ature
drawing out and in a measure toning Jim's, the two had grown less apart
than seemed at first probable.

It wanted but twenty minutes to eight when the young men left the room
where important business not only for time, but, as it came to pass, for
eternity, had been settled, and hurried, the one to the Euclid House,
and the other around the corner toward the great dry-goods house on the
main business street. He stopped first though at the cozy little white
house, moved with eager steps up the walk, flung open the side door, and
spoke in tones full of suppressed excitement to the old lady, who was
nodding over her large print Testament, Jim's birthday gift.

"Grandma, I have a present for you." And a crisp paper was produced and
laid on the page of the open Bible. A glance showed it to be a
temperance pledge--another look, a start, a filling of the dim old eyes
with tears as the beloved name, James H. McPherson, swam before her
vision, and true to her faith her loving voice gave utterance to her
full heart:

"'While they are yet speaking I will hear.' I was just speaking to him
again, don't you think, about that very thing. Oh the Lord bless him and
help him. Now, deary, we won't be content with this, will we?"

Theodore shook his head emphatically.

"He must come over _entirely_ to the Lord's side," he said, smiling,
"now that he has come half way."

The city clock was giving the last stroke of eight as Theodore was
ushered into the private office of Mr. Stephens. That gentleman arose to
greet him with a smile of satisfaction, and then ensued another business
talk, and the drift of it can be drawn from these concluding sentences:

"Well, sir," from Mr. Stephens to Theodore, as the latter arose to go,
"how soon may I expect you? How long is it going to take you to get your
business in shape to leave? We need help as soon as possible."

"I will be on hand to-morrow morning, sir."

"What! ready for work? How is it possible that you have dispatched
matters so rapidly?"

"Why," said Theodore, "from two o'clock until eight gives one six good
hours in which to dispatch business."

And Mr. Stephens, as they went down the great store together, smiled
again and said to himself:

"I don't believe I have mistaken my man."

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XVII.

TRANSLATIONS.

There was an evening party at the house of the Rev. John Birge. Not one
of those grand crushes, where every body is cross and warm