The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-31
RIGHTEOUS OvERMUCH.
by IAN MACLAREN.
o~opprtpnt. 1897. ~ JeAn Ksison.

Copyright, 1897. ~ John RafsoN-
Dol you like this kind Of thing, Crashawf'
for tho drawing room was full and they were
'tanding In tho hall. Those religious conversa-
Eionos In evening drcss, with supper following,
arc rather n variety entertainment. even with.
out Tootle on 'Amusemonts the Dry-rot Of the
Christian Church. Wasn't that tho tttlef"
More or less. 1t couldn't be much worse, ut
any rate, and for my part, I'd rather do an hour
IN tho treadmill than listen to that talk. Just
hear him, Jack. Hos in his'glory on dancing.
DO not suppose, my friends" an oily voice
was heard within. that all dancing Is sinful,
for David danced with much acceptance. It'll
only what may bo called, II | BIO permitted such
a word, promiscuous dancing between sexes
that is condemned. not the Joyful movements
Of q spiritual man. Many. indeed, would Ike
to see again the separate male dance"
Isn't that good. JACK. And yet they say
those people have no sense Of humor. How our
host can stand Tootle passes mo-, for he must
know his record.
what was III Oh, he had a business baby
linen or something like that-nnd failed for 10
pence in the pound. Then he was secretary to
some institute or other, and got into difficulty
with his accounts. Now our host and a few
other excellent mon keep him to lift religion
rather an irony.
"Do you see the smile on his facet That Is one
OF his points, and is much admired. He has
got his whole expression arranged TO q religious
grin. and I'm told that they advertise him as
The Smiling Evangelist
How In tho world, Crasbaw, Is a man like
Arkwright taken in by such a transparent hum
bugi Arkwrisht is narrow and bigoted. but
nets as straight as the day. You remember
how he paid up his failure with 8 per cent. In
teresti"
That's 80. but you know his story, a self
made man who has had no culture and doesn't
read anything beyond his Bible and the wool
spinner so he's just n prey to the whole race of
Tootlc. There, he's at it again"
"A dear sister present asks whether I know Of
any edifying Sabbath game for young people.
My dear friend will excuse me il l suggest that
exercise would be n better word than game.
Young peoples Sabbath exercise let us say"
which was received with sympathetic murmurs
We'll, you must not think 1t presumptuous IL
mention a simple, but 1 hope not Improbable.
little exercise which a dear child of my own
invented. and which has been found helpful by
many parents. We call 1t Scripture ~quartets,
and it is, l think, ingenious. Each card has q
Bible character on it, and fouf make a set.
You ask about till you get Abraham, Isaac.
Jacob. and Joseph, that is. the patrisrchs.S Then
there are tho babies of the Bible and tho;beasts,
quito a nice variety
What brought me to listen to such twaddle.
Crashawi Well, we do business with Ark
wright, and he has no quartet nonsense when
hos on wool. One has many social trials, and
has 1t over occurred to you how much Mrs.
Arkwright has to endure living In this atmos.
phere and paying homage to Tootlei'
by the way, Jack, people say she is a very
handsome girl, and a lady. How did she cvor
marry Arkwrighti Was it religion-taking tho
veil, you know, as a Protestant
At believe il was her mothcr's doing. mt her
own, for my convictionis that though she keeps
up a fair show. Mrs. Arkwright is not much
troubled with religion. But the old lady was
pious and Door, and when Arkwright, who had
been SO busy With wool and Bible readings up
to tho age Of 20 that he had never thought of
marriage, came forward she grasped at the
chance. Talked of it as u providence that her
girl should be to the charge of such
For my part, Crashaw," he went on in q low
tone, 1T seems to me a crime against nature
hard. bloodless:o!d Puritan like Arkwright, who
will not ALLOW her TO- go to a concert or 70
would like, sr.and would himself rather attend a
conference, or whatever they call it. and hear
wright's house. Jack. and | came too late TO DO
WINGED from your enthusiasm that Mrs. Ark.
wright is extremely good looking. General
Cease from imperiinence, old man, and III
let you judge for yourself. See, there on Tootle's
What an Abandoned criminal that mother
of hers was after a pause OF silent admira-
ton; Why; Jack, that woman ms ought to have
Her face is the most perfect piece OF Grecian
beauty ever saw ,nH .n Tiss eyes , chin HI mouth per
and that glorious hair. brown shot through With
gold -. ,,o at,or woman y. Oh. g.,
like n goddess among a lot of peasants; see how
she holds her head and her proud gravity while
since it is her husbands house, and Tootie i;
their 5ee m gGie estc S me- syerr mot smile sa nor h despsis s ',b 6St
e eet on %"i iosa,he aRf'R Yon Visit ! them ssS., no" 40 'ne'
Yes. but its hard to say, for his heart is
withersd although he! he is most w Just and md e sa"1i
not have loved him but Mrs Arkwright re.
spects herself too much to give any sign; People
S Certain she is 5 not c"1 cola" '"' ""1 : an
VERY likely you have hit the mark" and
Crashaw began TO glance round the room from
his vantage ground by the door. "Who is that
person sitting beside Mrs. Arkwrishti He is
oh, that's Eecrton. Arkwrisht's minister,
an lnSdepGHdent or B,9bp t l can never re S1nen
than his lot, but very ~fanatical in his life.
are standing now"
They might" said his friend; but ARK,
T9%tlo has finished. and now we shall have
II.
You have come quickly, Mr.. Egerton, and
that was we'll done said John Arkwrisht.
leaking very white and worn, propped up with
sup o, brandy: them that never touches drink
when thcy're well get the good when H..
THAT gives me tho strength ] need for the
time. and my work Is nearly done, Don't go
away, Laura; | want you TO hear what l say TO
the pastor. The doctor says at ma days are
few, mayhap only to morrow, and it's best to
speak when "A mans head Is clear, and | thank
God, mine is that. though my body be clemmed
by this sickness
His wife stood on one side OF the bed, now and
thon rearranging. tho pillows at his back and
bathing his forehead with vinegar-for scent
he would not have ana Egerton stood on the
other, refusing 10 sit down while she stood.
and watching her strong white hands at their
the face.
I'm owd. ~ this month. and j have ma known
you long, but there's no mon I've liked better
or could trust more And he looked at Eyer
ton with a certain softening of expression.
you've been very kind to me and to the
chapel, Mr.. Ark wright, and | hone IL may be