The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-01-16
to his companion and said:

to his companion and said
81 have seen things today 1 never
could believe If / had been told. 1t is
all too horrible, too horrible. 1 shall
dream of it tonight. Why have you
made me look at it?'
They paused nome, under the
archway.
would God, Mr.. Marsh, that every
business man In this city could see
what you have seen, and what you have
seen is nothing compared with the hor-
rors you will never even dream about"
at has sickened me-" Mr.. Marsh re-
peated irritably, and John Gordon
could see by his manner that he was
nervously affected by the days expe-
rience. Before he could say anything
Miss Andrews came in through the
archway. T.
81 understand you have been looking
about today. Come into the library
and tell me about it,
She had greeted Gordon in her usual
quiet, calm but delightful manner as
he introduced Mr.. Marsh.
When they were seated at the great
center table, Gordon briefly recited the
main incidents of the days experience.
Gradually Mr. Marsh lost his irrita-
ton. There was something profoundly
impressive in the face and manner of
this woman. She was the first woman
he had ever met who made him feel
that she was deeply and exactly in
formed on city life. He had met other
women who were brilliant, witty, well
educated, cultured, but never one who
evidently knew humanity like this one.
In five minutes she seemed to be in
full possession of all the facts of Mr..
Marsh's ownership of the property and
his exact attitude in every particular
toward the scenes he had witnessed.
The talk had not proceeded ten min
utes before she said with the utmost
frankness:
"Mr. Marsh, am sure you will tear
down No. 81 and put up the right kind
Of building in it's place. OF course
you are convinced now that the struc-
ture is a mistake in every particular"
"I-I-don't know. l certainly did
not know what sort of building it
vast would prove to be-" Mr.. Marsh
stammered.
"Then of course your judgment and
humanity together will prompt you to
put up a safe, sanitary, comfortable
building" Miss Andrews continued
calmly.
'I-I-will have to give the matter
ah = considerable consideration" Mr..
Marsh replied, with caution. ut will
be very expensive to tear it down."
at costs lives. Are they not of more
value, Mr.. Marsh, than money!"
She said it calmly, but the depressed
passion of a lifetime of patient endur-
ance for the love of the people pulsed
through every syllable. A voice of
tenderest eloquence could not have
been more definitely emphatic.
II shall have to consider it." the man
murmured uneasily.
The events of the strange day had
produced q curious result in him. He
was not certain that he could trust his
impulses. At the same time he felt
moved to action of some kind.
Miss Andrews quietly began to talk
Of something else. John Gordon, who
had leaned over the table, intensely in
terested in what he supposed was 60
ing to be an appeal on Miss Andrews
part, gradually relaxed his attitude
into one of disappointed surprise Miss
Andrews was still talking easily, and
Mr.. Marsh was listening intently, when
one of the residents came in and called
John Gordon out to answer a summons
Mt the telephone.
Gordon came back soon and said his
friend Barton had sent for him, and
that he might not return that night.
+ Mr.. Marsh rose and said, IN go
along with you, Gordon, as far as you
go my way"
4 He said good night to Miss Andrews
and the two passed out from under the
archway, and when he and Gordon
parted uptown Mr. Marsh said with a
short laugh:
miss Andrews came near making
me a convert. But 1t would Kill me 10
live there and see those things every
day. | don't see how she stands such
re"