Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-07-21
THE PATH
HE CHOSE
By HOWARD DEVINE
(cOpyright. 1904. By Daily story Pub. Co..

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 a wilderness to
an empire.
Chamberlain was ardent, impetuous
and often rash. There waS where he
gained his strength with his fellows.
Morton was cold, clear and practical,
never losing sight of the end in view or
sacrificing a point from motives Of sen
timent. His hold on his fellows came
not at all from friendship or enthusi-
asm, but from that impulse in man
kind which involuntarily admires sheer
force Of intellect--and the man who
wins.
Chamberlain had by far the best start
and the NEST 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 a 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 a clerk in real estate Of
fee. He was sharp as 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 II
cense to practice in just half the time
the statutes provided. There we're hints
of questionable afldavits, 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 a native ingenuity n several
important eases 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.
ings of politics, and incidentally also
was generally on the public pay roll IN
some capacity.
In the meantime Chamberlain was
winning a name and place for himself
in the practice Of the law. He, too, was
deeply in politics, and was an important
factor in the party councils. He sought
no petty Office, and was altogether more
popular with the people than with the
politicians.
ItwaS 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 bust
ness and invaded the 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 woosd her assiduously,
and to both she gave warm friendship
and cordial good-fellowship-nothing
mere. AS the years grew both became
more insistent, but she would not
choose. Indeed, abe could not fathom
her own mind. She liked both-admired
both immensely and thoroughly enjoyed
herself in their company. Moreover, be-
ing a true daughter of Eve, she took not
a little 10y IN having these two brilliant
young men dangling in her train. She
liked the dash and 80 Of Chamberlain,
and was charmed by his scintillating wit
as well as his chivalrous and kindly man:
ners. On the other hand, she admired
the keen intellect Of Morton end 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 the term
implies.
Time ran on and both men in success
sion became members Of the state leg1s-
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-
BILE 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-
litlcal world, bringing with 1t marvel
Gus opportunity One of the United
States senators representing the state
, died. II 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
trend Of thought. In the agitation re-
garding the senatorial succession the
names both of Chamberlain and Morton
were mentioned by the newspapers as
promising and potent young leaders of
the party who were in line with the ad-
vanced thought. Singularly enough at
this particular time both young men were
pressing their suits for the hand of Helen
Winston in the most imperative man
ner. The girl was nearly distracted at
the ardent, imperative attitude Of her
suitors Finally she made resolve
which she communicated to both.
81 am ambitious" she said. II Hike
both Of you. do not know how to
choose. The United States sen&torship
is open. Both Of you are among the pos
sibilities. Both Of you want an immedi-