The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-31

presiding officer. sprans TO its feet and
| cheered There was not dissenting voice
and ~ members were present.
| Yet within a week the Brentwood Ban
ner began publishing insidious little par
| agraphs. 1T is understood that the RI
nes contemplate a change In the cap
taincy. What has Brentwood done th;f
4 several capable officers should be over
| looked and the command rendered 10 a
kicked out captain from the army?" was
the first specimen. The Examiner asked
| II the rides expected 10 add to their popu-
| larity by putting at their head a man
| who would have slaughtered a score OF
fellow citizens but for the prompt and
merciful intervention OF local officials.
| The Examiner was supporting the sher-
: III for reelection, and this official well
knew the paragraph to be utterly unjust
and untrue, but he couldn't quarrel with
his bread and butter. and II was best 10
admit tacitly, now that the danger was
over, that he had actually interposed in
behalf OF the strikers. At all events. he
did nothing 10 cause Its correction. The
Brentwood Sun PopulisD said II any
thing was needed to add 10 the contempt
In which the rifles were held Il was the
rumor that they had rendered the COM
mand 10 an ex-officer or the army whose
drunken folly was so near 10 costing
scores OF precious lives not a fortnight Il
devote valuable time and energy to the
public service, with little hope OF any re-
ward whatever, read these insidious at
tacks with infinite pain and sense OF
wrong and injustice. against which he
stood powerless. Other influences, too,
were evidently at work. The election.
which was 10 have taken place the first
Monday in January, was postponed a
fortnight Boniface. Eric's friend OF the
Brentwood. took him aside and advised
him 10 withdraw his name. The commn-
tee. on the contrary, had begged him TO
stand pat" Meantime Langdon contin-
ued drilling and instructing, the company.
and two nights a week the armory was
crowded with citizens whosS.interest had
been aroused and who came to look on
Veteran soldiers q. A. r. men went away
saying that fellow knew his trade up to
the handle. Prominent business men look
ed on silently and did a good deal OF
thinking as they strolled homeward.
Newspapers reporters previously In
structed, wrote scathing or satirical par
agraphs about martinez mannerisms i'm
ported instructors, dismissed drillmasters
and the like. and Eric. proud. sad, sensi-
tive. would gladly have given up and
shut himself in his sooty den at the yards
but for a letter from Melville, 20 whom
he had sent all the papers. Stick 20 II,
Langdon, he said. THE time will come
now will have TO change their tune" This
was what the majors letter said. but not
the majors hand. His eyes still felt the
force OF that blow. and Ethel Grahame
was his amanuensis, II have faith In your
future" said he. 80 have l." in tiny
letters wrote the amsnuensis II. G."
And so, despite the warning OF mine
host OF the Brentwood. Langdon stood
for election the third Monday in January
WA hAa 10. h.
tenant and son OF Brentwood's richest
banker being the successful competitor.
A Merited Rebuke," referring TO Lang
don. said The Sun: "A Merited Promo
ton" referring to Perrigo junior, q boy
OF 22, said The Banner: "A Foregone
Conclusion" said The Examiner But II
was noticeable that the last two named
refrained from further active abuse OF
Langdon. The object OF the magnates
was accomplished In comprising the. de-
feat OF what The Sun called HIS "aspira-
tions. Down In their hearts both editors
and magnates realized that Langdon was
a wronged and injured man. 1t wouldn't
do TO say so. Of course, yet he had check
ed that mob at a moment when its trt-
umph meant the birth OF a reign OF ter
ror In Brentwood He alone had stood
between them and anarchy. They bowed
TO the behest OF the Seattle because N
practically owned them. The editor OF
The Banner met Langdon at the Brent
wood two days later, stopped, stammered
and held out his hand
Mr. Langdon, my names Armstrong"
said ne. I'm managing editor OF The
Banner. and ] thought I'd like TO say
TO you that IL personally don't an
prove OF the attitude my paper has had
TO assume in your case. / suppose YOU
know the papers have to carry out GER
tain lines OF policy and sometimes at
tack men whom the editors would
much rather befriend."
Langdon turned very white SIis
hand naturally had been extended 10
accept that OF the stranger--it Is the
American fashion-but now Il was with
drawn. His lips quivered a bit. but his
eyes never flinched from their gaze
straight into those OF the journalist
Il have no use whatever for the friend
ship OF a man who will privately assure
me OF his good VIII" said he, "and pub
licly defame me" Then he turned his
back on him and walked away.
Boniface saw the whole thing and
gasped. Sherwood. clerk at the desk.
and Bingham. Brentwood's mayor.
were also witnesses, and the story spread
Here was a man who not only WASH e
afraid OF n mob. but even dared the press.
and the man who can do that in this land
OF freedom takes his life IN his hands
You've cooked your goose" said
Boniface sadly. for he had grown 10
like Langdon more than n little and 20
feel for him deeply in his loneliness
You've made an enemy OF the most