Read The Angel of His Presence for Free Online Page A

he loved it and revered it. "And it's that we want you to—that is, we want her to— to like you, you know. And it's the—the—I can't most bear to say it, 'cause maybe you don't do it anymore," and Jo e looked up with eyes like a be seeching dog.
    "It's the smokin '," broke in Bert huskily, rising. "Come on, Joe, we've done what we 'greed to do; now ' tain't no more of our business. I say, come on!" and he bolted through the window shamefacedly.
    Joe rose and going up to Mr. Stanley laid hold of his unwilling hand and choked out: "You won't take it hard of me, will you? You've done so much fo r me, an' I kind of thought I ought to tell you, but now since I seen yer f ace I think maybe I had no busi ness. Good-night," and with a face that looked as if he had been caught in the act of stealing, Joe followed his friend through the wind ow and was lost in the deep sha dows outside.
    John Stanley stood still where the two had left him. If two robbers had suddenly come in upon him and quietly stolen his watch and diamond stud and ring and left him standing thus, he could not have looked more astonished. Where had been his usual ready ange r that it did not rise and over power these two impudent young puppies, ignorant as pigs, that they should presume to dictate to him, a Christian gentleman, what ha bits he should have? And all be cause some straitlaced old maid , or silly chit of a girl who loved power, did not like something. Where was his manhood that he had stood and let himself be insulted, be it ever so humbly, by boys who were not fit for him to wipe his feet upon ? His kindling eyes lifted unexpectedly to the picture. The Master was watching him from his quiet table under the arches of stone. He stood a minute under the gaze and then he turned the lights all out and sat down in the dark. The fire was out too, and only the deep red glow behind the coals made a little lighting of the darkness. And there in the dark the boy Joe's face came back clearly and he felt sorry he had not spoken some word of com fort to the wretched fellow who felt so keenly the meaning of what he had done. There had been love for him in Joe's look and he could not be angry with him now he remembered that.
    Bit by bit the winter of his work for Joe came back, little details that he did not suppose he ever should recall, but which had seemed filled with so much meaning then because he had been working for a soul's salvation and with the divine love for souls in his heart. What joy he had that winter! How sorry he had been to leave it all and go away. Now he came to think of it, he had never been so truly happy since. Oh, for that joy over aga in! Oh, to take pleas ure in prayer as he had done in those days! What was this that was sweeping over him? When ce came this sudden dissatisfac tion with himself ? He tried to be angry with the two boys for their part in the matter, and to laugh at himself for being influenced by them, but still he could not put it away.
    A stick in the fire fell apart and scattered a shower of sparks about, blazing up into a brief glow. The room was illuminated just for an instant and the face of the Christ shone out clearly before the silent man sitting in front of the picture. Then the fire died out and the room was dark and only the sound of the settling coals broke the stillness. He seemed to be alone with Christ, face to face, with his heart open to his Lord. He could not shrink back now nor put in other thoughts. The time to face the change in himself had come and he was facing it alone with his God.

Chapter Five
     
    IT was the next evening, and the Forest Hill Mission had assembled in full force. They were there, from little Mrs. Brown in her black percale, even to Mrs. Ketchum, who had pocketed her pride, and in a low-necked gown with a long train was making the most of her position on the committee. She arranged herself to "receive" with John Stanley and his mother, ignoring the fact that Mrs. Brown and "those