The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-04-29

Will Tue LI4ulSlel 10 e1lGDIe u!u "
come to the defense Of the church as i
seemed to need defense In the face o:
Falmouth's doubts.
The minister smiled at Gordon rather
sadly.
Il may be tired at present, but thai
does not account for my present posi-
ton. Don't let it vex you," he added
quickly. 81 ought not to have deliv
cred my little woe here. This house j:
the center Of its own peculiar sorrows
God forbid that I should introduce into
it my own selfish egotlsm or even my
personal struggles for light in my OWL
darkness"
Always room for one more, an
sure Gordon protested, but Falmouth
shook his head and refused to continue
the discussion. He had risen to 81
when Miss Andrews entered with
glow on her face that struck both mer
as new look.
Read thatw she said, putting let
ter into Gordon's hand.
The letter was from Mrs. George Eff
fnSham.
Ny Dear Miss Andrews-Pardon my de
lay in answering your beautiful letter
My grandson has been very Ill, and tn
care Of him has confined me constantly a
his bedside. r am not quite as young a!
I used to be and begin to feel the weigh
Of my years on my body, though my SOU
is still! fresh and vigorous, thank God.
So poor Mr.. Barton has passed On.
shall enjoy having time eaough to make
his acquaintance over there. He was {
brave and noble soul and IS now enjoy
ing his reward. I do not know that yol
were at all acquainted with him, O.
course, but 1t was, as you know, through
his correspondence that 7 first was 1nfU
enced to think Of your particular work a.
a worthy place into which a little money
might so for hunanity's cake In one
sense. therefore, he is the real donor o.
whatever seems to come from me.
On condition that my name is not USED
anywhere on any buildings that may b.
erected and also on condition that the pa
pers do not get hold Of the matter ant
ask for my photograph. with biograph
ical sketch, I would like to give 100000 tt
Hope House to use In any way you anc
your workers think best. When you have
used that up, will give another hundred
thousand to be spent IN the same or II
any other manner you may decide.
Now, my dear friend, don't draw up any
resolutions Of thanks. Just simply cash
the check have today deposited with the
Bank of Commerce and use it as quick as
you can to help those poor little children
don't see, myself. what you can do tc
~ 3.,-ac -o,1n1,
You said in your letter to me that the
tenement house conditions themselves
were getting worse all the time. II you
put in parks and Fairgrounds. it will only
help the situation in the way Of relieving
misery. It won't remove the cause OF
misery, Will it7 But the Lord knows that
in this world Of all kinds Of trouble we
are to DO the best We can under cond1-
lions as they are and hope some time to
get deep enough down to human1tys sin
and suffering so as to reach the real causes
Of human trouble and remove thszn.
When we get to that place, am con-
vinced we shall simply find that God and
man have got to work together like good
friends to bring about results.
With the best of wishes to you IN your
noble work and with prayers that these
children may have some good times to
make up for all they suffer, am heartily
your friend,
MRS. CAPT. GEORGE EFF1NGHAM.
John Gordon had read rhe letter
aloud so that Falmouth could hear, as
Miss Andrews said she wanted him to
know the good news. When Gordon
finished, Falmouth exclaimed: "Well,
tf that isn't a tonic to restore ones
faith in humanity! Two hundred thou
sand dollars! Why, Miss Andrews,
YOU can work miracles with all that
money!"
81 could use a million without touch
ing much more than the edge Of all
this misery" she said quickly, ard then
added with self accusing tone: "God
forgive me! What am I saying? This
great gift from this old lady will save
nundreds-yes, thousands-of lives. We
can work miracles with it. We can do
wonders, A1r. Gordon
She was trembling with unusual emo
ton. 1t is nothing to be wondering
about, good men and women in the
cities. This great soul is beginning to
see some CLEAN Of light piercing the
heavy blackness of childhood. Her
soul is straining at the thought of the
lessening of even some small degree OF
pain and anguish, as they have smltten
her these many, many dreary years.
cts like story" Gordon said, while
his eye cleaned and his figure tingled
with the excitement Of the news. The
first time saw the old lady I had a
dim idea that she was not real, but a
sort of incarnation of some character
In a novel that was too good to be sim
pie fiction. After reading her letters
am sure my theory is true
'sThen maybe the check she mentions
rs being in the bank is fiction, too, y
Falmouth suggested. "And the next
thing you know the old lady will van
ish, and you will have to hunt for her
n the pages Of some colonial romance
to which she has returned"
Heaven forbid" Gordon answered
gra7ely, as if he actually feared Ii
might be true.
Miss Andrews smiled. II was in the
Bank of Commerce this morning and
was Informed Of the deposit there. Sc
whether Mrs. Captain George Edng
lam is real or not, her check is cert
fed as good for the amount" She
laughed at the look Of actual relief II
John Gordon's face.
'.It seems. too good to be true" Cor
don said, returning the laugh. IF
were an author, I would put the ole
lady into book, if she has not already
been immortalized. But you canno
persuade me that she is just ordlnar!
flesh aud blood
Before uight every one IN Hope
House knew Of the great gift Of $500,
900 to the settlement. The little grouI
Of residents at the supper table wa:
in a fine state Of excitement. Plans
were discussed for redemption Of sur
roundings that would have shamed INT
widest tales Of Aladdin and the slaves
Of the magic lamp. Miss Andrews
seated at the head Of the table, looked
L.. o... ,.o,,,,f,or Ono of tho V0Iln!