The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-02

had a new sense Of the elevation Of
the presidential office. Often it takes
the trained and searching eye TO de-
tect in the majestic facade the evil
dences that the palace has degen-
Grated into a roOkery for pariahs.
Il have done what thought for the
best" he answered, never more d.
rect and manly in manner. Il have
always been afraid, been on guard,
lest my personal fondness for you
should betray me into yielding to you
when ought not Perhaps 1 have
erred at times, have leaned back
ward IN my anxiety to be fair. But
/ had and have no fear of your not I'M
Outstanding. Our friendship is too
long established, too well founded"
And l do not doubt that he believed
himself; the capacity for self-decep-
ton is rarely short Of the demands
upon it
It's unfortunate" began. |
was going to say it was unfortunate
that no such anxieties had ever re-
strained him from yielding to Good
rich. But I hadn't the heart. IN
stead l finished my sentence with:
However, it's idle to hold a post
mortem on this case. The cause of
death is unimportant. The fact of
it is sufficient. No doubt you did
the best you could, Mr.. President"
My manner was that Of fnality. It
forbade further discussion. He aban-
doned the hnesse of negotiation.
Harvey. ask you, as a personal
favor, to help me through this crisis"
he said. Il ask you, my friend and
my dead wife's friend"
No depth too low, no sentiment too
sacred! Anger whirled up In me
against this miserable, short-sighted
self-seeker who had brought to a cli-
max of spoliation my plans to guide
the strong in developing the resources
of the country. And l turned upon
him, intending to overwhelm him with
the truth about his treachery, about
his attempt to destroy me. For was
now safe from his and Goodrich's ven
geance-they had destroyed them
selves with the people and with the
party. But glance at him and
how could l strike man stretched
in agony upon his death-bed? IF
could help you, / would" said /.
"You-you and together can get
g convention that will nominate me-
he urged, hope and fear jostling each
other to look pleadingly at me from
his eyes.
Possibly" I said "But-of what
use would that be?'
He sank back in the carriage, yell
low-white and with trembling hands
and eyelids. Then you don't think
/ could be elected?" he asked in a
broken, breathless way.
For answer l could only shake my
head. NO matter who is the nom
inee," I went on, after a moment.
our party can't win" / half-yielded
to the impulse OF sentimentality and
turned to him appealingly. James,
said l, why don't you-right away
before the country sees you are to be
denied a mination-publicly an
nounce that you won't take 1t in any
circumstances? Why don't you de
vote the rest Of your term to regain
ing your lost-popularity? Every day
has it's throngs of opportunities fol
the man in the White House. Break
. boldly and openly with Goodrich ant
his crowd"
I saw and read the change in hi:
} face. My advice about the nomina
ton straightway closed his mind
against me; at the mention of Good
: rich, his old notion of my jealousy re
, vived. And I saw, too, that contac
J with and use of and subservience Il
corruption had so corrupted him tina
he had no longer any faith in an!
} method not corrupt. In an instant
realized the full folly Of what I wa
, doing I felt confident that by pursu
ing the line / had indicated he coult
/ so change the situation in the mex
J few months that he would make it i'm
possible for them to refuse to renom
: mate him, might make it possible 70
him TO be elected. But even If b
had the wisdom to listen, wher
would he get the courage ard tn
. steadfastness TO act? / gave hin
up finally and forever.
n ulAu Luay lOS0 Has own SAS@l eIGC
and still survive, and even go fal
But If he lose belief IN character as
force, he is damned. He could no
survive in a community OF scouI
drels.
Burbank sat motionless and wit
closed eyes for . long time.
watched the people in the throng c
, carriages-hundreds OF faces a,
turned toward him, al showing tha
mingled admiration, envy and aw
which humanity gives its exalte
, great. The PRESIDENT The pres
dent!" I heard every few yards /
, excited undertcnes. And hats wer
! lifted. and once a crowd Of enthu;