The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-04-10


you-Gre the one / lope?"
Mrs Penrose had risen and was lead
ing the way with Miss Andrews and
Archie out into the hall.
"Luella. is it too late? have thought
Il might possibly have frightened you
by too sudden test He spoke hur
riedly, then, as he saw the room was
empty of any but Luella and himself,
he spoke with more reserve. but with
more freedom as well-"Luella / can
not give you up. You see something of
our great problem here. It's a gigantic
struggle; it is apparently hopeless. But
think of the children, Luella, whose
lives are at stake. Isn't it worth a Life
like yours? l never meant to speak
like this to you, least Of all here. But
the sight Of your dear face in the sur
roundings has told me again how much
I need you. God surely did not wish Us
to go ON our ways alone. The fight Is
60 hard, Luella. alone. I need compan-
tonship."
He laid his fingers gently on her arm
as he finished. Luella was leaning to-
ward him. Their faces almost touched.
But his action at once brought up to
Lucia the incident out in Bowen street
when he had placed his fingers on Miss
Andrews arm. Was it that or was it
some caprice that dangerously dallied
with your own happiness, Luella, that
made you say:
'Companionship? You seem to be
pretty good friends with Miss An
drews"
John Gordon spoke slowly and as. If
he did not understand Miss An
drews? Luella, do you
He was angry with her. And she
was apparently determined not to un-
derstand the reason for it.
''She seems to accept your leadership
here You are evidently not alone SO
far as companionship goes"
She spoke lightly, but her jealousy
was apparent. John Gordon smiled.
Luella cared for him. His anger van
ished
'Nliss Andrews and 1 are good
friends She is noble woman. There
is not a nobler In the city. But
But you are blind not to see that
she cares for you Luella spoke
quickly. Afterward she regretted that
little sentence more than any other.
Cares for me?" Gordon asked
slowly.
"Yes. Any stranger can see it."
II think you are mistaken. 1t is i'm
possible"
Nothing Is impossible when people
are in love-"
81 refuse to discuss the matter. 1t is
not right toward Miss Andrews"
Luella was silent. John Gordon was
readjusting his basis Of appeal to her.
What she had said about Miss An
drews disturbed him tremendously.
"Luella! Can you not see that THAT
you are the one love? This is the
last time shall speak"
Luella looked out of the window.
The most desolate sight she had ever
seen was out there. The background
for the horrible piles Of rubbish was
the dismal row Of tenements with the
back yard staircases like external
skeletons nroclaiming the degradation
- lie 70 = .e.3 s'g.c''e cts Il tie tat-
tered clothing lung out. TO dry. The
dreariness of it all smOte Luella like a
horror. To live in an eternal conflict
with evil like that represented by Tom
my Randall; to miss the bright, pretty,
comfortable life into which she had
been born; to spend her days and
nights in trying to love disagreeable.
ungrateful humanity-all this seemed
like a nightmare to her. Yet there
stood the man she loved more than any
other; she could not refuse to believe
In his nobility, his courage, his unself-
ishness. Her heart hungered when she
thought Of all he was compared with
the other men she knew. If only he
were not living here! If only he would
do his work in some other place where
they would not always be obliged to
look at all this human misery! John
Gordon was speaking again.
Ito be Continued-)