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

seats in which the GraySOns anu ne sat.
They were coming from the other cars,
too, and now and then the aisle would
choke up a little, but IN a moment the
shifting figures would relieve Il, and the
endless procession of faces moved on.
The Graysons. following Harley's exam
Die. were gazing out of the window at
the cheerful country. but the correspond
ent knew that Mr.. GraysOn was fully
conscious of this human stream, and that
he himself WAS the cause OF II. Yet he
lost none Of his good temper even when
some, venturing further, asked If he were
not the nominee, adding that 1t was
pride to them TO meet him and speak TO
him. In fact, the change from silence 70
conversation was a relief to Mr.. GraysOn,
varying the mOnotony Of that fixed gaze
TO which he had been subjected so long.
ana il was now that Harley saw him iu
a most favorable guise. His consciousness
of a great talent did not interfere with
perfect democracy; # did not cause him
TO assume an air that said to these peO-
pie. Il am better than you, keep your
distance" but he gave the impression OF
ability solely through his simplicity of
manner and the ease with which he
adapted himself TO the calibeT of the per-
son who spoke to him.
Thus the train swung westward hour
after hour. and the procession through
tire the car never ceased. The manner OF
the candidate did not change; however
weary he may have grown, he was al
ways ahable but not gushing, and Har-
ley. watching keenly. judged that the i'm
preston he made was always favorable.
He strove. too to interpret this manner
and to read the mind behind it. Was Mr..
Grayson really great or merely man OF
ready speech and pleasing address, HaT-
| lev was willing TO admit that the latter
were qualities ~ themselves not far from
great but on the main contention he re-
served his Judgment. He was still divided
I i'm his opinions. sometimes approving the
complete Democracy OF the candidate and
| sometimes condemning lie had been
/ born in the South. In n border State. and
| he grew up there amid many Of the forms
/ am formalities OF the old school. and the
| association OF youth are not easily lost
/ Nor had a subsequent residence in the
/ East brushed them away. This world Of
| the West was stiil, in many respects, new
20 him.
He ate luncheon IN the dining car with
| the Grays0ns, and he noticed the bub-
| bling joy Of the black waiter who served
/ them, and who showed two rows OF white
: teeth IN perpetual smile. Harley appre-
cIated him so much that he doubled his
/ tip, but, as they we're still watched by
many eyes in the dining car, he felt a
certain nervousness IN handling his knife
and fork, as II the penalty OF greatness,
even by association. were too heavy for
him Once his eyes caught those Of Mrs.
/ GTayson. and a faint, whimsical smile
/ passed over her face. a smile so infec-
tious, despite its faintneSs, that Harley
was compelled to reply in Ike fashion. Il
told him that she understood his con-
1 straint. and that she, too felt il. but
Harley doubted whether il was in like de-
gree, as he believed that IN the main
| women are better fitted than men 20 en-
dure such Ordeals Mr. Grays0n himself
| apparently took no notice
Harley returned 70 their car with the
/ Graysoas. but iu the afternoon he de-
taChed himself somewhat, and came in
! touch with the fuctuating crowd that
passed down the aisle-it was always a
part of his duty. as we'll as his inclina-
I ton. TO know the thoughts and feel
ings Of outsiders, because il was out
siders who made the world. and Il was
from them. too. that the insiders came.
Harley found here that the chief mo-
tive as yet was curiosity; the campaign
had not entered upon its sharp and posi-
tive state. and the personality Of Mr.
Graysou and Of his opponent stin re-
NAMED 20 be defined clearly.
The train sped westward through the
granary Of the world, cutting in an al
most direct line across the mighty val
ley Of the Mississippi. and they were
still hundreds Of miles away from The
l{irayson home. IN going West both par
ties had gone very far West. and the
two candidates not only lived beyond the
Mississippi, but beyond the Missouri a:
well.
The prairies were in their tenderes
green. and the yourg grass bent lightly
before a gentle west wind In a sky o.
silky blue little clouds foated and trailet
of here and there into patches of white
like drifting snow. and Harley uncOn
sciously fell 10 watching them and Won
dering where they went
The sun. "A huge red ball. sank IN tn,
prairie twilight fell. the ordeal OF IA,
dining car was repeated. and not Ion.
afterward Harley sought his bed in -h'
swayhng berth. The next morning thel
were IN the home town and there were
band and a reception committee. snC
Harley slipped quietly away his hotel
being reminded first by the Gcaysons tina
he was to take dinner with them.
He spent most OF the day vanderir:
about the town. gathering hitherto IN
noticed facts about the early life of Mr.
James Grays0n. which in the Afternoon
he dispatched eastward. Then he pre-
pared for dinner but here he was con
fronted by a serious pCoblen-shOuld ont
SO far West wear evening clothes or not
But he decided at last In the affirma
tive, feeling that # would be the SAT
course, and, hiding the Formally of hi
raiment under a light overcoat. he wen
! forth into the street. Five minutes wall
took him 10 the house Of Mr.. GTaysQn
which stood In the outskirts, red bricl
structure two stories In height, plaii
: and comfortable with a well-shaded law
about it. 1t was now quite dark, bu
lights shone from several windows, an,
Harley. without hesitation, rang the bell
CHAPTER II.
The Maid.