Image provided by: Silverton Country Historical Society; Silverton, OR
About Torch of reason. (Silverton, Oregon) 1896-1903 | View Entire Issue (April 22, 1897)
THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1897 GOLDEN THRONE. [ a ROMANCE BY SAMUEL P. PUTNAM.] Knowledge, you know, is so un accommodating. You can’tchange it to suit your convenience. It’s right there, and everlasting, immutable thing. It won’t budge an inch for you or me, and you con’t get around it either. But a fancy—how accommodating a fancy is! You can make it anything at will, like Hamlet’s cloud, a whale or a weasel, or a barn or a palace. No wonder people like fancies, and crucify the man who would put a few facts in their place.” “ Ingersoll has done me good,” said Jennie. ‘‘I never want to hear a preacher again. I’ve tried to get some comfort out of them, but it’s no go. They are a poor set, fit only to eat your best chicken. I’m glad to hear somebody that believes in this world and makes things around about us beautiful.” “That’s just my fix,” said Tim. “Long time ago, I tried to be con verted. I was never so bothered in my life. I tried to feel had and couldn’t. I gave up hunting and fishing, and went to meditating on death and hell. I even let them baptize me, and caught cold, and then I thought sure I’d have con viction; and one day I got so mad a-thinking it over that 1 swore like a pirate. After that, I felt better, and never sought religion since. Now, I ain’t much anyaway; but what I am Ingersoll has got hold of, sure as you live. If ever I see anybody in want, I’ll help 'em. I won’t stand one side, with my hands in my pocket.” “ It does make me feel kind of good to hear that fellow,” said Sol. “I expect to go to the to the devil, if there is one. I’m sort of demor alized, I’ve been in politics so long. I don’t feel as if there’s any use in trying to be good. If I should join the church, I would only be a hypocrite, as half the politicians are. However, I ain’t all bad, and no man is. He has streakes of good, and Ingersoll brings out those streaks better’n any man I know. Really, if I was to vote now, I’d vote honest. I wouldn’t sell myself, not even to a railroad. I don’t believe I’d actept a pass, even. I would like to begin life over again, and work for a living.” Slowly the vast audience dis persed. Charlie, with his usual Yankee curiosity, watched the many elegant and noble figures and faces of men and women that passed, when he was startled by a vision of rare beauty. It was that kind of beauty, indescribable and marvellous, that thrilled him from head to foot with the sweet, fierce sensations of love. She was young, apparently not more than twenty years of age, of about medium height, with gracious and majestic presence. She had that queenly style whose move ment in every circumstance is one of perfect ease. Her features were mobile and most expressive. Her dark eyes were large and brilliant, of mingled dark and green, ever changing in their splendid lusture, and looking at one with the frank tenderness. Her hair was abundant and flowing, and dashed about her forehead in graceful ring lets, according to the latest fashion. She had on a “love bonnet,'’ that just fitted her well-shapen head, and over it flashed the wing of some many-colored bird. She was richly attired. Rare jewels flamed about her delicate white throat and hands. As she passed Charlie, she looked at him with a sort of strange and wondering recognition. A faint flush touched her cheek. Then she was lost in the crowd. Who can tell whence came the mystic arrows of love, why this or that attracts and enchants and and subdues and thrills? Others might not have noticed this beauti ful woman: they would be seeking and caring for something different; but she came upon Charlie with bewildering power. He could have Hung himself at her feet and wor shiped. In the midst of her love liness, there was something that seemed most strangely familiar. I suppose it is always so with lovers. They imagine they have met in the long ago. Where had Charlie met this beautiful princess? He asked himself the question in vain, and while asking she disap peared. He tried to find her again in the crowd, but could not. C hapter xiv . “ Did you see that woman,” said Charlie. “ What woman?” said Will. “I ’ve seen a good many women.” “That one that was so hand some,” said Charlie. “But they are all handsome,” said Will. “I can’t see any difference.” “You arc as blind -as a bat. I mean the hansomest one of all.” “I couldn’t pick her out,” said Will. “They are all one to me, like the stars.” “Hou stupid!” said Charlie. “She was perfectly divine, and you didn’t see her?” “I might have seen her,” said Will; “but among so many she didn’t strike me particularly.” “You didn’t see her,” said Char lie. “ If you had you wouldn’t be so cool. You wouldn’t have had eyes for any one else. I tell you she’s the handsomest I ever set eyes on. She’s perfection.” “Oh, you have a lover’s phantasy, I see,” said Will. “ I enw vou but it’ll pass off, and tomorrow even ing you’ll see others just as handsome.” “I don’t believe it,” said Charlie. “I’m sure I’ve seen her somew here. She almost bowed at me.” “ Another freak of imagination,” said Will. You are far gone. You “I've heard her say that, when she got to heaven, she'd ask the Lord look dazed and wondering.” “I wish I knew where she went to let her go down to hell and save to,” said Charlie. “ I’m afraid I sinners. She’d do it, I know. She don’t believe in letting any shall never see her again.” “Yes, you will, if you really love body go to the bad.” “There’s where she and I agree,” her. Love, you know, is fate.” “I hope so, but I hate to trust to said Bod. “Here, Sol, give this to her with my best regards,” hand chance, I might as w’ell forget.” “ Yes, you might; for, unless you ing a fifty-dollar greenback. “That’ll do her old heart good,” are richer than you are now, what are you going to do with a wife? said Sol, “a deal more than an She wouldn’t look well in a hovel.” illuminatd Bible. She always •Z said “ By Jove! she’d be a goddess that Bob was one of the best Christ anvwhere; but what’s the use of ians she ever knew, though his vexing myself? I ’ll call it an ap doctrine wasn’t exactly scriptural. parition, and dream about it. She thought, however, you were about as near right as Calvin.” Let’t go to the hotel.” “She never could go Calvin,” said As they came to the hotel, Sol Bob. “I think, on the whole, Jones met them. “Come up and see Ingersoll,” he she’d prefer me. Infant damnation said. “ We’ll have a talk with him was too much for her.” At this juncture, a note was before we go to bed. He’s a room full now, and a gay time they are brought the Colonel. He opened having. I used to know Bob a bi.., and read aloud as follows:— down in Southern Indiana. I Robert G. Ingersoll: guess he’ll give us a grip.” Dear Sir—I have a sincere in And he did, sure enough. He terest in the welfare of your soul. remembered Sol, and he gave a I desire to convert you. All that is cordial greeting to the rest of the necessary is that I should talk to company. vou for a few’ minutes; for the word “ What a shake that was,” said of the Lord is sharper than a tw’o- Moccasin Bill. “It warms me all edged sword, and pierceth to the over. I feel at home, as if I’d dividing asunder of the soul and known him all my life. He doesn’t body. I have unanswerable argu put on a bit of style does he? You ments. I have studied the scripture don’t have to be introduced to him for years, and know’ it by heart; at the end of a ten-foot pole.” and I can remove all objections to The room was full. All sorts a faith in its divine teaching. w’ere there, friends and acquaint Will you give me permission to ances whom he had met in many a lead you to the green pastures and varied circumstance, in his brilliant beside the still waters? career on the forum and stump. Truly yours, He was even more remarkable amid Rev. Tomothy Dwight Bobbins. a set of genial companions than on The Colonel immediately penned the platform. His vigorous mind wras surcharged with thoughts the following answer:— which electrified as they constantly Rev. Timothy Dwight Bobbins: Dear Sir—I have no objection to and joyously overflowed. Yet, W ’ith all this ease and spontaneity, meet your unanswerable arguments. he was a profound thinker and a I am perfectly willing to be con thorough student. He was ready verted. I want the truth. If you to meet any question, and grapple have it, I shall be pleased to with the deepest philosophic welcome it. I will give you full problems of the day, often throwing opportunity to show’ what you can a flood of light upon them by a do with the sword of the Lord. single illustration; while, about the Yours for the green pastures and R. G. Ingersoll. intricate and puzzling pathways of still waters. human endeavor, his wit flew and In a minute or two, the Rev. coruscated like some lively Ariel. Timothy Dwight Bobbins entered. There was no such thing as being i He looked as thin as if he had pray exhausted, for the dryest details ed and fasted forty days and nights. were glorified by the spell of his His coat and hat w’ere as antique genius. as Noah’s ark. His boots looked “ By the way, Sol,” said he, “I as though they had travelled believe Aunt Betty is out here Jordon and found it indeed a hard somew here. I used to meet her at road. He had on a dirty white Shawneetown years ago. She did cravat, and his hair hung loosely my washing, and did it well.” about his head, only about half- “She’s at Devil’s Gulch,” said Sol. combed. He walked with an un “Eighty years old, and lively as a certain gait, and leaned over almost cricket still. She belongs to the double. He occasionally rolled his Methodist church, ami sings as eyes to the ceiling, and rubbed his loud as any of ’em. She can’t give hands with a devout motion. He up her religion.” carried under his arms what “I don't ask her to,” said Bob. ^eeineed to be a set of dilapidated “She enjoys it. I don’t think, sermons. No doubt, they had however, she has much faith in endured severe service and been hell.” used over and over again. Perhaps “That she hasn't,” ’ said Sol. i these were the “Sword of the Lord.'