Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-10
VANCE vARIAN.

His stepping from the train ut New
town was not premeditated. He was
bound for no place in particular, ant
when the brakeman shouted "New.
town" he thought he would like to heal
the roar of old ocean. AS the sail
sea breezes came to his face, he sudden.
ly remembered that the Ogdens, old
friends, remote relatives, if he remem.
bered rightly, of his family, lived here.
The Ogden boys and girls that used tc
visit at his fathers house We're grown
men and women now. Should he visit
them? In ten years he had not troubled
Il relative of his with his prcsence-he
was not going to do it now, and least OF
all these Puritanical Ogdens. His old
playmates, he supposed, grew up as
strait laced as their father, and if they
did, they would wish him well-at n dis.
tance.
II think I'll call upon them, just fol
fun-iust to see how Silas Ogden and
his family of saints will receive such a
sinner as L.
|" ~ At fifteen Vance Varian had ran away
from a home of luxury and joined a
travelling show. He was twenty-five
now, and during the last ten years he
had led gay, vagabond sort of life, car
ing for no one but himself, living for
nothing but fun.
Never was the prodigal son of old re-
ceived with more warmth and kindness
than was he by Silas Ogden, his wife
and daughter, his youngest born, Ce-
ella, the only child at home. John and
William were away preaching to focks
OF their own, and Esther was away with
her husband, helping him to perform
his duty in the land of heathens.
"Why did I stop here? Why did I
come to this house? Fate must surely
be at work" said Vance Varian to him
self. Three days passed away, and still
he felt no inclination to leave, and pro-
coed on his way to no place in particu-
ar. He sat watching Cecilia from under
his eyelids. What a face she had. Not
handsome-not even pretty, if every
feature was measured by the artistic
rule of beauty-but it was what cannot
always be said of pretty face, singular
ly attractive.
Her father, they said, was never strict
enough with her, but he did wise thing
when he selected steady going man
like young Graham for her husband.
"Will you come with lis to church to-
morrow? Mr.. Graham is to preach in
papa's place, and I know that his sermon
will please you" She did not look up
at him, but kept on with her sewing as
she spoke.
Still studying her face, he said:
Glow do you know his sermon will
please mel"
The sapphire eyes were raised to his
face now with look of surprise, and
over the pearly face came faint tint of
pink.
Il do not think you are so very hard
to please" she said, smiling, "and 1
never knew anybody yet that his sermon
failed to please. There is a magnetism
i'll his voice and manner that makes you
take every word he utters home to your
self. You know how wayward l am;
my conduct often horrifies my fathers
people. But, oh! feel SO good when
Mr.. Graham talks to me; my wicked
heart is filed with aw, and reverence,
and + think 1 will never do anything
wrong again, and don't until the next
time. 1t is 50 hard, you know, for ones
heart to be always filed with awe,
though it would be an easy matter
enough if Mr.. Graham was always near
me; but he has other sinners to attend
to, and-now, you are laughing at me"
Vance Varian was laughing, but when
he said:
"Oh, no; I'm not laughing at you,"
he spoke truthfully.
He was not laughing at her, but he
was laughing to hide the strange emotion
which the words of the minister's daugh-
ter stirred within his bosom.
"Well," he said, carelessly, "Mr.
Graham may be all that you describe
him, but his sermon will not please me,
Tor all that. was never pleased with a
sermon in my life, neither was I ever
particularly displeased with one. You
see I am not a church goer. Never went
to church since I left home, unless 1
to be caught in some quiet
'ut of-the-way place on Sunday, where
here was no other show open. Out of
sheer desperation would go to church
md listen, not to the sermon but to the
music. Have you a choir in your
'hurch ?"
YES" she answered, very quietly,
he enthusiasm having all died out of
Ter voice.
"Do you sing in it p
She nodded her head.
"Then I shall go and listen to your
singing tomorrow.
"And not to the sermon T.
"Not to the Sermon" and Vance
aughed again.
The needlework dropped from Cecilia's
ingers. She crossed her hands upon
Ter lap, and fixed her beautiful eyes on
lis face. Vance felt anything but COM
There was something in the
oppression of her eyes he could not /
Understand. He laughed. or maie q