The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-03-13

over altogether. to society and its shall
low enthusiasms. There were other
things in which she was genuinely In
terested, and among them was the ca.
reer Of John Gordon. She had known
him as boy, had watched him through
his college course and his trip abroad,
and, being woman of very decided
| and individual opinions, she had more
than once expressed her interest in the
experiment Gordon was making More
than once she had compared him to
her nephew, to that young mans great
disadvantage.
The note which Gordon found at
| Hope House was an invitation to an
evening at the Penrose mansion In
Park avenue. III
| Why have you cut yourself off from all
| Of your former friends? Do you owe
| nothing to us rich sinners, as well as to
I. the poor ones? Come and reform the
| boulevard If you are really in the reform
business, for we need it as much as the
slum. Why are there no social settle
| ments among us? 1t strikes me that peo-
| pie like your. Miss Andrews are living at
| the wrong end of the problem. If we
| could only be saved, we have the means
| and ability to save the other end; but
| want you to come and see me and tell me
about Miss Andrews Have you fallen in
| love with her? And how about Luella?
Young man. come and give an account of
yourself. Luella will be here, and Mary
| and the Lowells and the Cranstons and
| that graceless nephew of mine, who, by
| the way, now that you are out Of the
| way, is paying court to Luella. You have
neglected us all shamefully. We will for
| give you If you appear among us again.
! It will not be a large company-about
| twenty-five. Surely you have not cut US
all out of your acquaintance forever. If
you don't care for the rest, come to salts
| fy my curiosity about your future. You
know was one of your best friends when
you were boy in the university. 1 have
| a real interest in your future, and I am
not all frivolous or given up to the whirl
| of the world, as I hope you know. Hop
| ing to see you, / am your friend and well
wisher, CONSTANCE PENROSE.
Gordon thoughtfulIy considered the
invitation and finally accepted it. When
the evening named by Mrs. Penrose
came, he went up on the boulevard.
There was nothing particularly un-
usual in the situation, and yet in some
unexplained manner as he entered the
Penrose mansion he was conscious of
a strange excitement, as If before the
evening was over events would occur
that would make serious history for
more than one of the guests.
Mrs. Penrose met him with genuine
friendliness.
"Ah, welcome, Mr.. RefOrmer! / ap-
preciate your coming out Of your social
dungeon to see u.s. You cannot always
be living ON heroics. There must be
some comedy to relieve the tragedy,
eh?"
Some kinds Of tragedy cannot be re-
lieyed by any kind of comedy" Gordon
replied grimly. But I'll promise not
to talk shop unless l am drawn into 1t.
You didn't ask me to come for that,
did your
Didn't? You are the lion Of the oc-
casion. Everybody is talking about
you"
LET US change the subject then"
"And talk of Miss Andrews
mo" Gordon said coldly
"No? Is that forbidden ground p
She spoke seriously. 81 am actually
interested In her and In all you are
doing. Some time you must tell me.
WAL your
Eyes," he answered earnestly, lit
tie ashamed of his curtness. "Of
course | believe In 1t all, only l didn't
wish to seem to lug it in on this occa-
sion"
81 understand" Mrs. Penrose an
swered brightly, and as Gordon passed
on she introduced him to Professor
Emory OF the university.
Gordon had heard of Professor EN-
DRY and had read two of his books.
The man was scholar and had read
everything in his own line Of sociology.
Without meaning to do SO Gordon soon
found himself deep in a discussion
with the professor over one phase of
the social question, which one Of the
professors books had touched on-''The
Personal Element of Responsibility For
Relief of Unjust Social Conditions"
Gordon disagreed totally with the
professors conclusions and frankly
told him so. The professor blandly
smiled and laid down another PROPOSE
ton to which Gordon found himself
totally opposed. The professor again
smiled in such an exasperating manner
that Gordon almost lost his temper.
He pulled up just in time. however.
He was so near it that he asked ques-
ton that otherwise he would not have
asked.
What you say is good theory, pro
| fessor, but have you ever lived among
the people and studied them at first