Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-01-31

gy. who wastes more than you in what
you call senseless ways? may be
useless and all that, but l don't toady
to q lot Of good for nothings like the
Journeys and the Carlisles and the
Cranstons just to get into Washington
circles next season." He was treading
on dangerous ground now, for he had
touched his aunt's real weakness as q
society woman, and she was In the
mood to be deeply angered at what he
said. But he went on recklessly, and
before he finished Mrs. Penrose had
settled back again into the easy. care
less attitude habitual with her.
II know what you invited the Four
neys here for the other night when
that ass Emory and Gordon got of
their stuff about the slums. But all
that is of no account to me. You have
no business to interfere with my af-
fairs with Luella. That's my own
business. If can get her consent. /
am going to marry her."
1T is kind Of you to get her consent,
Archie" his aunt said. with quiet
irony.
"You have no right to interfere" he
said sullenly. 81 don't mind saying l
love her. and I am going to have her
for my wife If it is possible"
"She will never have you. She loves
far better man than you ever can be.
Archie Penrose."
"Who? John Gordon? He's o crank
Luella has broken with him."
Eyes. her eyes looked it the other
night. Did you see how her eyes fol-
lowed Gordon all the evening"
Penrose was IL torture Of jealousy
He almost cried:
mo. she didn't! tell you she's
broken with him."
"If she has, she will never marry
you. Luella Marsh has too much sense
to put her life into the hands Of a man
who never lifted his finger to help
make better world"
"You have set me the example by
your own conduct" the young man
sneered feebly. He walked back into
the bow window and sullenly turned
his back on his aunt.
You're right, Archie" she replied
calmly. Its practically case Of pot
and kettle. One Is as black as the
other. The guilt Of nearly all unjust and
wretched conditions in this city can
without doubt be laid at the door Of US
rich people, who have the power that
wealth can use. and use it for our am.
bitions. 1t is probably true that the
Judgment day will rightly condemn US
as the cause Of most of the misery
Grace Andrews and John Gordon are
living to relieve. We have 1t absolute
ly in our power to change political and
social conditions that create nearly all
the human wrongs that exist in soci'
ETY., and instead of exercising that
great privilege we go our ways with
colossal egotism and monstrous selfish
ness. shirking all duties and burdens
Of citizenship and finging our money
into riotous and demoralizing luxury
Of life that inflames the passions Of the
poor and keeps constantly in sight the
vast inequality Of human existence.
1T is a fact, Archie, that we rich
people, with few noble exceptions SO
rare rs to excite constant newspaper
comment, are as q class the cause Of
practically all the misery Of the city.
We have no place for service In our
programme of life. We neither know
nor care for the brotherhood. We exist
for our own pleasure. And I suppose II
will be no more than fair that in the
other world we shall long for drop of
water to cool our tongues while the
Lazarus we despised here shall recline
in Abraham's bosom. Do you ever think,
Archie, of the time coming when things
are going to be evened up, when the
first shall he last and the last first? =?
Of course God will never permit all
this human injustice to continue for
ever, and he will see to it that our
earthly selfishness shall some time or
other face some kind of a judgment"
Archie turned around and laughed. 1t
was laugh that made his aunt shud-
der. 1t was the laugh Of society at Its
worst, the pagan Indifference that for
all the centuries has faced humanity g
woes with dance and jest. and flung to
the beggar the crumbs Of the feast.
"Well. aunt, you're good one! Miss
Andrews couldn't do better. Why don't
you offer her your services rs lecturerl
| If YOU got off all that stuff in the draw
ing rooms. it would create a sensation.
and Of course it would fill the contribu-
ton boxes when they were passed for
the cause"
| Mrs. Penrose did not answer. She
i, Law back in her chair, her eyes closed,
and to Archie's great surprise when
she opened her eyes tears were on the
lashes. TO his added surprise his aunt
arose and went out Of the room. She
was gone several minutes. When she
came back, she spoke as If nothing had
been said Of an unusual nature.
Miss Marsh and are going down to
Hope House tomorrow afternoon to see
Miss Andrews and the place. VIII you
60 with us|'
ITO Hope House"
81 said so. Miss Andrews has In
vited me to come several times. / con
tributed little ut the time Of the fire
So did Luella. Miss Andrews wants
US to see what has been done. l have
never been down there, neither hat
Luella. OF course you never have. II
you care to 60, I'll speak for Luella
that she will not object to your escort "