The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-01-02

conIronted his son. This time the mans
cheeks had deep red spot on them.
and his fingers twitched neryously. The
stoop of his shoulders, the wrinkles
about his eyes, the whole pose and atti-
tude, revealed to John Gordon even
more than during that memorable In
terview when his father had refused
to give his sanction to his sons choice
the aging of vital forces that once had
seemed incapable of weakness.
John Gordon clinched his hand and
repressed the words that trembled on
his lips. If he spoke, he knew he would
say too much. After all, was he his
fathers judge? Yet If the property
owners refused to act what redress,
what hope for the future? 1t was a
horrible commercial system that per-
mitted, with the municipal authorities
sanction or Indifference. the brutal vio-
lation Of ordinances that were on the
statute books, but never executed, spit
upon by officers and citizens alike. a
mockery to all decent government
For a minute father and son faced
each other silently. Then John Gordon
turned and without another word went
away, but as he walked down the
steps of the massive stone building his
heart was sore within him.
"My own father! My own father
he repeated over and over, and tears
,dimmed his eyes and sobs choked his
throat as he said the words.
Nevertheless. with that fixity Of pur'
pose which always ignored private
feelings in the face of public duty, he
considered his morning task only just
begun. He must see Mr.. Marsh, and
he walked straightway to his Office
which was near by.
Mr.. Marsh had just come, and when
John Gordon appeared at the door of
his private office he greeted his visitor
heartily, saying as he motioned Cor
don to a chair: "Glad to see you.
Where have you been lately? Been on
the point Of dropping you a note ask
ing you to come and dine. You and
Luella haven't quarreled, have you?
Come to thing of it, she's looked rather
sober lately"
Mr.. Marsh was a large, handsome
man of fifty-two. His manner was
hearty, his whole bearing confident,
with the air of one who has succeeded
In every business enterprise he ever
undertook. AS a man of large wealth,
Of university training and some degree
Of culture, Of which perhaps he was
unduly conscious, he was reckoned
among the solid business men of the
city and was always proud to see his
name used in that connection.
"Luella has not told you, then?'
John Gordon asked In a low tone.
''Told me whatY
"She refuses to marry me-"
Refuses to marry your? Mr.. Marsh
spoke in establishment.
why-why, how is that, Cor
don? You are old enough to know your
own minds"
II thought so. sir" John Gordon re-
piled almost bitterly, 'but Luella
thinks otherwise. She will never be
my wife"
'It's not so serious break as that?'
The older man spoke with great kind
ness and came nearer. He was really
fond Of Gordon, and the unexpected
news affected him deeply.
Eyes, sir To make long story short,
I asked Luella to go into Hope House
as resident with me. She refused
and
Into Hope House! And you ex-
pected her to live there with you"
81 certainly asked her to. Whether
expected her to or not, 1 am not quite
so certain"
''You asked too muchw The words
came sharp and incisive, and John Cor
don at first shrank back as if from a
blow. you had no right to expect a
girl brought up as Luella has been to
make such a complete change in her
life as such q course would demand. II
was unreasonable"
Perhaps it was" replied John Cor
don quietly. Nevertheless 1 made it,
and u