News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-01-21

a gesture. 81 think | can secure some
money from men in the city"
"Let me know how much, so we can
publish the amount, will you?" Barton
said dryly.
John Gordon did not answer. and
after quite long silence Barton said
suddenly:
'By the way, suppose Miss Marsh
will help you, of course You'll be mar
ried and set up residence together in
Hope House? How did you win her
| over to your extreme views"
81 didn't. We are not going to be
married, She refuses to go with me
into Hope House. Oh. David, do you
think that was mistake"
1t all poured out at once, because all
the evening John Gordon had been
longing to conGde in the one man in all
the city whom he loved and trusted.
Everything they had been talking
about so far had seemed in one sense
of small Importance compared with his
hearts hunger for her, which had
deepened with every moments absence
from her His immediate resolve to go
to Hope House, his talk with Miss An
drews his visit with his friend the in
cident of Harris and his offer were not
evidence of his insensiblity to that re-
! solve on her part to refuse his choice
Of life work 1t was only characteris-
tic of him to go straight on with the
details of his life no matter what oc-
Curred. John Gordon was the last man
in the world to withdraw into Il suIlen
or moody isolation on account of great
private trouble or sorrow.
But he longed for sympathetic coun-
sci And his impulsive cutlery simply
voiced another fact of his nature, the
fact of his affcctionate trust in friend
ship, Il trust that kept no event secret
that friend might wish to know and
share.
David Barton sat up and exclaimed
sharply:
! "Do You mean TO say that Miss
Marsh refuses to live with you in Hope
HOuse?'
| "Shr does refuse, but did not give
her time, ! am afraid, TO give her rea-
SONS"
Thine for reasons! How much time
does she wantY Barton went on saw
agrly. Hope House is not good
enough for her, ch? She is not willing
to go with the man who loves her into
such Il burden bearing life! She loves
her nice, clean, soft, easy, social posi-
ton more than she loves the man! No,
I t.II LII.
who made n gesture Of dissent "rhe
girls of this age are not like those of
our fathers. They are not willing to
begin in Il small, economical way and
share their husbands privations. They
want big, expensive establishments
right off. They have no idea of any
sort Of life except one of luxury and
social successes. 70 my mind, you're
well rid of her!"
mo, no, David! Not that! | ought
not to have made such test You do
not know her as do"
81 don't want to either Isn't it for
better, for worse, for richer for poor
or? If | were the woman you loved,
wouldn't I go with you anywhere,
John? You know would, mean,
selfish animal that am. If were a
woman and had the love of John Cor
don, | wouldn't even ask him where
he was going. | would simply go.
That's the reason ! say you're we'll rid
of her. Shes not worthy of you,
John"
"Rut you have never loved any one,
David!" cried John Gordon in great
distress. for he was nearer saying a
sharp word to his friend than at any
time since their friendship began.
II love you, John, more than this
selfish woman ever loved. But I'm
afraid that's not saying very much.
Wouldn't die for your
II believe you would, David
well. this woman wouldn't even
live for Won -
IFS harder to live than to die some
times" John Gordon answered, with a
sigh
Il tell y0u she's not worthy of you,
John Mend your broken heart or
get another" Barton sang the first
line of Il popular music hall ballad.
mo woman is worthy of n man if she
refuses to accept his terms when they
are as reasonable and lis necessary as
yours. I}ut it has hit you hard, hasn't
it,"
For answer John Gordon laid his
head down on the table. Barton eyed
him sympathrtically, but offered no
word of consolation. After awhile lie
mutterpd:
"Confound these women, They make
more trouble than all the men put to-
gcthcr, Tho young fellow seems to
have sustained Il compound fracture.
But it'll heal in time Good thing he's
got Il steady job. Hope House viii
give him employment" He luy quiet.
and after Il little Gordon rose and
walked into the other room.
He stayed there until he heard Ear
ton begin to cough again, when he in
stantIy returned to his friends SIDE to
find him sitting up on the couch, his
head between his hands
This time the coughing was of short
duration, and Barton exclaimed the
instant he was able TO speak:
Ito be contnued.)