Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-15
Archie out into the hall.


Il might possibly have frightened you
by too sudden a test He spoke hur-
riedly, then, as he saw the room was
empty Of any but Luella and himself,
he spoke with more reserve. but with
more freedom as well-"Luella / can
not give you up. You see something Of
our great problem here. It's a gigantic
struggle; it is apparently hopeless. But
think Of the children. Luella, whose
lives are at stake. Isn't 1t worth life
like yours? l never meant to speak
like this TO you, least of all here. But
the sight of your dear face in the sur
loundngs has told me again how much
| need you. God surely did not wish us
TO go on our ways alone. The fight is
30 hard Luella, alone. 1 need compan.
ionship."
lie laid his fingers gently on her arm
Gs he finished Luella was leaning to-
ward him. Their faces almost touched.
But his action at once brought UP to
Lucia the incident out in Bowen street
when he had placed his fingers Oh Miss
Andrews arm. Was it that or was it
some caprice that dangerously dallied
with your own happiness, Luella. that
made you say:
"Companonship? You seem to be
draws"
John Gordon spoke slowly and as If
he did not understand. Miss An
drews? Luella, do you
He was angry with her. And she
was apparently determined not to I'M
derstand the reason for it.
''She seems 10 accept your leadership
here. You are evidently not alone so
far as companionship goes"
She spoke lightly, but her jealousy
was apparent. John Gordon smiled
Luella cared for him. His anger van.
lshed.
Miss Andrews and ] are good
friends. She is Il noble woman. There
is not nober in the city. But
But you are blind not to see that
she cares for you Lueln spoke
quickly. Afterward she regretted that
little sentence more than any other.
cares for me?' Gordon asked
slowly.
"Ycs. Any stranger can see it,"
/ 81 think you are mistaken. 1t is i'm.
possible
Nothing is impossible when people
are in love"
Il refuse to discuss The matter. 1t Is
not right toward Miss Andrews"
/ Lucia was silent. John Gordon was
rcadiusting his basis of appeal TO her.
! What she had said about Miss An.
drews disturbed him tremendously.
'Iuclla, Can you not see that THAT
/ you-are the one | love? This is the
last time | shall speak"
Luella looked out of the window.
The most desolate sight she had ever
seen was out there. The background
/ for the horrible piles of rubbish was
the dismal row of tenements with the
back yard Rtaircases like external
skeletons proclaiming the degrade ton
of the tenement dwcllcrs in the tat
tered clothing hung out to dry. The
dreariness of it all smote Luela like a
/ horror. To live in an eternal conflict
with evil like that represented by Tom
my Randall; to miss the bright pretty,
comfortable life into which she had
/ been born; TO spend her days and
nights in trying to love disagreeable,
ungrateful humanity-all this seemed
like a nightmare to her. Yet there
stood the man she loved more than any
other; she could not refuse to believe
in his nobility. his courage his unself-
ishness. Her heart hungered when she
thought Of all he was compared with
the other men she knew. If only he
We're not living here. If only he would
do his work in some other place where
they would not always he obliged to
look at all this human misery. John
Gordon was speaking again.
"Once more, Lucia. VIII YOU be my
wife? VIII YOU join me in lifelong
! battle for human rights"
do you mean. as you did before,
that must live herc?'
Yes The answer came without
hesitation.
Il don't think can do it. John. oh.
why do YOU exact that, You know |
love YOU, John. but l can't, can't live
here
"Do you love me- John Gordon
said it gently. Then can YOU not
trust me--trust all to me? We must
live here in order to do the work in
the best way"
M dst live here Lucia did John
Gordon injustice again in misinteI-
preting his emphasis 1t was the only
time she was ever guilty Of sdch an
act. but that did not make it any less
serious. And again her insane jealousy
of Miss Andrews disturbed her vision
Of the clear eyed love OF tho man who
she knew well enough loved herself
and her alone.
1t does not seem TO mo possible to
learn the peoples needs anywhere so
well as here That does rot mean that
We must remain here al our lives, bur
at least for some years
Il cannot do ii" Lucia said slowly.
( There was a moment of silence
Then The steps of Miss Andrews and
Mrs. Penrose aud Archie were heard
coming through the kali toward the
7 library.
John Gordon did not reply even by
word. lie bowed Graycly and TUNED
| toward the others as obey entered the
/ room.
Mrs. Penrosc glanced quickly toward
/ Luella
10 ~.