The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1903-09-02
A POST CAMPAIGN IDYL.
A REWARD OF VIRTUE, OR THE CON-
ISOLATION PRIZE.
More Bouquets for Senator Noel.
Written for The Leader ]

ana SpeecnmaKlng ana nanQSnaK-
ing, of being talked about and
written about, of being lauded as
a god and abused as deviI-had
ended for the State Senator in de-
feat. And he had been so surel
not only that he would be elected
to the Office of Governor, but that
his political progress would not
end this side of the United States
Senate. Not until the final mo-
ment when the returns were all in
and the result demonstrated be-
yond the possibility of a doubt, or
rather of a hope( for what candidate
ever doubts?) could he realize
that his splendid record in the
various public Offices he had fill
ed, his acknowledged ability, his
unquestioned patriotism and his
high moral standing, were so little
appreciated by the people whom
he had faithfully served; that in
stead of endorsing him, and
through him all that made for
good government with hand
some plurality, they had rudely
thrust him aside and now given
his most radical opponenta major
ity vote.
The day was a gloomy one. A
slow, persistent rain was falling.
There alone in the dleary law Of
fee the Senator heroically tried
to accept defeat; but the
natural buoyancy of a sanguine
temperament deserted him. Sto-
icism failed to come to his
relief and Philosophy fed far.
Convinced of his superiority over
the successful aspirant, bitterly
he resented his treatment by the
masses-caught by tinsel and gilt
swayed by the catchy" ora
tory of a man most dangerously
gifted-"born to dazzle, not illu-
inmate, mankind"-erratic as he
was brilIiant-perverted in many
ways a paradoxical being i'm
FASHIONED but calculating-pro-
Tossing to honor and preserve the
traditions of the South, yet posing
as an iconoclast, religious, ire
ligious, and sacreligious by turns.
Defeated by such a mani The
proud Saxon face of the incor-
ruptible Senator-statesman by
the right of a clear, vigorous,
welltrained intellect, and thorough
study of the science of govern
ment, by virtue of his true pa
triotism and by the grace of the
God whom he served-was pale
and worn, the lines pencilled by
age sharply defined, the lustel OF
the blue eyes dimmed. His faith
in the right judgment Of the peo-
pie was lost; his faith in himself
began to falter. The "self APP
proving hour, worth whole years
of loud huzzas' tarried on the
way. A wave of self-condemna-
ton and self-pity swept over him.
Armed alone with his common
sense and simple honor, he had
been a fool to enter the lists with
that dashing knight, whose rhe-
torical feat and sentimental atti-
tudinizing we're calculated from
the first to win the popular APP
plause. He felt old and tired and
insignificant. YEARLY he turned
to the law business in hand-a
case that demanded his immediate
attention and necessitated the
answering of several letters. Some
unopened mail, over looked dur
ing the anxiety of the morning,
caught his eye. A square, white
envelope, addressed in a cultivated
feminine hand was among the
others. He opened it wonderingly
and caught his breath at the sig
nature. Mildred Evans! Anoth
er flower of hope blighted by the
frost that had fallen upon his po-
litical aspirations! Through all
the heat and worry of the long
contest he had remembered the
grave sweet attention of a pair OF
grey eyes, as solid practical truths
fell from his lips during a cam
paign speech, the winsome smile,
the cordial grasp of a firm white
hand when the speech was ended,
and the added attractions of a
slender, graceful form and a midst
of golden hair-a memory to stay
by man and stir the depths of
his bachelor heart! He had re-
solved, in the event of his election
to propose, with all proper meek
ness, to this queenly woman that
she share the honors of his Office
and the joys and sorrows of his
life. All, well! But what could
she have to say? Likely a few
kindly, consoling words, well
meant, but plunderlng-c cruelty
laundering.
My Friend: Congratulations
on what the majority call defeat,
but what / and others are glad
to deem a great victory. #,
in your progress through this
campaign, you had once ever SO
slightly swerved from The course
of honor and integrity you cour-
Iageously marked out for yourself
at the beginning, then indeed you
would have been defeated; but
you stand triumphant at the goal,
uncrowned, it is true, by the rab-
BILE, yet hailed as a victor by the
thoughtful and righteous people
of the State.
With best wishes, I remain,