Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-08-04
THE PATH.
HE. CHOSE
BY HOWARD DEv1NE
Copyright. lsol, BY Daily story Pub Coz

(oopYright lsot, by Daily Story Pub Coz
THE two men had been natural antag-
onists from the time they came
to the state-both determined to wrest
fame and fortune in the keen strife In
cident to Transforming q wilderness to
an empire. ~
Chamberlain was ardent. impetuous
and often rash. There was where ne
gained his strength with his fellows.
Morton was cold, clear and practical,
never losing sight of the end In view or
sacrificing point from motives of SEN
timent. His hold on his fellows came
not at all from friendship or enthusi-
asn, but from that impulse In man
kind which involuntarlly admires sheer
force of intellect-and the man who
wins.
Chamberlain had by far the best start
and the most in his favor. He came Of
good blood and his family had furnished
men of mark in many Of the walks Of life
for many generations. He had good
education, and while his immediate fam
lily was not at all In good financial cir
cumstances, his connections smoothed
the way to business relations which
relieved him of many Of the financial
endorsements Of a young lawyer.
Morton had no family connections but
were handicap to him. What education
he had was what he had acquired by his
own efforts and by contact with the
world, aided by his own native wit and
unyielding energy. When he first came
to the state he was not admitted to the
bar, but was clerk in real estate Of
fec. He was sharp as a steel trap, how
ever, and made himself exceedingly val
liable. Soon after he plunged into poll
tics he began to study law, and by
adroit manipulation added to indefatig-
able work succeeded in obtaining his IL
cense to practice in just half the time
the statutes provided. There were hints
of questionable afildavits, but the young
man stood so we'll in his examination
that, he went through all right. The
older lawyers predicted failure. But he
displayed native ingenuity In several
important cases which routed his de-
tractors and silenced his critics. At the
same time he did not devote his best en-
ergies to the law, and from the first
succeeded in holding an influential place
In the manipulation Of the inner work
tngs of politics. and incidentally also
was generally on the public pay roll in
some capacity,
I In the meantime Chamberlain was
winning a name and place for himself
In tho practice of the law. He, too, was
deeply in politics, and was an important
,factoR in the party councils. He sought
no rstty Office, and was altogether more
popular with tho people than with the
politicians.
TWAS between these two strong, prom
Using, virile young men that Helen Wins
ton was asked to choose. The rivalry
leaped the bounds Of politics and busi-
ness and invaded tho domains Of love.
Both became ardent suitors of the DASH
ing, black-eyed girl with the musical
voice and the soft womanly ways.
Through all the years Of their upward
struggle both wooed her assiduously,
and to both she gave warm friendship
and cordial good-fellowship-nothing
more. As the years grew both became
more insistent. but she would not
choose. Indeed, she could not fathom
her own mind. She liked both-admired
both immensely and thoroughly enjoyed
herself in their company. Moreover, be-
ing true daughter of Eve, she took not
Q little Joy in having these two brilliant
young men dangling in her train. She
liked the. dash and 60 Of Chamberlain,
and Wa charmed by his scintillating wit
q INSTRUMENTATION ndkindly man
ners. On, tho other hand. she admired
the keen intellect of Morton and stood in
some little secret awe of his dominating
personality. While his Wit bit more than
that Of Chamberlain, 1t was not less true,
and he was good company in all thete
implies. N&t&, a.
Time ran on and both men in success
sion became members Of the state legis-
lature and occupied strong positions in
the upper councils Of the party in the
state. Morton was particularly strong
in practical politics-in that depart
ment Of activity which produced tangi-
bic results. Chamberlain became a
power on the stump and his Judgment
was eagerly sought in the matter of
framing platforms and deciding on is
sues.
Still, Helen refused to decide between
them, and both men declined to retire.
Then came novel situation in the po-
litical world, bringing with it marvel
Gus opportunity. One of the United
States senators representing the state
died. It was at time when new indus
trial conditions had created new issues
and party lines wavered. 1t became
plain at once that none of the old leaders
and idols could be elected without seri-
ously imperiling the supremacy of the
party which had controlled the state
for decades. New men were sought, who
could preserve the traditions of the
party and at the same time satisfy to
some extent the demands of the popular
dend Of thought In the agitation re-
garding the senatorial succession the
names both OF Chamberlain and Morton