Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-12
TONGUE
OF FLAME
By ELIZABETH CHERRY WALTZ.
Copyrighted BY Daily Story Pub. co..


A FTER supper was over, young
n Gideon Sepnett changed his rough
clothing for a little better suit. then
set to walk up the road towards the
Alstetter homestead.
He had worked hard in the bayfield,
all day. His back ached. his arms were
sore, but this was Wednesday night.
On the white wooden steps of the
church a mile away, FlaviIla Lingrel
would wait for him. They could sit
there quietly until he was rested.
Flavilla was there. He saw her from
afar, her pink calico gown making a
bright spot against the whiteness of
the steps. 1t was just after sunset
when he started, there were rosy
slouds still in the west. Flavilla was
not pretty girl, but she had a smile
shat meant volumes. 1t was worth
very long walk TO see.
These two devoted young people
we're shy and awkward in the express
sion Of deep feeling between them.
Their very loneliness while boy and
girl at school had drawn them to each
other. He was an orphan, and her
father had long since married a wom-
an who resented her existence. Mel
Their Gideon or Flavil1a had any but
grudged life up TO the time each was
able TO work. Then came days of toll
with little 10 enhven them or breed
aspiration.
Stranger things have happened than
that both should be absurdly ambi-
tious. In Gideon's family, two genera
tions back, there had been n preacher.
He was a devout man. we'll educated for
his time and not without power in ora
. tory. His son, Gideon's father, had
been not only stupid, but ne'er-do-
well. In his grandson, Gideon, revived
the devotion, the ambition, the gift Of
speech, the sturdy industry.
Flaviila wanted a home different
from what her home had been. She
dreamed of peaceful days, of thrifty
management, of love, of being kind to
those about her. She entered enthusi-
astically into Gideon's ideas, she slim
ulated him from his boyhood to daring
dreams Of success.
For seven years they worked, toiled,
dreamed. Tonight. as they sat on the
steps of the church where the grand
father had lifted up his voice, they
seemed little nearer TO the fulfillment
OF their hopes than before. Physically
weary, Gideon's spirits wavered.
Flavilla was year the older. That
counts a good deal at 10 and 20. Be
sides, in her burned a more enthusi-
astic and steady fire.
81 don't see how il can be done this
fall, Flavie. I've got the money for
L.. L
10 live? ~
"'Twouldn't take much to keep us. {"
''Us: Oh, Flaviel"
You're never going without me.
Gideon. I've got some money, you
know"
at might be. When haying's over,
I'll go up and see"
This is the reason why meeting of
the faculty of a certain college and
theological seminary was uninterrupted
enc day by a stalwart country lad. He
came asking impetuously for entrance
into college, with little money and no
church influence TO back him
Then Gideon talked. The spirit of
his grandfather seemed in him. He
told of his dreams for years, his toll
and Flavilla's interest and encourage
ment. How well he expressed himse If
at that time he never knew, but as the
old president walked from recitation
haFl to the library afterwards with the
professor of Greek. he said, gently:
at is a long time since I felt that a
Lad had such clear call. I had been
wondering if there was to be no more
Inspiration"
They promised Gideon shelter in a
part of house on the campus. He
went back to Flavilla triumphant. Now
Eas Gideon the very sword of the Lord
In the quiet country neighborhood
his return, the projected wedding,
such prospects for lad Of no property
caused the widest excitement. Fla.
villa, from scarce more than drudge
at once became the most enVied girl in
the township. Her "setting-out" was
discussed far and near. She had mapy
presents from women who thought
that by helping her they gave directly
to the Lord. Meetings were held tc
help her sew, and it was from these
grew that idea that afterwards caused
such sensation at the college.
The neighborhood religion had beer
for years a dead letter. The email
country church with its pulpit reached