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■w— ‘The REFORMER By CHARLES M. SHELDON. tedw of *ti lib Steps," “Robert Hardy's Seven Days," Etc, Copyright, 190L, by Charies if. Hhddon CHAPTER XII. She put hrr Hps on John Gordon's hand. CAME to tell you, Miss Marsh, that Mr. Gordon is very ill. It is doubtful”— “That dreadful place and work have killed him!” ex claimed Luella. Her face had paled at sight of Miss Andrews. It blanched now, and her exclamation contained a certain tone of reproach as if the wo man in front of her were to blame. “And, if they have, is it not better for him to die there after having fought a good fight for humanity than to live elsewhere and carry no burdens that kill?” It was a question provoked by the entire social cruelty of that world rep resented by such women as Luella and Mrs. Penrose. The gentle, patient, sac rificing spirit of the blue eyed woman who had given her whole life to lift the human burden burst out of its ha bitual repression of feeling and swept up and over Luella as if she were tin* incarnation of social selfishness which in all great cities of the world seeks ease and pleasure and luxury and de nies all claims of brotherhood, refuses to share its strength with the weak and never dreams of such a tiling as personal responsibility for childhood's ways of mankind’s suffering. It seemed a long time that Luella was silent After awhile she raised her eyes to Miss-Audrews. “I am all that you think 1 am. And yet”— “And yet, Miss Marsh, John Gordon loves you. He wants to see you before he” - “Did he send you here?” “No. But 1 know he longs to see you. Will you come?” “Yes,” Luella trembled. “But I am sure he does not love me! Oh, Miss An drews! Have pity on me! If 1 loved him truly, would I refuse to accept his test for me? Why do 1 shrink from that?” “Do you expect me to answer all the contradictions of your heart? You have been born into a social life that reck ons up its wealth in physical things. It is also true-pardon me for saying it— but it is true that you women of wealth and social activities are as a class des titute of any real love for humanity. You can feel remorse or momentary pity. You will weep at the representa tion of wrongs upon the stage in a well lighted, warmed and upholstered theater from a comfortable seat for which you have paid an exorbitant price, but you will not take the price of that seat and go with It yourself to a real human sufferer, or if you do it it is in a spasmodic effort to relieve a dull day or a compound with a con science that will not always leave you alone in your selfishness. The broad basic element of genuine love of hu manity is not know n by you or women like you. The richest, most cultured, most favored w'omen in this city are as a rule destitute of real human love for the masses. They are born without it, they live without it and, may God have mercy on them, they will die without it and receive the final condemnation spoken to those who, like the rich man in Jesus’ story, have their good things In this world, but will be shut out by an impassable chasm from the joys of Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham.” Again the spirit of this woman, who had for all those druary years of lone some burden bearing felt the crushing weight of a proud city’s wealth and fashion which lifted no finger to help In proportion to its enormous responsi bility, rose up and flowed over its life long repression in the presence of a woman who had refused the great love of a great man because she did not want to miss the things that Lazarus had to do without. And again L tella was painfully still. She uttered no denial; she apparently did not resent a syllable. She simply looked down, folding her bands in her lap, and Miss Andrews, gazing at her, could see no sign of anger or pride. But suddenly Luella rose, and, •tretebing out her bands toward her visitor, she said, while tears were In her eyes: “All this may be true, bat you say he la dying. Is it the time to say all this io me now? 1 love him! 1 do love him! You do not, or you would not be saying these things to me now—while he is dying!” She came up close to Miss Andrews and stood near her, with her hands clinched and her whole attitude ex pressive of the deepest feeling. “It is no wonder John Gordon loved her,” Grace Andrews said to herself with a pang at the thought of a beauty that had been dulled by years of contact with trouble, for Luella was magnifi cent in her strong young womanhood, and it needed only that one human love for the multitude to make her a crea ture of boundless affections worthy of the bravest, best man (hat ever lived. “I did not say he was dying. He is very ill. The issue is doubtful. But he is perfectly conscious, and it may be— it may be—that your presence will help him.” “Come, then, let us go,” said Luella. On the way to Hope House Luella asked again if John Gordon had sent for her. “He has spoken your name,” Miss Andrews hesitated, "but he has not asked to see you.” “Then I am going to see him on your Invitation?” “Yes,” she replied simply. “He will not care to see me,” Luella spoke as if to herself, and Miss An drews did not reply to her. When they reached the house, Luella was so agitated that she asked to be left alone in the library a little while. When she came to Miss Andrews and told her she was ready, Miss Andrews could not avoid almost u feeling of pity for her. “Is he very ill?” Luella asked. “You must be prepared for a great change in ban,” Miss Andrews said. When she reached Gordon’s room, Ford came to the door. He had been nursing Gordon. When Luella entered, Ford and Miss Andrews went out and knew that as they left the room Luella had kneeled at the side of the bed and put her lips on John Gordon's hand. She was not prepared for the sight of such a change in so short a time. But Gordon had thrown himself into the problem of Hope House from the first day of his residence with a whole souled abandon that had told tremen dously on his vitality. The daily strain cn his sympathies, the apparent hope lessness 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 lie was not at all prepared for its inces sant demand on physical and mental rosowrees. Nevertheless he had Hung all caution aside night after night, even when he felt growing on him the wea riness that, like a leaden weight, hung on heart and brain. The collapse came inevitably, and his condition was crit ical. It was the old story of driving the machine beyond its powore and without sufficient care for the delicate mechanism of nurves and heart and tissues. “John,” said Luella as she kneeled there, and he felt a tear fall on the hand she held, “you do not doubt my love for you, do you? Why did you not send for me yourself?” “You are here, Luella. That is all I want.” He spoke with great effort. He wa« conscious of a weakness that made him cling to any strong nature like a drown ing man. His whole interview with Luella must be interpreted in the light of that weakness. His mind was feel ing vaguely for relief from a dark, hopeless falling down Into some un- reaclcable place where Luella could not come. He 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 be might pass away even during the brief time she felt she ought to be there with him. “Promise me, Luella, that you will— will—be my wife. Let us give ourselves to the cause of childhood suffering—in these- these- awful places”— “Oh, I promise; yes, yes, John! Dear, I will come here and live anywhere— any where—if you will not die”- Khe clung to his hand, and he smiled. “Will you live with me here, Luella— here in Hope House’’— “Yes! Yes! For I do love you; I do love you, John!” she cried, sobbing, and he lay so still, so exhausted with his effort, that she rose at once and, go ing to the door, called for Miss An drews and Ford to come, thinking he had fallen into the sleep that knows no waking. But when they came they saw a smile on his face and a look of peace there that was more hopeful, Ford said, than anything yet recorded. Even as they all three stood by him he opened his eyes and whispered; “Will you kiss me, Luella? I am happy”— She leaned over and kissed his lips, and there was a look on her face which neither Miss Andrews nor Ford understood until after events made it clear. She went back into the library and sat there for some time, dreading to have news brought her that be had sunk into death. But Ford came in after awhile and said he was asleep, and, while at the furthest degree of mental and heart exhaustion, there was a fighting chance. So Luella went home and the next few weeks she passed in a suspense of feeling that left with her an experi ence impossible to describe. Every day she either went to Hope House or beard from there. When she went herself, she did not ask to see him. The delirium of brain fever was on him, and be knew no one, not even Ford. Luella shrank from going into the room. Once she looked In through the open door. Then she passed along back into the library, and tears ran down her face as she went and sat down near the large win dow overlooking the scene of the fire. Miss Andrews came in and found her looking out at the place. Most of the rubbish had been removed, and half a dozen saloons had gone up on as many corners. Tommy Randall’s double decker was unfinished, and its incom plete condition added to the general dreary hideousness of the prospect. Luella shuddered at it all. “Is there any prospect of getting this properly for your proposed park?” she asked as Miss Andrews came over by the window. “We do not know yet. You have heard the news of Randall's conviction in the court of special picas? Mr. Chambers succeeded in furnishing proof of conspiracy, and it looks very much as if Randall's day was over. The election next week will decide his fate. It looks now as if the present ad- uiuistration would be defeated, and tbe Reform party elect a full ticket. In that case tbe boss will have to go. He has already disposed of several lots around the double docker, and it looks very much as if he was getting ready to leave the city if the election goes against him. It ail turns on that is sue.” Luella looked wearily out of the win dow. Then she turned to Miss An drews. “When did the doctor say the—the— crisis for Mr. Gordon would be reached?” “in about a week,” Miss Andrews an swered gently. Her whole face and manner betrayed the nervous strain under which she had been living. Lu ella, who had come to know her as once was not possible, admired a ml wondered whenever this remarkable woman was near her. “Will the fever leave him any”— “I think not. Of course he will be very weak for a long time, but he will have hope to sustain him and—and your promise.” Miss Andrews added, with an effort: "Forgive me, Miss Marsh. I overheard your promise to him. It probably saved bis life.” “Do you think it did?” Luella asked faintly. She shuddered again and turned her eyes out of the window and was silent a long time. Miss Andrews possessed the quality of keeping still and did not return to say anything more. After awhile Luella said, "Let us pray God that all may be well with him when the crisis conies.” “Yes, please God,” Miss Andrews whispered. Then she went out of the library, and shortly after Luella went borne. When she came into the house, she found Mrs. Penrose waiting to see her. "How is Mr. Gordon?” Mrs. Penrose asked the moment Luella stepp d into he drawing room. Luella told her. “Then he is not out of danger?” "No. The crisis will come next week.” “Do you care very much, Luella?’ Mrs. Penrose asked somewhat careless ly. Luella did not answer. “If lie gets well, what then? Will you marr>^hlm?” Still Luella did not answer. Mrs. Penrose eyed her sharply. “You are unhappy, Luella. Is It be cause you are afraid he will die or”— Luella looked up. “If he lives, will you marry him?” Mrs. Penrose persisted. "I promised him that I would and that I would live with him in Hope House. But”— Mrs. Penrose was watching her closely. Luella was in need of a confessor, and she went oil: “But I cannot live there. I promised because I thought he was dying. I was carried away by my feelings. If I tried to live there with him, I should be wretched and make bis life miserable.” “So you have decided to make his life miserable by not living tfith him. That’s good feminine logic. For get ting into real dilemmas commend me to a woman. The graceful thing for him to do would be to die. It would at least save you the awkward busi ness oD explaining away your promise to him. I don’t envy you your Inter view with him if he lives. I’d sooner go and live In Hope House all my life.” “Don’t!” cried Luella. Hue walked up and down the room like a man, Mrs. Penrose watching her curiously. “Of course you never really loved John Gordon. If you hud, no question of Hope House would ever have risen. Seeing you have never yet loved any one, maybe you will allow me to pre sent the name of a suitor.” Luella stopped In her walk and faced Mrs. Penrose angrily. Mrs. Penrose continued In the sweetest manner: “Archie claims your attention. He has wearied me with his persistent api>cals for my pleading in his behalf. And this seems as good a time as any to bring his claims forward. You are not going to marry John Gordon; there fore marry somebody. And It cannot be denied that Archie is somebody, at least in his own estimation. He bus money, he ia no worse than a good many other young men like him, and he will not ask you to live in Hope House. What more could you ask, Lu ella? And what more could I say? It la not every day that one has an offer of marriage from such a young man as Archie. The occasion will never come again.” Mrs. Penrose spoke with a smile that could be interpreted as meaning any one of half a dozen things. “Stop!” cried Luella. "Never men tion Afch.le Penrose’s name to me again. If he were the only man In the uni verse, I would never marry him!” “And yet,” continued Mrs. Penrose slowly, “you throw away, like an old shoe, the true love of a good man sim ply because you are not w illing to give up a few of tbe fleshpots of civiliza tion. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher. Yet we prize these vanities beyond the best thing in the world, which no doubt is love.” “Ob, do not talk to me any more!” cried Luella. She resumed her w r alk, find Mrs. Penrose placidly resumed her talk. "Now that I have done my d-uty by my nephew at his request I am going to plead the cause of John Gordon, though he has not asked me to. Lu ella, do you realize what you are going to lllng out of your life if you go to John Gordon and tell him in cold blood that you lied to him when you prom ised to be his wife? He is a young man of splendid ability and spotless character. He has chosen a career that Is unselfish, noble and full of possibili ties. As his wife you could share in his struggles, but no less also in his triumphs. The whole social question is at the front in our republic. Men who, like John Gordon, stand up for the rights of humanity, especially the rights of childhood, are bound to com mand a hearing from tbe world. You are missing the rarest opportunity a woman ever bad to ally herself with a man who has something In his plan of life worthy of effort. What wdll you have to give up? A few baubles that make the physical life a little softer and a few that civilized power can get along without and in the most cases be tbe better for not having. For these baubles you are going to commit an act of deliberate murder of the best feeling a woman ever hud, murder of love for a true man. He is perfectly right to demand that you live with him in Hope House. You would have every reason t > despise him if he did not ask that of you. A man who has a great life work like that of John Gordon could not ask any woman to share it with hi*i \\ ho did not gladly accept all that went with it. Remember, Luella, my ina.nied life!” Mrs. Penrose was speaking with deep earnestness; she had ’ . kaning forward, all her usual careless, reckless manner gone com pletely. "I married for money. I was poor. 1 longed for the physical softness of things. 1 need not tell you, Luella, that my marriage was a failure so far as love is concerned. I got the money; l missed the love. What has it been worth? The poorest mother in the city, struggling with saddest poverty, but sure of the love of her husband and Children, has been heavenly happy com part'd with me. I? T never had a home. I had an establishment. I am a homeless woman. I shall grow old and dh‘ without ever having knowgi the earthly joy of a home. Luella, do you choose to be one of tbe army of home less women in the cities? The poor envy ooir line houses, our swell turn outs, our luxuries, our leisure, our din ners, our dresses, our money. They envy hell, for that is whatJt all means when love is absent. John Gordon of fers you heaven, Luella. You choose othw* place if you refuse him. 'You are mad to refuse him, Luella. You will live to regret It in time and eter nity.” “Oh, do not talk to me any more. I am miserable over it I” Luella nearly lost all control. She threw herself down on a couch and buried her head in the cushions. Mrs. Penrose got up and looked at her sternly. “I almost wiab John Gordon may not live, for your sake as well as his,” she said. Luella shuddered, and Mrs. Pen rose after a pause went out of the room. The crisis for John Gordon came on the night the election day. To Ford and the others who watched by him that night it seemed as if the struggle being fought out In the city was typi fied by the struggle going on In John Gordon’s room. Ilumc^rs of the political biittle-drifted Into Hope House /ill day. Both sides wese confident Both sides claimed u victory. It was righteousness against all forms of evil that had grown secure and Insolent, but was now alarmed hih! fighting for future existence. Tommy Randall typified the entire city administration. He had used enormous sums of money. The tenement district almost solidly voted for him against the friends who, like Miss Andrews, lived to better their condition. The whole thing illustrated magnificently the regular social degra dation of. American civic life. This story will be concluded in next Friday’s issue of The Ledger. A Sore TIiIdk. It is said that nothing is sure except death and taxes, but that is not al together true. Dr. King's New Dis covery for Consumption is a sure cure for all lung and throat troubles Thousands can testify to that. Mrs. C. B. VanMetre, of Hhepherd- town, W. Va., says, “I had a severe case of Bronchitis and for a year tried everything I heard of. but got no re lief. One bottle of Dr. King’s New Discovery then cured me absolutely.” It’s infallible for Croup, Whooping- Cough, Grip. Pneumonia and Con sumption. Try it. It's guaranteed by Cherokee Drug Co., duggists. Trial bottles free. Beg. sizes 00c, $1. F U R S Silberman Bros. Largest Fur House In America. Branches All Over Europe. Hik'hest cash price paid for all kind* of raw fur*. Hold your shipment until you ttet our price list. lYritt fur it to-day. We mail it free. OILBERMAN BROS., IZHo 123 Michitfau.‘it.. Ctiiue^O,fII. ARDALEY MURDER MYATERY. Hefferman's Ante Mortem Statement Implicates Leading Club Man. New York, May 27.—When it be came known that John Heffeiman, who was shot on the lawn of the Ardsley club neap Irvington, last Sunday eight, had made a statement before he died, naming a prominent member of the club as the man who had shot bim, the greatest doubt wae expreeeed by the people of Tarrytown and vicinity. It could not be pogeWale, they all said, that a man of s<uch social posi tion as the one named was the slayer, auid it was tacitly agreed among the dirb members and the owners of vil las around Ardsley-on-the-Hud*on, to guard hie name with groat secrecy. But the fact was brought out laet night before Coroner Russell at the Inquest that such a statement was made by Heffenman before he died, and the coroner adjourned the inquest until Thursday, when he will resume the hearing of testimony on the prem ises of the Ardsley club, la view of the scene of the murder. Dr. Denison, of Ards ley, who was the first physician called to attend he wounded coachman, aakl on the wit ness stand: “There is one other thing Hefferman said to me before he became uncon- ecious, and I feel it my duty to tell it here. He said that he recognized hie assailant as a prominent member of the club.” Dr. Denieon had told of his asking the wound*ed man how he was shot and* of sending him to Dobbs Ferry hospital, and he added fhe statement juat given && if with reluctance. Coro- nor Ru-bseH did not ask him to reveal rhe name. Meanwhile, the colony around Ards- ley is greatly excited. The police who have beon working on the murder mystery believe that If the man named by Hefferman did the shooting he was mistaken in hie man—Chat he treally meant to kill some ono else and see ing Hefferman drimly in the durk with a woman on the club terraces, took him for tho man he may ba/ve suspect ed. Maxmlllia® E. Sand, by whom Hef- ferman was employed as coachman, Is quoted as saying: “The coaK-hman could not hav3 been himself when he made tb» accusation. He was dying and oould not be ex pected to speak calmly or even correct ly. “Besides, the man named by Hetfer- man wag in the crowd that gathored after the shot* were hoard kx the club house and was one of those who car ried Hofferm&n from the spot where he fell to the railroad station to bo treat ed by the physician." G'ureit Kczenm, Itching Humor*, Pimples ami Carbuncles. Cost Nothing to Try. ii. B. B. (Botanic Blood Balm) is » certain and sure cure for eczema, itching ekin, humors, setbe, scales, watery blisters, pimples, aching bones or joints, boils, carbuncles, prickling poin in the skin, old eating sores, ul cers, etc. Botanic Blood Balm cures the worst arid most deep-seated cases b? enriching, purifying and vi talizing the blood, thereby giving a healthy blood supply to the skin. 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Hold by Cherokee Drug Co. United States District Court. United States op America. Western District of South Carolina. In Bankruptcy. In the matter of j Bankrupt’s Jones & Duff, and \ Petition for J. D. Jones, Individually, j Discharge. District of South Carolina. }- S. S. On this 14th day of May, 1903, on hear ing the foregoing petition it is Ordered by the court that a hearing he had upon the same, on the 30th day of May, A. D , 1903, before said Court at Charleston, in said district, at ten o’clock, in the fore noon, and that notice thereof be published in “The Ledger,” a news- paper printed in said district, and that all known creditors, and other persons in in terest, may appear at the said time and place, and show cause, if any they have, why the prayer of the said petitioner should not be granted. And it is further ordered by the Court that the Clerk shall send by mail, to all known creditors, copies of said petition, ami this order, addressed to them at their place of residence as stated. Witness the Honorable William H. Brawley, Judge of the said Court, and the seal thereof, at Charleston, in said district, on the 14th day of May, A. D., I9<>3 • Richard W. Hutson, Clerk. Thousands Have Kidney Trouble and Don’t Know it. How To Find Out. Fill a bottle or common glass with your water and let it stand twenty-four hours; a sediment or set tling indicates an ) unhealthy condi tion of the kid neys; if it stains your linen it is evidence of kid ney trouble; too frequent desire to pass it or p-B 1 in the back is also convincing proof that the kidneys and blad der are out of order. What to Do. 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Harry Dodenhoff, , Petition Bankrupt. ) Discharj District of South Carolina. J- S. S On this 15th day of May, A. I)., 1903, on hearing the foregoing petition it i* Ordered by the Court that a hearimgbe | had upon the same, on the 30th ffdy of ; May, A. D., 1903, before said Court at Charleston, in said district at ten o’clock in the fore-noon, and that notice thereof be published in J' ‘The Ledger,” a news- j paper printed in said district, and that all known creditors, and other persons in interest, may appear at the said time and place, and show cause, if any ther] have, why the prayer of the said pctl-| tioner should not Ik* granted. And it is further ordered by the Court I that the Clerk shall send by mail to alll known creditors copies of said petition) and this order, addressed tq. them tbeir place of residence as stated. Witness the Honorable William Brawley, Judge of the said Cour the seal thereof, at Charleston, in' district, on the 51th day of May A. D.,| 1903. Richard W. Hutson, 5-22-29. Clerk. 5-22-29. 5-22-29.