Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-29

Hope House. You would have every
reason to dcspise him IL he did not ask
that OF you. A man who has n great
life work like that of John Gordon
could not ask any woman to share it
with him who did not gladly accept all
| that went with il. Remember, Luella,
my married life!' Mrs. Pcnrose was
speaking with deep earnestness; she
had been leaning forward. all her usual
careless, reckless manner gone com
pletely. IL married for money. was
poor. | longed for the physical softness
of things. ! need not tell you, Luella,
| that my marriage was failure so far
as love is concerned. I got the money;
| l missed the love. What has it been
| worth? The poorest mother in the city.
struggling with saddest poverty, but
sure of the love of her husband and
children, has been hea venly happy com
| pared with me. |? | never had
home. / had an establishment. I am
homeless woman. | shall grow old
and die without ever having known the
earthly joy of a home. Luella, do you
| choose to be one of the army Of home
|
envy our fine houses, our swell turn
outs, our luxuries, our leisure, our din
ners. our dresses. our money. They
envy hell, for that is what it all means
when love is absent. John Gordon Of
fers you heaven. I,uelln. You choose
the other place If you refuse him. You
are mad to refuse him, Luella. You
will live to regret it in time AID eter-
nifty
"Oh, do not talk to me any more. |
am miserable over it," Lucia nearly
lost all control. She threw herself
down on couch and buried her head
in the cushions
Mrs. Pcnrose got up and looked at
her sternly
II almost wish John Gordon may not
live. for your sake us well as his" she
eaid. Lucia shuddered, and Mrs. Pen.
rose after a pause went out OF the
room.
The crisis for John Gordon came Oh
the night Of the election day. TO Ford
and the others who watched by him
that night it seemed as If the struggle
being fought out in the city was typl-
fed by the struggle going or in John
Cordon's room. Rumors of the political
battle drifted into Hope House all day.
Both sides were confident. Both sides
claimed victory. 1t was righteousness
against all forms Of evil that had
grown secure and insolert, but was
now alarmed and fighting for future
existence. Tommy Randall typlied the
entire city administration. He had
used enormous sums of money. The
tenement district almost solldly voted
for him against the friends who, like
Miss Andrews, lived to better their
condition. The whole thing illustrated
magnlfcently the regular social dcgra-
dalton of American civic life.
AS night decpened and returns began
to come in slowly there seemed to be
no decisive indications for either side.
Ford. who had been with Gordon from
the beginning, refused to leave, al
though he was thoroughly exhausted.
Gordon sank lower and lower. Twice
they thought lie had passed on. Each
time he rallied. At o'clock he was
nearer death than he had ever been.
From that time on the struggle of life
for the spirit grew stronger When
dawn came, the doctor lifted his hand
and n grim smile expressed his salts
faction. The crisis was passed, and
John Gord1l, by the grace of God, was
to live and struggle on for few years
more before his spirit should 80 to God,
who gave it.
Out in Bowen street and around
Hope House the boys were crying out
special election editions. Miss An
drews and Ford could hear the words
"Vlctory for Reform ticket Triumph
for law and order" "Chambcrs elect
ed city attorney" Ford stole down
stairs and got paper. The little fam
ilY of residents gathered in the library.
Tho first questions asked were about
John Gordon.
Tile doctor says he'll live. Hurrah"'
Ford cried feebly. lie waved the pa
, per as if that was the special news
that covered its first page with heavy
type and exclamation points. Some
one discovered Miss Andrews over by
; the window With tears on her face
Miss Hammond came up and put an
arm about her.
Grand, isn't it, Miss Hammond
said.
t Yes. 1t did not seem possible in
the night that he could live
\ "Who? Tommy Randall?' Miss
> Hammond asked dcmurely.
Miss Andrews laughed.
I'm rather unstrung by all this" she
: said
1T is good deal, isn't it? Tommy.
death and Mr. Gordon's life at the
same time. But JOY never kills. does
it,"
1T has never killed Miss Andrews
, vet" said Ford. But | don't know
| how she will stand all this. I'm afraid
. it will go hard with her.
o IL will try to accustom myself TO it.
p the head of the house answered, smil
p ing on them all. At the breakfast Ia
9 BILE no one ever remembered to have
seen her more interesting or fascinat
ing,
- John Gordon rapidly grew stronger
:. When once life had claimed him, il
+ seemed ms If all the forces of goot
came to his assistance.
y One day when he had become stron: