The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-06-03


ally TO an ardent belief in the neces-
sity OF hell for most Of his nelghbors
and the hope OF spending his own
glorious Immortality In n small. prop
erly restricted and prudently man.
aged heaven lie was eloquent at
prayer meeting. and Patty's only OBJ
lection 90 him there was In his dispose.
ton to allude TO himself as rebel
worm" with frequent references to
his vile body" Otherwise and when
not engaged in theological discussion
Patty liked Philip very much. His
own father. although an orthodox
member OF the fold in good and regu.
lar standing, had "doctored" Phil con.
scientlously for his liver from his
youth up hoping 10 time 10 incite in
him a SUMMER view OF life. for the doc.
tor was somewhat skilled IN adapting
his remedies to spiritual maladics. Jed
Morrill, had always said that when old
Mrs. Buxton. the champion convert OF
Jacob Cochrane. was at her worst
keeping her whole family awake nights
by her hystcrical fears for their fu.
ture-Dr. Perry had given her a
twelfth of grain OF tartar emetic
FIVE times n day until she had entire
mental relief. and her anxiety con
corning the salvation OF her husband
and children was set completely at
rest.
The good doctor noted with secret
pleasure his sons growing fondness
for the society of his prime favorite,
Miss Patience Baxter Hell begin
by trying to save her SOUL" he
thought Phil always begins that
way, but when Patty gets him In hand
he'll remember the existence of his
heart, an organ he has never taken
into consideration. A love affair with
pretty girl, good but not too pious,
will help Phil considerable, however
II turns out"
There is no doubt but that Phil was
taking his chances and that under
Patty's tutelage he was growing mel
lower. As for Patty, she was only
amusing herself and frisking like a
young lamb in pastures where she had
never strayed before. Her fancy few
from Mark to Phil and from Phil back
to Mark again. for at the moment she
was Just a vessel OF emotion. ready to
empty herself on she knew not what
Temperamentally, she would take adj
vantage Of currents rather than steer
at any time. and II would be the strong
est current that would finally bear her
away. Her idea had always been that
she could play with fire without burn
ing her own fingers and that the
flames she kindled were so innocent
and mild that no one could be harmed
by them. She had fancied up to now
that she could control, urge on or cool
down a mans feeling forever and a
day II she chose and remain mistress
of the situation. Now. after some weeks
of weighing and balancing her two
SWANS. she found herself confronting
a choice once and for all. Each of
them seemed TO be approaching the
state OF mind where he was likely to
say, somewhat violently, Take me or
leave me. one or the other!' But she
did not wish TO take them. and still
less did she wish to leave them. with
no other lover In sight but Cephas
Cole, who was almost, though not
quite, worse than none.
II matters by lack Of masculine pa
thence and self control did come to a
crisis what shonld she say definitely
TO either OF her suitors? Her father
despised Mark Wilson a trihe more
than any young man on the river. and
while he could have no objection TO
Phil Perry's character or position In
the world his hatred OF old DIR. Perry
amounted TO n disease. When the doc
tor had closed the eyes OF the third
Mrs Baxter he had made some plain
and unwelcome statements that would
rankle in the deacon's breast as long
as he lived Patty knew. therefore,
that the chance Of her fathers blessing
falling upon her union with either Of
her present lovers was more than IN
certain. and Of what use was an en-
gagement II there could not be mar
riage?
II Pntty's mind inclined to a some
what speedy departure from her IA
theirs household she can hardly be
blamed. but she felt that she could not
carry any of her indecisions and fears
TO her sister for settlement. Who could
look In Waitstilrs clear, steadfast eyes
and say, IL can't make up my mind
which TO marry?' Not Patty. She felt,
instinctively, that Waitstills heart. II
It moved at all, would rush out like
great river to lose itself In the ocean
and. losing itself, forget the narrow
banks through which 1t had flowed be-
fore. Patty knew that her own love
was at the moment nothing more than
the note Of child's penny flute and
that Waitstill was perhaps vibrating
secretly with a deeper, richer music
than could ever come to her. Still,
music OF some sort she meant TO feel.
Even II they make me decide one way
or another before / am ready" she
said to herself, I'll never say yes till
I'm more In love than am nowr'
There were other reasons why she
did not want TO ask Waitstilrs advice.
Not only did she shrink from the low
inc scrutinv ~ har sistar'a apxa and