Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-11-10


AT last his excellency the governor
was alone. The tide Of Office seekers,
lobbyists and politicians had been
turned from the executive wing Of the
gtatehouse, and the exodus OF clerks
and stenographers had begun. In the
anteroom his private secretary await
ed his dismissal for the day, impa-
tent of the unusual delay. Down the
tiled corridor echoed the footballs of
the janitor, master of all he surveyed.
All day the governor had longed for
the moment, yet now be sat Idle. His
gaze wandered toward the window,
and he found himself thinking that
when the slant rays of the setting sun
flashed into the room he would find
light to continue his work. 1t was for
pitifuliy few moments only that the
sunshine penetrated the governors
private office, with its subdued color
ings, its massive furniture and its pa
triotic memories
His hand rested on the paper he bad
no need to read" Senate bill No. PA"
1t had passed both senate and house
without serious discussion, and the
vote had drawn party lines sharply.
The governors own party was respon-
sible for the measure, and 1t had met
with only half hearted opposition. APP
parently no one considered the bill Of
any special Importance.
The governor had not quite under
stood why he took the precaution, but
some instinct advised him to probe be-
meath the surface of this innocent look
ing measure. This instinct, this indie
Unable suspicion, was confirmed In
way that appalled, him.
The days OF INDIGESTION which fol-
lowed had not been pleasant ones for
the states chief executive Secure In
their position. the sponsors of the bill
had not urged its immediate signing,
and the governor had carefully weigh
ed the question.
Now he realized that the hour for
action had come. Either he must veto
the measure in the interest Of those
whose votes had given him the highest
office in the state and whose welfare
he had sworn to protect or throw his
influence and his signature with those
who We're conspiring to mulct their In
genuous constituency.
There could be no compromise. Ell
Their with the masses he must stand or
with their enemies. And their enemies
were his lifelong friends, the men who
had made him politically, the men
whom he had known in boyhcod. IN
ambitious young manhood, ia ripe and
successful middle agc-the men with
whom he had marched and sung and
fought and bled during the mighty civ
ii war. 1t seemed to him in this dark
hour that he loved those men, every
one of them. He knew their wives.
their sons. their daughters. He had
broken bread at their tables. He had
rejoiced with them in their successes,
sympathized with them when clouds
had gathered. Political ties had been
welded into friendships letters of
steel He brought his fist down ON the
hooking paper with terrific crash
The men behind that bill were bone Of
his bone, flesh of his flesh, and yet
Then came another thought.
thought purely selfish. II he turned
against these men who had made him
what he was what did the future Of
fer? An honest politician, he had no
financial returns from q score of years
given to his states service. Part Of his
salary each year had gone to pay in
terest on the mortgage which had hung
heavily on the old farm. His law prac-
tice had been scattered among many
younger rivals. And he had passed
that age when men can compete sue
cessfully with new blood.
There was his wife too. She had
grown accustomed to the proportion of
purple and fine linen accruing to the
governors wife-an Marion He re-
membered that very morning watching
the girl, apple of his eye, mount her
horse and canter down the driveway.
Was it fair that he should dash the cup
of pleasure she was just raising to her
lips? He colid almost feel the fresh,
cool kiss of his cheek as she whis-
pered:
Father. dear, ! am so happy, so
happy
Would she be happy il he took her
back to the old farm. with Its strag-
Cling buildings. its neglected land, to
begin all over again?
He bent forward. one hand support
ing his aching head. Then suddenly
came the sunbeam. striking full and
fair through the easement. 1t fell up
on his great seal ring. bearing the
states coat of arms. and he pulled his
hand back into the shadows.
The suns ray travelled across the
room, fitting upward. ard In whim-
steal mood he followed Its course over
the great fat topped desk with its fix
lures. past the high backed carved
chairs straight to the mantel. and there
1t struck something that brought him
to his feet.
1t was an oil painting Of himself. life
size and made from an old daguerreo-
type. He remembered the very day
that faded little picture had been TAX
en- He had worn his uniform. then
bright and new. The painting was the
gift Of the men of his company, some
of whom were numbered among the
ranks Of those supporting the bill
which lay on yonder desk Why had
they followed him in those dark days
OF secession and civil strifei Why had
they followed where he leds Why. IL
be was MOI stronger than they. il tie
gift of leadership was not mighty with
in him? They had trusted him theu~
they had followed him then. and now
where yxaa no LEADING, tharn1 M. ha