human
Well, son, here it is--the two kinds of playing, and here we have what they call the bad people playing. The Van Dorns and the Satterthwaites will tell you that vice is the recreation of the poor. And it's more or less true. The elder man scratched his beard and faced the stars:
gpt
It's a devilish puzzle. Character makes happiness; I've got that down fine. But what makes character? Why is vice the recreation of the poor? Why do we recruit most of our bad boys and all of our wayward girls from those neighborhoods in every city where the poor live? Why does the clerk on $12 a week uptown crowd into Doctor Jim's wedding party, and the glass blower at $4 a day down here crowd into 'Big Em's' and 'Joe's Place' and the 'Crescent'? Is poverty caused by vice; or is vice a symptom of poverty? And why does the clerk's wife move in 'our best circles' and the miner's wife, with exactly the same money to spend, live in outer social darkness?
human
I've asked myself that question lots of times, exclaimed the youth.
gpt
I can't make it work out on any theory. But I tell you, father, the son clinched the hand that was free from the lines, and shook it,
human
Adams--Adams, and a woman's voice,
gpt
Oh, Grant.
human
Why, exclaimed the father,
gpt
Grant stopped the horse and climbed out over the sleeping body of little Kenyon.
human
In a moment, replied Grant. Then he came to a shadow under the station eaves and saw the young people hiding.
gpt
Adams, you can help us, said Van Dorn.
human
We slipped off in the Doctor's phaëton, to get away from the guying crowd and we have tried to get the house on the 'phone, and in some way they don't answer. The horse is tied over by the lumber yard there. Will you take it home with you to-night, and deliver it to the Doctor in the morning--whatever--
gpt
Why, of course. Glad to have the chance. He was awkward and ill at ease, and repeated,
human
Why, of course, anything. But Van Dorn interjected:
gpt
You understand, I'll pay for it-- Grant Adams stared at him.
human
Why--why--no-- stammered Grant in confusion, while Van Dorn thrust a five-dollar bill upon him. He tried to return it, but the bride and groom ran to the train, leaving the young man alone and hurt in his heart. The father from the buggy saw what had happened. In a few minutes they were leading the Doctor's horse behind the Adams buggy.
gpt
I didn't want their money, exclaimed Grant,
human
I wanted their--their--
gpt
You wanted their friendship, Grant--that's what you wanted,
human
And he wanted a hired man, cried Grant.
gpt
Just a hired man, and she--why, didn't she understand? She knew I would have carried the old horse on my back clear to town, if she'd let me, just to hear her laugh once. Father, the son's voice was bitter as he spoke,
human
Perhaps, on your wedding trip, Grant, your wife will agree with you too, son.