Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-12


tongue of goo report. BESIDES"
sac hc'il:cd. Carruthers hoped she would |
Ia Ia to sentence with some information rs
10 tho true state of Beatrice's feelings. Mrs. 1
Iiier's assurance that she had good grounds |
for asking him to wait for an indefinite time
would DO thrice welcome. Lovers and drown
ing men ought to be coupled together in the
matter of catching at straws.
"Well, besides whatf' he said, seeing she
still hesitated.
"You arc both Of the elect" she said in
strangely solemn accents. 1.-THE seal Is ON
What do you meanr' said Frank in be-
wilderment.
She claspcd her thin hands together; her
eyes shone with strange braliancy. "Mean!"
she exclaimed, SO loudly that Frank glanced
IT the dosr 30 Lake sure thai 1t VAS ci,
'Meau Can it be possible tha5 tho'e blessed
ones who are predestncd to be saints here
after can walk the earth and know it mott
can see it, can read 1t on your fnce-on Miss
Beatrcc's face. Many arc called, but few
are chosen'--few are chosen You are OF the
| few"
"Ohw said Frank. He WINS beginning to
understand that he was dealing with n re-
hgious fanatic. His bewilderment was sue
ceeded by plying curiosity, tempered by
sarcasm.
ar one could believe It, it would be very
satisfactory" he continued. Tell me why
you feel SO srne about US. Our creed must
differ from yours"
"Creed" she burst out. You were chosen
before there was a creed in the world. The
seal is put on the elect as they draw the first
breath 1t may be that a heather who has
never heard Gods name shall sit on the steps
Of the great throne, while he who has lived
on earth tho life Of a saint shall go into ever
lasting fire."
This is predestination with vengeance
thought Frank. "Why do you feel SO sure
about Mis- Clauson and mer he asked.
II can read it in your faces. You are to
have happiness in this world and in the
next"
Franks sense of humor made him feel In
clined to ask Mrs. Miller about tho ultimate
fate of the gentle Horace and Herbert, with
their kindly hearts and old womanish ways.
He would even have liked to know what was
to become of the sedate Whitaker, and VIII
liam Giles, the coachman. But he checked
the questions. He saw that what vas alnuse-
ment to him was death to the pale, excited
woman at his side. He did not wish to enter
into q theological argument, and at this time
of night play Pelagius to this feminine dis
cipie of Augustine. Indeed, he knew that the
arguments of those who hold the doctrine of
predestination and its correlative, reproba-
tion, arc logically unanswcrab!e by the best
theologian ever turned out Of Oxford; and
theology was not Mr.. Carruthers' pet science
So he contented himself by expressing po-
lite hope that Mrs. Miller felt also sure Of her
own salvation.
''Iw she exclaimed, and shudder as Of
terror ran through her. 81 have prayed day
and night-day and night-thnt answer may
be given me, that a sign may be shown to
me- The answer has been given.n
"WeI, you found it all right, ho1e," said
Frank, TO humor her.
She leaned forward and again clutched his
arm. II am one Of the many" sho said, in
a low, thrilling whisper. Her face wore a
look Of utter hopelessness. Frank Iitiei the
poor creature from the bottom of his heart.
! 'My good woman he said, "your belief Is
simply diabolcal one. Get rid of it, and
trust that there is some mercy to be shown to
those who ask for it. Go and talk to Mr.
Mordle or the rector, or somo one whose bust
ness it is to set things Of this kind straight
Now think we had better say goodnight
Goodnight sir Thank you" she said
with sudden return to her usual calm and
respectful manner. Then, with bent head
and hopelessncss written all over her, she
walked slowly to the door. a thought struck
Carruthers.
"Wait a moment" he said; II should iks
TO write line to Miss Clauson."
"Love-letters will do no good, SIR"
ats not love-letter," said Frank some
what sharply. Mrs. Miller waited
He took q sheet of paper. After wha
had happened he felt he could not address,
the woman he loved as MY dear Mis-
Clausonn ard be did not dare to write my
dear Beatrice So his letter began abrupt
", without address Of any kind. Moreover
it was very short. Here it Isl
"Now that have asked my question, anc
YOU have given your answer, tell me would
you rather left this place at once, or stage
on rs intended.-Yours, F. c."
He handed the letter to Mrs. Miller. Sh,
took it in a reluctant manner. you hav,
not written anything unkind to hersn sh
asked.
T. Nothing. Take my word for 1t"
I "And you promise you will waltf
II 81 must wait, whs her | like it or not
, said Frank, rather bitterly.
L "Good-nght, sir" Mrs. Miller curtseyeI
and stole noiselessly from the room.
c Frank fell back into a revcry How strant 3
} that in the few hours since he had been r.
:. iected two persons had babe him wait an,
hope-Mordle, in his CHEEKY, optimistic way
Mrs Miller, in her soulbre, halfentrancod
j highly-wrought religious frenzy. Poo
!, woman! what extraordinary ideas she held
: She must be next door to religious r.ono
= maniac, with her CHASTITY tenets Of fore-or
:, dainment and predestination
- Neverthel .ss, if either of his counselor
gave him hope it was this mad, wild-spokei
=, fanatic. She was, SO to say, Beatrice's bod
- servant, and as such might be presumed t
y know something Of the secrets of her mis-
=, tress' heart, or at the least to be able to max
- shrewd guess at them. SO, in spite of hi
+, own common sense, in spite of her disma
= iargon about the elect, the seals, and the res
II Of It, the hope which springs eternal bega-
q q to throw up tiny shoot in Mr.. Carruther'
= heart.
At last he went to bed, wondering wha
q answer he would receive to his letter. 1t
W to be hoped the promise he made Mrs. Mile
:" was to be more sacred than those made t
%, Horace and Herbert, for he blew out tn
~ lamp anyhow, and left the hearthrug to tax