The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-06-18

l0UO y Oe0pofoW Iuyeau0VuC& Wuscus
undirected. would prove Ito own and
the city's destructica. 'srhs people,"
toiling. sweating. acting figures Ia the
great human drama that were neither
supernumeraries nor leading parts, but
10 vital to the whole movement of the
tragedy that II all was destined to
sweep on to Its final act. with them as
resultant causel "The people," vagve,
but certain. full Of unwritten histories
but making all history possible, and
bearing In face and attitude the veal
or woe OF republics! "The people"
driven In herds one day, leading the
masses the next, while all problems Of
life surged up and down the throng-
Ing highways. entnnglements caused
by murderous greed, by inherited Gus
I toms. by the physical passions that
know no education of refinement due To
civilization. "rhe people" born of the
soil. but nodded by the city, some of
II to starve and riot aud drink and
grow Indifferent TO the very wrongs
that made it what II was. and he, John
/ Gordon. the son of Rufus Gordon, the
great Hnunclcr the man of deals" anh
combines" and operations he,
John Gordon. was going 10 devote his
Young manhood to tho people" to
the training and directing of this mis-
directed giant, because the smiled ut
It's strange possibility, because he had
grown 20 love Il, Il love taught him by
personal religious experience, So real,
So profound that he know II dug II gulf
ms deep ms space between his father
and his sister and himself Nothing
hut similar experience on their part
could ever fin the gulf, nothing but II
similar miracle Of Regeneration could
ever make him understood by them
Mary had gone over To the piano and
was hummmy the tune she had been
singing when she interrupted the talk
between father and brother After II
moment John Gordon went over and
put his hand on his sisters shoulder
AN thruughy" she said turning
about from the piano.
There were tears In John Gordon's
eyes as he looked down at her When
he spoke, II was very gently,
ut all means, of course, that am
going away. DO you understand thnt,
Mary This viii not he my home any
more 1t Will not be possible for me
TO live here and do
ITS all very strange to me, John"
said his sister You have every
chance I'm the world and YOU prefer To
throw Il away for-tor II lot of people
who don't care"
They will care"
what good IL they do, John?" His
sister suddenly turned toward him very
much as his father had, aud laid her
hand on his arm. John, the people
will not care. What can you dor
Surely we are not to blame for all the
wrong in the city. heard what you
said to father. II is simply absurd to
think that we are responsible for the
way things go. And 1t is nonsense To
think you can do anything. Think how
I; will look In print. John Gordon. the
reformer. aobn Gordon, the social
istr"
Don't Mary! 1t will be. hard enough
without your sneer."
II did not mean to sneer." She
seemed honestly grieved, and he In
stantly leaned over and kissed her
check. But even as he did SO he knew
she had turned away from him a little,
and when he raised his head she did
not look UP or return his caress. He
still stood by her silently. realizing
each moment more keenly the chasm
that stretched between them owing to
his religious experience.
Where are you going to live? You
say you cannot live here with us any
morey'' his sister finally asked.
y don't know"
viii you live with the peopley'
1T is possible"
TT Is absurd. don't understand"
You cannot" He said 1t with q
sadness that realized the futllity o!
explanations.
And of course Luella will go with
you She Is such q lover Of the peo
pIe.-
"Iuella"
You have forgotten herr
NO" And yet he had-at least be
had absorbed all bis thought for the
time about his home relations and had
not reckoned Oh facing this question
of the relation which would exist DE
tween himself and the woman who
had promised to be his wife when IA,
had asked her as John Gordon, son of
nufus Gordon. What would she say
now 10 John Gordon. reformerf
lie sat down and put his hands over
his facr, while Mary watched him GU
,iously, very much rs the father had
done.
''Luella IL very proud. Still, she
} might enjoy living Ia the slums and
studying problems. She IL full OF con
r uadictions"
THAT IL true" John Gordon whis
pered 10 himself as he lifted up hil
face.