West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-03-02
VANCE vARIAN.

lar, and when the OrakeHan slouteu
sNewton" he thought he would like
to hear the roar of old ocean. AS
the salt sea breezes came to his face,
he suddenly remembered that the
Ogdens, old friends, remote rela-
tives, if he remembered rightly, Of
his family, lived here. The Ogden
boys and girls that used tovisit his
fathers house were grown up men
and women now. Should he visit
them I? In ten years he had not
troubled a relative of his with his
presence-he was not going to do it
now. least of all these Puritanical
Ogdens. His old playmates, he sup
posed, grew up as strait laced as
their father, and if they did, they
would wish him well-at distance.
IL think I'll call upon them, just
for fun-just to see how Silas Ogden
and his family of saints will receive
such a sinner as L.
At fifteen Vance Varian had run
away from a home of luxury and
ioined a travelling show. He was
twenty-five now, and during the last
ten years he had led gay, vaga-
bond sort of life, caring for no one
but himself, living for nothing but
fun.
Never was the prodigal son of old
received with more warmth and
kindness than he was by Silas Og
den, his wife and daughter, his
youngest born, Cecilia, the only
child at home. John and William
were away preaching to flocks Of
their own, and Esther was away
with her husband, holding him to
perform his duty in the land OF
heathens.
"Why did l stop here? Why did
| come to this house? Fate must
surely be at work" said Vance Va
rian to himself. Three davs passed
away and still he felt no inclination
to leave and proceed on his way to
no place in particular. He sat
watching Cecilia from under his
eyelids. What face she had. Not
handsome-not even pretty, if every
feature was measured by the artis-
tic rule of beauty-but it was what
cannot always be said of pretty
face, singularly attractive.
Her father, they said, was new
er strict enough with her, but he
did very wise thing when he Sc
lected steady going man likeyoung
Graham for her husband.
"Wiil you come with us to church
O morrow? Mr.. Graham is to
preach in papa's place, and | know
that his sermon will please you"
She did not look up at him, but kept
on at her sewing as she spoke.
Still studying her face, he said ::
How do you know that his sermon
will please mey
The sapphire eyes were raised to
his face now with Il look of surprise
and over the pearly face came a faint
tint of pink.
Il do not think you are SD very
hard to please" she said, smiling,
"and never knew anybody yet that
his sermon failed TO please. There
is u magnetism in his voice and
manner that makes you take every
word he utters home TO yourself.
You know how wayward | am; my
conduct often Mortified my father S
people. But, oh / feel so good when
Mr.. Graham talks to me; my wicked
heart is filled with awe and rever-
ence. and | think ! will never do
anything wrong again. and L don't
till the next time. 1t is So haId,
Won know, for ones heart to be al
WAYS filled with wc,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 a:
you," he spoke truthfully.
He was not laughing at her. but
he was laughing to hide the strange
emotion which the words of the min
ister's daughter stirred within his
bosom.
WELL" he said, carelessly, Mr.
Graham may be all that you describe
him, but his sermon will not please
me. for all that. l was never pleased
with a sermon in my life, neither
was l ever particularly displeased
with one. You see l am not a
church-goer. Never went to church
since l left home, unless | happened
to be caught in some out-of-the way
place on a Sunday, where there was
nc other show open. Out of sheer
desperation / would go to church
and listen, not to the sermon, but tc
the music. Have you choir in
your church?
YES" she answered, very quietly
the enthusiasm having all died out