Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-15

fairs with Luclla. That's my own
business. If | can get her consent,
am going TO marry her.
at is kind of you to get her consent
Archie" his aunt said, with quiet
irony.
you have no right to interfere" he
said sullonlv. 81 don't mind saying I
love her. c..d am going TO have her
for my wife if il is possible"
"Shc will never have you. She loves
far better man than you ever can be-
Archie Penrose."
who? John Gordon? Hos q crank
Lucia has broken with him"
Yes. her eyes looked it the other
night. Did you see how her eyes fol-
lowed Gordon all the evening""
pcnrosc was in II torture of jealousy.
He almost cried:
no, she didn't. I toll you she's
broken with him.
"lf she has, she will never marry
you. Lucia Marsh has too much sense
TO put her life into the hands of man
who never lifted his finger 10 help
make n better world
You have set me the example by
your own conduct" the young man
sneercd fechly. lie walked bacl; into
the bow window and sullenly turned
his back OH his aunt.
You're right, Archie she replied
calmly. ITS practically a case of pot
and kettle. One is as black as the
other. The guilt of nearly all unjust and
wrctchcd conditions in this city can
without doubt be laid at the door Of rs
rich people, who have the power that
wealth can use, and use it for our am
billions. 1t is probably true that the
judgment day will rightly condemn us
as the cause of most of the misery
Grace Andrews and John Gordon arc
living to relieve. We have it absolute
ly in orr power to change political ana
social conditions that create nearly all
the human wrongs that exist in soci-
ETY.. and instead of exercising that
great privilege we go our ways with
colossal ogotism and monstrous selfish
ness. Shirliing all duties and burdens
of citizenship and hnging our money
into Il riOtOuS and demoralizing luxury
OF life that infamcs the passions of the
poor and keeps constantly in sight the
vast inequality Of human existence.
at IS Il fact. Archie, that we rich
people. with Il few noble exceptions so
rare as to excite constant newspaper
comment. are as n class tho cause of
practically all the misery Of the city.
We have no place for service in our
programme Of life. We neither know
nor care for tho brotherhood. We exist
FOR our own pleasure. And suppose it
will be no more than fair that IN the
ether world we shall long for Il drop Of
water to cool our tongues while the
Lazarus we despised here shall roclinc
in AbraEam's bosom. DO you ever think.
Archie, of the time coming when things
are going to be cvcncf up, when the
first shall be last and the last first?
OF course God will never permit all
this human injustice to continue for
ever. and he will see to it that our
earthly sclfshncss shall some time or
other face some kind Of judgment"
Archie turned around and laughed. It
WAS IL laugh that made his aunt sllud-
der. 1t was the laugh of society at its
worst, the pagan Indifference that for
all the centuries has faced humanity's
woes with dance and Jest, and flung to
the begSar the crumbs Of the feast.
"Wcll. aunt. you're good one. Miss
Andrews cunldh't do better. Why don't
YOU offer her your services as lecturer?
| you got OFF all That stulf in the draw
ing rooms. il would crcate sensation,
and of course it would ill the contribu-
lioA boxes when they were passed for
the cause
Mrs. ronrosc did not answer. She
lay back in her chair, her eyes clo-icd,
and 10 Archic's great surprise when
she opened her eyes tears were on the
lashcs. To his added surprise his aunt
arose and went out of the room. Sine
was gone several minutes. When she
came back. she spoke as if nothing had
been said of an unusual nature.
Miss Marsh and are going down TO
Hope House tomorrow afternoon TO see
Miss Andrews and the place VIII YOU
go with us?'
ITO Hope House"
Il said so. Miss Andrews has in
vitcd me to come several times. con-
tributcd a little at the time of the fire
SO did Luclla. Miss Andrews wants
us 10 see what has been done. | have
never been down there. neither has
Iuclla. OF course YOU never have. If
YOU care To go, I'll speak for Lucia
that SHE will not object to your escort
"Why, I'll 80 all right Tomorrow
aftrrnoon:'
YES Wen start from here prompt
~ at -
".ill right" He started to 90 and
then hosijated.
promise M, aunt, Won will not pref
udcc Lucia against me-"
NO need You do all that is neccs.
sary without any help" She had eli-
IDENTITY not forgotten his indictment Of
her social weakness.
you'll see. Lucia Marsh will he
my wife one of these days"
"She has my sympathy when the day
arrives"
Look here, Aunt Constance" he
spoke almost brUtally, coming back
into tho room. "lf you feel that way,
why do you ask me TO 20 with her and
you Tomorrow
Il want you to see some human mis-
cry before you die, | want you to