News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-03-25
Park avenue.

Why have you cut yourself off from all
Of your former friends? DO you owe
nothing to us rich sinners, as well as tC
the poor ones? Come and reform the
boulevard if you are really in the reform
business, for we need it as much as the
Stun. Why are there no social settle
ments among US? 1t strikes me that peo-
pie like your Miss Andrews are living al
the wrong end of the problem. If we
| could only be saved we nave the means
and ability to save the other end; but /
want you to cone and see me and tell me
about Miss Andrews. Fave you fallen in
love with her? And how about Luela ?
Young man, come and give an account of
yourself, Luella will be here and Mary
and the Lowells and the Cranstons and
that graceless nephew OF mine who, by
the way, now that you are out of the
way, is paying court to Luella. You have
neglected us all shamefully. We viii for"
give you if you appear among us a~qin.
1t will not be a large company-ab bout
twenty-five. Surely you have not cut us
all out Of your acquaintance forever If
YOU don't care for the rest. come to satis~
fly my curiosity about your future. You
know ! was one or your best friends when
you were boy in the university. I have
a real il crest in your future and I am
not all frivolous or given up to the whirI
Of the world, as I hope you knowAt Hop
ing to see you, am your friend ana well
wisher, CONSTANCE PENRoEE.
Gordon thoughtfully considered the
Invitation and finally accepted it. When
the evening named by Mrs, Penrose
came, he went up on the boulevard.
There was nothing particularly I'M
Usual in the situation, and yet in some
unexplained manner as he entered the
PenrOse mansion he YVES conscious Of
strange excitement, as if before the
evening was over events would occur
that would make serious history for
more than one of the guests.
Mrs. Penrose met him with a genuine
frienGliness.
"Ah, welcome, Mr.. Reformer. | ap-
preciate your coming out of your social
dungeon to see us. You cannot always
be living on heroics. There must be
some comedy to relieve the tragedy
eh?"
"Some kinds of tragedy cannot be re
lieved by any kind OF comedy" Gordon
replied grimly. But. I'll promise not
to talk shop unless am drawn into it.
You didn't ask me to come for that,
did you"
Didn't? You are the lion of the oc-
casion. Everybody is talking about
you"
Let us change the subject then"
"And talk Of Miss Andrews?"
NO" Gordon said coldly.
mo? Is that forbidden ground"
She spoke seriously. Il am actually
interested in her and in all you are
doing. Some time you must tell me-
Will your"
YES" he answered earnestly, a lit
tie ashamed of his curtness. "Of
course l believe in it ALL only didn't
wish to seem to lug it in on this occa-
sion.'
81 understand" Mrs. Penrose an
swered brightly, and as Gordon passed
on she introduced him to Professor
Emory of the university.
Gordon had heard of Professor EN-
CRY and had read two of his books.
The man was a scholar and had read
everything in his own line of sociology.
without meaning to do so Gordon soon
found himself deep in a discussion
with the professor over one phase of
the social question, which one of the
professors books had touched on-"The
Personal Element of Responsibility For
Relief of Unjust Social Conditions"
Gordon disagreed totally with the
professors conclusions and frankly
told him So The professor blandly
smiled and laid down another PROPOSE
ton to which Gordon found himself
totally opposed. The professor again
smiled in such an exasperating manner
that Gordon almost lost his temper.
He pulled up just in time, however.
He was so near it that he asked ques-
ton that otherwise he would not have
asked.
"What you say is good theory, pro-
fessor, but have you ever lived among
the people and studied them at first
hand to see if your theory will work ?"
The professor changed color and lost
his bland and condescending manner.
mo, sir; do not consider that
necessity to the proper discussion Of
the facts. understand perfectly well
what you mean. Nearly all social set