The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-04-19

THE REV. MIR. BUTTEETIELD WA5 ANSWER
ING KERwIN.
New England town. The man was
valued for his honesty, which had be
come a superstition in that region.
His creed was generally regarded as
a mere superficial oddity, harmless
affectation resulting from reading too
many big books. Yet the man had
poisoned more than onl mind in that
town, though the victims themselves
We're in most cases unaware of it.
However, let me speak of Kerwin as
well as | can. | owe him much. 1t
was as his secret adversary that | be
took myself a second time to DENLY.
1t was the decision to tell Lucy the
whole truth about the matter which
first brought US into real harmony. SO
l must bless this wrong headed rascal
even while condemn him.
AS Easter approached, the condition
of Mr.. Butterficld's mind seemed to
grow worse. He formed the habit of
taking long walks in the evening and
of rising at an unreasonable hour in
the morning. Lucy wrote me that he
would certainly break down, and upon
the Friday before Easter | received a
very urgent letter from her begging
me to be with them on Sunday.
l could not get away in time for Sat
urday afternoons train, and l tele-
graphed Lucy that it would be impos-
sible for me to come. At the last mo-
ment, however, l decided TO risk the
roads in my automobile, and as a re
suit | left the car in Il farmers barn
twenty miles from DENLY and reached
that place in the farmers wagon about
II O'Clock Sunday forenoon.
The sermon had begun in Mr. But
terfeld's church when l crept in and
took the most inconspicuous seat. No
one noticed me. My first glance re
vealcd TO me that the congregation was
exceptionally intent upon the dis
course. There was a thrill in the air
that alarmed me at first, and then
perceived the flavor of keen enjoy
ment.
That reverent aSscmblage was Wor-
Shipping with fcrvor, and at the same
time it was tasting an exquisite pleas
ure. Nothing else so delights a New
England gathering as discourse
which has a message that is not in the
words, yet is clear to all; something
which is perceived, but not heard; I'M
derstood without statement, appealing
to the long cherished secret opinions of
the hearers, fulfilling a task which
each has striycn with on his own ac-
count
The Rev. Mr.. Butterfield was answer
ing Kerwin with infinite delicacy, with
out the faintest personal reference or
recognizable quotation, yet all present
understood. They knew also in what
way the two men who for years had
held aloof had at last been brought to-
gether 1t looked like fate Otherwise
NJ. Butterlield might soon have passed
to his reward and never have done this
work which was his to do in that com
munity. He had needed personal eXpe-
rience Of Kerwin's method of attack,
the personal pain of finding no answer,
the joy Of final perception that all those
arguments are really beside tie issue
and that realities of spiritual things
cannot be attacked by testimony of
those who have not seen them because
they have studiously looked the other
way
1t was the absolute end Of Kerwin's
reputation as a spiritual adviser" in
that town, and everybody felt it to be
70. But the strangest part of it was
that Kcrwin took the >hrust so we'll
He positively enjoyed it,
"The venerable vilainw said .hc,
meeting me after the service. "He has
undermined my faith. And at my age
too! It's a rascally piece Of business"
Doubtless he felt his defeat keenly
enough, though he made Jest of it in
such terms. Indeed, to those who knew
the man it was a measure Of his cha
grin that he should labor so conscien-
tlously thereafter to safeguard and in
crease Mr.. Butterfeld's small fortune.
1t became a passion with him, and his
success was the wonder OF all Denbt.