The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-02-21
e By CHARLES M. SHELDON.
hU Of n us Steps, Robert ardys Seven Day" Etc.


y
man who had no visible means of SUP.
port aside from the money his father,
recently deceased had left him. Archie
Penrose had never made a cent of
money by a stroke of labor of any
Kind, but that was nothing against
him In the eyes of fond mothers with
manageable daughters. There were
thousands of women in the city who
would have counted themselves or their
daughters as specially favored IL
Archie Penrose had come into the
house as a suitor. It made no differ.
; ence that his reputation had suffered
In various ways. He had money, he
was OF distinguished family, his man.
ners were regarded as elegant, and he
had an aunt who gave the most select
receptions and entertainments In the
city. In the sight of any man or wom-
an Of right definitions of manhood this
young figurehead OF an aristocratic
family was simply one Of the ciphers
of civilization. He made nothing that
added to humanity's comfort or knowl-
edge. He contributed absolutely not
one grain Of helpfulness or comfort or
hope to n suffering, struggling. needy
world. He lived to get all the pleasure
he could himself, much II not all Of 1t
gained with a total disregard for any
one else's pleasure, and yet he moved
through what Is called the best society,
coured admired, fawned on, eagerly
invited out to an endless round OF So
cial functions which a certain class OF
rich people In America make the most
important business of their lives
Mrs. Constance Penrose was q person
of more value than her distinguished
nephew. She was rich, but not given
over altogether 20 society and It's shal.
low enthusiasms. There were other
things I'm which she was genuinely In
terested, and among them was the ca
reer Of John Gordon. She had known
him as a boy, had watched him through
his college course and his trip abroad,
and, being n woman of very decided
aud Individual opinions, she had more
than once expressed her interest In the
experiment Gordon was making More
than once she had compared him to
her nephew TO that young mans great
disadvantages
The note which Gordon found at
Hope House was an invitation TO an
evening at the Penrose mansion In
Park avenue.
Why have you cut yourself OF from all
OF your former friends7 DO you owe
nothing to us rich sinners. as well as 70
the poor ones? Come and reform the
business. for we need II as much as the
slum. Why are there no social settle
ments among us2 IL strikes mo that peo-
pie like your Miss Andrews are living at
the wrong end OF the problem. II we
could only be saved. we have the means
and ability TO save the other end; but I
want you TO come and see me and tell me
about Miss Andrews. Have YOU fallen In
love with herr And how about Luella =
Young man, come and give an account OF
yourself. Luella will be here. and Mary
and the Lowels and the CrRnstons and
that graceiess nephew Of mine. who. by
the way, now that you are out OF the
way, IN paying court TO Luella. You have
neglected us all shamefully. We will for
give you IL you appear among us again.
II will not be a large company-about
twenty-five. Surely you have not cut us
ell out OF your acquaintance forever. n
YOU don't care for the-rest come 10 salts
~ my curiosity about your future. You
knew was one OF your best friends when
you were boy In the university l have
q real interest IN your future, and I am
not all frivolous OF given up 70 the whiri
or riIs woric. as hope you know. Hop
ing 20 see you. ! am your friend and well
wisher. CONSTANCE PEHRosE.
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 un-
usual I'm the situation, and yet In some
unexplained manner as he entered the
Pemose mansion he was conscious OF
strange excitement. as II before the
evening was over events would occur
that would make serious history for
more than one of tho guests
Mrs. PenrOse met him with a genuine
friendllness.
"Ah, welcome, MFR. RefOrmer! l ap-
preciate your coming out OF your social
dungeon 10 see us. You cannot always
be living on herolcs. There must be
some comedy to relieve the tragedy,
ehf7
"sOme kinds OF tragedy cannot be re
lleyed by any kind Of comedy" Gordon
replied grimly. But I'll promise not
10 talk shop unless / am drawn into II.
You didn't ask me to come for that.
did your
Didn't /? You are the lion OF the oc-
easion, Everybody Is talking about
you"
Let US chSsge the subject then"
And talk Of Miss AndrewsT
"No," Gordon said coldly
"NOG Is that forbidden groundY'.
she spoke seriously. Il am actually
interested in her and In all you are
doing Some time you must tell me
WIN your
yes" he answered earnestly, a lit
tie ashamed OF his curtness. "Of
conrse ! believe IN Il all only / didn't
wish 20 seem to lug IL In on this Occa-
sion"
Il understand" Mrs Penrose an
swered brightly, and as Gordon passed
on she introduced him % Professor