River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-01-24


glowing prophecies of a future fun Of
power and influence and plaudits and
glory and opportunity-and somehow
that future seemed to be entwined
with her life and the strong sensuous-
ness that ever emanated from her
presence.
The past in the Jun country town,
with the everlasting round Of COM
monplace toll and uninteresting rou-
tine, seemed to stihe him as he
thought of it. The future as painted
by the woman with thu flashing black
eyes and soft sensuous curyes-with
salon at Washington as the scene,
salon presided over by her and with
place and power at his command, and
the opportunity to become a part of
the political life Of the day and, per-
haps to write his name in the history
Of the times-all this was so much
more alluring.
He rose from his easy chair and
drawing on his oyercoat walked slow
~ to her hotel. There was the usual
soirce there and he went sadly per-
turbed.
She greeted him cordially and was
not long in discovering his state of
mind. She lured him to a coy corner
and turning on him with an express
sion in her eyes which set the blood
bounding through his veins laid her
hand on his arm and with her face so
close to his that he could feel her
breath on his cheek, said:
"Mr. Crawford Philip, you must not
ruin your future by making mistake
on this bill. Cannot you see that you
not only are planning the ruin Of your
own life, but also of the Others who
are interested in you? Do not be
weak and foolish. Remember there is
tide in the affairs of men that
taken at its flood leads on to fortune,
neglected it seldom offers a second
opportunity. The flood is here for
you. Do not turn away from it,"
He heard her as in trance. The
intoxication of her presence deadened
his senses and distorted his Judgment.
Leaning forward he took her hand
and whispered:
II will vote for the bill"
There was a gentle pressure as her
hand was withdrawn and she replied
with ayerted face:
~ thought you would be governed
by your reason rather than a within.
VIII you speak for it? 1t would help
very much with two or three country
members who are on the fence"
mo, not that" he exclaimed, alb
ruptly, rising and throwing up one
hand as if to ward off blow "If 1
do not oppose the bin it is all that
can be expected from me-"
You foolish boy, with your impos-
sible IDEALS" she said with a smile.
well, l think you are wise after ALL"
Then looking at him keenly she
said;
by the way, l heard to-day that IL
the bill passed, s. NJ & T. would jump
20 points on the exchange and that
the bin would pass If you did not OPP
pose it. 1t might be worth while to
place an order for / eco shares"
Before he could reply they were in
terruptad and soon after he departed.
He was glad the die was cast. but was
not wholly satisfied with the result.
He sat long time in his room staring
at the fire and thinking. AS he was
preparing to retire he opened a bu-
reau drawer and in rummaging for
something turned up photograph. It
was that of sweet-faced girl with
honest gray eyes, broad forehead
aud wayy brown hair-stroug, clear
cut features thoroughly womauly and
thoroughly honest He stood gazing
blanllly at the photograph for some
minutes Then he flushed deeply. His
boyhood sweetheart with whom he
had so often planned and replanned
his career. How she had faded from
his mind during the weeks he had
been under the spell of the black-eyed
beauty at the hotel. Then he thought
of the advice he had just listened to
from the lips Of the one woman and
Of the very different advice he would
have received from the other While
there yet rang in his ears the seduc-
tive words Of the woman of the world
showing him the promised land to be
the price of Supplying his conscience,
in imagination he heard the honest
voice of the girl back in the home
town strengthening his every good
purpose and stimulating his ideals to
yet higher fights.
And this was the girl he had for
gotten while he had listened to the
voice of temptation, lulled by the
consciousness of the temptress.
Suddenly he dropped the photo
graph and strobe TO his table where
he wrote the following note to the
hlack-eyed woman at the hotel:
IF YOU have bought S. NJ. & P.
stock | would advise you to sell it,
have changed my mind and under no
circumstances win vote for the
Thompson bill, Philip Crawford"
His speech the next day against the
bin is stiu remembered in the state
capital as the most powerful and elo-
quept of many sessions The girl
with the gray eyes wrote him about
it in glowing terms.
/ lie is now at Washington and a