Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-04-04

L IN. Nix lORkANlt, feeior OF
II Hopeworth church. had 4 choice
collection Of ideas. Noneo them orig
mated with him. for ideas were horn
with the world aud are simply passed
on from age to age. sometimes lost 10
view for a millennium or two, and
then brought 10 light By some vain soul
who ilnagines he has begotten a new
thought. a fresh dream.
But the rector had one idea which
tls sons Of men have never lost sight
OF, ii has never had a rest, and II Is
very old because Il has had no oppor-
tunity to renew It's youth. The rector
valued IL the more highly because Of
its apparent age, for he believed he
saw therein The approval Of the cen
turtles. Oldi Why It was old when his
great-grandfather was q bald-headed
infant-it was old when the world was
youngl
But the poor old idea had spent lis
energy. II a in its present condi,
tion decrepit, infirm, very weak on It's
legs. fit only for a s%anitarium, where
IL could recuperate and rcelothe 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-
erauce.
The rector had O very clear concep-
ton Of his f~avorite but aged idea, name-
ly: The Man WAS the sovereign ruler
Of the world and the fullness thereof,
building the cities, waging the wars.
governing the nations, writing the
books, c%onquering the beasts OF the
field and making even the wilderness 10
blossom under bis hand-in a word,
Man was the embodiment Of Power;
while Woman. albeit a somewhat nee
essary ~appendage, was withal an in
ferior being. intended by the Creator
TO submit IN passive obedience 10 Man
and do hiswill.
When. therefore, the rector made up
his mind TO offer a proposal Of mar
riage 10 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 IL necessary to lead up to
the point cautiously and with due mod.
GRAFTON, as many lovers do. 1t was in
early summer. a June haze lay in pur-
pie sheen upon the hills. the air was
velvet perfume. lie was sitting III 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, ~imperatiyely, but withal he
n%evolently. as If with pleasure at con-
ferring high honor, he said, in cul-
tured accents:
miss Serena, 7 think you and | would
better be married"
Now Miss Serena gas possessed Of
ideas also. Some Of them were like
his and some were not. She was a
woman Of great discernment-she
could see things. For some time she
had known that the rector was going
TO propose to her. In fact, She had
known 1t before he did; and she also
knew her W mind. She knew she
loved him for his many excellent quail
ties, she intended to marry him, but
tshe 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 a difference Of opin-
ion on that subject Come out into
the garden, Mr.. Torrance, and see my
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,
babe 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-
nored the expression Of his wishes.
He would not submit to such treat
ment, it was wholly out Of Gods or
der of things. 1t could not be-she
you'd not-but there the poor old
idea stopped. 1t could GO no further.
Two or three days after, he called
again on Miss Serena. She knew his
errand before he uttered a word.t
Hardly was he seated before he be-
gan:
Miss Serena he said slowly and
impressively, Il think you failed to