Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-01-17
7 / B RBF D R NJ Err
By Rev. Charles Nj. Sheldon.
Autbor of lin His Steps, Robert Hardys Seven Days. ETC.

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with money which men like Mr.. Marsh
and Mr.. Rufus Gordon had paid as
part price for being let alone in their
business methods?
How should the people know that
Tommy Randall touched" the pocket
of every saloon keeper and every keep
er of disreputable house and every
prominent criminal in Waterside dis
trict to get the sinews Of political war?
And what difference if he did, as Miss
Andrews had so often told them
Wherever the money came from, 1t
bought the things the people needed,
and Tommy was the best friend they
had. Flowers at christenings, turkeys
during the holidays, jobs on the street
force. a stand-in with the city hall
why, even Miss Andrews and Hope
House had no such gifts for the people.
To be sure Hope House was good
thing. and Miss Andrews was all
right, but Tommy Randall was the
peoples friend, and well never 60
back on Tommy" was the settled con-
viction Of every man In the ward VINO
| owed his job to Tommy. Surely, o
boss of Ward IS, you understand your
business as we'll as if you were an an
gel Of light. Hats off to the ward
boss" says the devil, as his best agents
in corrupting the modern city file by IN
the great human review of the Ameri-
can city. The republic may have a
president, but the municipality sup
ports king.
When Gordon went up to see Barton
at the end of the most narrowing day
he had ever known, he found his friend
raving with fever. He did not know
Gordon. The nurse was in charge with
Williams, and all Gordon could do was
to drop tear on Barton's face as he
kissed the burning forehead and exact
solemn promise from Williams to
send for him at once whenever the end
was near. Then back again to three
days experiences that aged him, but
brought out all his reserve force-and
he had vast quantity Of it.
Two events In those three days stand
out sharp and distinct in the life Of
John Gordon.
The first event was his deepening ac-
quaintance with Grace Andrews.
Working together side by side during
those three days. they rapidly grew to
respect and have confidence in each
| other. Grace Andrews amazed Gordon
by her courage, her infinite patience,
her profound pity for suffering. her en-
durance under circumstances so terri
BILE that more than one Of the men resi-
dents in the house tainted away at the
sight Of some Of the bodies taken from
| the ruins. In several instances Gordon
felt confident that Miss Andrews loved
the dying back into life. She moved
among them like an angel Of God. At
the most painful examinations, at the
most critical operations, she was pres
ent, benediction and peace. More
J than once during those days Gordon
found himself thinking Of Grace An
drews in a way he had never yet
thought. He had never given her cred
it for a sweet hearted tenderness. fas-
cinating in it's disclosure Of an abso-
lutely pure and gentle nature, feeling
for all the woes Of life. He had al
ways admired her steadiness Of pur-
pose. her unterrifed patience. her deep
seriousness Of motive But he had new
er before witnessed her womanly senti-
ment. brought into prominence by this
sudden stroke of suffering. 1t all add
ed to the definition he was making OF
her. 1t all enriched his faith in her
| purpose and her sacrifices In all this
there was not hint Of anything senti-
mental on his own part. The awful
ness Of all those surroundings during
that memorable week would have
made any such thought impossible
even If he had been other than he was.
the farthest possible removed from sus-
ceptibility. The one impression that
he received from nearer view Of her
character was q conviction that she
was a woman who had rare capability
for loving and being loved, and he
even went so far in his thinking as a
| result Of this impression that he tried
to imagine the character Of the man
who might possibly win such a great
and affectionate nature.
The other event was an unexpected
interview with Luella Marsh. The
Rev. Paul Falmouth had come down
| to see Gordon and offer help Of various
kinds to Miss Andrews from his church
young peoples society. AS he was
| getting ready to leave he said to Cor
don: ut seems to me now is the time
for Miss Andrews and you to bring
pressure to bear on Mr.. Marsh. While
the horror Is still keen and public
sentiment is favorable you ought to
persuade him to do something. He
will probably rebuild. Do you know?"
81 don't know anything about it.
Why has he not been down here?"
"Gordon"- Falmouth spoke with quiet
earnestness--"do you know Mr.. Marsh
intimately? understand your relation
to the family. I believe know his
characteristics better than you do. At
least know this-he is morbidly sensi-
tive in the matter Of viewing human
suffering. Do you suppose
Gordons face darkened. Was it pos
sible that any man would run away
from duty like this? All his respect for
Marsh and his feeling for him as the
father Of Luella were at once swept
away by the thought Of the mans con-
temptible cowardice. A tremendous tide