The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-02-13

Before the letter to the old lady had
gone its way 10 do its errand. while the
settlement workers waited in suspense
for its results. Miss Andrews received
a letter by messenger. She read il and
quietly placed II in John Gordon's
hands. The letter was from Luella.
My Dear Miss Andrews-I inclose n
check for S1.O00. which may be OF use to
you in relieving some of the distress
caused by the recent terrible disaster in
Bowen street. / hope to be able soon to
add to this. Will you kindly inform Mr..
Gordon that my father returned this
morning and Is at his office? With best
wishes. am heartily yours.
LUELLA MARSH.
Gordon read the letter through with
Andrews had heard of his former rela-
tion to Luella through the sensational
accounts printed by the News.
He handed the letter back, simply
saying:
.'The money win be useful just now"
In reality he regarded the gift as con-
science money. Luella was disturbed
over her fathers responsibility for the
whole unnecessary horror. She sent a
thousand dollars to ease her feelings.
But would hundred or even n million
times a thousand dollars ever bring
back to life the creatures that went
down to death with the tenement?
| Would il ever restore to health and joy
the scores of MANNED and broken
wretches that fingered on in torture
and lifelong dependence?
His heart was cold toward this wom-
an who had once been dearer than all
the world to him. At the same time
he knew that the sight of her beautiful
face would appeal to the old feelings.
81 am going to see Mr.. Marsh," he at
last said briefly as IL he felt the silence
was becoming embarrassing.
"Can you persuade him to give us
the site of the double decker for part
asked calmly.
Il don't know. He has acted the
coward in running away. l don't know
how deep his feelings have been
touched. whether they have worked
down to his pocketbook or not. but I'll
go and see him"
"You will not lose your temperr
The question came with n quiet tone
Of gentle caution that Gordon felt
sounding in his ears as he entered Mr..
Marsh's Office. 1t guided him with un-
usual influence to check the indignant
impulse that otherwise might have
made him say or do the unnecessary
thing.
| Mr.. Marsh greeted him with evident
embarrassment.
"Glad to see you, Gordon" he said.
shaking hands cordially.
"Are your Gordon thought. But he
simply said:
u don't need to tell you what my er.
rand is, Mr.. Marsh"
THAT unfortunate fire; I-yes-of
course-I know. Business interests
called me out of town that morning
or r.
The older man was speaking hastily
and his eye wandered uneasily. Cor
don wanted to say You lier' but in
stead he replied:
Every sorry you had to go away
For many reasons l wish you might
have seen some things. There are sight
that
For Gods sake. Gordon, don't tor
lure me by enumerating them-will
lyou? Just as If had not seen them in
lmy dreams every night since reading
the accountr' the man calculated "of
course lied to you just now. 1 had
no business to call me out of town.
simply ran away from the horror OF
1.-THE thing. that's ALL
John Gordon rose up and his eyes
Igleamed; but it was with hope.
"Mr. Marsh. the past cannot bt
changed. but it can be atoned for
What will you do nowT"
Il don't know; what can 1 dof"
"Give US the site of the old dumbbel
} tenement for a playground; or, bette
, still, help US transform the whole o.
the burned district into park"
, 1T will be very expensive"- Mr.
Marsh faltered.
1T has already been very expensiv,
in the cost of life. Was Louie's dealt
necessary? Were all those Deaths
: Gordon was beginning to grow eS
cited when the thought of Miss An
drews stopped him. But he had bee