“To New York, then to Washington.”

“But he has only just begun.”

“But do you realize Raymond is only one small place? He is eager to see the great crowds and carry his great message elsewhere. Consider it our blessing to have seen him even once.”

“Yes. But how can we live without him?”

“He is with us always, Stanton. And he said he wants to see you and Virginia before he goes.”

A silence. Then Stanton said, “He is my Master, my Lord and my God. I bless the day I saw his wondrous Light.”

Before Mr. Maxwell went to bed, he gently opened the guest room door. The light was low in the hall, but a little of it entered the room. The guest was asleep, soundly. He breathed like a happy, healthy child. What wondrous scenes awaited him in the great surging centers of civilization as he set his face from Raymond! Who could tell?

Mr. Maxwell closed the door, and kneeling in his own room, he breathed a prayer, foreseeing in a waking vision some of the tremendous scenes through which his Master would soon pass. And as he fell asleep, there ran again through his heart as he thought of the figure asleep in his own house, “Jesus is here! Jesus is here!”

Seven

Chapter Seven

It was a week after the great conference in the First Church at Raymond. Virginia had just come over to see Rachel, and as Rachel came into the sitting room with her boy Frank, she exclaimed, “What have you been doing to grow so young and handsome? Stand right there, Virginia. What’s the secret?”

Virginia stood still, facing her friend. Before her conversion to Christian discipleship, she had used her wealth and social influence simply for pleasure. Now, for the years she had dedicated herself to the service of her Master, none of her beauty had been lessened. But it had about it a more subtle loveliness and grace. And today she was so radiant, so abundant in the splendor of her Christian womanhood, that her friend could not refrain from comment.

Virginia stood there in silence. There was a smile on her lips so gracious, so full of winsome life, that it was irresistible.

The little boy, Frank, ran up to her. “Kiss me, Auntie Virginia,” he said.

“Me too!” cried Rachel. She ran into Virginia’s arms and the two friends laughed as the boy reached up his arms between them.

“I have come to tell you, dear. You shall be the first to know.” And in few words, she told her heart’s secret.

“What! You? Virginia! I am so glad! And how I shall enjoy having you for my minister’s wife.”

“Rachel, how do you know? Besides, I shall not be your minister’s wife. Only—”