Bisbee daily review., 1909-08-21
THE WAY OF LOVE
By PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
(Copyrisht. by J. 5. Lippincott Co

To be passiyely moral without an open confession of faith is. in the minds Of some people, equivalent to being actively nnreligious. Ever un- der the tongues of them rolls that sweet morsel: He that is not for me must be against me" They spit it out at their victims and then draw # in again just for the pleasure of the taste of it.
 John Hardaway was not bad man. He did not steal. he did not lie-that is, not more than an honest young lawyer should-and his morals were naughty reserve of demeanor. which accorded i'll with the simplicity of Dorbury, he was fairly well liked by the townspeople, and the fact that he was one of the unregenerate would hardly have penetrated their placid minds had it not been for the wonder fui wave of religious enthusiasm that swept over the village that winter.
 John Eardaway was not profess ing Christian. although he attended church regularly on Sunday, joined in the singing tmaybe that was be- cause he held to one side of Ellen Hargot's hyrnn-book), and paid his | dues as young man with ambitions ought 10 do. But when the Free Meth odist church inaugurated protracted meeting his doom stared him in the face.
 The Free Methodists were deter mined to convert the whole town men, women and children-and to this end they had secured the services of the fiercest and most terrible of evan gelists to aid the regular pastor. This gentleman fell upon Dorbury like an averaging angel, but instead of fla | ming sword he possessed huge list, with which he pounded the Bible into pulp. and an equally huge voice, which 1 tremendously called sinners to re pentance Such was Rev. Abijah Gen. I ter
 | John Hardaway did not attend these | meetings. and as nearly every one | else did, and many were falling before the great religious storm. he suddenly became the target for the shots of all the zealous proselytes who were work ing for Gods glory. and perhaps their own.
 At first the attention which he ex cited annoyed him. and then he began to regard h with grim amusement.
 But when Silas Boliender, who was known to have gone to see play-actins at certain county Fair, exhorted hin | that he must be snatched as a brand from eternal burning" he laughed out l right.
 If any brand needs 'snatching,
 Mir. Bollender." he said, laughingly, q
 certainly am that one. bu; beins
 shatched so young would keep mt
 from so many pleasures
 That's just it." exclaimed Silas heatedly. pleasure"
 Such as a county fair" went on ths
 young man, imperturbably, and
 but Silas. though now he sat starches
 and solemn in the amen corner.s wal already fully routed.
 ! When Silas left there was a VT,
 pucker about the young lawyers lips
 and 1t wasn't exactly mirth.
 Then to himself: Nonsense" Il,
 said, am giving way to the infiuenc,
 of this insanity afflicted atmosphere2 ? , He shook himself, put on his hat, ar,
 went out. He believed he would g
 over to Ellen Hargot and tell her hi
 joke on Si Bollender; she couIda'
 help but enjoy 1t. for she had humo
 and common sense
 He found Ellen with a smile upo,
 her face and singing about her work
 but there were traces of recent tear
 to be. and yet not to be. the perso
 by whom his little joke would be ar preciated. Her eyes were glad. bu
 with a peculiarly serious gladness |, With some hesitation he told hi
 story, and only got in return r~-sou signing: , Poor Mir. Bollender" "Why, Ellen. surely you don't syn , pathize with that old hypocirte; wh,
 he"
 We cannot judge. He is doing a that he can do. and that is more tha some of us with the light right befor us can say"
 Ellen" broke in John Hardawa, you don't mean to say that you. to' have come under the spell of thi , junketing mountebank's conjuizs," Don't say that, John- have indee , been sitting for some nights under tn , outpourings of Elder Center's go , pel-"
 Tt certainly is his gospel. The Lor
 wouldn't own It."