The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-04-01

full possession Of all the facts Of Mr..
9larsh's ownership of the property and
his exact attitude III 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 a building in its place. OF course
you are convinced now that the struc-
ture is mistake in every particular"
"I-I-don't know. I certainly did
not know what sort of q building it
vast would prove to be-" Mr. Marsh
stammered.
'Then Of course your judgment and
humanity together will prompt you tc
put up a safe, sanitary, comfortable
building" Miss Andrews continued
calmly.
'I-I-will have to give the matter
al = considerable consideration, Mr..
Marsh replied, with caution. 1T will
be very expensive to tear it down
ut costs lives. Are they not Of more
value, Mr.. Marsh, than money!?
She said it calmly, but the represscd
passion Of a lifetime Of patient endur.
ance for the love of the people pulsed
through every syllable. y voice of
tenderest eloquence could not have
been more definitely emphatic
Il shall have to consider it, the man
murmured uneasily.
The events Of the strange day had
produced a curious result in him. He
was not certain that he could trust his
impulses. At the same time he fell
moved to action Of some kind.
Miss Andrews quietly began to talE
Of something else. John Gordon, who
had leaned over the table, intensely IL
terested in what be supposed was 80,
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 summons
at the telephone.
Gordon came back soon and said has
friend Barton had sent for him, and
that he might not return that night.
Mr.. Marsh rose and said, "l'u so
along with you, Gordon, as far as you
go my way"
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 q
short laugh:
"Sliss Andrews came near making
me convert. But it would kill me to
live there and see those things every
day. 1 don't see how she stands such
a life"
Gordon did not reply. he had spoken
hardly word all the way. The
weight Of all the misery that las on the
people bore him down. In the pres
ence Of this oversensitive, cultured,
wealthy man who had it in his power
to right the wrongs that were connect
ed with his own possessions, Gordon
felt a repulsion that he feared would
break out in word or manner. Would
Mr.. Marsh do anything? Would he re-
build the tenement? Would he correct
any Of the abuses? Why did Miss An
drews cease so suddenly to talk about
It? Why did she not plead with him
She seemed On the point Of doing SO.
In a moment of impulse be spoke, as
Mr.. Marsh was moving away.
"Mr. Marsh, you have it in your:
power to save the lives Of those chill
dren. If Louie dies in that hole, be-
fore Gcd, I believe you will be held
part guilty in the sight of God. Are
you going to do anything"
"rll do something" Mr.. Marsh re-
piled feebly.
"Then in Gods name do it quick,
won't your
"I'll consider it; yes, III consider it. !"
Gordon let him so with that, and with
the WEAKNESS Of the day bearing down
on his spirit he FASTENED to Barton's
rooms, fearing bad news, for Barton
had telephoned himself, asking his
friend to come at once.
He found Barton lying on the couch
in the second room.
Come in, old man" be said feebly,
but cheerfully. excuse me for send
ing for you, but my cough got so wild
this evening about I o'clock that |
thought you would like to see the
show. It's rattling good perform