News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-01-07

ANA2N1 W W LNN LIZ GtAl,l.
do you really classify lives like
yours and mine as 'uselessY Are the
people, then, the only useful beings?
Or is it true that the people as you
have defined them are such a 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. If 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
beautifed; that If she once cast in her
lot with him she would never look
back but would go on 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 questlona-
bic, 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-
tion 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. | love you. That means
would not hide one particle of the truth
from you. If you marry" me, it will
! he a 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 the soft, easy, pleasant
social relations we have both known
since we were born. All this is true. /
would not try to soften it for you.
But it will be joyful life, life Of
satisfaction 4 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?
VIII 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
u.s.
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 a
minute. Then she said, looking straight
in front of her:
"Must give an answer nowW
"Luela, yor have already given me
answer You have promised to be my
wife," The words were spoken by
him in a moment of great longing as
he saw her indecision and foresaw her
Inevitable answer.
Her eyes darkened a little.
Il never promised to be the wife
Of
"The wife Of John Gordon re-
peated after a silence so long that its
suspense was not bearable to him.
81 hardly know how to finish She
uttered a short laugh, and John Cor
don rose at once to his feet. Il can
never live in Hope House." she added
in a low tone.
as that your answer, then? He
stood looking at her calmly, but she
did not look up.
YES" she finally replied.
Then we must go our separate ways,
so help us Godw he exclaimed in a
sudden burst of passion, for his heart
was hot within him.
He paused a moment irresolutely and
then started to go out. She had not
made any motion nor lifted her head
to look at him. At the door he turned
for an instant and saw, to his astonish-
ment, that her proud head lay on her
arms, which were outstretched on the
table near which she had been sitting.
He was back by her side, kneeling
again and calling her name. When she
lifted her head, there were tears on her
glowing cheeks.
John, | cannot bear to have it So"
"Then do you love me, Luella, enough
to share all with me?" he cried.
Eyes; l love you, John" she said
slowly. But even as she said it she
drew back from him a little. "At the
same time l do not see why it is neces-
sary to live at Hope House."
mot necessarily there, but some
where among the people. Luella, Go
you not understand my reasons for
wanting to know the people|
81 am not sure" she replied in q
troubled tone, and then suddenly she
turned away from him and put her
head down on her arms again.
John Gordon rose and walked up and
down the room. Twice as he went
past the table he paused irresolutely,
his mind in a turmoil, his heart uncer-
tain. The third time he stopped, with
a decision in his manner, and placed
his hand on her head.
Il do not ask you to marry me unless
you can trust everything to me. If
you are not able to say without any
fear or doubt, L will go with you in
all the way you have chosen do not,
l cannot plead with you, Luella. Is
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