The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-03-13


contents. "It seems very real to me-"
she added with a light laugh.
John Gordon let his look go over the
interior of that princely residence. All
the soft, easy. luxurious appliances Of
modern civilization within the reach OF
lavish wealth were evident on every
side Velvet carpets, golden decora-
ueae, ~. EeN e=S ss.es.s g -
Hzn<d o~-~fr>s >~nzA 20 ~eEio exrDisit.
A3@e s=s IA = 1sese ~
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the tenements-before he was aware he
was putting flesh and blood values up
against all that physical luxury. Then
he suddenly looked into Mary's face
and said, with smile:
"The things are real enough; it is the
life that Is unreal"
Don't be tragic, john" she pouted.
"Have some fun tonight. You don't
look as If you had been having much
lately. Tell me, is 1t true that you anil
Luella have quarreled? Tell me all
about it. She is coming tonight. Will
Il be embarrassing to your And then
before he could answer she ratified on
carelessly:
And Miss Andrews-the papers say
she is remarkable person. Tell me.
is she handsome, like Luella? Are you
those horrors? should think the sights
and smells would be simply oh, Miss
Cranston. you have met my brother
JohnY
Miss Cranston had met Mr.. Gordon
while he was a student in the univer.
atty. John stood chatting with her
awhile, and was still talking with her
=. - 60 49, vi .t<l
fM EsS L .sssfS iSt Z Tia iu
sRI ae * \. Em IF II HI q CT
he spokxd, Qudefly enough srtw ardiy
but with inward tamult at the guests
and noted Luella seated Try young Pen.
rose at the farther end, but facing Cor.
don, while Penrose was almost wholly
obscured by Gordon's right hand neigh.
Dor.
The dinner proceeded as usual with
such dinners, only the gifted art of
being all things to all guests that Mrs
Penrose possessed in such large de-
gree saving the occasion from the in
sufferable dullness Of many similar
gatherings. A seven course dinner In
rich woman's house may and often
does afford as much real misery to the
assembled company as can well be
packed into bad hour and half.
With Mrs Penrose as hostess affairs
went on with more brilliancy. 1t is one
thing to talk yourself, and another to
get other people to talk The lattar
LE%. = - o---,
Mrs penin6e possessed, and the din
ner was progressing nnely, seasoned
with just that right degree of converse
tional interest which at times included
every one at the table and then broke
up into little groups of talk between
two or four.
John Gordon talked with Miss Grams
ton on variety of topics, but did; not
introduce any mention Of his own
work. Mrs. Penrose, who sat at his
right, once or twice alluded to Cor
don's residence at Hope House. but he
answered briefly and at once reverted
to something else. Evidently he did
not intend to be drawn into any dis
cussion or description of his work.
Mrs. Penrose was too shrewd as well
as too courteous to Insist in asking
questions she plainly saw were not
agreeable.
Every WELL she said good naturally.
Gas the lion of the occasion, if you will
not roar in the presence of this au-
dience will you favor me some time
with what am dying to know? 1t is
not idle curiosity" she added in
lower tone, 81 really am interested in
your plans. l want to help"
Gordon looked up at her quickly.
The thought of what this woman. with
her wealth and social Influence, might
do if she would to bring life and light
into the, dead, dark places of the city
kindled bis Imagination. 1t was an
other ray of hope to place alongside
Mrs. Emngham's letters.
"Thank you," he said gratefully. 81
will come and talk it over with you."
AS he finished and turned his face
again toward Miss Cranston he en-
countered Luella's glance. She in
stantly looked down Once again, to-
ward the close of the dinner, Gordon
intercepted her look as it swept past
all the guests and stayed just mo
ment with him.
Just how it all happened John Cor
don never knew. The last course had
been served. There was the inevitable
settling back of people who had sue
cessfully observed one of the rites of
polite society and were ready to enjoy
the programme of the evening in an
49, -.-- II. action.
The voice of Archie Penrose rose
over the well modulated conversation:
s EsExeas move for any one
- -- professor. The
classes are too much at war now. All
these anarchists ought to be hunted
out of society like wild beasts. She