The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-09-10
CHAPTER VIII.
The Bread Line.

in The Master Builder mean to your
asked Grant Oswald during the first
lull of quiet they met after leaving
up in Broadway blockade and the
street became suddenly still. "She
means something. Ibsen, first, last,
and all the time, deals in parallels. Six
people whom / know, intelligent
people, have six different interpreta-
tions of 'Hilda.' l am curious to
know what she stands for to you"
Dorcas tHrned her candid gray eyes
to his.
81 see only one thing-conscience
She appears when the Master Build
err by one cruel, unjust, selfish action,
is bound to go down to the depths.
Nothing can save him but his con-
science. 'Hilda' is his conscience. of
course"
"That Is my Interpretation exactly.
1t is wonderful play!"
ct is a wonderful play" She point
ed to crowd on the sidewalk. What
is that string of mem" she asked.
Their cab had been moving step by
step for half block. Again 1t came
to a standstill.
ITS the bread line. Had you never
seen it before?"
mo. Who are the men?"
God knows!" answered the Eng
lishman, with thrill of compassion
in his voice. "They are lot of half
frozen, starving, human wreckage,
who have been waiting there for an
hour to get loaf of bread"
Dorcas lowered the carriage win
dow and gazed out. Oswald watched
her. The girls face mirrored her feel
ings so keenly he could feel what was
passing In her mind. Her lips quiv-
cred and tears hung on her lashes-
She could not trust herself to speak.
81 shall never forget how that pitiful
line appealed to me the first time
saw It." the man continued, although
had known the poor of London since
boyhood. This homeless, famished,
orderly column, growing and growing
as one man after another comes creep
ing from his burrow to hold place,
was too much for me. / stood watch
ing 1t from that corner" he pointed
across the street, might after night.
used to try to help. In a few cases
did manage to put a man on his feet.
The task was generally hopeless, ex-
cept that could satisfy the hunger
of the moment. During hard winters
in New York / have seen the line
grow till there were hundreds In 1t.
Sometimes 1t goes down Tenth street
and around the corner"
Dorcas turned to look at him. Tears
stood in her eyes and her lips Quiv-
cred.
81 understand" he went on. "You
are wondering why we, well clothed,
fed and sheltered from the wind, are
here, and they are-there. I do not
know. 1t is a problem as old as the
world itself. All we can do is to help
individually, man to man."
Dorcas' gaze went back to the bread
line. Oswald sat in thoughtful silence.
Don't think me sacrilegious, Mr..
Oswald" she confessed, "but when ]
see such misery it makes me wonder
il the Eternal himself has a con
science" She sat watching the line
of patient, pallid men. Stragglere
crept up to join 1t from every direc.
ton. 81 simply cannot imagine God
who-Mr. OSWALD" She grasped his
arm with half-stified scream and laid
her trembling hand upon his.
What ia it," asked her companion
rising. What frightened you. Miss
Wentworth? He stared past her out
int the street. The block of vehicles
had begun to move. They were again
driving slowly down Broadway.
Nothing" she answered quickly
nothing but q chance resemblance
thought I-saw some one whom
once knew. 1t must have been q mis-
take"
The Englishman glanced at her curl
ously. She began to chat about the
play and other things. She was try
ing to forget whatever had startled
her. She said "Good-by" at the dool
Of her home. Oswald realized thai
she was eager to have him go. AS he
drove away he tried to recall anything
which could have happened. A WON
an of her poise would not be disturbed
by trifle.
Dorcas shut the street door and rar
upstairs to her brothers study, where
the phone stood. She searched dis
tractedly through the directory for the
address of livery from which coca
sionally she called a cab. The name
had escaped her. She stood for mo
ment trying in vain to recall It. ther
she rang the bell. Her wait scenes
endless before the old servant ap
peared.
Jason" she cried impatiently, "whs
Il Mr.. Wentworth's livery mani"
Costello, missy"
| "Stay here q minute" she said ~
she paused for centrai's answer. Thel
she stopped TO the phone.
Send cab. please. to DC Waveri!
place, Immediately"
She turned again to the old servant
Jason" she asked. you have wait
ed on Mr.. Merry when Enoch brough
him here-sick-haven't you?"
Deed has. missy. Many'e d.
| time Marse Enoch en- rs done all sort