Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-17
TWcE-A-WEEKz WILLMAR TRIBUNE.

Rufus Gordon had not moved a mus
Gle during his sons talk, and he spoke
now in an easy, contemptuous manner.
John Gordon came up to the side of
the table opposite his father and looked
keenly across at him. Then he turned
away and went over to one Of the
great windows and looked out on the
fashionable avenue. When he finally
turned around and faced his father
egain, he was astonished to see him
rising from his chair and coming over
toward him. In all his knowledge Of
his father, John Gordon had never
known him before to exhibit so much
feeling. Probably neither man fully
understood the event Afterward, in
going over the scene, John Gordon
could not avoid a feeling of suspicion
as to it's genuineness, but he had never
known his father to play part, and,
in fact, considered him quite incapable
of it.
However that may be, Rufus Gordon
now began an appeal to his son that
for the time being had considerable in
fuence over him.
"John," he began, holding out his
hands, although when the son stepped
forward as if to meet him affection
| ately he dropped his arms quickly to
his sides, you are my only son, and l.
| depend On you. 1t has been the ambi-
ton of my life to see you succeeding to
the place which now occupy. do not
understand what you have just been
saying. 1t has no meaning to me. In
that sense, what you say is very true
we can never understand each other.
But you would have independence in
the position l offer you and for which
you have been trained. If you wanted
to experiment in these matters of social
problems, as you call them. YOU would
have the money and your place in soci'
ETY. to help YOU But if you step out
side the circle in which we belong you
will have no standing and no influence
But it is not clear to me yet what youl
| plans are, in case you finally decide te
reject my plans for YOU
He stopped suddenly, and John Cor
don. looking eagerly and with growing
astonishment into his fathers face
noted for the first time signs Of grow
ing age in the deep wrinkles about thu
eyes, the bent shoulders and Sigh
but noticeable shaking of one hand a:
the long white fingers fumbled at thu
watch chain. He had never before en-
tertained the idea that his father wa:
an old man. Rufus Gordon had al
| ;r1, 1f CT
firm and steady on his feet, so decided
in his movements, that none Of his &C
, quaintanccs had yet thought Of age il
their thought Of him. What he nov
saw had something to do with tn
manner in which John Gordon an
swered his fathers question.
"My plans, father? l have none
that is, none that you would call b.
that name. Perhaps as far as l hav
, gone my plans are summed up in m,
love for the people,"
, Love for the people?" Rufus Cor
don repeated the words and took STE
toward mis- son. You love the people
then, more than your old father! Flo
the people you would do what yo7
would not do for me! And who are tn
people? Masses of the envious. the DIES
perate, the thriftless, the irresponsible
Are we to blame for their condition
You talk Of social wrongs. But VIII
makes them possible but the peopl
themselves?"
John listened in establishment. In al
their conversation his father had neve
before spoken so. There was a strait
almost Of mildness in his manner.
"John," he continued with softer
ing Of accent and manner that deeI
ened the sons establishment, you car
not do anything. | said l did not Ill
derstand you or your motives. kno1
enough, however. to know that if 20
go out into the world to do the thing
Of which you dream, you will misera
bly, fail, and the result will be pal
and disgrace for me, for US all. l low
= you, John. Perhaps you have no
known this. But
Rufus Gordon turned and wake
back to the place where he had bee
,, sitting by the table. When he LITE
> his face again toward John Gordon, j
was the same cold, proud hard fac
with which he had listened to his SON.
: Indictment Of his own and his father
social selfshness.
John Gordon was so confused by thi
scene and his fathers manner that h
stood irresolutely silent by the wiz
dow. The whole incident seemed far
tastieally unreal, it was so unlike any
thing his father had ever done before
He had just turned from the windoy
to speak when a voice in the mex
room began to sing:
''The sadness that grows with the year
Is sadness that will not depart;
1t is close to the fountain Of tears,
For 1t lies at the depth of the heart "
The singer appeared at the doorwa,
and called out in clear but somewha
hard tone:
John, will you go with me thi
evening? Mr.. Penwell sends word tina
he cannot go owing to sudden sum
mons out of town.
"What is it, Mary?" John Gordon