Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-30

In all the state there was not better
known citizen than Thomas JEFFERSON
Kirby. Mayor of his own town for two
terms state senator for number OF years.
and connected with most of the big anairs
of the district. he was a person OF power
and influence honored in public. rather
feared in private. and disliked by those
who had gone contrary to his Will Inc
Kirbv spirit was acknowledged throughout
the state as a compound of ice and iron
The nudge was a born leader, his friends
were wont to say. He never followed. He
would organize a club or association or
committee and run 1t. No passive member
ship for him; If he could not be president
or chairman or the leading member of the
observation-disclosures it might happen to be
he would resign. But he rarely resigned
Most people were content to let him run
things; he did It SO well and he had such
CHEEKY genial way about him.
Papa, you ought to be President his
eldest daughter, Ethel, used to say to him,
you like to boss people around So
But papa knowing full well that he had
far more autocracy In Pine Crest than ne
could exercise in the White House. was
satisfied to stay where he was.
There were six of the Kirby children. and
ever since they could remember papa had
done everything for them. To be sure their
Aunt Emma had taken their mothers place
and mended and tended them for years, but
such was the spirit of the household that
II appeared that the Judge did it all. Ger
tainly he ruled them with the traditional
rod of iron. He knew what was best for
them he prescribed IT. they had but to
follow. In public life, in politics no
was a stronger advocate of liberty, no one
spoke more eloQuently the subject of
freedom than Judge Kirby, and, as is often
the case, no one was a greater tyrant.
When Ethel reached her eighteenth sum
mer and Chester Dean appeared on her
horizon she had her first conflict with the
Judge. 1t was June and Chester had walk
ed home with her from garden party.
They paused al the gate a few mo-
ments, as the judge was sitting on the
front piazza reading a magazine article
which held such erroneous views that he
felt impelled to challenge them in an open
letter to the local paper. He glanced up
In time to see Ethel break off rose from
the bush clambering over the gate post and
fasten IL In the buttonhole OF q young man
who held her hand at parting rather longer
than absolutely necessary.
She looked very pretty as she came up
the walk in her pink and white Powered
gown. with her big hat tied under his chin
but hanging off the back of her golden
head
who was that. Ethel?" he asked al
though he knew perfectly well.
1T was Chester Dean, papa. she answer
ed, not without trepidation. He says you
know his father
grim smile passed over the judges
face. Humph, l should say l did. He
will know me. too, some day. better than
he does now
That VIII be nice said the innocent
Ethel. Next week Chester will be TWEEN
ty-one and they are. going to have big
parry. we are all invited"
We'll. don't want you to go. No child
of mine shall visit the Deans, and no
Deans can he invited here"
"Oh. father Ethefs lips trembled but
long experience had taught her that argu-
ment was useless.
II am sorry to disappont you. and we
will all go automobling instead. but | want
II distinctly understood that the Kirbys and
the Deans are not friends Then he re-
turned TO his magazine with an air of
fnaiity. He could scarcely explain to Ethel
that he had forced the elder Dean out of
one association they were both interested
In and that Dean had then made things
so uncomfortable for him in another affair
that Kirby had resigned in a huff 1t did
not render the situation any pleasanter,
either. to know that Dean had taken his
place in the second organization and was
running ii with great success. But a time
would come. and the judge trying TO
scheme out some way TO eclipse his rival
enectually. At any rate 1t could become
known about town that the Kirby children