Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-09-17


women strewing their savings which
had been earned upon their calloused
knees into the fingers Of jeering gut
ftersnipes. He saw wanton women
kneeling with tears streaming down
their crimson painted cheeks; he saw
erstwhile staid men Of responsibility
hurrying into public houses, for what
purpose-good or eyil--he could only
guess. He saw the sto1id march of the
undisturbed whom nothing short OF an
earthquake could impress; he saw the
satirical smiles of the cynics, the
boisterousness, Of the reckless, the
maudlin bewilderment Of the weak OF
mind as they swayed alternately be-
tween doubt and despair, and he saw
here and there an earnest faced one
,hurrying silently past or slipping into
church or chapel From somewhere In
the city church bell was booming
solemnly, and from this place and that
came the sound OF voices that dis
corded in tumble ot3rag time and
psalms He saw human nature keyed
to its highest pitch and taut as harp
as 1t sounded its manifold notes OF
harmony and jangle. He saw the
wicked become virtuous and the vtr.
tuous wicked, the thief restoring and
the erstwhile virtuous thieving, while
above and around this human bedlam
hung the stiffness Of air such as often
precedes a great electrical storm. And
this was but one insignificant spot up
on the continent! And II this was but
a sample, what then was happening In
the great cities Of the land which were
strewn from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific-what nameless crimes and out
RACES which must be laid at his door
IL he had erred. Fortunes gathered to
gether by years Of Dor would be scat
tered riotously in one debauch. MUIR
ders would be committed, suicides
done, souls damnedand out Of It all
SO little good could come. It would
have been better, far better, If he had
let them die as they had lived, un-
warned like those who are stricken in
their sleep. He had been criminal In
his thoughtlessnes Alternately he;
berated himself with savage venom or
prayed despairingly as he plunged
from street into alley and alley into
street as he sought by turnings and
doublings to escape from the things
which haunted him on every side.
He stumbled from a refuse cluttered
alley out into the light Of broad
thoroug hfare, sleekly, groomed and
bordered by the houses Of the city's
more fortunate and better class. Here
1t was quiet and orderly as usual and
in his relief at having left the rabble
behind he breathed deeply of the fra
grant air, Strengthened his hat and
hair and proceeded more leisurely
upon his aimless way. Before him he
saw a yard generously studded with
trees, from the limbs OF which pale
Japanese lanterns glowed in softly
tinted n radiance. He paused and
glanced about as he collected his
thoughts. Yes, It was the residence Of
Judge Fulton, and this was the lawn
party to which March, taking advan-
tage OF his own acquaintance with the
F'ultons, had invited him In the name
Of Doris. He was near enough now to
see the forms that strolled scarelessly
about or sat upon the sumner seats
beneath the trees, near enough to even
catch tinkle Of laughter frum some
softly cleaning white throat as the
lady responded lightly to the TEST OF
her companion. 40 to the horror so
soon to come. He paused In indetAston.
To return to the lights and soends
from which he had Just escaped vas
,unthinkable, while before him. though
there was more skepticism than In ths
rabble. there was also decency ana
order. For q moment his mind Wa
vered between retreat to some soil.
.tarys corner and q bold advance ito the
companionship OF those beyond. then
with sudden. determination he pressed
forward. threw open the gate and en-
tered. s3 81 .3
March, espying the grizzled head and
tall, gaunt form Of his friend as he
slowly approached UP the walk leading
to the house, spoke hurriedly into
Doris, ear. ct is Professor Desmond
-of course you have met him. You
know I took the responsib ility Of in
viting him to drop in among US. !
thought he might wish to be among
friends tonight in case-well. In either
case, you know She smiled In swift
acknowledgement, and nowhere could
there be found q smile sweeter than
Doris, either in her light or sometimes
serious mood. ,53 # 4 4 Il
II want to thank you for asking him
to come. We will make him our lion.
I have always admired him, and had
known all this was to happen would
certainly have asked him to come, in
the hope Of somewhat dtyerting his
mind as well as our own. He must
be under a greater strain even than
the rest OF us, for he believes more
implicitly than we." She went lightly
forward. her hand outstretched,E frank
welcome shining in her large hazel
eyes. ID,
K Professor Desmond-I am delight
ed to be SO honored. Have you any
late news to encourage us" He shook
his head with grave smile as he first
bowed over her hand and then straight
.ened up with his usual dignity and ran
his eyes over the assemblage.
Gro BE CoNTINUED)
in, perfect confidence. To It's owner in