Evening journal., 1902-12-23
The Awakening

holidays trying to write an
editorial for his paper, hut his
thoughts refused to form themselves
into the sentences he desired.
This was an entirely new state OF
affairs for Tom Williams, whose
thoughts always concentrated them
selves at his command. ard he gem
orally reeled OH pages Of editorial mat
ter sparkling with wit or pleading for
q good cause. The reason mis- thoughts
refused to perform their accustomed
duties was a pair OF brown eyes-whose
eyes he did not lInow-that constantly
lcame up before him, thus driving aa
iother thoughts away
lie finally gave up in disgust and.
taking his hat and stick. went out for a
walk, thinking "a turn through The crisp
December air would restore him to his
normal condition, but the brown eyes
still haunted him. lie haally returned
ito the office, resolving TO drive them
frcm his thoughts.
When TEN Williams made a vow it
was generally understood that it was
made to some effect.
This fact had been demonstrated in
the small town Of Lawrence. where he
had come five years previous fresh from
college to take charge OF a newspaper
The sheea belOre his coming had been
one of those papers that struggle along.
nobody knows how. but by all right
r thinking persons condemned. Il was
| conducted by Colonel Josiah Tilghman.
a gentleman with "a face the hue of am
,over-ripc peach, surmCunted by a bald
head and decorated with a nose like a
! deCayed tomato. His rotund figure was
always clad in a frock coat much too
, large. a giddy waistcoat and soiled
linen. He strutted about the streets of
the village giving people advice uqcn
3 how to attain riches, but possibly
= never dreaming why the tickle goddess
= had never smiled upon him.
, He was a regular habituate at the
, little tavern, and in the smoky room
J which served as beth bar and office
, with chair tilted back and hat at Q
right angle. he reignej supreme. set
Ting all arguments with a lofty air
= as though there were no higher appeal
, In fact, ne was q man whose scruples
% were very elastic. and TO whom a few
= drinks of the vile whiskey dispensed
4 over the bar and the placing of few
& ~ INnUuikN llA MS AnIdAAN kAtnrN palm
I would cause him TO suddenly think the
q same maner he was wanted and he
j. would supplement them with a scathine
o editorial upon the person or persons
= who opposed the measure he had beer
;. hribed to sustain
d The colonel was an easy victim in
d the hands Of the politicians Of Law
3 renee, who used him in their nefarious
3. dealings until the town and county ac-
s quired the title of being the most cen.
c lrupt i'm the whole State.
{. Such was the condition when Ton
Y Williams bought the paper. The frs
d Issue was looked forward TO with mucl
Interest by the people of Lawrence an,
A 4 surrounding country. particularly bl
a the politicians and when it came Ou
n lat the accustomed time they were boti
d surprised and indignant. Instead o
le the mGclSy sheet that Colonel Thigh
r. man had been accustomed to givni
1t them, they found q bright. clean. news.
!, lpaper, but when they scanned the edi
torial page Il was as though a boml
]. had exploded in their midst. In tn
re place Of the wishy-wash editorials C
IT the erstwhile colonel were strong we'll
n written articles condemning the poll
ls ticians, appealing TO the better think
" ing class to stamp ont the evil Of DO
is iltlcal ccrruDticn and to elect homes
M men to FIJI their places.
10 The next morning the colonel walk
rs ed into the cffice OF the Herald ant
~ seeing Tom at his desk, busily writing
I'd he said:
S. "Welll young fellow, your residenc
in this town Will not be long. Tn
y politicians will force you to the wa
r-iin no time. Your young ideas are to
strongly expressed 10 suit the readin
&c public OF Lawrence. You had bette
Pr drop this reform business right whei
IS you are, CIT the chances are favorab
le lfor you to either walk out of this tow
es or be escorted on rail-
re- Tom looked at the man square
the eyes for a moment before he said
nd Colonel Tilghman. it may be as yc
nd say. but so long as ! ana editor OF u
ne Herald. Just so long will / continue
fight this band of public robbers.
le- have pledged myself to do so. and
Mace in their stead. honest fearle
no men. who will guard the interests
r." the people with a Jealous care. and
fer will win the fair-minded people OF tn
town to my way of thinking My re
Id son for coming here was to help exit
zen cate this gang, and I am going to
me it."
.ir- The colonel never entered the OFF
again. hut with many others he start
nly waeing a vigorous campaign agar
ly; the Herald, but in spite Of all it Pc
Jod lpered. and in four years after its NJ
my administration, political affairs in
) is lcounty had an entirely different
and rect. The political Offices were MI
son by men who were q credit to the pool
they. represented. and the financial
fairs were made public through
S. columns Of the Herald, which b