Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-01-24

| fy my curiosity about your future. You
know I was one of your best friends when
you were boy in the university. have
a real interest in your future, and I am
not all frivolous or given up to the whirl
| OF the world. as I hope you know. Hop
| ing to see you, am your friend and well
wisher, CONSTANCE PENROSE.
Gordon thoughtfully considered tho
invitation and finally accepted it. When
the evening named by Mrs. Penrose
came, he went up on the boulevard.
There was nothing particularly un.
usual in the situation. and yet in some
unexplained manner as he entered the
Panrose mansion he was conscious Of
q strange excitement, as If before the
evening was over events would occur
that would make serious history for
more than one of the guests.
Mrs. Penrose met him with genuine
friendliness.
"Ah. welcome, Mr.. Refcrmer! l ap
preciate your coming out Of your social
dungeon to see US. You cannot always
be living on heroics. There must be
some comedy to relieve the tragedy.
eh?"
Some kinds of tragedy cannot be re-
lieved by any kind Of comedy" Gordon
replied grimly. But I'll promise not
to talk shop unless am drawn into 1t.
You didn't ask me to come for that.
did you?"
Didn't I? You are the lion of the oc
casion. Everybody is talking about
you"
Let US change the subject then"
And talk of Miss Andrews?'
NO" Gordon said coldly.
"No? Is that forbidden ground?"
She spoke seriously. 81 am actually
interested in her and in all you are
doing. Some time you must tell me-
Will you!''
YES" he answered earnestly, lit
tie ashamed Of his curtness. "Of
course | believe in it all, only I didn't
wish to seem to lug 1t In on this occa.
sion."
81 understand" Mrs. Penrose an
swered brightly. and as Gordon passed
on she introduced him to Professor
Emory of the university.
Gordon had heard Of Professor EN-
ory and had read two Of his books.
The man was q scholar and had read
everything in his own line Of sociology.
Without meaning to do so Gordon soon
found himself deep in discussion
with the professor over one phase Of
the social question. which one Of the
professors books had touched on-"The
Personal Element Of Responsibility For
Relief of Unjust Social Conditions"
Gordon disagreed totally with the
professors conclusions and frankly
told him so. The professor blandly
smiled and laid down another PROPOSE
ton to which Gordon found himself
totally opposed. The professor again
smiled in such an exasperating manner
that Gordon almost lost his temper.
He pulled up just in time, however.
He was so near it that he asked q ques-
tion that otherwise he would not have
asked.
What you say is good theory, pro-
fessor. but have you ever lived among
the people and studied them at first
hand to see If your theory will work?
The professor changed color and lost
his bland and condescending manner.
mo. sir; l do not consider that a
necessity to the proper discussion Of
the facts. l understand perfectly well
what you mean. Nearly all social set
tlement residents make the same mis-
take. They think personal contact Is
necessary to q clear comprehension Of
situations. do not so regard it. Not
that l deprecate the service you are
rendering" he added hastily. "but you
exaggerate the Importance Of your
contribution to the solution Of the
problem"
Gordon was spared the temptation Of
reply by voice near by and a hand
laid Oh his shoulder.
John, must | introduce myself?
Why have you neglected us all so
shamefully?'
1t was his sister Mary who had just
come in. Gordon was really delighted
to see her. The swift and eventful
current of events that flowed around
| Hope House had carried him along so
tumultuously that he had let the old
relations with his home drift, and yet,
in spite of all that had to be counted
into a swift receding past. he could
not deny the strength Of the blood re-
lationship.
He turned from the professor with q
feeling of relief and began to chat with
his sister.
She was the same careless, thought
less, superficial creature she had al
ways been. and yet she had an affec-
,, ton for her brother that John Gordon
felt was very real. 1t touched him,
even while he was wounded by many
things she carelessly uttered about bis
own choice Of life.
Father is not very WELL" she said
in reply to a question. "He fell one
day last week and had to be carried
home from the Office. I feel worried
over him sometimes. l wish you were
at home again.
"Do you miss meT
IDOL You know do, John. Aren't
you coming back ever?
81 don't know. The old life seems
unreal to me-"
Does this seem unreal?" She tapped
his arm with her fan and then de-
scribed little circle with it that In
cluded the rooms and their brilliant
contents. 'It seems very real to me"
she added with light laugh.