The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-04-29
THE WAY or LOVE
Copyright. by J.. B. Lippincott Coz
By PAUL LAURENCE. DUNBAR

Copyright, by ].
John Hardaway was not a bad man.
He did not steal, he did not lie-that
is, not more than an honest young
lawyer should-and his morals were
above %reproach. In spite of a certain
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
full wave of religious enthusiasm that
swept over the village that winter.
John Hardaway was not a profess
ing Christian, although he attended
church regularly on Sunday, Joined
In the singing (maybe that was be-
cause he held to one side of Ellen
Targets hymn-book), and paid HE
dues as a young man with ambitions
ought to do. But when the Free Meth
odist church inaugurated a pgotracted
meeting his doom stared him in the
face. .
The Free Methodists we're deter.
mined to convert the whole town
men, women and c~hildren-and to this
end they had secured the services of
the 1ercest and most terrible of evan
CYCLISTS to aid the regular pastor. This
gentleman fell upon Dorbury like an
avenging angel, but instead of a fla
ming sword he possessed a huge fist,
with which he pounded the Bible into
pulp, and a%n'equally huge voice, which
tremendously called sinners to re-
pentance. Such was Rev. Abijah Cen
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 Jealous 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 it with grim amusement.
But when Silas Bollender, who was
known to have gone to see play.acting
at a certain county fair, exhorted him
that he must be snatched as a GRAND
from eternal burning" he laughed out
right.
IF any brand needs scratching,
Mr.. Bollender," he said, laughingly, 81
certainly am that one, but being
snatched so young would keep me
from so many pleasures"
That's just it," exclaimed Silas.
heatedly, pleasure"
"Such as a county fair" went on the
young man, imperturbably, "and-'
but Silas, though now he sat starche6
and solemn in the "amen corner" was
already fully routed.
When Silas left there was a wry
quicker about the young lawyers lips,
and it wasn't exactly mirth.
Then to himself: Nonsense" he
said, IAN I giving way to the influence
of this insanity-af11icted atmosphere ?"
He shook himself, put on his hat, and
went out. He believed he would &c
v to Ellen Hargot and tell her his
joke on ST Bollender; she couldn't
help but enjoy it, for she had humo1
and common sense.
He found Ellen with a smile upon
her face and singing about her work
but there were traces Of recent tears
upon her lashes. Somehow she seemed
to be, and yet not to be, the person
by whom his little joke would be ap
preciated. Her eyes were glad, but
with a peculiarly serious gladness
With some hesitation he told his
story, and only got in return a serious
signing:
Poor Mr.. Bollender."
"Why, Ellen, surely you don't sym
pathize with that old hypocirte; why
he"
"We cannot Judge. He is doing al
that he can do, and that is more than
some of us with the light right before
us can say"
"Ellen," broke in John Hardaway
<'.you don't e to say that you, too
have come under the spell of this
junketing mountebank's conjuring?"
Don't say that, John. 1 have indeed
been sitting for some nights under the
o~utpourings of Elder Center's COS
pei"
1T certainly is his gospel. The Lore
wouldn't own it."
And l have thought and prayed and
professed religion at home to-day"
"You!"
Eyes. Oh, John! don't look thai
way. I am so happy"
With a half laugh and a poor at
tempt at lightness he approached her
I'm sorry, Ellen, that you take your
religion so hard. I'm afraid, dear, thai
you will never get over it. Remember
too, that it may be catching and I an
exposed"
John Hardaway had made the mis-
take of his life. You may with more
impunity fog a woman than make fun
of her religion.
Ellen IIargot stiffened. She eluded
Johns outstretched hand.
g" could never marry a man who
could scott at religion" she said, slip
ping the little gold circlet from he,
finger and reaching it towards him.
"Why Ellen, Ellen" he said, Il
didn't mean to scott at you. You will