The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-03-11

tic pSOpic luCulSe1FeS uaO lSAl Ou ASI
face marks of that human, divine
calmness that all great women bear
who have loved the people. If Grace
Andrews did not impress strangers or
visitors as being great In any real
sense, it was because the look Of her
face spoke Of quiet peace that so
many people specifically associate
with meekness, but do not consider as
an element Of power. The residents Of
hope House understood all that, and
the Oldest residents understood it bet
ter than the youngest and had more
unGucstioned reverence for the great,
ness of Grace Andrews than those
who had less knowledge Of her.
It was with a deepening conscious
ness Of what this woman was and of
her wonderful life and influence that
John Gordon came into her presence.
He had met her during his university
career when some special studies had
taken him down to Hope House. And
one Of the first places he had visited on
his return from abroad had been the
dining room with its fellowship life
presided over by that central figure
that dominated the entire group. 1t
was at that first meeting that he had
frankly told her and the residents
something Of his religious experience
and its bearing on his life work. 1t
was that frank confidence that had led
up to the question by Ford.
"Well?" Miss Andrews finally said
as John Gordon seemed ready to speak
after looking at her so intently. Dur
ing his silence the conversation at the
table had gone on in quiet but nat
ural fashion. Every one in Hope House
always gave every one else perfect
freedom for his personality, and no
one felt at all disturbed when John
Gordon did not reply at once to the
students query. They all paused in
their talk when he spoke.
"Iye been thinking Of it. I would
count it an honor to be part Of your
family" He spoke to Miss Andrews,
but included all the table with q ges-
ture. I'm still In some doubt concern
ing my future. I am sure you ore
enough interested In me to care to
know that l have left my own home.
I am just at present without a per
manent place Of abode. Perhaps you
would be willing to take me In"
He spoke somewhat lightly, but not
without certain seriousness that they
all seemed to understand. Miss An.
drews glanced at him quickly and said
with a real tone Of sympathy:
1--WE would not only give you hearty
welcome, Mr.. Gordon, but count our.
selves fortunate to have you with us"
'Thank you" he replied gratefully.
''I would not come into the house, OF
course, except as one who would take
the position Of learner. I have every
thing to learn and nothing to contrib
ute. You would have to teach me the
simplest duties Of a resident, Miss An
drews. at least would be very will
ing and obedient pupil"
"I have no doubt Of that" she re-
piled, with a smile. "But the people
who act that way are dangerously apt
to be in a position to teach their teach.
ers in time"
''I shall never be able to teach the
teacher In Eope House." said John
Gordon earnestly. Miss Andrews laugh.
ed, and the fa1ntest tinge Of color ap.
peared on her cheeks. 1--WE are all
learners here. Let him who has moi
learned something today hold up his
hand. Not a hand in sight. Oh, we are
all in the primary class! The people
are the alphabet Of God. And we have
not yet learned the alphabet"
The talk gradually circled the table,
while John Gordon continued to tell
Miss Andrews something In detail of
the interview with his father and sis.
ter. After the meal was over the resi-,
dents scattered to their work, but half
q dozen with Miss Andrews and John
Gordon fingered a few minutes In the
library and living room, which opened
out Of the wide hall, next the old fash
ioned staircase which went up near
the center Of the room, for Hope
House had formerly been an old fam
lily mansion, and it stood now in its
solitary refinement Of interior In com
plete contrast to every building In the
dismal district now ruled and ruined
by the human ruins that pleaded day
and night for rebuilding until the souls
Of the residents grew weary with the
burden, and God either grew daily
farther away or closer by, in proper
ton as the workers in the settlement
grew more and more to love the peo
pie or more and more to lose faith II
their redemption.
When John Gordon finally went
away, he had practically promised tc
become a permanent resident Of Hope
House. Something Of John Gordon's
family history was known to most OF
the residents, and there was enough OF
the romantic and unusual in such de-
cision as his to stir the imagination Of
the earnest young men and women
who had thrown in their lot with Hope
House and what it stood for in the city
When John Gordon came out from
the archway and turned into the street
it was after 8 o'clock. he walked
along for half q dozen blocks, trying tc
realize what his life work would be
in such a place. Whatever else II
would be, he knew 1t would be life
that would demand inexorably all the
manhood possible. AS he stopped and
looked back down the street and re
allied it's wretchedness, its discomfort
its squalor, it's moral filth, his heart
cried out for strength, his soul Lit
compassion and anger and longing
and bis love Of the people, to his in'
tense satisfaction, grew In spite OF
what they were and because Of what
they were.
He was still standing there, absorbed
In his thought Of future possibilities,
when q man put his hand on bis shoul-