The Washington herald., 1907-02-10
THE CANDIDATE
Political Romance By Joseph A Asheer


| the way they bObbed back and forth he
knew that the enthusiasm was boiling.
He went down the far side of the swell,
passed a clump OF bushes. and came face
10 face with Sylvia Morgan She too
/ leaving the speech. had been walking
and the color of her face was deepened
by the exercise and the crisp. bracing air.
/ Ii had given her also. an obvious eXhil-
l aration probably physical, that Harley
/ had not seen before in a long time, and
her smile was of pure welcoming JOY.
Harley's was an answering smile, but
/ his heart was full Of longing and an
anger equally fierce. Never had she
seemed to him more TO be desired than
on that morning: tall, straight and
! young instinct with the life and strength
of the great upland reaches upon she
lived. her pure soul looking out of her
pure eyes, she was a woman 10 be won
by the man to whom her love was given.
and he rebelled because he did not have
| the right Temptation was strong with
| in him. and he had excuse.
Speeches. however good, do not appeal
to you today he said.
! NO, I prefer the mountains
She pointed TO the line Of peaks that
| formed a border of darker blue on the
horizon.
so do J.. said Harley with emphasis.
bus he meant, at that moment, that he
was glad to be alone with her.
Since chance has brought US together,
ne said, why should we not continue in
this way
They walked on, and he was very close
to her. so close that when n wanton wind
caught q stray Tinglet of her hair il
| brushed lightly against his cheek Faint
and ieeting as was the touch, every nerve
thrilled. he said fercely to himself that
she was his and should remain his.
They came TO "a little brook. a stream of
ice-cold water flowing down from the dis
tant mountains, and he helped her across.
/ although a single step would have car
riei her from bank TO bank. Then too.
he held her hand in his longer than the
case warranted. and again he tingled. He
| said nothing, nor did she, but she glanced
/ at him and she was little afraid; his
lips were closed In the firm fashion that
she knew. and his eyes were on the dis
tant mountains Behind them came
/ broad shadow. but neither looked back.
/ Jimmy GTaysou was great man. but
Caesar and his fortunes were now COM
pletely forgotten by both Harley ana Syl-
/ via. each was thinking only of the other.
/ and though they We're stiI silent. they
/ wandered on and on, Sylvia content that
by to icel her so near that her hair blown
i'm the wind had touched his face. Had they
looked back they would have seen the
shadow come a little nearer and raise its
arm In am angry gesture. The town sank
behind the swelis. and before lay only
"a brown eXpanse of country that rolled
away with unbroken monotouy. A slight
grayish tint. as of a mist, crept into the
gliutering blue of the sky. but Sylvia and
Harley did not notice it,
Sylvia felt. in a way. as if she were in a
state or suspended animation. The world
had paused tor moment and for that
reason she knew that fate was impend-
1g; she. too. felt thrill running through
every nerve. and she fel; the presence. so
near hey. OF the man whom she loved,
and would always love. He was master
to-day. and sine knew that she would do
whatever he should ASK her; al her re-
solves. all the long course Of strengthen
ing through which she might put herself
would melt away in the heat of an emo
ton that was too strong for her; IL he
sJia that they should slip back TO town.
take train t0 the next station, and get
married mere. foTgetfui Of her promise.
king Plummer, the campaign. her un-
Gle. and everything else. she would go
with him. But she remembered 10 pray
that he would not say it,
/ Harley still did not speak He too
was struggling with himself, and saying
over and over under his breath, that he
should remember his duty. Sylvia glanced
at him covertly from time 10 time and,
while she yet felt a little fear she ad-
mired the firm curve OF his chin and the
clear cut of his face. They came &C last
To a clump Of dwarfed trees. sheltered
between the swells, and they stopped.
frrF5 F..F-
when 1 met you but am sorry now that
the chance brought US together this time.
because IL is Il greater grief 10 see You
go. / thought once that We might be to-
getaer always because I know that you
are mine mine in spirit. at least. no mat
ter TO whom the law may give you, but
now"
He broke of and looked ~ her with
longing.
1T is better that I should leave you
and so alone" she said.
She held out her hand
This is a good-by" she said
But It shall not be so cold a one" he
exclaimed
He put his arms around her. and kissed
her fuH upon the lips
oh, John" she cried and when he
released her she ran back upon their
path, her face very red. although she was
IN no wise angry with him. Harley
walked on and he did not raise his head
until the shadow that followed them
stood across his way. Then. when ne
looked up. he found himself gazing into
the mUzzle Of q very large revolver, held
by q large. brown hand. Behind the
| hand and lowering at him, was the in
famed and determined face Of king
Plummer.
In this crisis neither OF the two wasted
words Each was man OF action. AID
each knew that long speech was vanity
of vanities.
Harley was pale; life was sweet, never
swecter than when il seemed to be leav-
ing but he did not finch.
You have stolen her from me-" said
the king" II saw what you did there:
you ought to be willing 20 pay the price. A"
Il object TO the word stolen said
Harley. calmly. The love Of Sylvia Nor
gan is not thing that could be stolen by
anybody"
Words differ, but acts don't. I've been
a border man, and I've got 20 do things
in the border way"
One Of which is to come armed upon
and unaTmed MANI"
, Harley saw the King finch, but the
finger did not leave the trigger.
You took from me when l wasn't look
ing all that love best. and I'll take from
you all 1 can"
The red face of king Plummer sud
denly turned gray, and Harley saw it, but
\ he did not see what caused it. There was
the light. swift tread OF footsteps behind
him, a warm breath upon his face. and
then Sylvia's arms were around his neck
and she was upon his breast
Shoot if you want to- she said to the
King" but your bullet will strike me
first