Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-07-04

She came up close to Miss Andrews
and stood near her. with her hands
clinched and her whole attitude ex-
pressive Of the deepest feeling. 1T is
no wonder John Gordon loved her."
Grace Andrews said to herself with a
pang at the thought Of a beauty that
had been dulled by years of contact
with trouble, for Luella was magnifi.
cent in her strong young womanhood,
and it needed only that one human love
for the multitude to make her a crea-
ture Of boundless affections worthy Of
the bravest. best man that ever lived.
II did not say he was dying. He is
very i'll. The issue is doubtful. But he
Is perfectly conscious, and it may be
1t may be-that your presence will help
him."
Come, then. let us co." said Luella.
On the way to Hope House Luella
for her.
'He has spoken your name," Miss
Andrews hesitated, "but he has not
asked to see you"
Then I am going to see him on your
invitation?"
Eyes" she replied simply.
"He will not care to see me-" Luella
spoke as If to herself, and Miss An
drews did not reply to her.
When they reached the house, Luella
was so agitated that she asked to be
left alone in the library little while
ch o 70 A nd md
told her she was ready. Miss Andrews
could not avoid almost feeling of pity
for her.
lis he very ill?'' Luella asked
you must be prepared for a great
change in him." Miss Andrews said
When she reached Gordon's room,
Ford came to the door. He had been
nursing Gordon. When Luella entered,
Ford and Miss Andrews went out and
knew that as they left the room Luella
had kneeled at the side of the ted and
put her lips on John Gordon's hand.
She was not prepared for the sight of
such change in so short a time. But
Gordon had thrown himself into the
problem Of Hope House from the first
day of his residence with q whole
sOuled abandon that had told tremen-
dously on his vitality. The daily strain
On his sympathies, the apparent hope
lessness of the effort to remove causes,
the unceasing call on heart and mind
had burned like fever in his life, and
when the city campaign came on he
was not at all prepared for its inces-
SAINT demand on physical and mental
resources. Nevertheless he had flung
all caution aside night after night. even
when he felt growing on him the wea-
riness that, like a leaden weight, hung
on heart and brain. The collapse came
inevitably, and his condition was crit
ical. 1t was the old story of driving
the machine beyond it's powers and
without sufficient care for the delicate
mechanism Of nerves and heart and
tissues.
"John." said Luella as she kneeled
there, and he felt tear fall on the
hand she held. you do not doubt my
love for you, do you? Why did you not
send for me yourself?"
"You are here, Luella. That is all
want"
He spoke with great effort. He was
conscious of a weakness that made him
cling to any strong nature like drown
ing man. His whole interview with
Luella must be interpreted in the light
Of that weakness. His mind was feel.
ing vaguely for relief, from a dark.
hopeless falling down into some un-
reachable place where Luella could not
come. he had not strength even to re-
turn the clasp of her cold fingers, and
she was terrified as she saw his help
lessness and thought he might pass
away even during the brief time she
felt she ought to be there with'him
promise me, Luella, that you will
will-be my wife. Let us give ourselves
to the cause Of childhood suffering-in
these-these-awful Places
"Oh, PROMISE; yes, yes, John! Dear.
l will come here and live anywhere
anywhere you will not de-
She chung to his hand, and he smiled.
Twill you live with me here, Luella-
here in Hope House,
Eyes! Yes! For 1 do love you; do
love you, John" she cried, sobbing,
and he lay so still, SO exhausted with
his effort, that she rose at once and, 60
ing to the door; called for Miss An
drews and Ford to come, thinking he
had fallen into the sleep that knows
no waking. But when they came they
saw a smile On his face and q look of
peace there that was more hopeful,
Ford said, than anything yet recorded.
Even as they all three stood by him
he opened his eyes and whispered:
"Will you kiss me, Luella? am
happy
She leaned over and kissed. his lips,
and there was. a look on. her face
which neither Miss Andrews nor Ford
understood until after events made It
clear. - -. H. -. '*s.z OFT ss1} "
! She went back into the library and
sat there for some time, dreading to
have news brought her that he had
sunk into death. But Ford came in
after awhile and said he was. asleep,
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