The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-06-28

mentous.
Wadsworth. though a very rich man
and of excellent ancestry. was not a
SIX stocking, and his sympathies and
political strength lay with the horny
handed toiiers and small merchants.
He had been influential in establishing
throughout the district a great many
little clubs and societies which were
mot controlled by professional politi-
clans.
! 1t had been plausibly represented to
/ WadswOrth that the silk stockings
were trying to get grip on the clubs
and that something would have to be
done about it. Thus there arose in
Wadsworth'S mind the notion of Il
speechmaking tour, to be very quietly
conducted, before the caucus, and thus
John Aliens remarkable talent for
writing short addresses became known
to his employer WadswOrth himself
had never made set speech in his life
He had no difficulty in learning and
delivering the speeches, for his conf
dence in his memory was absolute. He
had, indeed, a wonderful gift, such as
one sees in a very bright child at the
so called memory age" A page of the
dictionary to be recited forward or
backward would not have appalled,
Wadsworth, though he was past forty
five
When Hilda glanced across the room
OF -I,o IL, 4
ing the manuscript of speech which
he had prepared on the previous day.
doubtless the one which Wadsworth
was to deliver at the Wash.ngton's
birthday banquet the following even
ing. This banquet was to be given I'M
der the auspices of coterie of silk
stockings who were known to be bit
terly opposed to the candidacy of
WadswOrth, and there had been sur
prise among the wise when he received
his invitation. The general opinion was
that an attempt would be made during
the evening to show the strength of the
opposition within the party and per-
hapS start boom for another candi-
date right. before WadSwOrth's eyes.
! Hilda had heard these rumOrS, and she
was sOrely grieved by the thought that
a man who was at heart so honest
should face his enemies with no better
ammunition than speech written by
a hired rascal and delivered mechan-
ically, in the manner of monograph.
That this performance should take
place in the name Of the hOnOred Fa-
Their of His Country made it even more
distressing.
Mr. Allenp'
The young man arose slowly and
crossed to Hilda.
'This was with Mr. Wadsworth's
mail" she said. II opened it by mis-
take"
She gave him the letter, from which
the check protruded. His face flushed
suddenly He looked at her steadily.
"You read this note" said be-. And
Hilda inclined her head.
Allen himself had not yet read it, and
he supposed that it was much more
| definite
what do you intend to do?" he
asked.
J Il shall tell Mr. Wadsworth.'
| Allen showed no alarm.
II will not remind YOU" said he after
pause, that your information comes
from my private correspondence. l am
perfectly willing that you should lay
this matter before Mr.. Wadsworth, but
upon one condition"
state it,
81 can prove that this affair is entire
! ly legitimate, but l cannot do it today.
/ Tomorrow is a holiday; we shan't be
here My condition is that you wait
until the following morning so that
your accusation and my defense may
! be laid before Mr. Wadsworth at the
same time"
II will wait" said Hilda after brief
hesitation, though / have no faith in
your defense You have taken pay for
influencing Mr.. WadswOrth's action in
some political matter. He will never
forgive you"
1--WE shall see," responded Allen with
such complete assurance that Hiida was
deeply disturbed.
She was tempted to exercise wo-
mans privilege and recall her promise,
but was restrained by something in
Aliens manner. AS he turned away he
seemed to be suppressing a laugh.
During the forenoon she was busy
with dictation, and at the close of it
| Wadsworth said
Il shall be away this afternoon, but
if you'll leave the letters for me I'll
come over this evening and send them
off,
Accordingly about O'Clock Hilda en-
tered the private Office carrying the let
tiers. The room was dark and cold, and
gust of wind as she opened the door
scattered some paper along the floor.
! She turned on the light, closed the win
dow and began to gather up the loose
sheets that had been dislodged by the
draft They revealed themselves as be-
longing to the Washington address
] which Allen had written 1t must have