News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-04-15


all three Of them looked with different
degrees of interest at the sight of the
double decker. Heaps of rubbish still
covered the entire burned area, and the
same melancholy groups of children
were scattered about playing over the
guins At the farther end of the area
some men were taking measurements
and talked earnestly. Among the
men Luella thought she saw John Cor
don.
Going in through the archway which
had bent over so much human trouble
and sacrifice, they were greeted in the
broad hall by Miss Andrews herself,
who was just passing through to the
library and stopped to greet the Wis
itors as she saw them coming in.
Il am very glad to see you" she said
simply as she shook hands with them
ALL "Will you come into the library?
Our little front parlor has been turned
into hospital ward since the fire."
They all went in and sat down, while
Miss Andrews thanked Luella for her
gift saying. 81 ought perhaps to have
called instead of acknowledging your
kindness by letter, but my excuse for
not doing so has been the work here"
ooh, did not expect anything more"
Luella murmured. What was the Sc
cret of Grace Andrews power? She
felt something more than common in
this woman at once. While she was
silently trying to analyze the matter
Mrs. Penrose was asking questions.
But you have not been here much
longer than twelve yearsW
"Fifteen years next spring"
Pardon me, Miss Andrews, are you
Baltimore?"
Mrs. Hamilton Andrews of Balti-
more was my fathers own cousin"
"Then you belong to the Claytons of
West Virginia?'
zone branch of the Claytons married
INTO the family"
Mrs. Penrose pushed her inquiries
one question further.
wasn't your mother known all
through the south as the beautiful
Miss Rodney of Baltimore?"
eyes" Miss Andrews answered quiet
". "If you know my family history.
Mrs. Penrose, why do you ask me all
this?"
The woman of the slums and the
woman of the boulevard faced each
other, and it was the society woman
who felt abashed in the presence of
her sister, who had given up so much
to gain apparently so little.
Pardon me, Miss Andrews, now that
I have placed you, cannot help won
dering how you came to leave such a
splendid social position for-for'-
For such a splendid social opportu-
1ity?" Miss Andrews smiled her rare
smile. And then in answer to Mrs.
Penrose she recited softly George Mac
Donald's verses with a power that
went deep home to Luella and made
even Archie Penrose stop his nervous
fdgeting, although he did not compre-
bend the meaning of the verses to the
three women.
said, will walk in the fields. God said.
Nay, walk in the town.
I ,said, There are no flowers there. He
said
No flowers but a crown.
T. said, But the fogs are thick and clouds
are yelling the SUM-
He answered, But hearts are sick and
souls in the dark undone.
Eysaid, But the skies are black; there is
nothing but noise and din.
And he wept as he led me back. There is
more,
He said. There is sin.
Esaid, l shall miss the light, and friends
will miss me. they say
de answered, Choose We tonight if l must
miss you or they.
I pleaded for time to be given. He said,
Is 1t hard to decide?
1t will not seem hard in heaven to follow
the steps of your guide.
There was a moment of intense still
ness when she had finished. There
was a hint Of tears in Mrs. Penrose's
eyes. Luella sat with her hands in her
lap gazing at Miss Andrews intently.
If John Gordon should love this other
woman, would it not be the simple at
fraction of one soul that has obeyed
the voice that says "fOllow me-" at the
cost of physical things, drawing an
ether soul that is also living in obedi-
enee to the same voice?
Miss Andrews suddenly rose and
went to one of the windows that looked
cut over the burned district.
Excuse me. | am, of course, spe-
cially interested in our plans at pres
ent. Mr.. Gordon. with some of the
residents, has been looking over the
ground with reference to our new
park. You have heard of our recent
good fortune? We are living in a high
state Of excitement down here. A
friend has given us 100000, and we
are trying to see how much fun we can
Raye in spending it. If you will come
Here, can point out our proposed plan,
or would you like to go out there? We
can look over the house when we come
back"
: "We shall be interested to go outside
and look over the plan there" Mrs.
Renrose assented, and they all passed
ont and walked slowly down toward
the group of men who were at the end
of the street, opposite the block that