The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-03-11


II do not Gsk you to 1nGrry me W'slsss you
can trust everything to me-
pardonable sin? Yet be had felt when
she said it as If an impossible gulf
had suddenly been dug between them.
Had he acted as man should act who
has so much at stake as In this case?
The torture Of these questions was so
keen that after walking several blocks
he turned to go back.
II must see her again." he kept say
ing. 81 cannot let 1t end here"
He went up the steps and rang the
bell. The servant who came to the
door eyed him crriously.
"NIiss Marsh has gone out" she said,
and John Gordon at first did not be-
lieve her until he remembered that the
carriage was standing at the curb
when he left Luella and that she had
said something about going out to the
park before tea.
He slowly went down the steps, and
when he was on the sidewalk he
paused.
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 bis wife had repudiated
his life srnote him with sense Of per-
sonal abandonment that was keen and
searching.
For a moment he felt so completely
alone that he let go Of every motive for
action. The city and the overwhelm-
ing thought Of it's misery and sin and
selfshness enraged 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 to his father and sister and
Luella as his religious experience was
the greatest fact so far In his career.
AS he stood still there at the foot Of the
steps gradually his spirit grew calm
er. The consciousness Of God IN his
life grew stronger. The purpose Of his
ambition cleared And after q 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 il Luella Marsh had decided to
walk with him in the way. 1t was also
quite clear to him that without being
able to give a good reason for it he
was not closing the chapter with Luel-
Ia vet. He certainly entertained the
idea Of her still coming into his life.
It was not from his interview with
ner that he drew any such hope. But
he knew that he did not yet consider
her action as final, or possibly it was
bis own action that was not final.
He stopped at a corner, and the sight
Of & street name on car going by de-
cided his next movement.
'sI'u go and take tea at Hope House"
he said to himself, and took the car,
noting, by the time, that he would
reach the house just as the little family
Of residents were in the habit Of sit
ting down to their evening meal.
Hope House stood in the midst Of its
desert Of tenements and its corner sa-
looms and vaudeville halls like an oasis
of refuge and strength. Saloons to
right and left and front and rear, with
piles Of, brick and wood and rubbish
flung together in chaotic, tumbled
heaps, with openings for human be-
ings vino streamed in and out Of court
and alley and doorway or sat in palid,
huddled masses on the stoops or curb
inc formed the frame in which Hope
House was set, unique and alone.
John Gordon left the car one block
from Hope House and walked down
past five saloons in the block until he
came to the arched entrance of the
house. Going into the little court, he
breathed 4 sigh Of relief at the sight Of
the familiar oleander tubs that stood
against the outer wall Of the court, and
marveled at their ability to blossom
with such freshness in such surround
ing.
IF oleanders ever had any fragrance
in this part Of the city, they must
almost smell Of beer and sewer gas"
he said to himself as he went on into
the bread hall that opened on the court.
He was by no means a stranger to
Hope House. Since his return from
abroad be had been frequent visitor
and had been welcomed with that In
ner welcome that springs from well
known common purposes.
''You are just in timer called out
quiet but cheerful voice as John Gordon
stepped into the doorway Of the dining
hall. t'AIiss Manning is absent You
may take her seat by me-"
II count myself fortunate" John Cor
don replied as he took the seat, re-
turning the greetings Of those at the
table.
1--WE were talking about you," said
the head of the house. with her quiet
but earnest manner.
I'm sorry to interrupt the conversa-
tion," replied John Gordon.
''No interruption, we assure you. We
are glad you came in, for you are the
only person who can answer a Ques-
ton Mr. Ford just asked"
Rather a personal question, Mr..
Gordon" said Ford, student from
the university, who was resident OF
several months standing 'SThe ques-
ton I asked Miss Andrews was this:
What IS Mr.. Gordon going to do? VIII
be possibly come in here with us?"
John Gordon did not answer the
question at once. he knew the com.
plete freedom Of the social atmosphere
Of Hope House, especially at meal
times, and understood well that his 81
lence would not be misconstrued as
discourtesy.
He looked around the circle Of ear