The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-22


fiippantly of all things on earth and
| denly:
$50 Luella has got her feshpots.
| They contain bitter brew for her. Are
you satisfied"
"There was nothing else for her to
do" Gordon answered after a mo-
ments silence.
you're going to grow better for it.
She's going to grow worse. 1 did my
best for you"
THANK you," Gordon answered SIM
ply.
"Archie tried again the other day. He
will never make another attempt. I
have advised him to go abroad. He
sails next month"
| Gordon made no reply. Mrs. Penrose
sighed.
"Why don't you and Miss Andrews
Gordon gave her look that stopped
her.
Pardon me- Go on with your good
T! work for the children. Let me come
down once in awhile and help. I'm
! not altogether bad, Gordon. Simply
born so. But life's a dreary sort of
tumble to me. 1 made my choice.
, Goodby. Best wishes to you"
When she was gone, Gordon, hesitat-
! ingly to himself, lifted the curtain of
| her future as 1t might be. 1t was a
future of contradictions. Poor, wasted
life of an immortal spirit! How you
| no tee ho
| Joys of triumphant womanhood! Poor.
pitiable creature! Homeless! Child
less! No two words in all human
speech can more deeply describe your
poverty, your loneliness
julius Chambers was one of the most
welcome callers as Gordon daily grew
| stronger and more buoyant.
'"The city is looking up" he said in
: his cultured voice. "This housing prob
lem is something tremendous. 1t will
! simply have to come to cheap trans.
portation, city own the means, con.
| denim all this property, tear down,
, build up, make suburban residence pos.
sible for the poor; in short, we've got
! a dozen questions in one involved in
the tenement problem. But I'm hope
| full The business men are getting
| walked up. Best of all, the saloon is
! getting a lot of free advertising. The
! cranks are right, as they have been all
, the time, and we've got to come to it
| wipe out the saloon, put home in its
| place. that's the only substitute worth
anything. Public entertainment halls,
, resorts, gymnasiums, Libraries, parks
lighthouses, all that, good as it's, can
| not equal a good home. The salvation
| of the city lies in it's ability to build up
| Christian homes. That's civic reform
f, in a sentence"
He stayed longer than Ford said was
J good for Gordon. But Gordon said he
| was a tonic, and when he was gone he
stretched himself, got up, walked
! across the room exulting in his return.
ing strength, and when Ford came in
, and began to expostulate Gordon
J laughed.
"You don't dare let me hit you," be
said, facing Ford sturdily.
/! Ford looked at him critically, then
backed off to a safe distance.
"Don't believe 1 will risk it with a
I man who helped knock out Tommy
Randall"
"NOt yet" Gordon answered gently.
; "We've got our lifework cut out for
us, Ford. This is only the beginning"
| Miss Andrews came in. They were
in the library now, for Gordon had
been downstairs for one of his meals.
"a letter from Mrs. Captain George
Efingham," she said with a smile,
handing the letter to Gordon.
1t was a hearty message of good
cheer from the old lady to all the set
Element workers, especially to Gordon,
whom it congra tulated on his recovery.
She commended the use of her money
in the campaign, and promised 100000
! more toward the proposed park or to-
ward the education of public sentiment
for removing the saloon.
Let us get at some of the causes of
human sin and misery" she wrote. 81
am willing to give money to relieve
misery, but 1 would much rather re-
move causes. l don't want to think the
money goes all the time for remedies.
l would like to think some of it goes to
preventives."
| Gordon sat by the window reading.
When he finished, he looked up, and
Miss Andrews was standing near. Ford
and the others were at the table.
you are feeling quite we'll again,
Mr.. Gordon?'
Eyes; l am getting eager to go out
again. l long to be at work"
She glanced at him and buried some
thing quietly in very deep grave be-
yond all resurrection.
You are going to grow strong with
| work." she said
Yes" He turned his face from her
to the window. ut will be my life to
work for the people"
The city stretched out before him as
when he left his fathers house, full Of
human weakness, power, struggle, de-
, feat, sin, selfshness. In very positive,
but not by any means fully defined,
| manner he began to feel his way with
this age old problem of humanity He
realized that he had by no means
served his apprenticeship Please God,