A NOVEL
By
ROBERT E. KNOWLES
Author of "The Web of Time"
"St. Cuthbert's" etc.
New York Chicago Toronto
Fleming H. Revell Company
London and Edinburgh
Copyright, 1909, by
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY
New York: 158 Fifth Avenue
Chicago: 80 Wabash Avenue
Toronto: 25 Richmond Street, W.
London: 21 Paternoster Square
Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street
To
My Father
FOREWORD
This story, which the authoress herselfentitled "The Attic Guest," would probablyhave never been given to the world but foran incidental visit which I paid to a certain manse.It was then and there that the following chapters,now first presented to the public, were entrusted tomy hands. The hands which placed the manuscriptin my own were those of a lady of much charm,modest, cultured, winsome; and no one could knowher without feeling that her qualities of heart wereeven greater than of intellect. She was a minister'swife, as I need hardly say; and the busy years in thatmost mellow of all vineyards had given her facemuch of its own spiritual beauty, something of thedeep harvest-joy shining through her eyes.Tranquil eyes were hers, chastened by many a sorrow,yet aglow with a native merriment that the sternschooling of a lifetime seemed powerless to subdue.
She asked that I would read her story; "and sendit forth," said she, "if your heart approve."
Her plea for asking this service at my hands wasthat I had had some humble association with theworld of letters. Mayhap she thought this pleasedme well—and perhaps it did. I urged her to sendher book forth with her own name upon it—but thisshe firmly refused. She shrank from the publicity itwould involve, she said, as must any Southern lady.I believed her implicitly. "Especially," she wenton—dwelling earnestly on this—"since my book isthe frank and artless story of the most sacred thingsof life, of a woman's life at that. Some will smile,"said she, "and some deride, and many disbelieve;but the story is the story of my inmost work andlife and love. Let it see the light if you think itworthy."
I promised; and thus my promise is redeemed andmy humble part is done.
ROBERT E. KNOWLES.
Galt, Ontario.
CONTENTS
I. The Light Fantastic
II. Just Eighteen
III. The Bridge That Lay Between
IV. The Danger Zone
V. An Alternative
VI. The Glint of the Heather
VII. "The Glory of Their Strength"
VIII. Dealings with the Samaritans
IX. Love's Tutorship
X. The River Leading to the Sea
XI. A Mother Confessor
XII. The Wail of the Lowly
XIII. The Lynching
XIV. Girding on the Armour
XV. ...