Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-31
The
RefOrmer
BY CHARLES N. SHELDON
Author of I'm His Steps," Robert
Hardy's Seven Days." Etc.
Copyright. 1901, by Charles NJ. Sheldon
CONTINUED
Copyright. 1901. by Charles NJ. Sheldon

S$s$s:5~+4'
CONTINUED
Il mean the masses, tie mtiltitudes.
the people, the humanity that works
with it's hands for living. the human
1ty that tolls at the furnace and the
loom and the machine the humanity
tnat lives on days wages and lives to
produce the things that give persons
like you and me pleasure, the things
we say we must have for our luxurious
tastes, Luella!' John Gordon spoke
Tor the first time with the same pas
sion he had used in the interview with
his father, a passion that sounded the
new note of his redeemed manhood.
What have we known or cared for
humanity? Our days have been vast
ed in selfish and foolish qualification
OF the senses, while these, our brothers
and sisters, have been not only uncared
Tor by US, but actually unknown. OF
what value our boosted culture, our
elegant houses, our fine spun clothing
our fastidious habits, if in the refine
ment Of civilization that is veneered
selhshness we play our little plays like
children and never wake to the power
OF usefulness as grownup men and
women who have giants work to do
Tor the weak and less fOrtunate?'
Luella Marsh listened in genuine sur
prise. This was another new phase of
her lovers character. But there were
things said by him that angered her.
although while John Gordon was talk
Ing she was saying to herself, II did
not know he had any gifts as speak
er that would bear developing"
Looking up at him, noting the flush
OF feeling on his generally pale face,
she spoke the first impulsive thought
reused by what he said
do you really classify lives like
yours and mine as 'useless?' Are the
people, then, the only useful beings?
Or is it true that the people as you
have defined them are such needy
and suffering quantity as you say?
Are they not as selfish in their way as
we are in ours?'
He heard her in surprise. 1t was
quickly becoming more clear to each
of them that they had much to learn
of each others personality. Still, he
was resolved not to argue matters. He
had come with one clear, simple pur-
pose in his mind. He did not wish to
have it Obscured or put into second
place. IT Luella Marsh would go with
him into the life he had chosen, he knew
enough Of her to feel certain that both
their lives would be strengthened and
beautiied; that if she once cast in her
lot with him she would never look
back, but would go Oh clear to the end
and bear all things with growing joy
and peace. If she decided to reject
him and his career because of details
in it that were unknown or questiona-
BILE, then he had no calm answer to his
own heart as to the result on himself
except to say that his path would be
lonely one. But he was of determina-
ton not to leave the matter unsettled.
They were not children, but grown
man and woman, and should be able
to know their own minds.
"Luella, did not come here to argue
with you"-he spoke with great gen.
tleness in reply to her questions-"I
want you. I love you. That means 1
would lot hide one particle of the truth
from you. If you marry me, it will
be life of burden bearing, it will be
a future full Of pain in many ways, it
will mean very largely total breaking
away from all tn. soft, easy, pleasant
social relations we have both known
since we were born. All this is true. I
would not try to soften it for you.
But it will be a joyful life, a life of
satisfaction, life full of the conscious
ness of helping to make better world,
of doing something besides playing, Lu-
ella!' He forgot in his feeling what he
had said ever since he knew her, that
she could not be moved by pleading,
and, rising suddenly, he went over and
kneeled beside her. "Luella! Tell me
this simply: Do you love me enough
to share the unknown future with me?
Will you not come with me, trusting in
our love for each other to bear us over
hard places and explain new expert
ences as fast as they become real to
us?"
She trembled and hesitated. She had
but to reach out her hand and put it in
John Gordon's and say one word. She
did not move nor speak for almost
minute. Then she said, looking straight
in front of her:
Must give an answer now?'
'Luella, you have already given me
answer! You have promised to be my
wife!" The words were spoken by
him in moment Of great longing as
he saw her indecision and foresaw her
inevitable answer
Her eyes darkened little.
II never promised to be the wife
off,
1.-THE wife off, John Gordon re-
peated after a silence so long that its
suspense was not bearable to him.
L. L. 49, -,