Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-06-22


and saw just this time-when should
be the helpless tool in the hands Of
the power / sold myself to- Govern
orr" He almost shouted the word,
rising and pacing the floor again.
Governor! and he laughed in wild
derision
watched him, fascinated /. too.
at the outset Of nay career, had looked
forward, and had seen the same peril.
but had avoided It, Wretched figure
that he was!-what more wretched.
more pitiable than a man groveiing
and moaning In the mire OF his own
self-contempt? Governor" said to
myself, as saw awful thoughts fitting
like demons OF despair across his face.
and | shuddered, and pitied, and re-
ioiced-shuddered at Tie narrowness
OF my own escape; pitied the men who
seemed myself as | might have been;
ard rejoiced that | had bad my moth
er with me and in me to mpeI me
into another course
Come, come, Burbank" said /,
you're not yourself; you've lost
sleep"
Sleep" he interrupted, II have
not closed my eyes since | read those
cursed bills"
Tell me what you want done" was
my suggestion. "Tll help in any way I
can-any way that's practicable"
"Oh, | understand your position,
Sayler," he answered when he had
got control of himself again, but I
see plainly that the time has come
when the power that rules me-that
rules us both--has decided to use me
TO my own destruction IF | refuse to
do these things, it will destroy me-
and a hundred are eager to come for
ward and take my place. If do these
things the people will destroy me-
and neither is that of the smallest
Importance to our master"
His phrases, "the power that rules
us both" and tour master Jared on
me. So far as he knew, indeed, so
far IS "our master knew. were not
he and In the same class7 But that
was no time for personal vanity. All
I said was: The bills must go
through. This is one of those crises
that test mans loyalty to the party"
For the good of the party" he NUT
tered with bitter sheer. Crime upon
crime-yes, crime, say-that the
party may keep the favor of the pow
ers! And to what end? To what
good? Why. that the party may con-
tinue in control so may be of further
use to its rulers" He rested his ell
bows on the table and held his face
between his hands He looked terri
bly, old, and weary beyond the power
ever to be rested again. II stand with
the party-what am I, what am I with
out it?'' he went on in a dull voice.
"The people may forget. but. If Of
fend the master-he never forgives or
forgets TIL sign the bills. Sayler--
IL they come to me as party meas
ures."
Burbank had responded to the test.
Al baser man would have acted AZ
scores OF governors, mayors, and
Judges have acted In the same situa-
tion-would have accepted popular
ruin and would have compelled the
powers to make him rich in compen-
sation. A Drawer man would have de-
fed 1t and the powers, would have APP
pealed to the people-with one chance
of winning out against ten thousand
chances of being disbelieved and
laughed at as man who thinks he's
too good for his party" Burbank was
neither too base nor too brave; clear
ly, assured myself, he is the man
want felt that I might safely re-
lieve his mind, so far as l could do
SO without letting him too far into my
secret plans
T had not spent FIVE minutes In ex-
PLANTATION before he was up, his face
radiant, and both hands stretched out
TO me.
Forgive me, Harvey" he cried. 81
shall never distrust you again. l put
my future in your hands"