The evening times., 1900-01-02
THE EVENING TINES WASHINGTON TUESDAY. JANUARY 1900

man was the stronger man of the two.
What brings you out this way today"
questioned Aldrich.
"Tll tell you. You've asked me to marry
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. I'VE haven't any time
for romance now. l 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 TO her. She ran
her eyes over the pages, murmuiing to
herself, "Uh, huh, 'wavering, weak, Nacil-
lating administration, have not given US
the protection our rights as citizens de-
manded-while our brothers were murder
ed in the South. Nero fddle1 whi e Rome
burned, while this modern'-uh, huh. OH
yes, just as l thought and with idden
twist Miss Kirkman tore the papers ac-oss
and pitched them into the CRATE.
Miss Kirkman-Annie, what do you
mean?"
IL mean that if you're going to marry
me, I'm not going to let you go to the
convention and kill yourself"
But my convictions"
Look here, don't talk to me about con-
victioEs. The colored man is the under
dog, and the under dog has no right to
have convictions. Listen, you're going TO
the convention next week and you're go
ing to make speech but it won't be that
speech. / have just come from Mr. Ham
iltoB's. That convention is to be closely
watched. He is to have his people there
and they are TO take down the words OF
every man who talks, and they will be
sent TO his central committee. The man
who goes there with an imprudent tongue
goes down You'd better get to work and
see il you can't think of something good
the Administration has done and dwell
on that"
"Whew!"
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 to
think about the Administration. There
must be some good things to say for 1t,
and he would find them. Yes, Annie was
right-and wasn't she hustler though?
PART II.
1t 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 a 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. II was the face
Of an enthusiast man with deep and in
tense beliefs, and the boldness or, perhaps,
rashness TO uphold them.
Il tell you. Gray" he was saying. It's
an outrage, nothing less. Life. liberty, and
the pursuit OF happiness. BAH It's all
twaddle. Why We can't even be secure in
the first two, how can We hope for the
last?'
You're right, Elkins." said Gray, sober
ly. and though hold position under the
administration, when il comes to a cOnsid-
Grafton Of the wrongs Of my race, cannot
remain silent
Il cannot and will not | hold nothing
from them. and owe them nothing. | am
only a bookkeeper in a commercial house,
where their spite cannot reach me, 30 you
may rest assured that l shall not bite my
tongue"
Nor shall l. We shall all be coiored
men here together. and talk. hope. freely
one to the other. Shall you introduce your
resolution today"
Il won't have a chance unless things
move more rapidly than l expect them
to. 1t viii have TO come up under NV
busiues | should think.
Hardly. Get yourself appointed on the
committee on resolutions
Good: but how can 10"
IN see TO that: ! know the b.srop
pretty well An. good morning. Miss
Kirkman How do you do, Aldrich?'
Gray pursued, turning 10 the newcomers,
who returned his greeting and passed into
the hall.
That's Miss kirkman You've heard of
her She fetches and carries for Luther
Hamilton and his colleagues and has lie
suspected OF doing spying. also"
who i that with her?''
Oh. that's her man Friday; other wise
Joseph AlGrich by name. fellow shes
trying to make something OF before she
marries him She's got the pull TO do t.
too"
Why don't you turn them down."
AN. my boy, you're Young; you're
young: you show it. Don't you k:ow that
a wind strong enough to uproot an oak
only ripples the leaves OF crysper against
the WILL? Outside Of the race taat woman
is really considered one of the leaders. and
she trades upon the fact
But why do you allow this base decep-
tion 10 go?''
Because, EIklns. my child" tGray put
his hand on the others shoulder with mock
tenderness) because these seemingly saga
cious whites among whom We live are
really a very cTedulOus people and the first
one who goes to them with good front
and says, Look here. l 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 pull?"
Il see; but come on; let's go in; there
goes the gavel.'
The convention hall was already crowd
ed. and the air was full Of the hustle OF
settling down. When the time came for
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 futtered everywhere. Miss
Kirkman had on a suspiciously new dress
and bonnet. but she had done her work well
nevertheless. She looked up into the gal
lery in 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 complacently. There's
nothing like being on the inside.
After the appointment of committees. the
genial bishop began his opening address,
and a very careful. pretty address it was,
tco-well worded. well balanced, dealing
in broad generalities and studously say
ing nothing that would indicate that he
had any intention of directing the policy OF
the meeting. or course it brought forth
all the applause that bishops address
deserves, and the ladies in the back seats
ffuttered their flowers, and said: THE
dear man, how eloquent he is"