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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty five of Cloudy Jewel. This is a LibriVox recording.

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<v Speaker 1>All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more

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<v Speaker 1>information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording

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<v Speaker 1>by Terra Mendoza. Cloudy Jewel by Grace Livingston Hill, Chapter

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<v Speaker 1>twenty five. It was out on a lonely road in

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<v Speaker 1>the car that they had chosen to go for their conference,

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<v Speaker 1>where there was no chance of their being interrupted. And

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<v Speaker 1>they whirled away through the town and out to the

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<v Speaker 1>long stretch of whiteness and glum silence, the tears willing

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<v Speaker 1>to overflow in Leslie's eyes. At last they were past

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<v Speaker 1>the bounds where they were likely to meet acquaintances, and

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<v Speaker 1>Leslie broke forth. Do you really think it's true that

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<v Speaker 1>we've got to give her up? Are you sure has

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<v Speaker 1>come to that, Allison? It seems perfectly preposterous. Well, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>if she cares for him, said Alison gravely, we've no

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<v Speaker 1>right to hold on to her and spoil her life.

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<v Speaker 1>You know it was different when it was old pill Bowman.

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<v Speaker 1>This is a real man care for him? How could

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<v Speaker 1>she possibly care for him? Snapped Leslie? Why he has

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<v Speaker 1>a wart on his nose and he snuffs. I never

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<v Speaker 1>thought of it before till last night, but he does.

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<v Speaker 1>He snuffs every little while. Ugh. Why I thought you

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<v Speaker 1>liked him, Leslie? So I did until I thought he

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<v Speaker 1>wanted Cloudy. But I can't see that I hate him.

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<v Speaker 1>I always thought he was about the nicest man in

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<v Speaker 1>the faculty except the dean, and he's married. But since

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<v Speaker 1>I got on to the idea that he wants Cloudy,

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<v Speaker 1>I can't bear the sight of him. I went way

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<v Speaker 1>round the block to day to keep from meeting him.

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<v Speaker 1>He isn't nice enough for Cloudy, Allison. What's the matter

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<v Speaker 1>with him? Warts and snuffy don't count if you love

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<v Speaker 1>a person. I like him. I like him ever so much,

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<v Speaker 1>and I think he's lonesome. He'd appreciate a home like ours.

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<v Speaker 1>You know what a wonderful wife Cloudy would make. Leslie

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<v Speaker 1>fairly screamed, Oh Allison, to think you've come to it

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<v Speaker 1>that you're willing to give up our lovely home and

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<v Speaker 1>have Cloudy go off an an we go. The dear

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<v Speaker 1>knows where an have to board at the college or something.

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<v Speaker 1>Some day we'll be getting married too, I suppose, said

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<v Speaker 1>Allison speculatively. His sister flashed a wise, curious look up

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<v Speaker 1>at him and steadied his face a minute. Then a

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<v Speaker 1>shade came over her own once more. Yes, I s'pose

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<v Speaker 1>you will pretty soon you're almost done with college. But

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<v Speaker 1>poor me, I'll have to board for two whole years more,

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<v Speaker 1>and I'm not sure i'll ever get married. The man

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<v Speaker 1>I like might not like me, and you may be

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<v Speaker 1>very sure. I'm not going to live on any sister

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<v Speaker 1>in law, no matter how much I love her. So there,

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<v Speaker 1>Allison smiled and put his arm protectingly around his sister. There, kid,

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<v Speaker 1>you needn't get excited yet. Awhile it's me an Bee always,

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<v Speaker 1>no matter how many wives I have, and you won't

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<v Speaker 1>ever have to board. But kid, I'm not willing to

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<v Speaker 1>give up our house and Cloudy at all. I'm just

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<v Speaker 1>thinkin that maybe we ought to, you know. I guess

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<v Speaker 1>we're not pigs, are we. Cloudy has had a mighty

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<v Speaker 1>hard life and missed a lot of things out of it. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>isn't she having him? Now? I'd like to know. I

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<v Speaker 1>think Cloudy likes us and wants to stay with us.

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<v Speaker 1>I think she'd just loved the house and everything about it. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>I think so too, But this is something bigger than

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<v Speaker 1>anything else in the world. If she really cares, don't

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<v Speaker 1>you think we ought to give her the chance? I

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<v Speaker 1>s'pose so if she really wants it, But how can

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<v Speaker 1>we find out that's it? Just give her the chance.

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<v Speaker 1>When Armitage comes in, just sneak out and stay away

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<v Speaker 1>and let her have a little time alone with him.

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<v Speaker 1>It isn't right us kids always sticking around. We ought

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<v Speaker 1>to go out or upstairs or something. Leslie was still

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<v Speaker 1>for a long time, and then she heaved a big

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<v Speaker 1>sigh and said all right in a very small voice.

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<v Speaker 1>As they sped on their way toward home. There was

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<v Speaker 1>hardly a word more between them. It was after supper

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<v Speaker 1>that very night that Leslie, having almost frightened Julia Cloud

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<v Speaker 1>out of her happy calm by refusing to eat much supper,

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<v Speaker 1>went off to bed with a headache. As soon as

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<v Speaker 1>the professor came in. Allison too said he had to

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<v Speaker 1>go up to the college for a book he had forgotten,

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<v Speaker 1>and for the first time since his advent, the Professor

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<v Speaker 1>had a clear evening ahead of him with Julia Cloud

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<v Speaker 1>without anybody else by. But Julia Cloud was distraught and

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<v Speaker 1>gave him little attention at first, with an attitude of

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<v Speaker 1>listening directed toward the floor above. Finally, she gently excused

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<v Speaker 1>herself for a moment and hurried up to Leslie's room,

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<v Speaker 1>where she found a very damp and tearful Leslie, attempting

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<v Speaker 1>to appear wonderfully calm. What is it, dear child, Has

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<v Speaker 1>something happened? She begged. I know you must be sick,

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<v Speaker 1>or you wouldn't have gone to bed, so erely, please

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<v Speaker 1>tell me what is the matter. I shall send for

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<v Speaker 1>the doctor at once if you don't, then Leslie, knowing

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<v Speaker 1>that her brother would blame her if she spoiled the test,

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<v Speaker 1>sat up bravely and tried to laugh, assuring her aunt

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<v Speaker 1>that she was only tired from studying and a little

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<v Speaker 1>stiff from playing hockey too long, and she thought it

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<v Speaker 1>would be better to rest to night so she could

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<v Speaker 1>be all right in the morning. Julia Cloud, only half

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<v Speaker 1>reassured by this unprecedented carefulness for her health on the

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<v Speaker 1>part of the usually careless Leslie, went down abstractedly to

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<v Speaker 1>her professor and wished he would go home. He was

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<v Speaker 1>well into the midst of a most heartfelt and touching

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<v Speaker 1>proposal of marriage before she realized what was coming. His

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<v Speaker 1>voice was low and pleading, and Leslie, lying breathless above,

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<v Speaker 1>not deigning to try to listen, yet painfully aware of

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<v Speaker 1>the change of tones, was in tortures. Then Julia Cloud's pained,

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<v Speaker 1>gentle tones, firmly replying and more entity with brief, simple answers,

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<v Speaker 1>most unexpectedly. Before an hour passed, Leslie heard the front

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<v Speaker 1>door open and the professor go out and pass slowly

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<v Speaker 1>down the walk. Her heart was in her throat, beating painfully.

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<v Speaker 1>What had happened? A quick intuition presented a possible solution.

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<v Speaker 1>Cloudy would not leave them while they were in college,

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<v Speaker 1>and had bid him wait, or perhaps turned him down altogether,

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<v Speaker 1>how dear of her, And yet with quick revulsion of spirit,

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<v Speaker 1>she began to pity the poor, lonely man who could

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<v Speaker 1>not have Cloudy when he loved her. A moment later,

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<v Speaker 1>Julia Cloud came softly up the stairs and tiptoed into

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<v Speaker 1>her room, and horror of horrors, Leslie could hear her

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<v Speaker 1>catch her breath like soft sobbing. Did Cloudy care then?

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<v Speaker 1>And had she turned down a man she loved in

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<v Speaker 1>order to stick to them and keep her promise to

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<v Speaker 1>their guardian? Quick as a flash, she was out of

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<v Speaker 1>bed and pattering barefoot into Julia Cloud's room. Cloudy, Cloudy,

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<v Speaker 1>you are crying. What is the matter? Quick? Tell me, please?

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<v Speaker 1>Julia Cloud drew the girl down beside her on the

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<v Speaker 1>bed and nestled her lovingly close. It's nothing, dear, It's

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<v Speaker 1>only that I had to hurt a good man. It

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<v Speaker 1>always makes me sorry to have to hurt any one.

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<v Speaker 1>Leslie nestled closer, smoothed her aunt's hair, and tried to

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<v Speaker 1>think what to say, but nothing came. She felt shy

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<v Speaker 1>about it. Finally, she put her lips up and touched

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<v Speaker 1>her aunt's cheek and whispered, don't cry, cloudy, dear. And

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<v Speaker 1>just then she heard Allison's key in the lock. She

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<v Speaker 1>sprang up, drew her bathrobe about her, and ran down

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<v Speaker 1>to whisper to him on the stairs. What had happened? Well,

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<v Speaker 1>it's plain, she cares, whispered Allison sadly, gravely, turning his

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<v Speaker 1>face away from the light. I say less. We ought

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<v Speaker 1>to do something. We ought to tell her it's all

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<v Speaker 1>right for her to go ahead. I can't, Allison. I'd

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<v Speaker 1>break down and cry. I know I would. I tried

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<v Speaker 1>up there just now, but the words wouldn't come. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>then let's write her a letter and we'll both sign it.

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<v Speaker 1>All right, You write it, choked, Leslie, I'll sign it.

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<v Speaker 1>They slipped over to the desk in the porch room

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<v Speaker 1>and Leslie cuddled into a big willow cushioned chair and

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<v Speaker 1>shivered and sniffed while Allison scratched away at a sheet

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<v Speaker 1>of paper for a few minutes. Then he handed it

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<v Speaker 1>to her to read and sign. This was what he

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<v Speaker 1>had written, Dear Cloudy, we see just how it is,

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<v Speaker 1>and we want you to know that we are willing.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course, it'll be awfully hard to lose you, but

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<v Speaker 1>it's all all right, and we wouldn't be happy not

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<v Speaker 1>to have you be happy, and we want you to

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<v Speaker 1>go ahead and not think of us. We'll manage all

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<v Speaker 1>right somehow, and we love you and want to see

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<v Speaker 1>you happy. Leslie dropped a great tear on the page

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<v Speaker 1>when she signed it, but she took the soft embroidered

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<v Speaker 1>sleeve of her nightgown and dabbed it dry so that

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<v Speaker 1>it didn't blur the writing, and then together they slipped upstairs.

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<v Speaker 1>Leslie went into her aunt's room in the dark, and

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<v Speaker 1>in a queer little voice said, Cloudy, dear, here's a

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<v Speaker 1>note for you, laying it in her hand. Leslie hurried

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<v Speaker 1>into her room, shut her door softly, and hid in

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<v Speaker 1>her closet so that Julia Cloud would not hear her sob.

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<v Speaker 1>A moment later, Julia Cloud came into the hall with

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<v Speaker 1>a dear glad ring in her voice and called, children,

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<v Speaker 1>where are you come here? Quick, you darlings, and they

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<v Speaker 1>flocked into her arms like lost ducklings, You blessed darlings,

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<v Speaker 1>She said, laughing and crying at the same time. Did

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<v Speaker 1>you think I wanted to get married and go away

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<v Speaker 1>from you forever? Well, you're all wrong, and I'll never

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<v Speaker 1>do that. You may get married and go away from me,

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<v Speaker 1>but I'll never go away from you till you send me,

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<v Speaker 1>and I won't ever get married to any one on

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<v Speaker 1>this earth at any time. Do you understand I don't

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<v Speaker 1>want to get married ever. They all went into Julia

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<v Speaker 1>Cloud's room then and sat down with her on the couch,

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<v Speaker 1>one on either side of her. Do you really mean it,

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<v Speaker 1>cloudy Jewel, asked Leslie, happily, you don't want to get married,

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<v Speaker 1>not even to that nice professor Armitage. Look here, Leslie,

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<v Speaker 1>you said he had a wart put in her brother.

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<v Speaker 1>Now keep still, Allison. He was nice all the time.

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<v Speaker 1>Only I didn't like him to want our Cloudy. He

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<v Speaker 1>didn't seem to be quite nice enough for her. He

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<v Speaker 1>didn't quite fit her. But if she wanted him, but

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<v Speaker 1>I don't, Leslie, cried Julia, in distress. I never did.

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<v Speaker 1>Are you really cloudy, Dear, you're such a dear, unselfish cloudy.

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<v Speaker 1>How shall we ever quite be sure she isn't giving

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<v Speaker 1>him up? Jest for us, Allison, children, listen, said Julia

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<v Speaker 1>cloud suddenly, putting a quieting hand on each young hand

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<v Speaker 1>in her lap. I'll tell you something I never told

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<v Speaker 1>to a living soul. There was that in her voice

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<v Speaker 1>that thrilled them into silence. It was as if she

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<v Speaker 1>suddenly opened the door of her soul and let them

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<v Speaker 1>look in on her real self, as only God saw her.

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<v Speaker 1>Their fingers tightened in sympathy as she went on a

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<v Speaker 1>long time ago, a great many years ago. Perhaps you

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<v Speaker 1>would laugh and think me foolish if you knew how many.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh No, Cloudy never, said Leslie softly, and Allison growled

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<v Speaker 1>a dissenting note. Well, there was some one whom I

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<v Speaker 1>loved who died. That is all only. I never could

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<v Speaker 1>love anybody that way again. Marriage without a love like

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<v Speaker 1>that is a desecration. Oh Cloudy, we never knew, murmured Leslie.

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<v Speaker 1>No one ever knew, dear. He was very young. We

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<v Speaker 1>were both scarcely more than children. I was only fourteen,

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<v Speaker 1>Oh Cloudy, how beautiful. And you've kept it all these years.

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<v Speaker 1>Won't you tell us just a little about it? I

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<v Speaker 1>think it is wonderful, don't you, Allison? Yes, wonderful, said Allison,

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<v Speaker 1>in that deep, full tone of his that revealed a

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<v Speaker 1>man's soul growing in the boy's heart. There is very

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<v Speaker 1>little to tell, dear. He was a neighbor's son. We

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<v Speaker 1>went to school together and sometimes took walks on Saturdays.

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<v Speaker 1>He rode me on his sledge and helped me fasten

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<v Speaker 1>on my skates, and carried my books, and we played

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<v Speaker 1>together when we had time to play. Then his people

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<v Speaker 1>moved away out west, and he kissed me good bye

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<v Speaker 1>and told me he was coming back for me some day.

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<v Speaker 1>That was all there was to it, except a few

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<v Speaker 1>little letters. Then they stopped, and one day his grandmother

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<v Speaker 1>wrote that he had been drowned, saving the life of

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<v Speaker 1>a little child. Can you understand why I want to

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<v Speaker 1>wait and be ready for him over there where he

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<v Speaker 1>is gone. I keep feeling God will let him come

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<v Speaker 1>for me when my life down here is over. There

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<v Speaker 1>was a long silence, during which the young hands gripped

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<v Speaker 1>hers closely, and the young thoughts grew strangely wise with

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<v Speaker 1>insight into human life and all its joys and sorrows.

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<v Speaker 1>They were thinking out in detail just what their aunt

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<v Speaker 1>had missed, the sweet things that every woman hopes for

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<v Speaker 1>and thinks about alone with God of love, strong care,

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<v Speaker 1>little children, and a home. She had missed it all,

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<v Speaker 1>and yet she had its image in her heart, and

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<v Speaker 1>had been true to her first thought of it all

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<v Speaker 1>the years. Now, when it was offered her again, she

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<v Speaker 1>would not give up the old love for anew, would

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<v Speaker 1>not take what was left of life. She would wait

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<v Speaker 1>till the morning broke and her boy met her on

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<v Speaker 1>the other shore. Suddenly, as they thought, strong young arms

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<v Speaker 1>encircled her and held her close in a dear embrace.

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<v Speaker 1>Then your hours, cloudy, all ours for the rest of

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<v Speaker 1>down here, aren't you, half whispered Leslie, Yes, dear, As

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<v Speaker 1>long as you need me, want me, she finished, we

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<v Speaker 1>shall want you always Cloudy, said Allison, in a clear

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<v Speaker 1>man's voice of decision. Put that down forever, Cloudy Jewel.

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<v Speaker 1>You are our mother from now on, and we want

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<v Speaker 1>you always. That is dear, said Julia Cloud, but a

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<v Speaker 1>resignation in her voice. Some day you will marry, and

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<v Speaker 1>then you will not need me any more, and I

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<v Speaker 1>shall find something to do somewhere. Two fierce young things

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<v Speaker 1>rose up in arms at once. Put that right out

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<v Speaker 1>of your head, Cloudy Jewel, cried, Leslie, you shan't say

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<v Speaker 1>it again. If I thought any man could be mean

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<v Speaker 1>enough not to feel as I do about you, I

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<v Speaker 1>would never marry him. So there, I would never marry anybody.

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<v Speaker 1>My wife will love you as much as I do,

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<v Speaker 1>said Allison, with conviction. I shall never love anybody that doesn't,

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<v Speaker 1>you'll see. And so, with loving arms about her and

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<v Speaker 1>tender words of fierce assertion, they convinced her at last,

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<v Speaker 1>and the bond that held them was only strengthened by

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<v Speaker 1>the little tension it had sustained. Professor Armitage came no

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<v Speaker 1>more to the little pink and white house. But Julia

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<v Speaker 1>Cloud was happy with her children, and they were content together.

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<v Speaker 1>The happy days moved on. I don't see how you

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<v Speaker 1>get time for that Christian endeavor society of years cloud,

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<v Speaker 1>said one of the professors to Allison. I hear you're

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<v Speaker 1>the moving spirit in it, yet you never fall down

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<v Speaker 1>on your class work. How do you manage it? I'd

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<v Speaker 1>like to put some of my other students onto your

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<v Speaker 1>ways of planning. Well, there's all of Sunday, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>professor answered Allison promptly. I don't give so very much

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<v Speaker 1>more time except a half hour here and there to

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<v Speaker 1>a committee meeting or now, and then a social on

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<v Speaker 1>Friday night, when i'd otherwise be fooling. Anyway, my sister

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<v Speaker 1>and I cut out the dances and put these social

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<v Speaker 1>parties in their place. But don't you have to study

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<v Speaker 1>on Sundays? Never do, was the quick reply. Made it

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<v Speaker 1>a rule when I started in here at this college

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<v Speaker 1>and haven't broken at once, not even for examinations. I

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<v Speaker 1>find I'm fresher for my work Monday morning when I

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<v Speaker 1>make the Sabbath reel. The professor eyed em curiously. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>that certainly is interesting, he said. I'll have to try it,

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<v Speaker 1>though I don't see how I'd quite manage it. I

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<v Speaker 1>usually have to spend the whole Sunday correcting papers, save

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<v Speaker 1>em up till early Monday morning, and come over to

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<v Speaker 1>our Christian Endeavor meeting. See if it isn't worth while,

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<v Speaker 1>and then see how much more you can do Monday

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<v Speaker 1>morning at five o'clock, when you're really rested. Then you

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<v Speaker 1>could all day Sunday hacken at the same old job

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<v Speaker 1>you've had all the week. I'll look for you next

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<v Speaker 1>Sunday night. So long, and with a courteous wave, he

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<v Speaker 1>was off with a lacrosstick, gliding down the campus like

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<v Speaker 1>a wild thing. The professor stood and watched him a moment,

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<v Speaker 1>and then turned thoughtfully up the asphalt path, pondering, they

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<v Speaker 1>are a power in the college and in the community

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<v Speaker 1>that sister and brother, he said, I wonder why Down

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<v Speaker 1>at the church they wandered also as they came in

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<v Speaker 1>crowds to the live Christian Endeavor meetings and listened to

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<v Speaker 1>the clear, ringing words of the young man who had

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<v Speaker 1>been president before him, as their praises sounded by his

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<v Speaker 1>admiring friends, especially the young man who had been president

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<v Speaker 1>before him, as they saw the earnest spirit that went

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<v Speaker 1>out to save and had no social distinctions or classes

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<v Speaker 1>to hinder the fraternal interest the pastor wondered most of all,

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<v Speaker 1>and thanked God and told his wife that the Endeavor

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<v Speaker 1>Society was making his church all over. He didn't know it,

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<v Speaker 1>but it had converted him again too. The session wondered

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<v Speaker 1>as it listened to the earnest, simple gospel sermons that

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<v Speaker 1>the pastor now preached, and saw his zeal for bringing

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<v Speaker 1>men to the service of Christ. Oh they pointed out

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<v Speaker 1>the four young people, the Clouds, Jane Bristol and Howard Letchworth,

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<v Speaker 1>as the moving spirits in the work, and they admitted

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<v Speaker 1>some of them that prayer had made the transformation. But

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<v Speaker 1>there were not many of the original bunch of young people,

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<v Speaker 1>who by this time had not been fully trained to

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<v Speaker 1>understand that if you wanted anything in the spiritual world,

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<v Speaker 1>you must take time and give energy to getting acquainted

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<v Speaker 1>with God. But if they could have gone with some

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<v Speaker 1>spirit guide to find out the true secret of all

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<v Speaker 1>the wonderful spiritual growth and power of that young people's society,

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<v Speaker 1>they must have looked in about Julia Cloud's fireplace on

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<v Speaker 1>Sabbath afternoon and seen the four earnest young people with

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<v Speaker 1>their Bibles and Julia Cloud in the miss spending the

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<v Speaker 1>long beautiful hours in actual spiritual study of God's word,

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<v Speaker 1>and then kneeling and communing with God for a little while,

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<v Speaker 1>all of them on intimate terms with God. They were

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<v Speaker 1>actually learning to delight themselves in the Lord. It was

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<v Speaker 1>no wonder that other people, even outside the Church and

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<v Speaker 1>the Christian Endeavor Society, were beginning to notice the difference

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<v Speaker 1>in the four just as they noticed the shining of

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<v Speaker 1>Moses's face when he came down from the mountain after

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<v Speaker 1>communing with God. Julia Cloud stood at the window of

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<v Speaker 1>her Rose and Gray room one Sabbath evening after such

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<v Speaker 1>an afternoon, watching the four children walk out into the

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<v Speaker 1>sunset to their Christian Endeavor meeting, and smiled with the

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<v Speaker 1>tender light in her eyes. She had come to call

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<v Speaker 1>them her four children in her heart now, for they

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<v Speaker 1>all seemed to love and need her alike, and for

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<v Speaker 1>many a month, though they seemed not yet openly aware

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<v Speaker 1>of it, they had been growing more and more, all

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<v Speaker 1>in all to one another, and she was glad. She

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<v Speaker 1>watched them as they walked, Alice in ahead with Jane

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<v Speaker 1>earnestly discussing something, Jane's sweet, serious eyes looking up so

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<v Speaker 1>trustfully to Allison and he's so tall and fine. Beside her,

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<v Speaker 1>Leslie tripping along like a bird behind with Howard and

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<v Speaker 1>pointing out the colors in the sunset, which he watched

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<v Speaker 1>only as they were reflected in her eyes. End of

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty five. Recording by Terra Mendoza, Phoenix, Arizona, April

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<v Speaker 1>two thousand eleven,