The Dolores star., 1909-07-16

coming up from the Hargots' and look
ing a. desolate as a prairie At dusk
he made mental note: Johns either
under conviction or Ellen's give him
the mitten. an I'm a-goin' to find out
which,"
True to his resolution, he let but Q
short time pass before presenting him
self at Ellen's door. The girl was full
Of deep and troubled thought. apd she
welcomed this simple old man both as
. diversion and . possible helper in
her dilemma.
Out Of the fullness Of her sorrow
Ellen told the old man her Joy and her
grief. her pleasure and her trouble,
and out Of the sweetness OF his old
mellow Mfe he replied: I'm afeared
you was = little hard on him, Ellen.
It's mighty hard work a-drivin' sinners
into the Christian fold. you got to
lead EN-. l knowed an old sheep once
that 81 Boflender had, and when the
rest O. the flock 'u'd go through the
bars, he'd hang around and bungle
about until some one took an led him
through. Folks air like sheep in
more'n one perticilar. Now that little
ring o your'n you give him back
might a bin jest the little leadin' he
needed to bring him in. Never push
mule: you're bound to git ON the
wrong side of him."
20. Uncle Nathan" the girl cried.
Il hadn't thought of It that way and
! believe was hard on him. I ought
to have shown him that religion makes
us tenderer."
That's 1t exactly. There ain't no
use bein' a Pharisee even II you are
thankin' the Lord under yore breath
that you amt like Brother or Sister
So-and-So."
The old mans simple words were 40
a sermon to the girl, and she looked
often and sadly at her bare finger be.
fore 1t was time for church that night.
| II was period OF unusual interest
at the meeting house. because the
series Of services were drawing to a
speedy close. and many who had held
aloof were Fastening to make their
peace before being finally shut out
And rs the evangelist told them, none
knew whether this chance to come
into the fold would ever be offered
again.
1t was among this class that the
local gossips put John Hardaway
when he was seen that night seated
In the church for the FIRST time since
the "protracted meeting" began.
Hes weakened at last" the Wills
per went round.
From the looks on his face, he'i
under conviction" ai.T
well, II anybody could fetch him
Brother Center should"
Meanwhile the evangelist poured
the flery Goals of his 6loquence upor
poor Johns head. 1t had become {
personal matter with him. Above al
things he wanted the conversion oI
this young man as the one crownine
triumph that should be the climax Of hi
labors. He pleaded. he threatened, he
cajoled. and through 1t all to the end
John sat unmoved, impassive, and
Brother Center dismissed services
that night with q very un-C Christian
like disgust written ON his coun
tenance.
Ellen glanced wistfully at John, bui
he eluded her and slipped away By
himself, and the Free Methods,
church saw him no more during the
progress Of the meeting.
It was q week after the close OF the
series that Ellen met John watkins
towards the river with head bent. II
was his favorite route.
MAY walk with you?" tshe stopped
to ask.
''Yes, yes" he said, but guess |
am pretty poor company nowadays;
even my dog won't follow me-"
She said nothing until they reached
the bank of the stream. Then she
stopped. John" she cried, with {
catch in her voice. Il was hard and
unjust to you and altogether un
Christian. and-and-may have m,
ring back?
It was hard for the woman. But fol
the man, his hands trembied so tha
he could hardly take the little circle
from the pocket where It had reposet
since the fateful day.
He managed to slip IL on her finger
and then-well-the elms screened
them from public view, and for som.
reason an impertinent bird overhead
sang: Sweet. sweet"
After awhile he said: "Welf, n reiig
ion can bring this sort of happiness
rs worth looking into"
Translated into EnolIab.