The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-06-25

( ~ an prepared % make pou q propo-
sition"
. Of it John Gordon found himself on hls
knees by the side Of his friend holding
his head and now thoroughly alarmed
"Why. this can't 80 or, David" hp
/ cNpostulatcd
/ "Nos. it can apparently At least II
seems to ~ ~ quito easily"
"put youn simply commit suicide
/ II YOU don't I'siru 10 reason aud quit
all work Cor at least six mouths"
Cant no II. tot too much at stake"
RartOn answered. He rose and going
into an adjoining room. he took some
medicine. hathcd his face AMI came
out looking So much better that John
Gordon was amazed.
I only n ,rihmg little cough, John.
It's not on my lungs. Just throat
trouble. got caught ont in the rain
down near Hone House the other
I NIGHT and didn't have chance nv steal
Perhaps in all his life he had never
felt So lonely as at that moment. The
+ consciousness that his father and sis-
ter and now the woman who had
promised To be his wife had rcpudiated
his life smotc him with a sense of per
sonal abandonment that was keen and
searching
For moment he fclt AZ completely
slone that he let 20 W every motive for
action. The city and the overwhelm-
ing thought Of its misery and sin and
selfishncss cnraged him. Let us eat
drink and be merry, for tomorrow we
die" he cried out. and nothing at that
moment would have saved John Cor
don except the fact that what he had
mentioned 10 his father and sister and
Lucia as his religious experience was
the greatest fact 20 far In his career.
As he slyyd still thereat the foot Of the
steps gradually his spirit grew calm
or. The consciousness OF God I'm his
life grew stronger. The purpose Of his
ambition cleared. And after little
while he started on, knowing that his
life work would not be changed In its
main intent by anything that had so
far happened. Only as he went on he
also knew that he could not and would
not be the same man and do the same
things in some parts of his earthly vi
sion as II Luella Marsh had decided to
walk with him in the way. 1t was also
quite clear 10 him that without being
able TO give q good reason for 1t he
was not closing the chapter with Luel-
10 yet He certainly entertained the
idea Of her still coming into his life.
II was not from his interview with
her that he drew any such hope. But
he knew that be did not yet consider
her action rs final or possibly it was
his own action that was not final.
He stopped al a corner, and the sight
O: street name on car going by de
cided his next movement
"T'u 20 and take tea at Hope House, y
he said 70 himself, and took the car
noting, by the time that he would
reach the house just az the little family
Of residents were ~ the habit 0f sit
ting down to their evening meal
Hope House stood In the midst Of ia
desert Of teuefneuts and It's corner sa
looms and vaudeville halls like an oasis
of refuge and strength. Saloons Z,
nigh, and lrft and front and rear, witt
piles " brick aud wrod aud rubbisl
flung together Ia chaotic, tumblec
heaps. With openings for human be
ings who stfea med IN and out of cour
snd alley Ahd doorway or sat IN pnllid
kGd0Ied ma5ses Oh the stoOps or curb
Sps formed tue frame IA which Hop.
Kouse 1as So, unique aud alone.
John Gordon Ictt the car one blOci
froD Hope House and walked dowi
past five saloons Ia tie block until la
came " the arched entrance Of th
house. Going into the little court, Ia
broatLed a sigh of relief at the sight o
sLc familiar oleander tubs that sLoQ'
against Tie outer wall Of the court, an'
lLaryeled at tLeIg ability to blossom
with such freshness IN such surround
Ing.
/, "If 0lcanders ever had any fTamanc
I IN this part 0r the city, they mus
b almost EuIell Df hrcr and sewer gas,
h. said tD himself as he went On int,
the broad Lail tAgt opened on the court
. lie vas Dy no means stranger 4
, Hope House Since his return iron
abroad Le had been q frequent yIsIlo
"a aud Lnd been Welcomed viii tbat ~
+. HeI N4lcQme that springs from Wel
4 KNOW COMMON purposes
you are just ~ time" called out
quiet lut clecrfli voice as John GqrdoI
+ stepped into the doorway of the dinin
han 'lliss Manning Is absent Yo
o may lake her seat w me"
= n count my set Fortunate John GpI
4 don replied as ne took the seat =,
turning tho greetings ~ those 40 u
q table.
& I'VE were talbiag about youP sal
! the head Qf DE house with her quiz