The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-04-28
THE WAY OF LOVE-
By PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
Copyright. by J. B. Lippincott co.,


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 Ill 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 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
Hargot's hymn-book), and paid HE
dues as young man with ambitions
ought to 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
iavenging angel, but instead of fla
ming sword he possessed huge fist,
with which he pounded the Bible into
pulp, and an equally huge voice, which
tremendously called sinners to re-
pentance. Such was Rev. Abijah Gen.
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 certain county fair, exhorted him
that he must be snatched as brand
from eternal burning" he laughed out
right.
IF any brand needs 'snatching,
Mr.. Bollender," he said, laughingly, II
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 county fair" went on the
young man, imperturbably, "and-"
but Silas, though now he sat starche1
and solemn in the "amen corner" was
already fully routed.
When Silas left there was a wry
FUCKER about the young lawyers lips,
and 1t wasn't exactly mirth.
Then to himself: NONSENSE" he
said, "am giving way to the influence
of this insanity-afflicted atmosphere?
He shook himself. put on his hat, and
went out. He believed he would go
over to Ellen Hargot and tell her his
joke on 81 Bollender; she couldn't
help but enjoy it. for she had humor
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 peculiarly serious gladness.
With some hesitation he told his
story, and only got in return a serious
sighing:
Poor Mr.. Bollender."
"Why, Ellen, surely you don't SYM
pathize with that old hypocirte; why,
he"
1--WE cannot Judge. He is doing all
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 mean to say that you, too,
have come under the spell of this
junketing mountebank's conju,ing?"
Don't say that, John. l have indeed
been sitting for some nights under the
outpourings of Elder Center's gos-
pei"
ut certainly is his gospel. The Lord
wouldn't own 1t"
and have thought and psayed and
protested religion at home to-day"
"You!"
Eyes. Oh, John! don't look that
way. am so happy"
With a half laugh and a DOOR at.
tempt at lightness he approached her.
I'm sorry, Ellen, that you take your
religion so hard. I'm afraid, dear, that
you will never get over it. Remember,
too, that it may be catching and 1 am
exposed"
John Hardaway had made the mis-.
take of his life. You may with more
impunity fog woman than make fun
of her religion.
Ellen Hargot stiffened. She eluded
Johns outstretched hand.
Il could never marry man who
could scott at religion" she said, slip
ping the little gold circlet from her
finger and reaching it towards him.
why, Ellen, Ellen" he said, Il
didn't mean to scott at yOu. YOu will