at was in those times. Of course. There
wasn't anybody else, I suppose; and He had to take some one. But now
there are plenty of people who go to church all the time and like that
sort of thing."

"How do you know, Allison? Perhaps you are the only one in this town,
and God has sent you here just to do this special work."

"Well, I won't, and that's flat, Cloudy; so you can put the idea right
out of your head. I won't, not even for you. Anything that has to do
with your personal comfort I wouldn't say that about, of course; but
this belongs entirely to that little old ratty church, and I haven't
anything at all to do with it; and I want you to forget it, Cloudy,
for _I'm not going to do it_!"

"Why, Allison, you're mistaken about me. It isn't my affair, and I
don't intend to make it so. I didn't get this up. It's between you and
God. If God really called you, you'll have to say no to Him, not to
me. I don't intend to make excuses to God for you, child. You needn't
think it. And, besides, there's another thing you're very much
mistaken about, and that is that you haven't anything to do with the
church. When you were a little baby six months old, your father and
mother brought you home to our house; and the first Sunday they were
there they took you to the old church where all the children and
grandchildren had been christened for years, and they stood up and
assented to the vows that gave you to God. And they promised for
themselves that they would do their best to bring you up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord until you came to years and could
finish the bond by giving yourself to the Lord. I shall never forget
the sweet, serious look on the face of your lovely girl-mother when
she bowed her head in answer to the minister's question, 'Do you thus
promise?'"

Allison had stopped in his angry walk up and down the room, and was
looking at her interestedly.

"Is that right, Cloudy? Was I baptized in the old Sterling church? I
never knew that. Tell me about it," and he seated himself on the other
end of the couch, while Leslie switched off the light and nestled down
between them, scenting a story.

"Wasn't I, too, Cloudy?" she asked hungrily.

"No, dear, I think you were baptized in California in your mother's
church, and I'm sorry to say I wasn't there to see; so I can't tell
you about it; but I remember very distinctly all about Allison's
christening, for we were all so happy to have it happen in the East,