The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-18
THE PATH HE CHOSE.
BY HOWARD DEvrNE.

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 incident 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 eacrificing a point from motives of sent iment His hold on his fellows came not at all from friendship or enthusiasm, but from that impulse in mankind which in- voluntarily admires sheer force of intel- lect--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 fly 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 embarrass- ments 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
  aided by his own native wit and unyield- ing energy. When he first came to the State he was mot admitted to the bar, but was a clerk in a real estate office. He was sharp as a steel trap, however, and made hirAself exceedingly valuable. Soon after he plunged into, politics he began to study law. and by adroit ma nipulation added to indefatigable work succeeded in obtaining his license to prac- tice in just half the time~the statutes provided. There were hints of question able affidavits, but the young man stood So well in his examination that he went through ali right The older lawyers predicted failure. But he displayed na- tive ingenuity in several important cases which routed his detractors and silenced his critics At the same time he did not devote his best energies to the law, and from. the first succeeded in holding an Influential place in the manipulation of the inner workings of politics. and inci- dentally also was generally on the public pay roll in some capacity.
 In the meantime Chamberlain was win ming 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.
 It was between these two strong, prom ising. viriie young men that Helen Wins ton was asked to choose. The rivalry leaped the bounds of politics and business and invaded the domains of love. Both became ardent suitors of the dashfng black-eyed girl with the musical voice and the soft womanly ways. Through all the years of their upward struggle both wooed assiduously. and to both she gave .n.mnxt. 9G-T ~INa shtp-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. More over, being true daughter of Eve, she took not little joy in having these two brilliant young men dangling in her train. She liked the dash and go of Chamberlain, and was charmed by his scintHlating wit as well as his chivalrous and kindly manners Of the 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 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 Legis-
 
 the upper councils of the party in the State Morton was particularly strong in rracticals politics-in that department of activity which produced tangible results. Chamberlain became a power on the stump and his judgment was eagerly sought in the matter of framing platforms snd deciding on issues.
 sun. Helen refused to decide between them, and both men declined to retire.
 gFwe..- s-sk,. iitical world. bringing with 1t a marvel cus opportunity. One of the United States Senators representing the State died It was at a time when new indus trial conditions had created new issues ana party lines wavered. It became plain at once that none of the old leaders and idols could be elected without seriously imperiling the supremacy of the party which had controlled the State for de- / cades. 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 regarding the Senatorial succession the names both os Chamberlain and Morton were men, toned by the newspapers as promising and potent young leaders of the party who were in line with the advanced thought. Singularly enough at this par H tlCulcT lithS Dotn yOuHR men were press ing their suits for the hand of Helen Winston in the most imperative manner The girl was nearly distracted at the ardent, imperative attitude of her suit ors. Finally she made resolve which she communicated to both.
 'I am ambitious, she said. "I like both of you. I do not know how to choose. The United States Senatorship is open. Both of you are among the possi- bilities. I will marry which one of you becomes United States Senator"
 Chamberlain at first would not hear to the plan. T do not propose" said he, with fine dignity. ito make my wife the prize of political campaign" But after all, nature triumphed, and his intense de- sire for the beautiful creature lent him wings in making a campaign.
 Morton never wavered That settles it." he said. quietly. looking into the