Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-30
XXI.
Harvey Sayler, Swineherd.

1
in the Auditorium Hotel: I was hearing
sounds from within that indicated that the
dinner was under way. The door swung
napkin in hand. his shriveling old face
showing that his dollar sense was taking
UP the strength which his other senses were
losing. He was saying cordially. "Ah.
Croffut, you are late
Then his dim eyes saw me; he pulled
himself up like train when the air brakes
are ciapped on.
They told me at the Office that you were
at dinner" said In the tone Of one who
has unintentionally Numbered. "As I was
looking for dinner. I rather hoped you'd
ask me to Join you. But I see that"
Come right in." he said smoothly. but
s gray as 81 sheep ou find some old
of the convention of western manufacturers
to have little reunion
1 now had full view of the table. There
was silence that made the creaking Of
starched evening shirt bosoms noisy as
those men drew long stealthy breaths when
breathing became imperative. All my
clients and Dominick-he. at Roebuck's
cant chair. Shall l sit here?" said l easily.
That place was reserved-was for
but" stammered Roebuck.
For Granbys ghost?" said I pleasantly.
His big lips writhed. And as my glance
of greeting to these old friends of mine
Travelled down one side of the table and
up the other. it might have been setting
those faces on fire. brightly did they
flare. 1t was hard for me to keep my dis
gust beneath the surface. Those gentle
men" assembled there were among the
leading citizens of my state; and Roe
buck was famous on both sides of the At
lantic as king of commerce and a philan-
thropist. Yet, every one of those brains
was busy most Of its hours with assassin
like plottings-and for what purpose? For
ends so petty. 80 gross and stupid that 1t
was inconceivable how intelligence could
waste life upon them. not to speak Of the
utter depravity and lack of manliness
Liars. cheats. bribers: and Haunting the
fruits of infamy as honors, as titles to re-
spect, as gifts from Almighty God! And
here they were, assembled now for silly
plottinSs against tSe man whose only Of
tense In their eyesfwas that he was saving
them from themselves-was preventing them
from killing the goose that would cheer
fully keep on laying golden eggs for the
privilege of remaining alive 1t was pitt
full. 1t was nauseating. 1 felt my degrade
ton In STOPPING to such company.
spoke to Domnick last. To my surprise
he sQuarely returned my gaze. His eyes
were twinkling. as the eyes of a pig seem
to be. If you look straight into its face
when 1T lifts its snout from a full trough.
Presently he could contain the huge vol
ume of his mirth no longer 1t came roar
ing from him in great coarse torrent
shaking his vast bulk and the chair that
sustained 1t, swelling the veins in his face.
resounding through the silent room while
the walters literally stood aghast. At last
he found breath to ejaculate well, I'll
be good and d-d!'
This gale ripped from the others and
whirled away their cloaks of surface-com-
posure Naked. they suggested a lot Of
rats in trap-Dominck jeering at them
and anticipating the pleasure of watching
me torment them. I choked back the surge
of repulsion and said to Roebuck: Then
where shall l sit ?"
. Roebuck looked almost wildly iowa I'd
the foot of the table. He longed to have
me as far from him as possible Part
ridge. at the foot of the table. cried out
In alarm: Make room for the senator be-
tween you and Mr.. Dominick, Roebuck!
He ought to be as near the head Of the
table as possible
mo matter where Senator sayler sits.
It's the head Of the table," said Roebuck
His commonplace of courtesy indicated.
not recovered self-controI but the
cunning Of his rampant instinct Of
self-preservation-that cunning which men
so often exhibit in desperate straits. there
by winning credit for cool courage
We're a merry company" said I, as we
sat. This. with glance at Dominick heav-
ing in the subsidlng storm OF his mirth.
My remark set him off again. I glanced
at his place to see IL he had abandoned
his former infiexible rule of total abstin-
ence. There stood his invariable pot of tea
Clearly. 1t was not drink that enabled him
to enjoy situation which. as 1t seemed to
me, was fully as unattractive for him as
for his fellows
Soon the door opened and In strobe Croft
fut: handsome. picturesque. with his pose
Of dashing, brave manhood, which always
got the crowds into the mood for the frenzy
his oratory conjured. Croffut seemed to
me to put the climax upon this despicable
of the party. so adored by the people that,
but for our overwhelming superiority in
the state should never have dared eject
him from office. Since I elected him he
hnI 1t No. ~ IT,
him. said in a voice that would have fared
even the warm ashes OF manhood into q
furious blaze: Go and shake hands with
Senator senator sayler. Croffut; and sit down"
my company" thought as let him clasp
my hand.
''Better tilt Granby's ghost out of that
chair. Croffut." said Dominick. as the ex-
animal exuberance of delight at his joke
and at the whole situation he clapped
Roebuck on the shoulder.
Roebuck shrank and WINGED. Moral humili-
alton he could shed as an armOr-p plated
turret sheds musket-balls. But a physical
humiliation. especially with spectators
sank in and sank deep Instantly alarmed
lest Dominick had seen and understood.
arm of yours. Mr.. Domnick."
Not bad for man OF sixty" said Domi-
nick.
ate because to eat was a necessary part
had to force down the food. 1t seemed to
me to embody the banquet there set before
my mental appetite. 1 found I had no
stomach for that banquet. 1t takes the
coarse palate of youth or the depraved
palate of more debauched manhood than
milne to enjoy such feast Yet. less than
year before. 1 had enjoyed, had delighted
in. a far less strenuous contest with these
mutineers. AS I sat holding down my
gorge and acting as II were at ease, /
suddenly wondered what Elizabeth Crosby
would think of me IL she could see. And
then / saw her. with reality of imagin-
ing that startled melt was as IL she were
In the doorway; and her eyes lifted to
mine In that slow, steady searching gaze
of hers.
suppose, IL a soldier thrusting his saber
into the bowels Of his enemy on the battle
field were suddenly to see before him his
mother or the good and gentle wife or
daughter he loved he would drop the saber
and fly to hide himself like a murderer. So,
I, overwhelmed. said to myself: Il cannot
go on! Let these wretches wallow In their
own vileness. I shall not wallow with them
I am ne swineherd!"
AS l was debating how to escape and
what one of the many other ways OF saving
my friends and ieutenants should adopt,
Dominick touched me on the arm "A
word with you. senator" said he.
He glanced at the others as IL he were