Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-12
CHAPTER XIV.

Soldering on q District Attorney.
The summer Of 1882 was an unusually
trying one in Eureka. There was q con-
tinuance Of hot. dry weather. during which
the springs ran low, and there was a great
deal of sicknexs. DIR. Addison alternated
periods Of devoted. self-exhaustinx atten-
ton with other periods OF drunkenness and
incapacity. DIR. Elliott. who came to atone
for DR.. Addison's shortcomings, found him
SELF possible candidate for state senator
and was usually away. laying pipe" when
ne was needed. Vaughan's services, both
as surgeon and physician. were In constant
demand. He alone of the three was always
ready. always capable and untiring.
The exalted mood In which he found him
self this summer had much to do with the
efficiency OF his work. He seemed endowed
with superhuman strength. watched over
and supported by angelic intelligences. Did
his mother know? he Queried Was she per-
mitted to be near and to assist him? Did
the thoughts Of that other woman, that liv-
Ing woman with the kind, earnest gray eyes.
furnish another factor In his success? Both
were, to him, expressions of the great fem
mime principle which. at some time In their
lives. men OF thoughtful. sensitive make
are inclined, consciously or unconsciously,
TO venerate. For their sake and because OF
what they stood for, all women became sa-
cred to him. Even the creatures OF the
street were as battered disfigured vessels
that had once held the holy oil and wine of
human joy and comfort Many a poor
wretch watched with dull. glazed eyes his
glowing face while he pleaded with her to
return to her high office of priestess and
queen. Many dying penitent chung with
fever burned fingers to that long brown
hand while he prayed her soul hence to the
mercy of the One who waited to receive
It AS to the mothers. they told him of
every tooth that pricked through every
collie pain, sure of his interest and co-opera-
ton. BY far the larger share OF the new
oaDieS that summer reached Eureka under
MS skiIlful convoy and solicitous care. He
wondered sometimes how II would seem to
nave child of his own. 1t would never be.
Delia's persistent refusal to come to him,
her return OF his letters unread, while rob-
bing him of the past, gave him no future,
as far as home and wife and child were
concerned. His only future lay in his
work
1t was future enough The crowding ex-
periences of a year and half already shut
the door on the past and flung open the
door of the future, a future in which Della
had no part. The Clement Vaughan who
had known and loved her was another man,
rather the shadow, the outline, the promise
of the man he was becoming thanks to
the work that pressed and crowded and
shaped him SO that from day to day he
felt himself change and grow. new self
respect had been kindled, a new desire for
influence had been aroused. When his opin-
ion was asked, he gave 1t as having weight
and worth. When 1t seemed good to him
to interfere. he interfered. Very little went
on in Eureka Of Importance that he did
not know of. have hand in, bring out as
he would have 1t.
In everything Jack was his stanch ally
and support. Only these two working to-
gether could have saved for Barker his
election as district attorney. There was
some doubt in both their minds, the night
before the administration of the oath, as
TO whether, after all. it had been a wise
thing to do. Jack had come into the study
looking exceedingly glum and had rehearsei
the plight in which he had found. Barker
a half hour before.
I'VE done 1t, you and l." he said de-
jectedly, and we've got to stand to It:
we've got to see the thing through. If we
can sober him off till he takes the oath
believe he'll keep straight after that. Any
way, drunk or sober. I'd rather have him
than Winsiow."
80 would l." said Vaughan There's
always more hope for drunkard than"
"A cuss' finished Jack land WinsloW's
the biggest cuss in clssendom."
Where is Barker?" asked the parson.
over at the saloon. locked up In one of
the private rooms" replied Jack. But I
stage now. When he begins to talk about
killing Bill Isham-"
who's Bill Ishamr" interrupted the par
son.
Lord knows. don't" returned Jack,
NOR no one else. But when Barker is just
about SO drunk he always sets out to kill
Bill Isham. When he starts In on that
I'll have to take him somewhere else"
Suppose you bring him over here" sug-
gested Vaughan.
Jacks face frightened Gould you have
him here7" he asked. "'Twould be quiet
and out of the way and you could watch
him"
Bring him along" said Vaughan.
Jack went away and returned with what
appeared to be a bundle of old clothes,
which he dropped into the nearest chair
Out of the bundle popped a straw-colored
mead. and pair of weak, watery blue eyes
roved aimlessly about the room.
Looks like chicken with the pip. don't
her exclaimed Jack in disgust. Mice fig
ger of district attorney he is!'
'He may come out of 1t all right by to-
morrow afternoon" said Vaughan whose
experience in the past year with "drunks"
had taught him to take a hopeful view of
such conditions.
''wheren I put him?' asked Jack, look
ing about.
Vaughan, not overjoyed at the prospect.
Where are you going to sleep?"
ION four chairs There are plenty of
blankets to soften them, and I have two
pillows-come on, FL help you"
They lifted Barker between them; his
nerveless legs dragged helplessly along the
floor.
"Now-up he goes" cried Vaughan, and
they tumbled him on to the bed.
It's awful good of you, Parson." drawled
Jack, looking down on Barker, who was al
ready slumbering like a child. IF warn't
fixed as l ana married man-Id take him
in myself. Just sorter tide him over the
Bill Isham stage and he'll be easy TO man.
age, after that"
He said good night and started for the
door, but returned IF you could contrive
to let me know how he is in the morning"
he began-"I wouldn't want to have him
go till he's sure all right Mrs. Barker
Number Two aln't the sweetest-tempered
woman that ever was In the world He
took his leave.
Vaughan stood for some minutes, gazing
down at the small shrunken figure on the
bed. Whatever could tempt man to make
such a spectacle of himself! The relaxed
Jaw the parted lips-how weak they werel
The little, womanish hands that twitched
and plucked at the bedclothes-their APP
peal was only to a pity which was more
than half contempt. To give up control. to
renounce authority over ones self-how
could anyone be so madi
And for what? The temporary gratifica-
ton of an appetite which was not even
thirst.
Barker, too, man who had read and
thought, who knew human nature, knew
his own and its needs, could respond to
what was great and fine, who adored his
daughter and was by her loved tenderly.
She refused to leave him. even when he
urged 1t, and her stepmother made things