The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-12-26

3amily" He spoke to Miss Andrews
but included all the table with a ges-
kure I'm still in some doubt concern
ing my future. 1 am sure you are
enough interested in me to care to
Anow that / have left my own b, ne.
Z am Just at present without a per
mnanent place of abode. Perhaps you
would be willing to take me In"
He spoke somewhat lightly, but not
without certain seriousness that they
IN seemed to understand. Miss An
Arews glanced at him quickly and said
With real tone of sympathy:
I'VE would not only give you hearty
welcome, Mr.. Gordon. but count our
selves fortunate to have you with us"
THANK you," he replied gratefully.
- would not come into the house, of
course, except as one who would take
khe position of a learner. have every
thing to learn and nothing to contrib
ute. You would have to teach me the
simplest duties of a resident, Miss An
drews. 1 at least would be very will
ing and obedient pupil"
az have no doubt Of that" she re-
piled, with smile. But the people
who act that way are dangerously apt
90 be in position to teach their teach
ers in time"
al shall never be able to teach the
teacher in Hope House." said John
Gordon earnestly. Miss Andrews laugh
cd, and the faintest tinge of color ap-
scared on her cheeks. I'VE are all
learners here. Let him who has not
learned something today hold up his
hand. Not hand in sight. Oh, we are
all in the primary class! The people
Rre the alphabet Of God. And we have
not yet learned the alphabet"
The talk gradually circled the table,
SMILE John Gordon continued to tell
Miss Andrews something In detail OF
the interview with his father and sis
her. After the meal was over the resi-
dents scattered to their work, but half
q dozen with Miss Andrews and John
Gordon fingered few minutes in the
library and living room, which opened
cut Of the wide hall, next the old fash
toned staircase which went up near
the center Of the room, for Hope
House had formerly been an old fam
ny mansion, and it stood now in it's
solitary refinement Of interior in COM
piete contrast to every building in the
dismal district now ruled and ruined
BY the human ruins that pleaded day
and night for rebuilding until the souls
Of the residents grew weary with the
burden, and God either grew daily
farther away or closer by, in proper
tion as the workers in the settlement
grew more and more to love the peo-
pie or more and more to lose faith in
their redemption.
When John Gordon finally went
away, he had practically promised to
become permanent resident of Hope
House. Something Of John Gordon's
family history was known to most of
the residents, and there was enough of
the romantic and unusual in such de-
cision as his to stir the Imagination of
the earnest young men and women
who had thrown in their lot with Hope
House and what it stood for in the city.
When John Gordon came out from
the archway and turned into the street
It was after 8 o'clock. He walked
along for half dozen blocks, trying to
realize what his life work would be
N such place. Whatever else it
would be, he knew it would be a life
that would demand inexorably all the
manhood possible. AS he stopped and
booked back down the street and re-
allied its wretchedness, its discomfort,
fts squalor, it's moral filth, his heart
cried out for strength, his soul felt
compassion and anger and longing,
and his love Of the people, to his In
tense satisfaction, grew in spite Of
what they were and because Of what
they were.
He was still standing there. absorbed
m his thought Of future possibilities,
when man put his hand on his shout
der and said Familiarity:
"John, do you want good company :?
Pm with you IL you do"
"Davidr' cried John Gordon In as
tonishment How do you happen to
be here"
~Studyin2 life. eh?" said David Bar
ION as he put his arm within his
xflenu anu walked on.
"But how does it happen that you
Having a weeks vacation. Harris
told me I'd better go to Colorado. Been
down here every night"
John Gordon walked on In deepening
establishment
Come up 20 the rooms ana let us
have talk" said Barton, and John
O11i0
ear and after riding two miles left the
ear, walked two blocks and came out
% Park Boulevard, where David Bar
con, managing editor OF the Daily
News, had apartments.
When they were seated, David Bar
ION turned sharp, nervous, but kind
y face toward John Gordon.
surprised to see me down In the
vegion Of Hope House? Great place,
nsn't It? Worth more than a trip to
the Rockies to go through the show"
do you mean to say you have never
been down around Hope House be.
foreY
"Tve been there several times, my
son"
"Do you know Miss Andrews?'
Knew her before you were out OF
high school"
"You never told me-
why should tell you everything at
nncep'
Several years is not at once" re
piled John Gordon, with smile.
For answer the older man gravely
said after a pause:
"How old are you, John?'
Thirty"