Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-08-03
The PLUM TREE
(continued from last week.)

rich But ! hadn't the heart In
stead ] finished my sentence with:
s'Howeger, it's idle TO hold post
morton on this case. The cause OF
death is unimportant The fact OF
&c TX sufficient No doubt you did
the best you could, Mr. President"
NY manner was that Of fnality. It
forbade further discussion He aban-
doned the fiDesse of negotiation.
Harvey. ! ask you. as personal
favor, to help me through this crisis"
he said q ask you. my friend and
my dead wife's friend"
No depth too low, no sentiment too
sacredl Anger whirled up in me
against This miserable, short-sighted
ssif-seeker who had brought TO a ell.
max Of spoliation my plans to guide
che strong in developing the resources
of the country. And | turned upon
him, Intending To overwhelm him with
the truth about his treachery. about
hrs attempt to destroy me For was
nov safe from his and Goodrichs ven
geance--they had destroyed them
sselyes with the people and with the
party a3ut a glance at him and
how could ] strike man stretched
in agony upon his death-bed? IF
could help you, | would" said l.
~You-you and / together can get
a convention that will nominate me"
he urged. hope and fear jostling each
other TO look pleadingly at me from
his eyes.
Possibly" | said. "But---of what
arse would that be-"
Ae sank back in the carriage, vel.
sow white and with trembling hands
and eyelids. Then you don't think
I could be elected" he asked in
'arskens GREATNESS way.
E'sI answer | could only shake my
head. No matter who is the nom.
.tnee. went on, after a moment,
orr party can't win l half-yielded
se Che impulse of sentimentality and
rnrred % him appeallngly James,"
-saM I why don't copyright away
<9etnft Ihe country sees you are to be
dehsea renomination-public an
s1ounce that you won't take it In any
circumstances? Why don't you de.
vase the rest of your term to regain
Stg yuoc lost popularity? Every day
aaa sts throngs of opportunities for
2hr nnu 50 the White House. Break
oolGiE and openly with Goodrich and
ois crowd"
y saw and read the change in his
FACE. Ivy advice about the nomina.
zion straightway closed his mind
-Egs INST me; at the mention of Good
ffeG, Bats md notion of my jealousy re-
Viysn- And saw, too, that contact
with ana use OF and subserviance to
corruption had so corrupted him that
he had no longer any faith in any
Ene;hoo not corrupt In an instant |
reRIlzed the full folly OF what | was
3ofes 1 felt confident that by pursu-
Nfng tipE line | had indicated he could
so change the situation in the next
few E192ths that he would make II i'm.
pegsiSle for them to refuse to renom-
snAte him. might make it possible TO-
>aim 10 be elected But even if he
mad tbs wisdom to listen, where
woR1 he get the courage and the
'stsEGiastness to act? | gave him
up iirally and foiever.
\ man may lose his own character
and gtlE survive, and even go far.
TaHi ~ Ae lose belief in character az a
force, he is damned. He could not
ssaTgiyn in a community of scoun-
sirElE
rruDank sat Eotlpaless and with
CLOSED eyes for long time. l
watched the people in the throng OF
GayTiages-hundreds OF faces all
tEzEei toward him. all showing that
niagie5 admiration. envy and awe
@,iidi, humanity gives its exalted
greet The PRESIDENT The presi-
gisnit' heard every few yards in
aexefiz5 undsrtones. And hats were
kis'eS and once a crowd Of enthus-
las6s partizans raised a cheer.
|Tne president" | thought, with
mournfpI irony. And / glanced at
aim
Suddenly he was transformed by an
expression the most frlghtful | have
ever seen. II was the look OF de-
spairtng, weak. vicious thing. cor
Isered. giving battle for its hfe-l!ke
y, fOz at bay before pack of huge
N1oEs II was not Burbank-no, he
sxs wholly unlike that It was Bur
aSn1S,s ambition. interrupted at its
meal by the relentless, sure-aming
hunteT, Fate
For Gods sake, Burbank" l ex-
CLAIMED IAN these people are
patching US"
To hell with them" he ground
osH I tell you. Sayler, l will be
aoaniuateal And elected too. by God!
& VIII nd5 be thrown aside like an
suE11ed orRnge-skin. | will show them
ma am president"
Those words, said by some men, in
som~ zones would have thrilled me.
Saia By him and in that tone and with
&hu luok. they made me shudder and
shrfas- Neither of us spoke again.