>Oh jee, he's a stuwwastandy outside the fast closed door.

182
00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:05.360
<v Speaker 1>Rang out the rich, sweet notes, and the tender, sympathetic

183
00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.360
<v Speaker 1>voice brought out each word with an appeal. The boy

184
00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:11.919
<v Speaker 1>could not sing like that and not feel it himself.

185
00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:16.879
<v Speaker 1>Some time, Julia Cloud found herself praying, praying, as if

186
00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:20.159
<v Speaker 1>she whispered to a dear companion sitting close beside her

187
00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:24.960
<v Speaker 1>at the hearth side. Dear Christ, show this boy, teach

188
00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:29.240
<v Speaker 1>him what thou art make him thy true disciple. Suddenly,

189
00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:32.759
<v Speaker 1>the young fellow turned to Allison with a smile. I

190
00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:35.639
<v Speaker 1>like the way you take your religion with you into college, Cloud,

191
00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:39.399
<v Speaker 1>It makes it seem real. I haven't met many fellows

192
00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:42.360
<v Speaker 1>that had any before, or perhaps I shouldn't have been

193
00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:45.120
<v Speaker 1>such a heathen as I am. But I say, why

194
00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:47.240
<v Speaker 1>don't you try to get some of your frat brothers

195
00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:49.480
<v Speaker 1>to come down to the meeting. They ought to be

196
00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:51.759
<v Speaker 1>willing to do that for you, and it would be

197
00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:54.039
<v Speaker 1>great to have them sing. You've got a lot of

198
00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:57.720
<v Speaker 1>the glee club in your crowd. That's so, said Allison.

199
00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.120
<v Speaker 1>I don't know, but I'll try it. I'd like to

200
00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:03.720
<v Speaker 1>have them come the night you sing. Guess I'll have

201
00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:07.080
<v Speaker 1>to hunt around and get a speaker. No, I won't either.

202
00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:10.440
<v Speaker 1>Just the meeting itself is good enough now for anybody.

203
00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:13.440
<v Speaker 1>They're a pretty good little bunch down there. They've been

204
00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:16.759
<v Speaker 1>working like beavers. Jane Bristol gets the girls together and

205
00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:20.200
<v Speaker 1>coaches them for every meeting. She's some girl, d'y know it.

206
00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:24.240
<v Speaker 1>Howard Letchworth agreed that she was, but he cast a

207
00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.480
<v Speaker 1>side glance down at the bright head of the girl

208
00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:29.320
<v Speaker 1>who was playing his accompaniment, as if he felt there

209
00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:34.240
<v Speaker 1>were others. Julia Cloud was watching her darling girl, wondering, hoping,

210
00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:37.840
<v Speaker 1>praying that she might always stay so sweet and unspoiled.

211
00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:40.759
<v Speaker 1>But when the young man was gone home and Leslie

212
00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:44.440
<v Speaker 1>came back to the couch again, she suddenly drooped cloudy jewel.

213
00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:49.559
<v Speaker 1>She said, wearily, it isn't right. I don't deserve people

214
00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:52.679
<v Speaker 1>to be so nice to me, the Dean and you all,

215
00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:56.559
<v Speaker 1>and Howard and everybody. It was a lot my fault

216
00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:59.320
<v Speaker 1>that all this happened. I thought I could make that

217
00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.240
<v Speaker 1>girl over if I'd just stuck to her. She had

218
00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:05.240
<v Speaker 1>promised me she would come to Christian endeavor and join,

219
00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.399
<v Speaker 1>and I wanted to show you all what a power

220
00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:11.279
<v Speaker 1>I had over her. I was just conceited, that was

221
00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:13.639
<v Speaker 1>all there was about it. Now I see that she

222
00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:16.440
<v Speaker 1>was only fooling me. I couldn't have done anything at

223
00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:20.080
<v Speaker 1>all alone. I needed God. I didn't ask him to help.

224
00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.399
<v Speaker 1>You've talked a lot about that in our Sunday meetings,

225
00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:26.039
<v Speaker 1>but it never went down into my heart until I

226
00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:28.919
<v Speaker 1>was driving past that old crematory and I felt as

227
00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:31.679
<v Speaker 1>if I was all alone, and death, all in black

228
00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:35.399
<v Speaker 1>trailing robes, was going along fast beside me. Then I

229
00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:37.799
<v Speaker 1>knew God was the only one who could help, and

230
00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:41.559
<v Speaker 1>I began to pray. I hope maybe I've learned my

231
00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:44.960
<v Speaker 1>lesson and I'll not be so swelled headed next time.

232
00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:49.440
<v Speaker 1>But you oughtn't to forgive me, Cloudy. Not so easy, Cloudy,

233
00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:54.039
<v Speaker 1>You're just like God. It was several days before Leslie

234
00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:56.600
<v Speaker 1>recovered fully from the nervous strain she had been under.

235
00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:59.879
<v Speaker 1>She slept long the next day, and Julia Cloud would

236
00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:03.080
<v Speaker 1>not awaken her for a week. There were dark circles

237
00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.519
<v Speaker 1>under the bright eyes, and the rose of her cheek

238
00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:09.279
<v Speaker 1>was pale. She went about meekly with downcast eyes, and

239
00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:12.639
<v Speaker 1>the bright fervor of her spirit seemed dimmed. It was

240
00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:15.799
<v Speaker 1>not until one afternoon, when Allison suggested that they get

241
00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:19.159
<v Speaker 1>Jane Bristol and Howard Ledchworth and go for bitter sweet

242
00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:22.799
<v Speaker 1>berry vines and hemlock branches to decorate for the Christian

243
00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:26.360
<v Speaker 1>endeavor social that her spirits seemed to return, and the

244
00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:29.480
<v Speaker 1>unwholesome experience was put away in the past. At last.

245
00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:33.039
<v Speaker 1>Howard Letchworth had been most thoughtful about the matter in

246
00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:36.120
<v Speaker 1>the village, and had managed so that the tragic had

247
00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:38.559
<v Speaker 1>been taken out of the story that had started to

248
00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:41.600
<v Speaker 1>roll about, and Leslie could go round and not feel

249
00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:44.639
<v Speaker 1>that all eyes were upon her wondering about her escapade.

250
00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:47.879
<v Speaker 1>Gradually the remembrance of it died out of her thoughts,

251
00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:52.759
<v Speaker 1>although the wholesome lesson she had learned never faded. More

252
00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:55.480
<v Speaker 1>and more popular in the college grew the gatherings down

253
00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:59.039
<v Speaker 1>at Cloudy Villa. Sometimes Leslie brought home three or four

254
00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:02.559
<v Speaker 1>girls for Friday and Saturday, not often any on Sunday

255
00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:06.039
<v Speaker 1>unless it was Jane, For Sundays were their very own

256
00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:08.879
<v Speaker 1>day for the little family, and they dreaded any who

257
00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.840
<v Speaker 1>might seem like intruders. It is our time when we

258
00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:14.279
<v Speaker 1>catch up in our loving for all the week, Leslie

259
00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:17.720
<v Speaker 1>explained with a quaint smile to one girl, who broadly

260
00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:21.240
<v Speaker 1>hinted that she would not mind being asked for over Sunday.

261
00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:24.960
<v Speaker 1>And besides, you mightn't like the way we keep Sunday.

262
00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:28.080
<v Speaker 1>Everybody who comes has to go to church and Christian

263
00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:31.480
<v Speaker 1>endeavor with us and enjoy our Bible reading, singing our

264
00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:35.039
<v Speaker 1>round the fire. And I didn't think you would. Well,

265
00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:38.320
<v Speaker 1>I like your nerve, answered the girl, But she sat

266
00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:41.720
<v Speaker 1>studying Leslie afterwards with a thoughtful gaze and began to

267
00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:44.600
<v Speaker 1>wonder whether, after all, a Sunday spent in that way

268
00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:47.919
<v Speaker 1>might not be really interesting. She's a kind of a nut,

269
00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:51.320
<v Speaker 1>isn't she, she remarked to another friend of Leslie's. She's

270
00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.639
<v Speaker 1>a pretty nice kind of a nut. Then esther was

271
00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:56.600
<v Speaker 1>the response. If that's a nut, we'd better grow a

272
00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:59.120
<v Speaker 1>whole tree of them. I'm going down there all I can.

273
00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:02.799
<v Speaker 1>I like em. Julia Cloud seemed to have a fertile

274
00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:05.360
<v Speaker 1>brain for all kinds of lovely ways to while away

275
00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:08.960
<v Speaker 1>a holiday, as the cold weather came on, winter picnics

276
00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:12.200
<v Speaker 1>became the glory of the hour long walks with heavy

277
00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:16.879
<v Speaker 1>shoes and warm sweaters and mittens were inaugurated. A kettle

278
00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:19.279
<v Speaker 1>of hot soup straight from the fire, wrapped in a

279
00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:22.159
<v Speaker 1>blanket and carried in a big basket, was a feature

280
00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:25.240
<v Speaker 1>of the lunch. When the party reached a camping spot,

281
00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:27.639
<v Speaker 1>a fire would be built and the soup kettle hung

282
00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:31.080
<v Speaker 1>over an improvised crane to put on its finishing touches,

283
00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:33.600
<v Speaker 1>while the rest of the eatables were set forth in

284
00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:37.360
<v Speaker 1>paper plates, each portion neatly wrapped in waxed paper, ready

285
00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:41.679
<v Speaker 1>for easy handling. Sometimes big mince pies came along and

286
00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.320
<v Speaker 1>were stood on edge near the fire to get thawed out.

287
00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:48.240
<v Speaker 1>Bean soup, corned beef sandwiches, and hot mince pie made

288
00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:50.559
<v Speaker 1>a hearty meal for people who had tramped ten or

289
00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:54.840
<v Speaker 1>fifteen miles since breakfast. Oh how those college fed boys

290
00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:58.080
<v Speaker 1>and girls enjoyed these picnics with Julia Cloud as a

291
00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:01.080
<v Speaker 1>kind of hovering angel to minister with word or smile,

292
00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:04.480
<v Speaker 1>or in some more practical way wherever there was need.

293
00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:08.080
<v Speaker 1>They all called her Cloudy Jewel. Now whenever they dared

294
00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:11.080
<v Speaker 1>and envied those who got closest to her and told

295
00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:14.519
<v Speaker 1>her their troubles. Many a lad or lassie brought her

296
00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:18.120
<v Speaker 1>his or her perplexities, and often as they sat around

297
00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:21.519
<v Speaker 1>the winter camp, perhaps on a rock brushed free from snow,

298
00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.559
<v Speaker 1>she gave them sage advice, wrapped up in pleasant stories

299
00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:29.080
<v Speaker 1>that were brought in ever so incidentally. There was nothing

300
00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:32.279
<v Speaker 1>ever like preaching about Julia Cloud. She did not feel

301
00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:35.120
<v Speaker 1>that she knew enough to preach. And sometimes as they

302
00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:38.159
<v Speaker 1>walked homeward through the twilight of a long, happy afternoon

303
00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:41.039
<v Speaker 1>and the streaks of Crimson were beginning to glow in

304
00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:43.840
<v Speaker 1>the gray of the horizon, some one or two would

305
00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:47.159
<v Speaker 1>lag behind and ask her deep, sweet questions about life

306
00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:50.679
<v Speaker 1>and its meaning and its hereafter. Often they showed her

307
00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:53.159
<v Speaker 1>their hearts as they had never shown them, even to

308
00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:56.480
<v Speaker 1>their own people. And often a word with her sent

309
00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:59.519
<v Speaker 1>some student back to work harder and fight stronger against

310
00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.960
<v Speaker 1>some subtle temptation. She became a wholesome antidote to the

311
00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:07.359
<v Speaker 1>spirit of doubt and atheism that it crept stealthily into

312
00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:10.640
<v Speaker 1>the college and was attacking so many and undermining what

313
00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:13.440
<v Speaker 1>little faith and religion they had when they came there,

314
00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.279
<v Speaker 1>it came to be a great delight to many of

315
00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:18.759
<v Speaker 1>the young college people to spend an evening around the

316
00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:21.880
<v Speaker 1>hearth at Cloudy Villa. There never had been any trouble

317
00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:24.519
<v Speaker 1>about that question of dancing, because they just did not

318
00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:27.039
<v Speaker 1>do it, and there was always something else going on,

319
00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:31.079
<v Speaker 1>some lively games, sometimes almost a rough house, as the

320
00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:35.240
<v Speaker 1>boys called it, but never anything really unpleasant. Julia cloud

321
00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:37.680
<v Speaker 1>was a good sport, the boys said, and the girls

322
00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:41.960
<v Speaker 1>delighted in her. The evenings were filled with impromptu programs,

323
00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:45.680
<v Speaker 1>thought out carefully by Cloudy Jewel, but proposed and exploited

324
00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:49.799
<v Speaker 1>in the most casual manner. Allison, why wouldn't it be

325
00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:52.000
<v Speaker 1>a good idea for you to act out that story

326
00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:54.240
<v Speaker 1>we were reading the other day the next time you

327
00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:56.960
<v Speaker 1>have some of the young people down, You and Leslie

328
00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.839
<v Speaker 1>and Jane, with the help of one or two others

329
00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:01.160
<v Speaker 1>could do it and there wouldn't be much to learn.

330
00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:03.519
<v Speaker 1>If you all read it over once or twice more,

331
00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:07.880
<v Speaker 1>you'd have it so you could easily extemporize. Do you know,

332
00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:11.640
<v Speaker 1>I think there's a hidden lesson in that story that

333
00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.720
<v Speaker 1>would do some of the boys and girls good if

334
00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:16.680
<v Speaker 1>they could see it lived out and perhaps set them

335
00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:20.160
<v Speaker 1>to reading the book again. They would be asked suddenly

336
00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:23.640
<v Speaker 1>soon after their arrival, each one to represent his favorite

337
00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:27.559
<v Speaker 1>character in Shakespeare, or to reproduce some great public man

338
00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:30.359
<v Speaker 1>so that they all could recognize him, and they would

339
00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:33.960
<v Speaker 1>be sent upstairs to select from a great pile of shawls, wraps,

340
00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:36.759
<v Speaker 1>and all sorts of garments any which they needed for

341
00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:41.359
<v Speaker 1>an improvised costume. Another evening, there would be brought forth

342
00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:44.359
<v Speaker 1>a new game which nobody had seen, and which absorbed

343
00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:47.759
<v Speaker 1>them all for perhaps two hours, until some delicious and

344
00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:52.119
<v Speaker 1>unique refreshments would be produced to conclude the festivities. At

345
00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:55.400
<v Speaker 1>another time, the round dining table would be stretched to

346
00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:58.480
<v Speaker 1>take in all its leaves, and the entire company would

347
00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:02.400
<v Speaker 1>gather around it, with uplifted thumbs and eager faces, uproariously

348
00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:05.440
<v Speaker 1>playing up jenkins for an hour or two. Any little

349
00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:08.519
<v Speaker 1>old game went well under that roof, though Julia Cloud

350
00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:11.400
<v Speaker 1>kept a controlling mind on things, and always managed to

351
00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:15.680
<v Speaker 1>change the game before anybody was weary of it. Also,

352
00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:18.839
<v Speaker 1>there was much music in the little house. Allison played

353
00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:21.960
<v Speaker 1>the violin well, two or three others who played a

354
00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:25.359
<v Speaker 1>little at stringed and wind instruments were discovered, and often

355
00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:28.240
<v Speaker 1>the whole company would break loose into song until people

356
00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:30.599
<v Speaker 1>on the street halted and walked back and forth in

357
00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:33.359
<v Speaker 1>front of the house to listen to the wild, sweet

358
00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:36.519
<v Speaker 1>harmonies of the fresh young voices. At the close of

359
00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:39.559
<v Speaker 1>such an evening, it was not an uncommon happening for

360
00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.640
<v Speaker 1>a crowd of the frat boys to gather in a

361
00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:44.519
<v Speaker 1>knot in front of the house and give the College yell,

362
00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:49.200
<v Speaker 1>with the tiger at the end, and then Cloud, Cloud Cloud.

363
00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:52.039
<v Speaker 1>The people living on that street got used to it

364
00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:55.200
<v Speaker 1>and opened their windows to listen, with eyes tender and

365
00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:58.680
<v Speaker 1>thoughtful as they pondered on how easily this little family

366
00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:00.880
<v Speaker 1>had caught the hearts of those cars college people and

367
00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:03.720
<v Speaker 1>were helping them to have a good time. Perhaps it

368
00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:06.359
<v Speaker 1>entered into their minds that other people might do the

369
00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:09.480
<v Speaker 1>same thing if they would only half try. In return

370
00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:12.119
<v Speaker 1>for all her kindness, a number of the young people

371
00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:15.359
<v Speaker 1>would often respond to Julia Cloud's wistful invitation to go

372
00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:18.400
<v Speaker 1>to church, and more and more they were being drawn

373
00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:20.759
<v Speaker 1>by twos and threes to come to the Christian endeavor

374
00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:23.200
<v Speaker 1>meetings in the village. It seemed as if they had

375
00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:25.839
<v Speaker 1>but just discovered that there was such a thing to

376
00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:28.920
<v Speaker 1>the equal amazement of themselves and the original members of

377
00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:32.599
<v Speaker 1>the Christian Endeavor Society, who had always responded to any

378
00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:35.799
<v Speaker 1>such suggestions on the part of their pastor or elders

379
00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:39.039
<v Speaker 1>with a hopeless Oh, you can't get those college guys

380
00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:42.920
<v Speaker 1>to do anything they think they're it. The feeling was

381
00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:46.559
<v Speaker 1>gradually melting away, and a new brotherhood and sisterhood was

382
00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:49.799
<v Speaker 1>springing up between them. It was not infrequent now for

383
00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:52.839
<v Speaker 1>a college maiden to greet some village girl with a frank,

384
00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:57.000
<v Speaker 1>pleasant smile and accept invitations to lunch and dinner, and

385
00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:00.039
<v Speaker 1>college boys were friendly and chummy with the village boys

386
00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:02.759
<v Speaker 1>who were not fellow students, and often took them up

387
00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:05.799
<v Speaker 1>to their frat rooms to visit. So the two elements

388
00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:08.440
<v Speaker 1>of locality were coming nearer to each other, and their

389
00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:12.440
<v Speaker 1>bond was the Village Christian Endeavor Society. So passed the

390
00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:15.359
<v Speaker 1>first winter and spring in the little Pink and White house,

391
00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:20.119
<v Speaker 1>and with the first week of vacation there came visitors.

392
00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:25.640
<v Speaker 1>End of Chapter twenty three, recorded by Terra Mendoza, Phoenix, Arizona,

393
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.359
<v Speaker 1>March two thousand eleven.