The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-05-16
TONGUE
OF FLAME
By ELIZABETH CHERRY WALTZ.
Copyrighted by Daily story Pub. Col

A FIER supper was over. youu
n Gideon Sennett changed his rougI
clothing for a little better suit. he
set to walk up the road towards th
Alstetter homestead.
He had worked hard in the hayfel
all day. His back ached, his arms wer'
sore. but this was Wednesday night
On the white wooden steps Of tn,
church a mile away, Flavilla Lingre
would wait for him. They could 81
there quietly until he was rested.
Flayilla was there. lie saw her from
afar, her pink calico gown making q
bright spot against the whiteuess o
the steps. 1t was just after sunset
when he started, there were rosy
clouds still in the west. Flavilla was
not pretty girl, but she had a smil,
that meant volumes. 1t was worth a
very long walk to see.
These two devoted young people
were 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. Nei-
ther Gideon or Flavilla had any but A
grudged life up to the time each was
able to work Then came days Of toll
with little TO enliven 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 a preacher.
lie was devout man, well educated for
his time and not without power in ora
tory. His son, Gideon's father, had
been not only stupid, but a ne'er-do-
we'll In his grandson. Gideon. revived
the devotion. the ambition. the gift Of
speech. the sturdy industry.
Flavilla wanted a home different
from what her home had been. She
dreamed Of peaceful days, Of thrifty
management, Of love, Of being kind 10
those about her. She entered enihusi-
astically into Gideon's ideas. she slim
ulated him from his boyhood TO daring
dreams Of success.
For seven years they worked, toilcd.
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 fulfllmcnt
Of their hopes than before. Physically
weary. Gideon's spirits wavered.
Flavilla was a year the older That
counts a good deal at 10 and 90 Be
sides. in her burned a more enihusi-
astic and steady fire.
81 don't see how it can be done this
fall, Flavie. I've got the money for
the college course, but how am going
TO live?"
"'Twouldn't take much TO keep u.s.
"Usl Oh. Flavie!"
You're never going without me.
Gideon. I've got some money, you
know"
at might be. When haying's over.
III go up and see"
This is the reason why a meeting Of |
he faculty Of a certain college and |
theological seminary was Uninterrupted |
one day by stalwart country lad. Tie /
,ame asking impetuously for entrance |
nto college, with little money and no
church influence TO back him.
Then Gideon talked. The spirit Of .
lis grandfather seemed in him. lie |
old Of his dreams for years, his toll
md Flavilla's interest and encourage
nent. How well he expressed himself
Il that time he never knew, but as The
I'd president walked from recitation
iall 10 the library afterwards with the
rofessor Of Greek, he said. gently:
at is a long time since 7 felt that
ad had such a clear call. 7 had been
if there was TO be no more
aspiration"
They promised Gideon shelter in a
art Of a house on the campus. lie
rent back to Flavilla triumphant Now
ras Gideon the very sword OF the Lord
In the quiet country neighborhood
is return. the projected wedding,
uch prospects for a lad OF no property
lused the widest excitement. Fla
lla, from scarce more than a drudge,
( once became the most envied girl in
he township. Her "setting-out" was
iscussed far and near. She bad many
resents from women who thought
lat by helping her they gave directly
, the Lord. Meetings were held TO
elp her sew, and it was from these
rev that idea that afterwards caused
lch a sensation at the college.
The neighborhoo6 religion had been
II years a dead letter. The small
,untry church with its pulpit reached
Y a winding stair, its benches black
it'll age, had not been opened for
any years. Now sentiment grew 10
zen it one Sunday during the summer.
ID Gideon was asked TO conduct a
rvice by a committee Of grave men. !