Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-29

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81 did not say. he was dying. He is
worry III. The issue Is doubtful. But he
ia perfectly conscious and it may be-
it may be--that your presence will help
him"
Come. then let us go" said L,Iella.
On the way TO Hope House Luclla
asked again if John Gordon had sent
for her.
"IIe has spoken your name" Miss
Andrews hestated, but he has not
asked to SEQ you"
Then | am going to sec him on your
invitation:'
Yes" she replied simply.
"Hc will not care to see me-" Luella
spoke rs il to herself, und Miss An
drews did not reply To her
When they reached the house. Lucia
was so agitated that she asked to he
left alone in the library little while.
When she came to Miss Andrews and
told her she was ready. Miss Andrews
could not avoid almost feeling of pity
for her.
rs he very ill?' Luella asked.
you must I've prepared for Great
change inihim," Miss Andrews said.
When she reached Gordons room,
Ford came 10 the door. He had been
nursing Gordon. When Luelln entered,
Ford and Miss Andrews went ont and
knew that as they loft the room Luella
had kueelod a the side of the bed and
put her lips on John Gordon's hand
She was not prepared for the sight Of
such II change in so short time But
Gordon had thrown himself into the
problem of Hope House from the first
day of his residence with whole
souled abandon that hard told tremcn-
dously on his vitality, The daily strain
on his sympathios, the apparent hope
lessncss OF the effort to remove causes,
the unceasing call on heart and mind,
had burned like a fever in his life, and
when the city campaign came on he
was not at all prepared for its inces-
SAINT demand on physical and mental
resources. Nevertheless he had flung
all caution aside night after night, even
when he fel growing on him the wea-
riness that. like leaden weight, hung
on heart and brain. The collapse came
inevitably. and his condition was crit
ical. 1t was the old story of driving
the machine beyond its powers and
without sufficient care for the delicate
mechanism of nerves and heart and
tissues.
John" said Luella as she kneelec
there, and he felt tear fail on the
hand she held, you do not doubt my
love for you, do you? Why did you not
send for me yoursolf:'
You are here, Luell0. That is ell
want"
He spoke with great effort He was
conscious Of Il weakness TINT made him
cling TO any strong nature like drown
ing man His whole interview with
Lucia must he interpreted in the light
of that weakness. His mind was fec!
ing vaguely for relief from DARK,
hopeless falling down into some un'
reachable pace where Lucia could not
come Hc had not strength even to re
turn the clasp Of her cold fingers and
she was terrified as she saw his help
lessness and thought he might pass
away even during lie brief time she
felt she ought to be there with him.
Promise me. luela. that you will
WILDE my wife Let us give ourselves
In the cause of childhood suffering ii
these-these'- awful places"
"Oh, promise; yes, yes, John. Dear
! will come here and live anywhere
whereof you will not die"
She chung to his hand. and he smiled.
will you live with me here, Lucia
here i'll Hope House
Yes. Yes. For / do love you: Dc
love you. John" she cried, sobbing
and he lay so still, 50 exhausted will
his effort that she rose at once and, 20
ing 10 the door, called for Miss An
drcws and Ford to come. thinking IN
had fallen into the sleep that know
no waking. But when they came the,
saw smile on his face and look o
peace there that was more hopeful
Ford said, than anything yet recorded
Even as they all three stood by hin
he opened his eyes and whispered:
win you kiss me, Lucllaf | an
happy
She leaned over and kissed his lips
and there was a look ON her fac
which neither Miss Andrews nor For
understood until after events made
clear.
She went back into the library an
sat there for some time, dreading I
have news brought her that he Ina
sunk into death. But Ford came !
after awhile ana said he was ASLEEP
and, while at the furthest degree o
mental and heart exhaustion there wa
fighting chance.
So Lucia went home and tho mex
few weeks she passed in n suspense q
feeling that left with her an eXpor
encc impossible to describe. Every da
she either went to Hope House or hear
from there When she went herself. sh
did not ask to see him. The delrium G
brain fever was on him, and he kncN
no one, not even Ford. Luella shran
looked in through the open door. The
she passed along back into the librar,
and tears ran down her face as sh
went and sat down near the large vii
dow overlooking the scene Of the fire,
Miss Andrews came in and found 1t
, look ing out at the place Most of til
rubbish had been removed, and half
dozen saloons had gone up on as man
Ial