Highway with a degree of pleasure hitherto unsuspected, and also upon
the King's Highway, but only to see that the path was indeed a rough
one and beset with trials and difficulties which, to her mind, now
seemed unnecessary to a Christian life.
In the same manner I looked into all the apartments of each building,
and was astonished at the presence of so large a number from the King's
Highway, and a still greater throng from the way of the world.
"O Blackana!" I cried, "how long will this continue? Is there no end
to deception? With such a changed view of things, how can Miss
Church-Member crave for the King's Highway or urge Mr. World thither?"
"Miss Church-Member will be happier where she is," answered my uncanny
companion as he grinned horribly. "By the aid of her glasses she can
both see and enjoy the wonderful scenes along the way." I knew that
Blackana was covering the truth, but hesitated to insinuate as much.
"Can you explain," I questioned in a half hopeful mood, "how those
specialists can do their deceptive work so brazenly? Poor Miss
Church-Member, deluded and defrauded, now stumbles rapidly onward with
the fiendish Mr. World. Tell me, O agent of the Devil, do those
creatures find delight in such horrible deeds?"
"It is not a matter of pleasure or delight with them, but rather one
of loyalty to their king, whom you call 'Devil.' To serve him poorly
means a more bitter hell, but to serve him well brings honor from his
hand."
"But such honor!" I exclaimed, and then said: "I observe that Miss
Church-Member wears colored lenses--tell me the meaning of this; and
you, Blackana, hereafter deal no more in falsehood with me!" I demanded.
Blackana shifted his position, and with marked reluctance proceeded
to answer:
"The Devil, my master, uses in his work all imaginable kinds of glasses,
invented in the Wizard City. Every conceivable shade of color is made,
each for its particular use. Through his agents Satan selects the lens
for the patient's eye, and if it is worn as selected and directed, he
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