The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-04-17
By CHARLES M. SHELDON
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~Once more, Luella. Will you be my
wife? Will you join me in lifelong
battle for human rightsT'
"Do you mean, as you did before,
that / must live here|!
Yes" The answer came without
hesitation.
81 don't think can do it, John. Oh.
why do you exact that! You know
love you, John, but can't, 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 hereT' 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.
at does not seem to me possible to
learn the peoples needs anywhere SO
well as here. That does not mean that
we must remain here all our lives, but
at least for some years"
81 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.
Don't you want to go over the
house? 1t is very interesting"
81 don't believe / care about it to-
day. 1t is getting late and Miss An
drews is busy. will come down some
other time"
81 shall be glad to welcome you any
time" Miss Andrews said in her calm
manner She went to the door with
them and said goodby as they entered
the carriage. AS they drove away the
last look Luella had of the place
framed Miss Andrews and John Cor
don standing side by side under the
archway. Both faces were serious,
and John Gordons had the look of
man who has entered on a new expe-
rience of which he is in doubt, but
he has no fear.
well, I'm mighty glad got out of
It." said Archie as the carriage turned
into one of the paved streets and the
horses hurried on toward Park avenue.
Luella said nothing, and Mrs. Pen
rose laughed shortly.
''How would you like to live there all
the time. like Miss Andrews and Mr..
Gordon?"
"Catch me. One day is enough, don't
you think, Miss Marsh?'
Il don't see how they stand it, Lu-
ella managed to murmur.
stand it! 1 want to wash out my
mouth with perfumes for a week. said
Archie, with an air of disgust. 81 feel
as if 1 had breathed in all sorts of dis
eases"
at would be healthier for you to
keep your mouth shut more of the
time Archie" said his aunt; that is,
healthier for other people" She spoke
with q savage disregard of any ones
feelings that did not take account of
any results to herself. 1t was that that
made Archie fear her.
The carriage rolled along. and no
one spoke for several minutes. Luella
was dumb. She looked out of the win
dow on her side, and Archie fidgeted in
his corner opposite.
That's a remarkable situation down
there" Mrs. Penrose spoke contem-
platively. 1.-TWO hundred thousand dol
lars to spend and checkmated by Tom
my Randall. 1t looks like a hopeless
case for them. OF course he won't sell
his lots. or if he does it will be at
ruinous prices. The devil seems to be
on top all around at Hope House. The
OILY cHdQcG Is IQdL 1OTQOn Can III
some way bring Randall to time on the
ordinance violation. Do you think he
will do it?"
ST know he will try" Luella man
aged to say.
'Try! But will he succeedY'
"He will If any one can"
at isn't fair to ask him to face all
that horror alone. He needs compan-
ionship." Luella started. Mrs. Penrose
saw it, but went on. HE ought to have
a wife Miss Andrews and he seem
made for each other, don't you think p
Luella coldly returned Mrs Penrose's
smile and then looked out of the win
dow again.
Miss Andrews is only eight or ten
years older than Gordon, l should say.
But that's no obstacle. I've always
held that the woman ought to be older
and more experienced at the beginning
OF marriage. Then the man can catch
ND. not in age. but in everything else.