Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-23
A CRUCIAL. TEST
  By HORACE GLASS
Copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Co.,,

w pelled to give up his college course at the end of the Freshman year he was bitterly disappointed. From his boyhood he had looked for ward to political career with all the enthusiasm of his ardent nature. He had gone in for political economy and all the allied studies and his head was filled with ideas and ideals. He knew that his father was not wealthy but had supposed that his business was on sound basis and would stand for his education and start in the law.
 Hence it came as much of shocb to him as to the rest of the family and the outside world to learn after the sudden death of his father that the business was badly involved and only by the closest and most faithful and intelligent application could the entire property be saved from being swept away. Being the only male member of the family of mature years, this task manifest1y fell on him. Tn any event there was no. money available for his further education.
 So brave1y and without complain he bade farewell to college and his dreams and took up the family bur den. Being young man of intel1i- gence and industry he was fairly well equipped for the work and although his heart was not in it he succeeded in preventing crash and got the business in shape where it yielded an economical living for the family and tended toward the up grade.
 Of course he did not lose his inter est in politics -the leopard does not change his spots, but his vision was changed from congress, the senate and the presidency to the closer du- ties of good citizenship and partici- patton in ward and precinct organiza- tion.
 It was not long before he became a thorn and a menace to the gang who controlled his party in the city and county. When he first surprised the managers of the organization by heading an independent delegation from his ward in the county conven- ton and fighting the prearranged slate, they laughed at him and were satisfied by the victory of their slate. But when he attacked their methods and plans by persistent talk with peo- ole with whom he came in contact and by communication to the papers as well, they became uneasy and when a year later he cleaned them fight in which they used all their re- sources. and headed another inde- pendent delegation which was joined by others in two other wards they became alarmed and realized that he must be dealt with as positive fac- tor.
 In the meantime 8 new factor had come into Duncan's life. He fell in love and when a, man of his temper ament falls in love it is 8 serious matter. He was practically alone in his family. His mother. and sisters had always esteemed themselves in comfortable circumstances and the truth so suddenly thrust upon them at the fathers death had been hard to realize. The rigid economy insist ed upon by Duncan when he under took the task of reestab1ishing the business was not taken to kindly and there was an atmosphere almost of complaint and discontenb at home.
 And so when Alice Morton crept in to his life and he learned little by little to know the breadth of her mind and the deep sympathy of her nature it came as balsam to his wor- ried mind and heart. He sought her companionship more and more and came more and more to confde in her and lay down upon her hopeful mind the problems that confronted him. As his attentions came to be more and more marked his people arose in revolt.
 tssWhy, Duncan" said his mother, the Mortons have neither money nor social position. You must not be- come involved with them. Our only hope is for you to make good mar riage-which you can easily do with your name and personality
 By 8 good marriage you mean 8 rich marriage, I suppose he replied with more feeling than he often dis played in family differences. Well, must disagree with you. Our only hope is to live within our income and make the business go I hope I am not an unmindful son and brother, but declare myself here and now that come what may will not be fortune hunter and matrimonial ad- venturer- All else will do for the family but not that"
 And his intimacy with Alice Morton continued and increased until she be- came the brightest spot in his life. And then one soft spring evening carried away by the poetry of her nature, the tenderness of her sym pathy4 with him and his aspirations and something he saw in the depths of her brown eyes he declared his love for her and asked her to be his wife.
 "Why, Duncan 8 she replied with surprise and pity in her face and voice, "what are you saying? You know it is impossible. You already have more of load than you can carry