The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-24

always dangerous. In the line of his duty,
however, he felt obliged to make some
guarded illusions in his sermon to the sui
try discomforts awaiting unrepentant sim
ners. The controversial heat left over from
the argument with Hiram may have moved
underestilnated the penetration of a
Gainesville congregation. At anv rate, it
was pretty we'll understood that Mr.. Gates
was the substantial text of the discourse.
There was ten times the usual comment
on the church steps that noon, cpd by
too, had heard where Hi Gates had been
located. Party lines we're instantly drawn
sharply, and even those North church people
who had always been secretly in doubt
about Hi we're now a unit for his salvation.
The case was here further complicated by
indeed, had shown some signs of rallying.
He lived q little out of Grimesville's main
circle of gossip, n the rumor of his death
had gained general currency before the
official contradiction arrived.
When the facts became known about
twenty-five women of Gainesville deter
mined to be the first to carry a report of the
sermon to Mrs. Gates and hear what Hiram
had to say about it. The consequence was
that there WAS something like a reception at
the house of the sick man on Monday after
noon. Hi was feeling 80 much better that
he conversed with the visitors and listened
with geutle interest to a revised and en-
larged version of the sermon. They drew
it very strong indeed. BY their account it
appeared that Mr.. Page had added new I'M
ingenious torments to n place which he had
often pictured in terms which left little to
be desired, and that he had announced Hi
rams arrival with the easiest confidence.
The eossips of the neighborhood had
come to harrow up Hiram's feelings or
those of his wife if he had been beyond the
possibility of furnishing that kim of
amusement, and when they found that he
remained calm they enlarged Upon the sub
iect until ono of the Gates children who
disturbed was scared into Mysteries and had
TO be removed screaming.
OF course. by this time all connection
with the actual words of the Rev. Mr.. Page
had been lost. Nobody could then have re-
peated them correctly with the most honest
intentions. Fhe reconstructed discourse
bore about the same relation to the real one
that Dante's Inferno" does to the South
Grimesville Hetald's report of cattle show
day.
again." said Hiram, when there was a lull.
.I'm glad he's shown some signs O.
hayin' some speerit." whispered Mrs.
WrigVs. who was a North ohu. oh member,
and therefore enlisted with tho party of
salvation.
Its we'll for him." replied Mrs. Perkins.
who was of the South church, or perdition,
party. Pastor Page will show him what's
awaitin' for him in no time"
No less than n dozen of Hi,am's visitors
dropped in on the Rev. MIR. Page that after
noon to tell him that Iii gates wasted to
call him to account for that sermon. Mr..
Page was seriously distu' bed. He had not
locked for 10 sudden and definite an Rppli-
cation Of his words. II must be confessed
that no had some %misgivings when no pre-
scented himself at the Gates house on Tues
day.
Hi was much improved in appearance.
and was able to talk freely. He fairly took
the minister's breath nwAy by thanking him
cordially for the sermon.
Its consid'able morn deserve" said
he, ITO have n minister o tho gospel so out
Of HIS way to consider my case. l amt
never boen of no account here, an ] don't
expect to amount to nothin' hereafter, an
II sl them preparations you spoke OF IN the