The Republican journal., 1899-05-25
THE SOURCES OPINION.
BY RUTH CADY.

i tuee enQOW, ne must nave lnCluu6u his
opinions among his worldly possessions,
for he endowed her with these SO etfectu-
ally that she never had any of her own.
Jotham's opinions were the only kind
used in the house. She once explained to
an acquaintance that no one could ever
convince lothian by argument, because he
was so thoroughly convinced to begin with
that he never would listen to any argu-
ments on the other side. But the remark
was merely the statement of a doctrine,
and not the result of experiment. She
had never argued. The only time she
failed to yield to his views was in her last
illness, when he thought-for he really
loved her-that she ought to recover.
Then she seemed unable to bring her &C
quiescence to a practical basis, and died
with look of wonder in her blue eyes
that she should be doing it when he didn't
want her to.
Yet lothian Harris was never intention
ally a tyrannical man. He had kindly
impulses, warm heart-when approach
ed from the right side-and was as nearly
just as his strong prejudices would allow
His fellowmen liked him, quarrelled with
him, went to him in need, berated his OBJ
stinancy, and elected him justice of the
peace--that being an office where, if he
would not listen to argument, a change of
venue was possible. Perhaps the reign of
the gentle woman who was content with
ready made views had not been the best
for his development. At any rate, there
was complete change of dynasty when
Mrs. Maria Alden became Mrs. Harris.
She had opinions of her own, and had
been accustomed to acting upon them for
years, Self reliance ard capability were
III ,,-la, oh
took control of the house that for two
years Rad passed from one slack hand to
another, order began at once to evolve
from confusion, the tanges Strengthened
as if by magic, and Squire Harris con-
graduated himself on having home once
more. His satisfaction was good to see,
and his wife enjoyed it; but one small
household was not enough to exhaust her
store of energy, even if her heart and con-
science could have been penned within
such narrow limits.
She had healthful feeling of fellow
ship with the world at large; its needs and
its doings interested her, and in the small
er world of her own community she had
been a useful member. Active in church
and mission work always, she saw no rea-
son to be otherwise now, but it was just
along this familiar line that she suddenly
discovered a barrier.
1.-THE Squire, he don't believe in mis-
sions, volunteed the small maid of the
kitchen, with rural freedom of speech,
when she found mistress making plans for
the meeting of the "circle." "He says
there 'nough poor right near home
'thout fooliu' away money on the heathens
and missionaries
''Does lie? Then it's because he hasn' t
happened to learn much about 'em, - re-
pied the mistress, going calmly on with
her preparations
But despite her outward composure,
she was slightly startled She recalled
certain stories OF Mr. Harris peculiari-
ties, which she had heard long before
heard and forgotten as of No moment to
herself-but which now assumed a per
sonal significance. For a moment the keen
eyes sparkled with unwonted fire; then,
AS a glance through the window showed
the Squire wandering delightedly around
his new barn. she laughed comfortably
"Poor dear soul, that all he knows
about it, she whispered.
She was resting from her lahors and
surveying he coy parlor, when he came
in and sat down beside her to expatiate
once more on the beauties and convent p
ences Vi the Lew barn.
q had tile last load Of hay put in the
new loft and when the lower part is all
divided IF and finished, it will be one of
the best III the country he said. Then
his eyes followed hers in their tour of the
room. 1T all looks nice and pleasant
here, Maria. Been house cleanin' or any
thing?''
"Only sweepin' and freshenin' up i little
for the mission circle. 1t meets with me
tomorrow
"Meets here? -why-Maria, do you
believe in missions and such stutf?'
''Of course | do
wei, | don't, and more than that,
I've no use for EN-. I N surprised that 4
sensible woman like you should be taken
in that way. What the use of wast;n'
on the heather in foreign countries what
is needed by folks at our very doors?'
They re not all in foreign countries, :"
interposed Mrs. Harris; but he did not
hear her, he was too intent on hearing
himself.
81 N ready and willing to help the poor
around us; everybody knows that But
don t believe in missions, and never will.
They know better than to come to me for
anything of that sort" The Squire was
sitting very stiff and erect i'll his chair,
and piling up his words as if they were
Notifications. BY the time lie had uttered
the last sentence he felt sufficiently en-
trenched to add: And, about the circle,
Maria, I'm sorry you didn't know it be-
fore, but | really can't countenance havin'
it here.
ooh, well, you needn't You couldn't,
anyway, for it's just a woman's society,
and you wouldn't be admitted laughed
Mrs. Maria easily. ''Your countenance
would scare 'em SO not woman would
speak word aloud. Besides, you will
not be home tomorrow; you know re goin'
to drive over to Ripley"
1t was such a remarkable speech to be
addressed to him, and under such circum-
stances, that the Squire for moment
doubted his wifes sanity. He rose from
his seat and stared at her, first through his
spectacles, and then over them.
Maria" he said solemnly, 81 do not
think you understand me, I'm opposed
TO this thing-opposed to it, and l dom t
want no such - meetin' held-in my
house,
He felt that his dictum was delivered at
last, and delivered effectively, but Mrs.
Harris only leaned back in her chair and
looked up at hin good naturedly.
''Well there, Squire, don't get so ex-
cited over it. If you don't want no such
meetin' in this house, you shan have any
here, and that's all there's about it; but
you don need to get SO worked up over