The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-14

Harley gave her a graterui look. He
felt that the candidates wife approved
Of him, and he liked the approval OF
those who evidently knew how 10 think.
And it would be far pIeasanter TO travel
with Jimmy GraysOn as a friend than as
one suspected.
Il am honored. Mrs Grayson," he
said, ''and ! shall be happy 10 come.
Then he left them. and when he passed
into the hall he saw that the burden of
greatness was being thrust already upon
the GraysOn family, as callers Of various
types and with various requests were
seeking their rooms. But he hurried
back TO his own hotel, and as It was some
distance away. he took the street car.
There he was confronted by long rows
OF newspapers. which hid the faces Of
men. and whenever front page was
turned toward him the open cOuntenance
of Mr. GTayson looked out at him with
smiling eyes. Everybody was reading
the account OF the convention, and now
and then they discussed It; they spoke
Of the candidate Familiarity. he was
Jimmy" GraysOn to them-rarely did
they call him Mr.. Grayson: but there was
no dfsTespect or disesteem in their use OF
the diminutive Jimmy. They merely
regarded him rs one OF themselves. and
no wise from that OF NJ craysOn; It
was a matter OF course with both To
Harley. fresh from other lands. il seemed
in the first breath singular. and yet in
the second he liked It: the easy give
and-take promoted the smOOthness Of
life and men might assume false values,
but they were not able to keep them.
His thoughts returned for a moment to
the least little at;acna whose manner
was more Important than that OF a
Presidential nominee.
Harley with his two valises. was at
the station somewhat ahead OF time, as
he wished TO see Mr.. and Mrs. Grayson
arrive. curious 70 know in what sort or
state or lack Of II they would come.
Mr.. Grayson's intention OF going at
once 20 his home was net published in
the press. and there was only the ordi-
nary crowd at the station. some coming.
some leaving, but all bearing upon their
faces the marks OF haste and impotence.
As the people hurried TO and fro. the
sound OF many tongues arose. There
was nearly every accent OF Europe but
the American rose over and enveloped
all. Many writers from other lands.
| seeking only the bad, had pronounced
'he Babel coarse, vulgar, and sordid, but
farley. seeking the good. saw IN 1t men
and women tOiling 10 better their cOndi-
! ton in the world, and that fact he knew
/ was not bad.
Through the station windows he saw
I the tan buildings rise floor on floor and
/ there was a Gang OF car bells that never
/ ceased. In the fresh morning air il was
/ inspiriting. and Harley felt himself a
part of the crowd. lie was no hermit.
| Life and activity and the spectacle OF
people filled with hope always pleased
I him.
! An ordinary cab arrived, and Mr. and
Mrs. Grayson, alighting from It, bought
their tickets at the window, Just Ike any
/ body else. and then sought inconspicuoUs
seats in the corner Of the waitng-r00m,
as their train would not be ready for FIVE
minutes. In the Fastening crowd they
were not noticed at first, but even in
/ the dusk OF the corner the smoothly
shaver face and massive features OF Mr.
GraysOn were soon noticed. His picture
4 had been staring at them all from the
/ front page of the newspapers. and here
/ was the reality. too ike 20 be overlooked
There was a sudden delay in the crowd,
/ the two streams. one flowing outward
and The other Inward. wavcred, then
stopped and began TO stare at the can
didate. not intrUsively. but with a kindly
curiosity that f. considered legitimate
Harley had quietly joined the Graysons
and they gave him a sincere welcome
| The people unfamiliar with his face begar
TO speculate audibly on his identity
The crowd IN the station. REINFORCED
! from many side-dOOTs. thickcned, and Mr.
and Mrs. GTays0n. under the gaze OF 81
many eyes. became uneasy and shy. Har-
ley. who had been made Il member OF
their party, found himself sharing this
awkward feeling, and he was glad e
hear the announcement that the train
was ready.
The three abreast moved toward tho
gate, and the crowd opened way JUS
wide enough, down which they marched
stiIl under the human battery of n thou
sand ewes. To Harley. although little oil
this gaze was meant for him. tho senSa,
ton was Understandable. Il was some
thing 10 be an object OF so much curl
0sity but the thrill was more than offset
by the weight that 1t put upon ones cas-,
OF manner
He saw many Of the people-lt was Z
curious manifestation-reach out and tOucl
tho candidates sleeve lightly as h'
ipassed. But Afr. GraysOn. If he knew it
took no notice and marched straigh
ahead. all expression discharged from nj.
face. Harley saw that this was the dis
guise eminent public men must assume
upon occasions. and lie was willing tha
they should keep the task.
When the great iron gate leading L
his train was closed behind him, Harley
felt a mighty sense Of relief. It seemed
TO him that he had run a gauntlet no
much infer or 20 that through which tn
Indians pU the captive backwoodsmen
and the dark-red walls Of the car ross
before him fortress Of safety.
II was All ordinary Pullman. and Mr.
and Mrs. GraysOn had not secured th'
ldrawing-rovm, but the usual berths lik'
Harley's. and he joined them IN thei
seats He felt now a certain pleasure II
the situation The pressure Of cirCum
stances was making him, in sense anC
for the time being, a member Of thei
family He was glad that the other cor
respondents would wait to join the can
didate al HIS home, as it gave him Z
greater chance 10 establish those persona
relations needful on a long campaign
that must be made together.
The whistle blew. the train moved, ant
they passed through miles Of city, an,
then through suburbs growing thinne
until they melted away into the clean
green prairie. and Harley. opening tn
window. was glad to breathe the unvexe'
air that came across a thousand miles o
the West. He leaned back in his seat ant
lluxuriously watched the quietly rolling
country, tender with the breath of spring
as it spun past That mighty West 0
which he had thought so little seemed L
reach out with its arms and invite him
and he was glad to go
Presently he was aware Of ali unusua
some especially fine new daffOdil, and !
such stock consists Of only one or tw'
bulbs, they like It all the better,