Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-04

the superintendent Of the mill stood at the foot OF
the steps. his folded, the water spiashing to
the tops of his riding boots. He was looking not
up at Eve, but his shoulder at those poor peo-
pie of his staring up impotently at the house. at
the lights at the veranda with It's after-dnner cof
fee things, and at the dsluge that had met Them
You are Just helpless these mill people
are. You are bound, like them So is most Of
your class"
The words came to Eve as pognantly as a pres
ent reproach. Here were hundred or more men
and women, come with an appeal from their class
to hers And,
There isn't any way until every last of us
does something, matter how little 1t is for some
poor devil or other. don't mean give 'em SOUP
soap. I mean give em your hand Give
'em their sef-respect."
And yet, in the supreme moment of her
chance to do something, here the toy gulf--as
there is always gulf, mocking them. killing their
selt-respect stultifying her impulse to reach
out to them. oh, but there must be something to
do-"there always something to do :" She
tried call to them but her voice could not carry
above the sound of the cascade. She looked down
at that mimic flood Then she gathered her
white, soft skirts about her and stepped into its
water
They watched her as she made her way across
the wide top stepthe superintendent at first quiz
zically, then wonderingly, then with something
more-the others in breathless amazement After
all, for her there great difhculty. The We
ter flowed swiftly and it cold but she went
through 1t with and began the descent of the
steps.
At this casting disreputabe felt hat the
flooded gravel, Endicott eaped forward and splash
ed up the waterway. She saw him coming and mo-
toned him back protestingly But he mounted to
her. met her, and then dashed past her and sprang
the court to the fountain. There swiftly.
he thrust to the shoulder under the pyra-
mid of coral; and instantly the waters ceased to
flow. Then he back at her side, still without
word, and he lifted Eve In his arms and went with
her down the steps and stood with her at his side
before the bewildered company
II thank you," he said to her quietly, "and--I
believe was wrong. Had you something to say
to these peopeY"
Her frankly seeking, frightened look fell on the
woman nearest her--a woman with child who sat
on the mothers arm staring at Eve a plump
little hand capraciously patting its own little
mouth. And Eve drew little quick breath and
spoke her unprecedented message.
II don't think So" she said. II just wanted to
be down here with them. III think wanted to
the chiIdren!"
And the little stretched out his hands and
went to her quite simply. and sat looking back at
his mother and the rest, still with plump little
hand patting its soft mouth. Eve looked be-
seechingly at Endicott-and sudden little
muir and note of laughter. having in it something
of pleasure, went among the rest.
my friends" he said gravely, "you are perfectly
certain of thing, though all else should fail.
You are certain that wish you well7"
To this they said an instant, eager Yes"
1T is true that do" he said. 'and yet I am
myself. in my ridiculous. evil leisure. gave my
self the job of superintendent. And now I am go-
going to give that to better man---and am 60
ing to live here near you, and we will get out and
work for another, the best we can. And this
lady-I think she is going to help u.s. She will.
believe, If you want her to much do
Eve, meeting his eyes the childs shoulder.
knew what he meant. And she knew that she was
glad And the face of Loveridge was shining with
great humility as if he knew suddenly that 1t is
spirit which will solve the problem of the age and
that neither the charm and perfection of Eva nor
yet the bondage of the mill folk will prevail against
it when "every last one OF us does something
and does 1t right,
Young Hartley, fresh from the telephone, came
running from below stairs with the servants
streaming after, and he stood in the great shining
doorway of the house, with some dim notion that
his inyincihle fortihcations had given out. At
sight of Eve standing there remotely ON the gravel
with the child, he waved his
Its all right you knowi" he shouted confident
ly i've fixed It'll The police comin'!"
Eve and Loveridge and the rest looked up at him
across the gulf which had been bridged For young
Hartley stood the other side
When the drag came home with laughter float
ing from it inconsequential and wavy as a fugi-
tive VEIL young Hartley sat on the veranda having
cup of fresh coffee he had asked to be brought
to him.
80 sorry couldn't get back before Mrs.
Winker chartered. Have Eve and you been very
dulI?"
mot so doosed very" replied young Hartley.
ITO speak the truth, Mrs. Winkler your brother
came"
ALEX camel" the lady repeated shrilly. "Mercyl
And what has he been doing now, pray?"
Young Hartley went back to the table and stood
poking among the cups.
do you know" he said sadly; II can't make
out. But tell you people, it's somethin' invinci-
bls!"