The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-01-27
nEv. IcABoD DURELL thoughtful

DEV. ICABOD DURELL thoughtful
X ly stroked his quill pen and ad-
iusted his glasses more evenly on his
nose and proceeded to write his SER
mon. in which he was pointing out the
error of allowing merely temporal
things 10 interfere with those of eter-
nal significance. Icabod was plain,
earnest man, who worked faithfully
at the problems of a parish in colonial
Virginia, which were very much like
those Of every parish everywhere, only
that he had come into closer touch
with his people than have many min
lsters before and since his day.
Icabod bit his pen in hope of inspira-
ton but his thoughts would turn from
his theme TO one of the younger men
in whom he was deeply interested and
of whom lately he had seen but little,
and he found it difficult to select texts
In Genesis and Revelation exactly to
illustrate his point. So he sat at his
square mahogany table absorbed in
thought and drew the plume of his
quill pen back and forth in reflective
way across his nose.
James Hopkins came in through the
open door and patiently waited for the
parson to finish the sentence which he
was writing. This IcabOd finally ac-
complished and became aware of Hop
kins. standing near.
81 didn't hear YOU" he said, apollo
gizing.
"No matter" answered Hopkins, and
both men sat down beside the big
book-laden table.
"Parson, I'm in trouble" Hopkins
began, land want your help"
Anything l can do" said Icabod,
you know l will"
Hopkins hesitated. Then he took the
plunge. "It's about Sally Dawes. l
suppose you'll laugh at me for COM
ing" and he fumbled his hat in his
hand, "but l can't make her listen TO
me, and don't know what TO do. She
promised to marry me, and now she
says that Sne never viii.
The parson waitedfor him to go on,
but Hopkins seemed' TO have finished
all he had to say.
"And you want me to speak to
her?" Icabod inquired looking at his
embarrassed caller with some amuse-
ment.
"Yes," said Hopkins, land Iwant you
tc make her marry me. You could do
II. You know I'd be a good husband,
and you could talk about it-and ex-
plain things" he ended, rather
vaguely.
Icabod was silent. He considered'a
moment.
"Wel, James," he answered, "Tn
speak to Sally Dawes for you, but she
has many men to choose from, you
know that, and I'm, but poor pleader.
Still. I'll try"
Hopkins looked 'appreciative and Of
fered the parson a'pinch Of snuff. Then
he rose and the two men shook hands
ond Hopkins went out into the sum-
mer world.
Icabod looked after him with some
complacency. So It was this that had
been keeping him away! He would
straighten out matters with Sally
Dawes. The girl was n fool. not to keep
o man like Hopkins II once'she had the
luck to get him. Meantime there was
his sermon; so he went back to the
table and again gently rubbed his nose
with his feathered pen and tried once
more to get the drift of his argument.
The nextafternoon.I Icabod rode over
to the Dawes plantation, where he
found two of his younger brethren en-
joying themselves in Miss Sallys com
pany. With patience and long suffer
ing he waited until they reluctantly
had gone, and then he proceeded at
once to deliyerlhfs message
"And he's worthy man, and you
should be ashamed TO treat him to
whom you're betrothed in such fash
ion" he ended.
Sally listened attenthely and ar
ranged her neckHrchief.
"It's no different from the way 1
have treated the others" she an
swered at last. with no attempt to
seem impressed with her own faults.
"If James Hopkins would come a-woo-
ing, let him bespeak himself, and not
60 bothering the panon."
ITS no such great bother" replied
Icabod, candidyS with the air Of one
who valves the 'point'merety Of guam
tity. "only you don't seem to under
stand what your actions mean to
James Hopkins. He's no mansto be for
ever chasing after a woman. There
are many girls in the county who'd
be glad of him"
They're welcome TO him. and you
may tell James Hopldns't the same. and
give him my best good wishes" re-
Piled Sally. with an sweetness.
So TIE interview ended II seemed
to Icabod useless TO discuss the sub
lect farther. He had done his duty,
and 1t was nearing supper time, so he
took his leave and rode away. amused
and rather sorry, and wondering
which Of the other young men was to