The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-02-14

most critical operations, she was pres
ent. q benedction and peace. More
than once during those days Gordoni
found himself thinking of Grace An
drews In way he had never yet'
thought. He had never given her cred-l
It for sweet hearted tenderness, fas-
cinating in-its disclosure OF an 0bso-
lutely pure and gentle nature, feeling
for all the woes Of kfe. He had al,
ways admired her steadiness OF purl
pose. her unterrhed patience, her deep
seriousness OF motive But he had new
cr Dof"-.e witnessed her womanly sentsr
ment, brought into pYemlpen"e b
su,lden stroke ee - ~, ruia
!" 20 The definition he was making OF
her Il an 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 II he had been other than he was,i
the farthest possible removed from sus-
ceptibility The one impression that
he received from a nearer view Of her,
character was conviction that she
was a woman who had rare capabilityl
for loving and being loved, and he
even went so far I'm 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 affectlonate nature. y,
The other event was an unexpected
interview with Luclla Marsh. The
Rev Paul Falmouth had come down
20 see Gordon and offer help Of various
kinds to Miss Andrews from his church
young peoples society. AS he wss
getting ready TO leave he said TO Cor
dom 1T 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. HO
VIII probably rebuild. DO You know2"
81 don't know anything about II.
Why hns he not been down here?"
Gordon Falmouth spoke with quiet
oargcstness-'do you know Mr.. Marsh
Intimately? | understand your relation
TO the family / believe ! know his
characteristics better than you do. At
least know thIs-he Is morbidly sensl-
tive I'm the matter OF viewing human
suffering. DO you suppose
Gordons face darkened Was Il pos
slblo that any man would run away
from duty Ike ths7 All his respect for
Marsh and his feeling for him as the
father OF Iuclla were at once swept
away 10y the thought OF the mans con-
tcmptlble cowardice A tremendous tide
Of Indignation took possession Of him
as he recalled Marsh's pltiable action
at the time he visited the tenement.
Would be deliberately shirk his respon-
sibility In the matter Of the fire and the
opportunity now offered him to re-
bulld2
"I'll 20 aud see him II YOU say no."
| Falmouth volunteered as he went
away
Il wish you WOULD" Gordon replied.
And he added IN tone that spoke OF Il
| personal passion that was nearer anger
than any feeling he ever experienced;
/ "If he doesn't come down here before
night. | mean 10 go aud see him myself.
| want TO know from his own lips the
cause Of his absence
The day went by, and Mr. Marsh did
not appear. That evening Gordon told
Miss Andrews his intention. She made
no comment OF any kind. Gordon walt
ed a moment and then asked a ques-
tlon:
"IIow far Is Mr. Marsh responsible
for all this suffering, for these deathsf"
God VIII judge him, not l." she an
swered her blue eyes filled with a light
that more than once during the week
Gordon had noticed as peculiar TO her.
II want 10 say the right thing 10 him.
But | am afraid shall lose my Judg-
mcnt IN the matter" he said as he hes
ltated. Miss Andrews did not offer any
suggestion, and Gordon at once went
ont and took the first car that made
connections with uptown lines.
II was not until he stood ON the Ia
mllar steps that he realized IN some
degree what he was about 10 do. This
chance OF meeting Luelln was 30 small
that he bad not given II any thought.
He had not seen her since his inter
view with her aud while he was heart
hungry for the Kind OF love that was
being denied him, the experiences
through which he had been since go
lug 10 Hope House. the appalling char
acter OF the disaster for which Luella's
father was at least IN large part re-
spOnsible. for the time being oDscured
his personal affairs. II can truly DO
said that ~ he gave his name 10 the
servant and asked 20 see Mr. Marsh
he was nerylng himself for the inter
view. with Luella In second place at
least
He went into the hall reception room
aud had only just sat down when Lu-
ella entered. He rose ana faced her
and saw at once that some mistake had
been made by the servant Luella was
deeply agitated She was hardly able
10 say.
Il was told a visitor wished 70 SEQ