The Washington herald., 1907-01-20
THE CANDIDATE
A Political Romance By Joseph A. Asheer

put there are times when I think you
are the meanest man I ever met"
Churchill flushed and elinched his fist
but thought better Of It, and turned of the
matter with an uneasy laugh.
''Tremaine he said. the older you
grow the fOndeT you become of superla-
tives"
u admired Jimmy Grayson IN his
triumphs. and l admire him more than
ever in his defeat" said Tremaine, still
brist1ing. and fercely twisting his short,
gray mustache.
Mr. Tremaine. 1 want to thank you,
said Sylvia, who turning to them, had
heard Tremaines warm speech; and she
put her hand in his for a moment, which
was to him ample repayment.
Harley stood by and was silent because
he did not know what to say To state
that Mr.. Grayson had allowed himself to
be beaten for purpose would have an
incredible look In print-it would seem
the poorest of excuses; nor did he wish
10 make use of IL in the presence Of
Churchill. who would certainly jeer at
it and present il in his dispatches as a
ridiculous plea. he had begun to have
d certain sensitiveness in regard TO the
candidate, and he did not wish to be
forced into a quarrel with Churchill.
But Sylvia caught a slight smile,
smile of irony, in the eyes Of Harley,
and the tears in her own dried up at
once. She felt instinctively with all the
quickness Of a Woman's intuition, thai
Harley knew something about the speech
which she did not know. but she meant
to know il, and, she watched for an OPP
POrtunity.
They were turning out the lights in the
hall and the people began TO go away,
the correspondents closing up the rear.
Sylvia fell back with Harley, and touch
ed his arm lightly.
There is something that you are not
telling me-" she said.
Il am willing to tell it TO you, because
you wiz believe it,"
Tremaine, with every-ready gallantry,
was about 10 join them but Sylvia said;
I thank you. Mr.. Tremaine but Mr..
Harley has promised to see me TO the
hotel"
Her tone was light, but so decisive that
Tremaine turned back at once and HO-
bart. who was ahead, hid a smile
Now l want to know what II is she,
said, eagerly, TO Harley. That was a
good speaker, an able man, but l don't
believe that he CT anybody else could
beat Uncle James How did it happen
Harley did not answer her at once.
because il seemed 10 him just then that
the action of Jimmy Grayson was an 81
lustEation. and the idea was hot in
his mind.
Perhaps there is nothing to tell, after
all" she said, and her face fell.
There is something TO tell; / hesitated
because 1 was looking for the best way
10 tell it, Mr.. GraysOn tonight made "A
sacrifice of himself. purposely and viii
lingly."
a sacrifice Of himself! How could ne
have done such a thing2'
For the best reason that makes a
man do such a thing. For love"
She stared at him a moment and then
broke into a puzzled but irOnic laugh
You are certainly dreaming a romance.
Uncle James and Aunt Anne have been
happily married for years, and there. IS
nothing now that could force him 70
make such a sacrifice
Harley smiled, and his smile was rarely
tender, because he was thinking at that
moment of Sylvia.
THE sacrifice was not TO help his own
cause, but the cause of another, the
cause OF the man who beat him-that IS,
seemed TO beat him. Mr.. Lee. through
his victory tonight. wins the girl whom
he loves. and he could have won her IN
no other way. There are people who
can do great deeds and make great sac
TifiCes for love. even 10 help the love CT
two others. II Will be printed in every
paper of the United States in the morn
ing that Mr. Grays0n was defeated IN
debate tonight by young local lawyer.
His prestige viii be greatly impaired.
Her eyes glOWed. and her face. too. be
came rarely tender.
she exclaimed.
At his greatest. know Of no other
man who could have done H. After all.
Sylvia. don't YOU think love is the great
est and purest If motives, and that We
should consider il first?''
John she said, and IL was the first
time that she had ever called him by
his first name. you must not tempt me
% break my sacred word 10 the man 10
whom l owe all things. Oh, John, don't
you see how hard it is for me, and won't
you help me TO bear il. instead Of making
the burden heavier"
She turned upon him a face of such
pathetic appeal that Harley was abashed.
Sylvia" he replied, almost in q whis-
per. God knows that ! do not wish 20
make you unhappy, nor do l wish 20 make
YOU do what is wrong I spoke so be
cause I could not help it. DO you think
that I can love you, and know you TO
be what you are. and then stand idly by
and see you passing TO another? I be
leve in silence and endurance, but not
in such silence and endurance as that
It is too much, God never asks 1t Of a
man.
She looked at him, Her eyes were
dewy and tender, filed with love, a love
tinged with sorrow, but he saw the brave
resolution shining there, and he knew
that, despite all, she would keep her
word unless King" Plummer himself
willingly released her from IT, And he
loved her all the more because she was
so true
Sylvia" he said. Il was wrong. I
should not have spoken to you in such
a manner. I am a weak coward to make
your duty all the harder for you
They were at the ladies entrance" Of
the hotel and the others either had gone
in or had turned aside. They were alone,
and she bent a little toward him.
THE things that you say may be
wrong" she whispered, butch, John
I love to hear you say them
Then she went into the hotel and Har-
ley. wisely, did not seek to follow.
CHAPTER XIX.
An Idaho Storm.
Among the mountains Of Idaho a dark