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.'