The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-05-13
is all right. She has gone the other

tudt dEe solu vi ueTe. duu want 10
talk to You about EN-"
very well, but see II you can't talk
In lower key"
"Never mind about the key" shout
ed Strong angrily.
"But do mind" Something in his
eyes made the deacon lower his voice
I'VE want to know how much longer
that girl is goin' to stay here"
"Indeed! And whyT The color was
leaving Douglas face and his jaw was
becoming very square.
"Because she's been here long
enough"
II don't agree with you there"
swell, It don't make no difference
whether you do or not. She's got to
CO."
"GoT' echoed Douglas.
Eyes. sir-e-bob. We've made up our
minds to that"
"And who do you mean by 'weT"
THE members Of this congregation"
replied Strong impatiently.
"Am TO understand that You are
speaking for themT There was a
deep frown between the young pas
tors eyes. He was beginning to be
perplexed.
Eyes. and as deacon Of this church"
''Then as deacon Of this church you
tell the congregation for me that that
Is my affair.""
"Your affair" shouted Strong. when
that girl Is lirin' under the church's
roof. eatin' the church's breadv'
"Just one moment! You don't quite
understand. l am minister Of this
church. and for that position receive
or am supposed to receive a salary to
live on and this parsonage. rent free.
TO live In. Any guests that may have
here are my guests and not guests of
the church. Remember that. please"
There was an embarrassing silence.
The deacons recalled that the pastors
salary was slightly In arrears. Elver-
son coughed meekly. Strong started.
"You keep out Of this. Elverson!' he
cried I'm runnin' this AFFAIR, and !
Amt forgettin' my duty nor the par
sons"
Il shall endeavor to do my duty as
see IT," answered Douglas. turning
away and Diminishing the matter.
"Your duty Is to your church." thun-
dered Strong.
you're right about that. Deacon
Strong" answered Douglas. wheeling
about sharply. and my duty to the
church Is reason enough for my acting
exactly as am doing in this case"
lis your duty to the church the only
reason You keep that girl here?"
mo: there are other reasons"
81 thought So"
you've heard her story-you must
have heard. She was left with me by
an old clown who belonged In the cir
Gus where she worked. Before he died
he asked me TO look after her. She
has no one else. shall certainly do
| So"
THAT was when she was hurt. She's
well now and able TO 20 back where
she came from. Do you expect US 10
have our young folks associatin' with
a circus ridin' girly'
$50. that's itr' cried the pastor. with
plying look. "You think this child
Is unit for your homes because she
was once In a circus. For some rea-
son circus TO you spells crime. You
call yourself a Christian. Deacon
Strong. and yet you insist that send
a good. innocent girl back 10 a life
which you say Is sinful I'm ashamed
OF you. strong-I'm ashamed OF you."
THAT talk don't do no good with
mer' roared Strong. He was desperate
at being accused OF an un-christian at.
/ titude.
II ain'f askin' you 20 send her back
20 the circus. I don't care where you
send her. Get her away from here:
that's ALL
mot 80 long rs she wishes TO stay"
"You won'tY' Strong saw that he
must try a new attack. lie came close
TO Douglas and spoke with a marked
insInuation. IF you was a friend TO
the girl. you wouldn't want the whole
congregation a.pointIn' fingers at her.
"what do you meanT'
II mean that you're Twin here alone
with her and II looks bad-bad for the
girl and bad for you-and folks Is
| tnlkln'."
"Are you trying 10 tell me that my
people are evil minded enough 20 think
that r. Douglas stopped. He could
not frame the question. Il don't be.
lieve e." he concluded shortly.
''Sou'll be made 20 believe Il II you
don't gct rid Of that girl"
do you believe it, lie turned
upcn the little man at his side. do
you believe Il. ElversonT
EMERSON rad been SO accustomed to
Strong monopolizing the conversation
that he had become hopelessly lost as
the discussion went on. and the sudden
appeal 20 I'm all but parnlyzed his
power Of speech. lie was still gu--
Cling and sputtering when Strong In.
terrupted Impatiently.
1T makes no difference whether we
believe II or not We're goln' TO do
1 s..s 1,.te he sH. rS,xaH auI that srfrf