The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-02
THE EVENING TINES WASHINGTON TUESDAY JANUARY 2 1900

man was the stronger man of the two.
What brings you out this way tocay?'
questioned Aldrich.
IN tell you. You've asked me to mary
you, haven't you?"
Yes"
We'll, I'm going to do IT,"
Annie, you make me TOO happy
That's enough said Miss Kirkman.
waving him away. we haven't rny time
for romance now. mean business. You're
going TO the convention next week"
Yes"
Ard you're going to speak?"
"Of course"
That's right. Let me see your speech"
He drew a typewriter manuscript from
the drawer and handed it 10 her. She ran
her eyes over the pages, murmu, ing to
herself. "Uh, huh, 'wavsring, weak, ,a-il-
lating administration. have not given Us
the protection our rights as citizens de-
manded-while our brothers we're murder
ed in the South. Nero fiddle1 viii Rome
burned, while this modern'-'uh. hpf. oh.
yes. just as / thought" and with idden
twist Miss Kirkman, tore the papers ac- oss
and pitched them into the CRATE.
Miss Kirkman-Annie, what dc you
mean?"
4 mean that if you're going TO marry
me. I'm not going 10 let you go to the
convention and kill yourself"
Look here don't talk 10 me about con-
victioEs. The colOred man Is the under
dog. and the under dog las no right to
have convictions. Listen, you're going TO
the convention next week and you're go
ing 20 make a speech, but il won't be that
speech. ! have just cone from Mr.. Ham
iltOn's. That convention is to be closely
watched. lie is TO have his people there
and they are TO take down the words Of
~ Ne
sent 10 his central committee. The man
who goes there With an imprudent tongIs
goes down. You'd better get TO work and
see II you can't think Of something good
the Administration has done and dwell
on that"
'WheWt"
We'll. I'm off"
But Annie, about the wedding"
Good morning. well talk about the
wedding after the convention"
The door closed on her last words. and
Joseph Aldrich sat there wondering and
dazed at her manner. Then he began 70
think about the Administration There
must be some good things TO say for II,
and he would find them. Yes, Annie was
right-and wasn't she hustler thought
PART Il
It was on The morning OF the 22d and
near O'Clock. the hour at which the con-
vention was to be called 10 order. But Mr.
Gray OF Ohio had not yet gone in. He
stood at the door Of the convention hall in
deep converse with another man. His com
panion. was younger looking sort OF per-
son. His forehead was high and his eyes
were keen and alert The face was mobile
and the mouth nervous. IL was the face
OF an enthusiast. man with deep and in
tense beliefs and the boldness or, perhaps
rashness 20 uphold them.
Il tell you. Gray" he was saying. Its
an Outrage, nothing less Life. liberty. and
the pursuit Of happiness. Bah, It's all
tWaddle. Why We can't even be secure 10
the first two, how can We hope for the
Iast2"
You're right. EIkins.' said Gray. sober
iy. and though ] hold a position under the
administration, when il comes TO a consid-
Grafton Of the wrongs OF my race. l cannot
remain silent
II cannot and viii not hold nothing
from them. and / owe them nothing. arm
only boOkkecper in a commercial house.
where their spite cannot reach me so you
may rest assured that l shall not bite my
tongue"
Nor shall 1. We shall ali BE- colored
men here together. and talk Z hope. freely
one to the other. Shall you introduce your
resolution today"
move more rapidly than ] expect them
TO. u viii have 70 come up uadsr NV
1 bushes. ] should think
Hardly. Get yourself appointed on the
committee on resolutions"
Good; but how can To-
III see 70 that. ! know the s-op
pretty well. An, good morning. Miss
KiTkmau. How do you do AIdrich o."
I Gray pursued. turning 70 the newcomers.
D II 4 a.. ra.r
the hail.
That's Miss Klrkman- You've heard OF
her She ieJches and carries FOR Luther
Hamilton and his colleagues. and has re
I suspected OF doing spying. also"
who Dr. that with her?"
on that's her man Friday, other aIse
Joseph AlGriCh by name. a fellow she's
trying 10 make something OF before she
marriCs him. shes got the pull 10 d 4
too
Why don't you turn them 6owu7'
An, my boy, you're yOu-g, you're
young. you show g. Don't YOU know that
a wind strong enough TO uproor an oak
only Tipples the leaves % a crgepar against
the WgII. Outside OF the race tlar woman
/ is really considered one OF the leaders. and
she trades upon the fact"
But why do you allow this base deceP-
tion 10 go2"
his hand on the others shoulder with mock
tenderness) because these seemingly saga
ciOUs whites among whom we live are
really a very cr5dulOus people. and the FIRST
one who goes to them with a good front
and says, Look here. I am the leader OF
the celored people; ! am their oracle and
prophet they Immediately eXalt and say,
| That's so Now. do you see why Miss
Kirkman has a pulp"
q see; but come on; let's 90 in; there
! goes the gavel.'
The convention hall was already crowd
ed. and the air was fun Of the hustle OF
the payment of their fees by those who
wanted the privilege OF the floor there was
a perfect rush for the secretary's desk.
Bank notes huttered everywhere. Miss
Kirkman had on a suspiciously new dress
and bonnet but she had done her work we'll
nevertheless. She looked up into the gal
lery in a corner that. overlooked the stage
and caught the eye Of a young man whO
sat there. notebook in hand He smiled
and she smiled Then she looked over at
Mr. Aldrich, who was not sitting with her,
and they both smiled complacentIy. There's
nothing like being on the inside.
After the appointment of committees. the
genial bishop began his opening address.
and very careful. pretty address ii was,
towel worded. well balanced. dealing
in broad generalities and studOusly say
inE nothing that would indicate that he
had any intention OF directing the policy o.
the meeting. or course IL brought forth
: all the applause that a bishops address
deserves. ano the ladies in the back seats
fiuttered Their flowers, and said: "Th-
dear man, how eloquent he is"
Gray had succeeded in getting Elkins