The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-25
VANCE YARlAN.

III plbCb III phIuCulhI huu hupu Sh'
brakeman shouted Newton" he though
he would like to hear the roar Of OLE
ocean. AS the salt res breezss came to hi
fscs, he suddenly remembered that thu
oSdens, Old friends, remote relatives, ifht
remembered rightly, Of his family, LIVED
here. The Ogden boys and girls tina
used to visit ct his fathers house wert
grown up men and women now. shoulC
he visit them? In ten years he had MOI
troubled relative oil his with his presence
-he was not going TO do 1t now, least O
all these PuritsniCsl 0Rdens. His ole
playmates, hs supposed, grew up as strait
laced aA their father, and II they did, they
would wish him Well-as distance.
u think III call upon them, Just fol
fun-just to SEQ how silas Ogden and his
family Of saints will reCsive such sinner
as l."
At fifteen Vance Varisn hsd run away
from home oEluxury and joined travel.
log show. He was twenty-five now, and
during tho Last ten years he had led o gsy,
vsgabond sort OF life, caring for no one
but himself, living for nothing but fun.
Never was the prodigal son OF old re-
ceiyed with moro warmth and kindness
than be WIS by Silss Ogden, his wife and
daughter, his youngest born, Cecilia, the
only child at home. John and William
were away preaching to aocks Of their
own, and Esther was away with her hus.
bend, hslding him to perform his duty in
the land Of heathens.
"Why did l stop hsre2 Why did
come TO this house2 FATE must surely he
at work." said Vance VaIian TO himself.
Three days passed away and still he felt
no inclination to leave aud proceed on
his way to no place in particular. He set
watching Cecilia from under his eyelids.
What face she had. Not handEome-
not even pretty, il every feature Yss
measured by the arti1!ic rule OF beauty
but it TRs what cannot alWsys be aaid OF
pretty lace, siugularly attractive.
Her father, they said, was never strict
enough with her, but he did very wiHe
thing whom he selected as.eady-going man
like young Graham for her husband.
"Will you come with Us to church to-
morrow? Mr.. Graham is to preach in
psps's place, and know that his sermon
will please you" She did not look up CT
him, but kept on at her sewing as she
spoke.
sEll rtudying her face, be said: "How
do you know that bis sermon will please
me2"
Tho sapphire eyes were rsiEed to his
fFCe Row with look Of surprise, and over
the pearly face came faint tint OF pink.
~ DO not think you Sre 80 very Lard 10
plesge," ane said, smiling, "and l never
knew anybody yet that his sermon failed
10 please. There ia magnetism in his
voiCa and manner that makes you take
every word be u!ters home to yourself.
You know how wsyward am; my con-
duct often Mortified my fathers people.
But, OIL feel so good when Mr.. Graham
talks to me; my wicked heart is filled with
ave and reverence, snd think l will
never do anything wrong again, and
dou't-till the next time. It is 60 hard,
you knoT, for ones hesrt to be alWhys
filled with awe, though II would be an
easy matter enough II Mr.. Graham wss
always near me; but he has other sinners
to attend 10, and-now, you are laughing
at me-"
Vance Yarian was laughing, but when
he said:
"Oh, no; Pm not laughing at you," he
spoke Faithfully.
He was not laughing at her, but he WAS
laughing 10 hide the strange emotion
which the words OF the minister's daugh-
ter stirred within his bos6p.
"Well," he bsid, carele5sly, "Mr. Ora.
ham may be ell that you deEeribe him,
but his sermon will not please me, for all
that. was never pleased with sermon
in my lie, neither was ever particularly
displeaped with one. You see am not q
ChurCh.goer. Never went to church since
l left home, unless l happened to be
caught in some outof.the-way place on Q
Sunday, where there was no other show
open. Out Of sheer desperation I would
60 to church and listen, not to the ser
mon, but to the music. Have you choir
in your church,"
ayes" she answered, very quietly,
the enthusiasm having all died out Of her
voice.
do you sing in it?"
She NODDED her head.
"Then shall 20 and listen TO your sing.
ing tomorrow"
"And not to tho germonH
"Not to the Sermon" and Vance laugh
ed again.
The needlework dropped again from
CeciliS'a fingers. She crossed her arms
upon her lap and fixed her beautiful eyes
on his face. Vance felt anything but com.
Portable. There was something in the ex.
precision Of her eyes he could not under
stand. He laughed, or made pretenae
Of laughing, and was about to make some
remark, when che said, earnestly:
81 am sorry for you" and picking up
her work she began plying her needle
once more.
An lndescribGble expression stole over
Vance Variants face. He opened wide
his eyes and watched intently the girl
who was 80 sorry for him. He saw her
head droop lower over her work, and
then glisteniDg teRrdrop fell down upon
her white hand. Vance Varian watched
no longer, but rose abruptly and left the
room. A few moments after Cecilia heard
the front door open and shut, and looking
from the window abe saw Vance walking
hurrisdly down the path. Her eyes fol.
lowed him as they never followed the man
whom her father had chosen for her hus'
Dbnus Sh6 uhu bpukbn lu0 Lutu WHeu
Bhe said that George Grahsm filed hel
heart With awe. But she knew nothing
OF lore. It is said that pity is akin Il
love; II so, Cecilia Is nearer to love now
than she ever was in her life.
Vance YRrian sat In the old gray church
BE had made up his mind not to listen Il
The sermon, but he waa listening in spite
OF himself, and his heart rose within hin
in rebellion. Turn his eyes which wRJ
he would, he encountered the klndlini
magnetic gaze Of the preacher. The ser
vice was over, md at the door he waiteC
for Cecilia.
''Will you take a walk on the cliffs be
fore you 20 homer" he asked, when shl
appeared.
"YeS," she answered. after some hesita
He took her hand in his, and she allow
ed him to lead her up the struggling path
They assembled the cliff, neither speakin
q word. They reached the top, and he
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