Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-12-19

ness her complete surprise.
you seem to think she will be as
overjoyed to meet you as you will to
meet her again. What SURPRISING
confdence!" he said jestingly.
81 haven't told you all, thought I
would not yet. Bat I may as well
We became so well acquainted that
before we parted on the steamer told
her that l wanted her for nay wife,
She promised that if on longer &C
quaintance she liked me as well as she
did then-in spite of my numerous
eccentricities would consent. She
gave me her address in New York,
day after we landed. That night
lost my pocket book containing her
card. 1t was impossible for me to find
her in that great city. l need net tell
you that | made every reasonable
effort and failed. Never having heard
from me since we babe each other
adieu on the ship as we were about to
land, she must of course believe me
the greatest fraud of her acquaint-
ance.h
''She couldn't hare told you much
concerning her relatives or friends.
and you must have known but very
little about her plans, or you would
certainly have had some clue by
means of which to reach her."
As to her connections / suppose
was rather Indifferent; I didn't en-
courage conversation in that direc-
ton, [ was interested i'll her for her
self alone. To be sure we discussed
art, science and literature to the ex-
clusion of all those precious sisters,
cousins and aunts who might have
aided me- As to her plans, she did
tell me that she supported herself by
her music and still expected to on her
return from Leipsig, where she had
been studying. OF course 1 thought
she would teach. Nothing was said
about choirs Theyas well as churches
have long stood beyond the pale of
my thoughts. I want to tell you a
few things that were passing through
nay mind to night when you were all
singing Handel's chorus"
| Needless to repeat his confessions
| Let the reader who believes not in
Divinity; who finds no joy in religion
as handed down by the saints; who
| ignores the beauties of Christianity,
and the riches of art it has furnished;
to whom church going is farce, and
Easter and Christmas are meaningless
days, steal into some small sanctuary
and listen to the soulful holiday
chorals or carols, or into some vast
cathedral where the sublime and i'm
passioned orators OF the early masters
are, in their several ways, whisper
ing peace to the troubled, breathing
encouragement to the depressed or
vigorously applauding the strong in
faith for it is in such moments that
men may catch glimpses of great
spiritual truths. They may feel then
that there is still worship which is
sincere, reverence which is rational,
an eternal hope which is not mockery
but a liviag sentient faculty of the
soul.
MY darling, shall it be on Christ
mas eve?"
80 soon as that? Oh, no, could
not think of it, you must wait. We
need to know each other better, or at
least longer A year will not be too
long in which to test the strength of
this new tie. 1t is very strange at
traction"
"You call it strange attraction
In this scientific age how cold t.e
terms used 10 express love. Even this
glowing ardent passion in my heart,
which, pure as the stars, illumines
every moment spent in your presence,
must be subjected to keen analysis.
Oh, let us make life's problems sim
pier, Grace, by dropping from our
minds these psychological, metaphy-
steal and ever pGrplexing questions
concerning the laws that control our
being and our actions. l am so tired
of thinking, questioning, specializing;
SO tired of being skeptical about
everything and wanting everything
tested"
Perhaps you arc willing to take
me on trust. But suppose you glance
at my side Of the matter. How do
you think l feel about promising to
love, honor and obey you all the rest
of my natural life until I know better
what you are going TO require of met
1t is all nonsense for men and women
to say that differences of opinion in
religion need not interfere with mar
riage. They do interfere as soon as
the knot is tied I've seen too many
of the results of compromises In fam
lies to feel like su6jecting even my
rationalistic faith to the crucial fires
of scorn and ridicule, that are burnins. :.
ont the heart of worship and piety
which women would fain keep alive
and throbbing in the home"
''Oh, my fair, strong, noble hearted
girl, you 30 not know yet all that be-
longs to my once broken dream of
happiness. 1t is because you, I am
sure, will keep alive ia my heart and
in our home the spirit of aspiration,
that long to have you ever near me.
1t is you wko have shown me the
golden mean between ignorant super
stition and intelligent belief. | do
not define the change in my position,
but l do own that am no longer liv-
ing in the atmosphere of doubt 1 once
boosted of as tracing to the intellect.
| am breathing the air of trust and
hope. The beautiful is not dead !
| Christmas comes every year with its
suggestions of faith, its emphasis of
tenderness and love. Glorious an
thems, grand mass es and heavenly
oratories are doing their work molly.
Sc long as they are sung, so long as
men are moved by their inspired and
inspiring harmonies, the great truths
of religion and life will go sounding
on through the centuries"
IF l marry you sooner than
intended-in fact very soon, Mr..
Fleming, will you make me some
solemn PROMISES"
ANY promises consistent with my
reason and judgment I will most
willingly make"
When sit down at my piano and
sing from the Messiah"
IN turn the leaves for you" "And
when sing Sweet Hour of Praver7"
ooh, l don't know about that!
Well. yes, I'll make the best of it."
And as l sing Nearer my God to
Thee, you'll not laugh at me and leave
the room abruptly and disguised, as
I've seen women's iufdel husbands
DOR
Never"
when 1 go to church on Sunday
morning and you just happen to 60
With ra,,fn