The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-05-06

ne has QCne THESE many LeiFs- Ooes
that sound like boasting, Luella?'
He used her name so naturally that
neither gave it any significance at first
Then slowly Luella blushed and looked
down. She had never admired Gordon's
manhood more than right then.
NO, I don't think it's boasting.
like to hear you'll mean I like to hear
any man speak as if he expected to dc
great things"
John Gordon bent over little nearer
Mrs. Penrose had risen and was lead.
ing the way with Miss Andrews and
Archie out into the hall.
.'Luella, is it too late? have thought
Il might possibly have frightened you
by too sudden a test He spoke hur,
riedly, then, as he saw the room was
empty Of any but Luella and himself,
he spoke with more reserve, but with
more freedom as well-"Luella I can
net give you up. You see something Of
our great problem here. It's a gigantic
struggle; it is apparently hopeless. Bu1
think Of the children, Luella, whose
lives are at stake. Isn't it worth life
like yours? I never meant to speak
like this to you, least Of all here. But
the sight Of your dear face in the sur
roundings has told me again how much
7 need you. God surely did not wish US
to go on our ways alone. The fight is
so hard, Luella, alone I need conpan-
ionship."
He laid his fingers gently on her arm
as be finished. Luella was leaning to.
ward him. Their faces almost touched
But his action at once brought up tc
Luella the incident out in Bowen street
when he had placed his fingers on Miss
Andrews arm. Was it that or was II
some caprice that dangerously dalliec
with your own happiness, Luella, that
made you say:
"Companionship? You seem to be
pretty good friends with Miss An
drews!"
John Gordon spoke slowly and as il
ue IIOL lAOCASl0AU. A'&@So -A!@
drews? Luella, do you''-
He was angry with her. And she
was apparently determined not to un
derstand the reason for it.
"She seems to accept your Leadership
here. You are evidently not alone sc
far as companionship goes"
She spoke lightly, but her Jealousy
was apparent. John Gordon smiled
Luella cared for him. His anger van
ished.
"Aliss Andrews and are goo6
friends. She is noble woman. There
is not a nobler in the city. But
"But you are blind not to see that
she cares for you Luella spoke
quickly. Afterward she regretted that
little sentence more than any other.
"Cares for me?" Gordon asked
slowly.
eyes. Any stranger can see It,"
81 think you are mistaken. It is i'm
possible"
Nothing IS impossible when people
are in love-
''I refuse to discuss the matter. 1t is
not right toward Miss Andrews"
Luella was silent John Gordon was
readjust:ng his basis Of appeal to her.
What she had said about Miss AD-
drews disturbed him tremendously.
"Luella! Can you not see that THAT
you-are the one lore? This is the
last time I shall speak,
Luella looked out of the window.
The most desolate sight she had ever
seen was out there. The background
for the horrible piles Of rubbish was
the dismal row Of tenements with the
back yard staircases like external
skeletons proclaiming the degradation
of the tenement tlwellers in the tat
tered clothing hung out to dry. The
dreariness Of it all smote Luella like a
horror. To live in an eternal conflict
with evil like that represented by Tom
my Randall; to miss the bright pretty,
comfortable lie into which she had
been born; to spend her days and
nights in trying to love disagreeable,
ungrateful humanity-;lll this seemed
like a nightmare to her. Yet there
stood the man she loved more than any
other; she could not refuse to believe
in his nobility, his courage, his unself-
ishness. Her heart hungered when she
thought Of all be was compared with
the other men she knew. If only he
were not living here! IF only he would
do his work in some other place where
they would not always be obliged to
look at ali this human misery! John
Gordon was speaking again.
"Once more, Luella. Will you be my
wife? Will you join me in lifelong
battle for human rights?'
do you mean, as you did before,
that I must live here:''
eyes" The answer came without
hesitation.
'I don't think I can do it, John. Oh.
why do you exact that! You know I
love you, John, but I can't, I can't live
here"
"Do you loye me?" John Gordon
said it gently. 'Then can you not
trust me-rust al to ME? We must
live here in order to do the work in
the best way"
':Must live here?" Luella did John
Gordon injustice again in misinter'
preting his emphasis. 1t was the only
time she was ever guilty of such an
act, but that did not make it any less
serious. And again her insane Jealousy
of Miss Andrews disturbed her vision
Of the clear eyed love of the man who
she knew we'll enough loved herself
and her alone.
'It does not seem to me possible to
learn the peoples needs anywhere so
we'll as here. That does not mean that
we must remain here all our lives, but
at least for some years"
81 cannot do it," Luella said slowly.
There was q moment Of silence.
Then the steps Of Miss Andrews and
Mrs. Penrose and Archie We're heard
coming through the hall toward the