The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-12-05

and spoke in various voices the Ian
Ruage of bitter toll, of physical energy
and of careless pleasure seeking. At
no time in all his life had he seemed
% feel the burden Of his responsibility
Cor others as at this moment He had
come TO the place where he could no
Aonger endure the strife between duty
and inclination, between personal ease
and personal ministry to world that
4effered him little expectation of re
ward as he ministered to it. The strug-
gle which had led up to his final pre-
,cipitatiOn OF the crisis had been a
struggle almost empty of bitterness.
Dot overlooking with pain. He was
conscious as ne stood on the steps of
his fathers house. about TO turn his
back on all the traditions of his ia
Tiers name and business. that there
was no hatred in his soul and no re
sentiment in his heart What he was
about to leave did not find as much
place in his mind as what he was
about to seek. He was not troubled
over any loss to himself. but he faced
with a deep seriousness worthy OF the
event certain well defined questions
relative to his future. AS he finally
went down the steps and became
part OF the human current that flowed
down the street the city seemed to
absorb him into IT'S turbulent mystic
Tiousness and to bear him along. a
part of its restlessness. a portion of
its eternal destiny.
! Rufus Gordon looked over at his son.
81 don't see that the trip has hurt
you any. You look heartier. John. than
Il ever saw you before"
lit has been great trip for me. IA
ner," replied John Gordon, returning
his fathers look earnestly, land l am
very grateful to you for it. The ocean
voyage toned me up wonderfully"
"Just what you needed" The older
zsan spoke with a heartiness that
seemed to cause the younger to shrink
back little In his chair as II In antici-
cation Of something different. II re-
tn1ember the first time went across. l
hWas Just about as much run down as
iversity. Six months in Germany and
Switzerland made a new man Of me.
But we've missed you, John-Mary
sndI."
John Gordon looked out Of the win
3sw before he answered.
you've been very kind to me. You
4ave always been kind to me. All that
makes it hard for me to say something
q ought to say"
The father looked sharply at the son.
and there was a moments pause.
"Well. go on" Rufus Gordon said as
Ids son seemed to wait for him to
speak.
TN the first place." John Gordon be-
gan slowly, 81 must refuse your offer
ef position in the bank. cannot by
my possibility accept It."
There was another expressive silence
between the two men. and Rufus Cor
don shut his eyes firmly together, while
his face hardened gradually.
81 received your letter just before
sailing from Liverpool. father" John
Gordon continued, "and believe ap
preciate your plan for my future. But
IT Is all impossible. / am going to dis
appoint you in every particular, but
that is because you cannot under
stand
Rufus Gordon made no movement Of
any kind. not even when his son stop
ped abruptly and looked over at him
as If expecting a reply. To one who
knew him as his son did the utter alb
sence OF any sign of emotion in the
face Of what was in reality tremen-
dous blow at his family pride indicat-
ed simply the hard, unyielding nature
20 the man.
-Of course don't expect you to un-
F.erstand-I anticipate nothing. But
you have brought me up to tell the,
truth, and / am simply telling it now
as it must be told, when say that
cannot and will not accept the life
you mapped out for me in your letter
1t would be worse than a mockery foi
me to attempt such career. 1t would
ioe death to my whole nature 1t would
cut across every principle of my life.
every conviction that has ever prompt
ed me to be Of use in the world"
Eufus Gordon finally spoke after his
con had been silent long time.
, We've been over all this more or
less before I hoped your trip abroad
would take some Of your foolishness
ont of you 1t seems it hasn't. Well,
what do You expect to dor
The question was blunt. 1t was more
1t was brutal
John Gordon rose and began walk
ing up and down. His father sat look