Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-02-07
1901, by Charles M. Sheldon.


'Luella, Is It too late? have thought
Il might possibly have frightened you
by too sudden a test He spoke hur-
riedly, then, as he saw the room was
empty Of any but Luella and himself,
he spoke with more reserve, but with
more freedom as well-"Luella l can
not give you up. You see something or
our great problem here. It's a gigantic
struggle; it is apparently hopeless. But
think of the children, Luella, whose
lives are at stake. Isn't it worth life
like yours? I never meant to speak
like this to you, least Of all here. But
the sight Of your dear face in the sur
roundings has told me again how much
I need you. God surely did not wish us
to 90 on our ways alone. The fight Is
30 hard, Luella, alone. I need compan-
ionship."
He laid his fingers gently on her arm
as he finished. Luella was leaning to-
ward him. Their faces almost touched.
But his action at once brought up to
Luella the incident out in Bowen street
when he had placed his fingers on Miss
Andrews arm. Was it that or was it
some caprice that dangerously dallied
with your own happiness, Luella, that
made you say:
"Companionship? You seem to be
pretty good friends with Miss An
drewsw
John Gordon spoke slowly and as II
he did not understand. "Miss An
drews? Luella, do you
He was angry with her. And she
was apparently determined not to un-
derstand the reason for It.
"She seems to accept your leadership
here. You are evidently not alone so
far as companionship goes"
She spoke lightly, but her jealousy
was apparent. John Gordon smiled.
Luella cared for him. His anger van
ished.
Miss Andrews and are good
friends. She is a noble woman. There
is not nobler in the city. But
"But you are blind not to see that
she cares for you Luella spoke
quickly. Afterward she regretted that
little sentence more than any other.
"Cares for meY Gordon asked
slowly.
"Yes. Any stranger can see It."
II think you are mistaken. 1t Is i'm
possible"
Nothing Is impossible when people
are IN love-"
81 refuse to discuss the matter. 1t Is
not right toward Miss Andrews"
Luella was silent. John Gordon was
readjusting his basis of appeal to her.
What she had said about Miss An
drews disturbed him tremendously.
"Luella! Can you not see that THAT
you-are the one | love? This Is the
last time I shall speak"
Luella looked out Of the window.
The most desolate sight she had ever
seen was out there. The background
for the horrible piles Of rubbish was
the dismal row Of tenements with the
back yard staircases like external
skeletons proclaiming the degradation
of the tenement DIV ellers In the tat
tered clothing hung out to dry. The
dreariness of it all smote Luella like
horror. To live in an eternal conflict
with evil like that represented by Tom
my Randall; to miss the bright, pretty,
comfortable life into which she had
been born; to spend her days and
nights in trying to love disagreeable,
ungrateful humanity-all this seemed
like a nightmare to her. Yet there
stood the man she loved more than any
other; she could not refuse to believe
in his nobility, his courage, his unself-
ishness. Her heart hungered when she
thought Of all he was compared with
the other men she knew. If only he
were not living here! If only he would
do his work in some other place where
they would not always be obliged to
look at all this human misery! John
Gordon was speaking again.
"Once more, Luella. Will you be my
wife? Will you join me in lifelong
battle for human rightsw
do you mean, as you did before.
that l must live here"
"Yes." The answer came without
hesitation.
II don't think can do it, John. Oh.
why do you exact that! You know
love you. John, but can't, I can't live
here"
do you love me?" John Gordon
said it gently. "Then can you not
trust me-trust all to me? We must
live here In order to do the work in
the best way"
"Must live here?" Luella did John
Gordon injustice again in misinter-
preting his emphasis. 1t was the only
time she was ever guilty Of such an
act, but that did not make it any less
serious. And again her insane jealousy
of Miss Andrews disturbed her vision
of the clear eyed love Of the man who
she knew well enough loved herself
and her alone.
1T does not seem to me possible to
learn the peoples needs anywhere SO
we'll as here. That does not mean that
we must remain here all our lives, but
at least for some years"
IT cannot do It," Luella said slowly.
There was a moment Of silence.
Then the steps Of Miss Andrews and
Mrs. Penrose and Archie were heard
coming through the hall toward the
library.
John Gordon did not reply even by a
word. He bowed gravely and turned
toward the others as they entered the
room.
Mrs. Penrose glanced quickly toward
Luella.
0nop,f vor want fo on over tho