The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-03-27
The RectOr'S
Enlightenment
BY FANNY. FERRY GAY. /
. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


-DEV. MR.. TORRANCE, rector of
Hopeworth church, had choice
= collection of ideas. None of them orig
Z mated with him, for ideas were born
with the world and are simply passed
on from age to age, sometimes lost to
: view for millennium or two, and
then brought to light by some vain soul
who imagines he has begotten new
thought, a fresh dream.
But the rector had one idea which
the sons of men have never lost sight
of, it has never had rest, and it is
very old because it has had no oppor-
+. tunity to renew its youth. The rector
valued it the more highly because of
it's apparent age, for he believed he
saw therein the approval of the CEN
turtles. Old! Why it was old when his
great=grandfathef bald-headed
infant-it was old when the world was
young! a2a
But the poor old idea had spent its
energy. 1t was, in its present condi-.
ton decrepit, infirm, very weak on it's
legs, fit only for a sanitarium, where
it could recuperate and reclothe itself
in the strength and garments of youth.
This, however. Rev. Mr.. Torrance would
not allow. He had no compassion for
its age-but the time came for its deliv-.
D., erance. ,..s
The rector had a very clear concep-
,tion of his favorite but aged idea, name
ly: The Man was the sovereign ruler
q Of the world and the fullness thereof,
building the cities, waging the wars,
governing the nations, writing the
books, conquering the beasts of the
field and making even the wilderness to
blossom under his ,hand-in a word,
Man was the embodiment of Power;
while Woman. albeit somewhat nee
essary appendage, was withalan in
ferior being. intended by the Creator,
to submit in passive obedience to Man
and do his will. .7Ast
When, therefore, the rector made up
his mind to offer a proposal of mar
riage to Miss Serena Baldwin, one of
the worthy and devoted women of his
parish, he never so much as dreamed
of opposition or defeat Neither did
he consider it necessary to lead up to
the point cautiously and with due mod
GRAFTON, as many. lovers do. 1T was in
early summer, June haze lay in pur-
pie sheen upon the hills, the air was
velvet perfume. He was sitting in Miss
Serena's parlor, the picture of minis
terial dignity, his hands resting on his
gold-headed cane. They had been dis
cussing the affairs of the church, when,
suddenly, imperatively, but withal be-
nevolently, as if with pleasure at con-
ferring high honor, he said, in cul-
tured accents:
Miss Serena, think you and would
better be married" t -a IS
Now Miss Serena was possessed of
ideas also. Some of them were like
his and some were not. She was a
woman of great discernment-sh
could see things. For some time she
had known that the rector was going
to propose to her. In fact. she had
known it before he did; and she also
knew her own mind. She knew she
+ loved him for his many excellent quail
ties, she intended to marry him, but
she was convinced that the old worn.
out idea which he cherished so fondly
should have a good long rest.
Accordingly when the Rev. The
ophilus Torrance in such summary
terms acquainted her with his pur-
pose she arose calmly, saying:
There might be difference of opin-
ion on that subjects! Come out into
the garden, Mr.. Torrance, and see nv
roses"
She led the way, ignoring what was
so evidently in his mind, and talking
on the merits of the various kinds of
roses, until he, in utter desperation,
bade her good afternoon and went
@ home. =
He shut himself into his study. a
dazed and bewildered man., The old
idea came hating forth. What! had
she refused him? Impossible! And
? yet, she had certainly not accepted
his offer. Worse yet, she had ig-.
nnored the expression: of his wish es;.
He would not submit to such treat
g ment, it was wholly out of Gods or
der of1things. 1t could not. be--.3she'
; would not4but there the poor old
idea stopped. It could go no further.
10 Two or three days after, he, called
gain on Miss Serena She knew his
errand before ah4 uttfred ar word;
Hardly was he seated before Ehe. Re7
q gan:se: 81 b9i3s1xo eli rs4jsnf edT or
benNissi SeEenas'Tlfe fsain ,sTonv3yiah1
oiHPressiyely, tIg thinlSf you fitch to-
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