Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-07-23

y a.
fell on him. In any event there was
no money available for his further
education.
So bravely and without complain he
babe farewell to college and his
dreams and took up the family bur
den. Being a young man Of intelli-
gence and industry he was fairly well
equipped for the work and although
his heart was not in it he succeeded
in preventing a 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-
ton.
1t was not long before he became a
thorn and 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-
pie 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
out again in the ward in an open
fight in which they used all their re-
sources, and headed another indie
pendent delegation which was joined
bv others in two other wards they
became alarmed and realized that he
must be dealt with as a positive fac
tor.
In the meantime 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 a 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
ut the fathers death had been hard
TO realize. The rigid economy insist
ID upon by Duncan when he under
took the task of reestablishing the
business was not taken to kindly and
there was an atmosphere almost of
complaint and discomfort at home.
And so when Alice Morton crept in
% 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
led mind and heart. He sought her
.ompanionship more and more and
"ame more and more to cOnfide in
her and lay down upon her hopeful
mind the problems that confronted
lin. As his attentions came to be
more and more marked his people
lrose in revolt.
"Why, 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 a good mar
| riage-which you can easily do with
your name and personality"
"By a good marriage you mean a
rich marriage, I suppose" he replied
with more feeling than he often dis
played in family differences. "Well,
I must disagree with you. Our only
hope is to live within our income and
make the business go I hope l am
not an unmindful son and brother,
but I declare myself here and now
that come what may will not be a
fortune hunter and matrimonial adj
venturer. All else will I 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 or her
nature, the tenderness of her sym
pathy 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" she replied with
surprise and pity in her face and
voice, "wnat are you saying? You
know it is impossible. You already
have more of load than you can
carry"
"But I need help to carry it" he re-
piled. He went on in passionate ap-
peal, plying her for an answer
to the question as to her love until
she broke down under his ardor and
admitted that she loved him-but as
to the matter of an engagement she
was adamant.