The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-01-08
HIS SERMON.
NY sAnAm LINns,Y coLrM,N

hlthlh the past four weeks, since An
IS helles coming, his heart that he be-
IS hefed sale anchored with Mary, had
- slipped It's moor.ugs and driftcd out to
Annette. TO Annette, who laughed at
him always. who wouldn't hear him
q preach, VINO looked with soft indiner-
cnce into his miserable eyes and chatted
Oh the gay things OF gay world.
Realizing that DIS people disliked his
liking Annette. knowing that for four
e years they had linked his name with
Mary's honestly admitting TO himself
. that the linking bad been TO his liking,
he tossed through restless, wretched
. nights. When DE found himself saying
that the people De had loved and served
through four long years were dwellers
In a dark jungle OF prejudice. he got
down on his knees and asked the Lord
for guidance.
On this particular Saturday afternoon
the minister had paced his study, his
hands clasped miuistor-like at his back.
clinching and unclinching themselves.
lie had locked himself in the study to
write a sermon. The college boys had
come TO him Thursday and announced
the Illness Of the man who was to
preach their baccalauroate sermon
Commencement without a brilliant ser
mon was Hamlet without Hamlet.
The minister, remembering a not far
distant boyhood. assented. II had
seemed an easy thing to write a brilliant
sermon IN less than the time allowed
him on Thursday afternoon; on Satur-
day afternoon. when the sun-line crept
past the lilacs. TO lose itself beyond the
/ fence, it seemed to the man that q row
of boyish faces lifted themselves from
somewhere about the fence they
glowod with pride and proprietorship in
that sermon. and again he groaned.
Suddenly he ran his pen from top to
bottom Of his written words. There was
nothing left-his brain was empty. his
thoughts chaotic-his words, wounded
birds. incapable Of lofty thoughts, but
he registered a vow not to disappolnt |
the boys Commencement was the one I
event Of the year in the little mountain /
town. Then he went a step farther-he 4
took things out Of the Lords and into .
his own hands. He wrote to Annette and
asked her to end his suspense. II he
got Annette. who was Of the earth,
earthly, of his mind, there was still time
left TO think Of heavenly things.
Az sundown the note, dalntily per-
fumed, was handed into his study. II
read. In the wisteria arbor at dusk
a white gown"
In the twilight the minister hurried
past Mary's house. Mary was his most
faithful church-workor She taught the
worst boys in his Sunday school; she
organized and presided over everything
that hourlshed rellglously in the town.
Before Annette came his name had been
linked eternally with hers, and he felt
a warm, thrifty feeling In the region OF
his ribs at the linking A slow wave Of
shame swept the minister. Never by
single word had he compromised him
self with Mary, but what If she, too.
thrilled when their names were linked.
Mary sat in the wisteria arbor watch
ing the night curtain drop over the far
purple peaks. the mask she had worn !
for many days laid aside. her attitude
detected.
The minister's heart pounded as he
neared the arbor and caught the CLEAN
Of her white gown. There had been no
time for romance in his life In his 30
years he had never met a woman thus
He came up to her swiftly, with words
that were tender and strange on his u
Iips-words that swept over her with l'
The force and rush Of a mountain tor h
rent. i
Mary sat very still. As one drinks in al
The perfume Of flowers, she seemed to o
nhale his words. and, swiftly. the min c'
ster lifted her 10 HIS embrace and drew
her head TO meet his kiss The kindly VI
lightfall covered his sudden pallor, his W
.rm loosened its hold Of her, his g
thoughts trailed into blanlness.
Mary's voice beat In on that blank
less, such a wondering, happy voice g
hat said:
'I didn't know-I never dreamed-I
Ised to sometimes think you cared, that
8, did before she camel thought
7hy. was whispering TO myself Just
ghen you came, and saying: silly,
ou've got Gods sunshine and His low-
rs and His birds and lots Of beautiful
hings left. and you want him to be
happy with Annette I never knew tn
his was awaiting to meet me. Did wi
.nnette know? Her eyes were shining wi
'hen she left me, and she was laughing Sc
did she?" it
"Yes, dear" he found himself saying. ma
And suddenly, IN the growing dark INF
ess, Annette's face looked I'm on them. a :
The minister putone hand to his head, ag
ncertainly. May's slim white fingers fill
ad slipped into his other hand. like an
eel in strength, like silk IN softness,
icy drew him. op
Annette's voice was but a murmur: sh
Nay I break In on your happiness" ad
.e said, lingering on the word, ITO tell sto
,u that l am not an bad. that some tai
'dys been making me miserable, that str
re been making somebody miserable, bri
It that it's over-he's coming" with or
little girlish thrill rec
She held out her hand TO the minister. pra
'ou won't take my hand? Please" it ,
The minister held out his hand. era
Believe me" she said, the laughter str
gone from his face to-day we go sid
llte at a voice. we tremble al a step, the
a tomorrow we wonder what's hap age
ned and where the old emotion has pra
ken itself You'll find 70 true" She pra
nished. wralthlike. bat she had said: in
nd you'll forgive me-" The words wit
ated back 20 them. and
He drew a long, deep breath. The
IN was already loosening. Suddenly I
lifted the fingers TO his lips with rev. out