The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-03-13

most favored women i'm this city are as
a rule destitute of real human love for
the masses. They are born without il,
they live without it, and. may God have
mercy on them, they will die without it
and receive the final condemnation
spoken to those who, like the rich man
in Jesus story. have their good things
In this world, but will be shut out by
an impossible chasm from the joys of
Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham"
Again the spirit of this woman, who
had for all those dreary years of lone
some burden bearing felt the crushing
weight of n proud city's wealth and
fashion which lifted no finger TO help
i'm proportion to it's enormous response
bility. rose up and flowed over its life
long repression in the presence of a
woman who had refused the great love
of a great man because she did not
want to miss the things that Lazarus
had to do without.
And again Luella was painfully still.
She uttered no denial; she apparently
did not resent n syllable. She simply
looked down. folding her hands in her
lap. and Miss Andrews. gazing at her,
could see no sign of anger or pride.
But suddenly Luella rose, and,
stretching out her hands toward her
visitor. she said, while tears were in
her eyes:
"All this may be true. but you say
he is dying. Is ii the time to say all this
to me nowl | love him, do love him,
You do not, or you would not be saying
these things to me now-while he is
dyingr'
and stood near her, with her hands
clinched and her whole attitude ex.
pressive OF the deepest feeling. 1T is
no wonder John Gordon loved her.
Grace Andrews said to herself with a
pang at the thought of beauty that
had been duilsd by years Of contact
with trouble, for Luella was magnif-
cent in her strong young womanhood,
and it needed only that one human love
for the multitude to make her a crea.
ture of boundless affections worthy OF
the bravest, best man that ever lived.
Il did not say he was dying. He is
| very i'll. The issue is doubtful. But he
is perfectly conscious, and it may be
| II may be-that your presence will helI
| him."
"Come, then, let us CO." said Luella.
On the way to Hope House Luells
| asked again il John Gordon had sem
/ for her.
"He has spoken your name," Mis-.
Andrews hesitated, but he has no
asked to see you"
| Then am going to see him on YOU
invitation
"Yes," she replied simply.
HE will not care to see me-" Luelli
| spoke as IL to herself, and Miss An
drews did not reply to her.
When they reached the house, Luell
was SO agitated that she asked to b
left alone in the library a little while
When she came to Miss Andrews an
told her she was ready, Miss Andrew
could not avoid almost feeling of pit
for her.
"Is he very ill.," Luella asked.
You must be prepared for a grea
change in him." Miss Andrews sait
When she reached Gordon's room
Ford came to the door. He had bee
nursing Gordon. When Luella entered
Ford and Miss Andrews went out an
knew that as they left the roolE Luell
had kneeled at the side of the Led an
put her lips ON John Gordon's hand.
She was not prepared for the sight {
Il oh I'm Shnrr a time RI
Gordon had thrown himself into Ii
problem Of Hope House from the fir
day of his residence with a who
souled abandon that had told tremel
dously on his vitality. The daily strai
On his sympathies. the apparent hop
lessness of the effort to remove cause
the unceasing call on heart and min
had burned like fever in his life, al
when the city campaign came on
was not at all prepared for its ince
SAINT demand on physical and ment
resources. Nevertheless he had iur
all caution aside night after night. eve
when he felt growing ON him the we
riness that, like n leaden weight, hui
ON heart and brain. The collapse can
i anu iAio toANANAcA "oS ~
ical 1t was the old story Of drivir
the machine beyond its powers al
without sufficient care for the delica
, mechanism of nerves and heart al
| tissues.
John" said Luella as she kneel'
there, and he felt a tear fall on 4
hand she held. you do not doubt n
love for you, do you? Why did you n
send for me yourselfE'
"You are here, Luella. That is all
| want"
He spoke with great effort. He W,
! conscious of a weakness that made hi
, cling to any strong nature like drow
ing man. His whole interview wi
Luella must be interpreted in the liz
: of that weakness. His mind was fe
ing vaguely for relief from Il dar
! hopeless falling down into some u
reachable place where Luella could n
] come. He had not strength even to !
5 turn the clasp Of her cold fingers, al
j she was terrified as she saw his he
lessness and thought he might pa
g away even during the brief time s
g felt she ought to be there with him.
: Promise me, Luella, that you viii
I will-be my wife. Let us give oursely
: to the cause of childhood suffering
h hese-these-awful places
"Oh, promise; yes, yes, John! De
will come here and live anywher,
' anywhere-if you will not die
i She chung to his hand, and he smile
a "Will you live with me here. Luell;
d here in Hope House
r "Yesi Yes, For l do love you; 1
# love you, Johnr' she cried, sobbil
4 and he lay so still, so exhausted W
o his effort, that she rose at once and,
il ing to the door. called for Miss !
n drews and Ford to come, thinking