The Washington herald., 1907-02-24

nitely on the cloth that New York had
gone against GTaysOn; the returns per
mitted no doubt Of it. and there was rea-
son why the enemy should rejoice. Pres
emily their own bulletins confirmed the
bad news. and announced that Off in an
I other city the bands were seTenading the
other man.
Blow followed blow Connecticut. de-
] spite gains made there. went against
Grdyson BY majority. small. it is true,
I but decisive. and Illinois and Indiana
speedily followed her bad lead. To Har-
/ ley all seemed over, and he could net
/ take 1t with resignation. Jimmy Gray
son was the better man on the better
platform, and he should have been
elected. 1t was a crime TO reject him.
/ An angry mist came over his eyes, and
\ he walked into the hall that no one
should see it. But Mr. and Mrs. Grayson
stood at the end OF tile hall, evidently
| having just come from the children 5
room and before he could turn away he
| heard her say.
we have lost, but you are still the
man Of the nation to ne"
/ As he was returning he met Sylvia,
and now the tears in her eyes were plainly
visible
John, it can't be true. lie isn't beaten.
/ is he?"
NO. it is not true. Sylvia" he said,
/ telling what ne did not believe. I'VE
| still have a chance.
| They returned at once to the room,
and Mr.. Grayson came in a minute later.
/ his face wearing the same marble mask.
| When two or three forced themselves
/ to speak encouraging words, he smiled
and said there was yet hope. But Har-
/ ley had none, ard he felt sure that
/ Jimmy Grayson. too. was without H.
+ Good news from Iowa. suddenly
cried Mr.. Dexter. a dispatch from Des
! Mcines reports heavy gains for Grayson
throughout the south and west OF the
State
! Here was fresh breath of life. and
/ for "a moment they felt glad, but North
/ Dakota. State for which they had hoped
/ but scarcely expected. soon reported
against them The good news could not
last.
/ anything more from Massachusetts?
asked Mr.. Heathcote.
Mr. Dexter was opening dispatch and
| he gave gasp when he looked AT H.
Massachusetts in doubt he exclaimed.
| ''Grayson makes heavy gains in the coun-
/ Try districts as well as IN the cities. Our
national committee is claiming Massa-
chuSetts
There WAS burst 81 cheering ia .the
room. They had never even hoped 70.
Massachusetts From first 70 last il was
! conceded to the enemy.
"Oh, If Massachusetts only had as
many votes as New York. grOaned Ho-
bart. This is so good it can't be true"
But Sylvia smiled through her tears.
Soon there was another cheer. Fresh
dispatches from Massachusetts confirmed
the earlier news and made it yet better;
then the State was in doubt now IL IN
clined to Jimmy Grayson. the gains came
in. steady and large
We've got IL by az least 10000" ex-
claimed Mr. Dexter exultantiy It's d
regular upset Who'd have thought it,"
IL was true. Ii was known in a quar-
ter OF an hour that Massachusetts had
given "a majority OF 25.00o for Grayson
and behind their big sister came New
Hampshire and Rhode Island. with small
but sure suaiOrities Jimmy GraysOn had
carried three New England States. when
all Of them had been conceded 70 the
enemy. one of the most surprising changes
ever known in a Presidential election.
There were repeated cheers in the room.
Even Jimmy Grayson was compelled to
smile in satisfaction. But Harley did
not have hope This, in hts opinion. was
merely pleasant iucident-it could not
have much effect on the result, Massa-
chusetts had large vote, but those Of
New Hampshire and Rhode Island were
small and there against them stood the
gigantic State OF New York, towering
like mountain. New York had the big
gest vote of all. and he did not see how
it could be- overcome.
Harley now and then wrote "a para
graph Of his dispatch 10 his newspaper.
telling Of the scene at the candidates
house and how ne and his friends looked
and talked. but il did not take all his
time BY and by he went out on the steps
20 see the crowd in the streets and TO get
the fresh air. The night was cold
and raw, hut its touch was soothing
His thoughts were with Jimmy Cray
son. He yet had little hope and he
was thinking Of all those gigantic l8bors
wasted il was a case where d man must
win or lose everything. At the transpar-
ency the rival crowds were cheering or
groaning according 10 the news that
came.
Harley turned back and met Mrs. Gray
son.
Tell me. Mr.. Harley" she said. and
her eyes were eager. Just how the cleo
ton stands SO far. I know that YOU will
tell me the truth; is there really as much
hope as the others seem to feel?"
Harley looked into her clear, brave
eyes, and ne replied honestly.
Il think there is some hope. Mrs. GRAY
son, but not much. Too many big States
have gone against us, and we cannot off
set big States with little ones. New
York, Indiana Illinois. Wisconsin, Ala
bama are all in the hostile line"
Thank you for the truth she said. 4
But Harley was not sure He felt at
times that this ordeal was too great for
any man or woman When he returned
TO the room they were announcing news
from the Pacific Coast.
We have Washington" said Mr. Dex-
ter; and Oregon is against us, but Cali
fornia is in doubt
But we mean to have California" said
Sylvia. and the others smiled
Good reports came from the Rocky
Mountain region. ali the States there .ex-
cept Utah going for GTayson. 1t had
been thought once by both sides that
these doubtful States would decide the
election, but with the great upset in the
East and Middle West affairs took on
another complexion, and they must make
new calculations.
Has anything been heard from Penn
sylvania?" asked Mr. Heathcote
Nothing at all, replied Mr. Dexter
and there was "a suggestion OF contempt
in his tone; but why should we want to
hear anything? It's sure for the enemy
b. at least 10000. and he may get 100000
Pennsylvania is one State from which l
don't went to hear anything ut all.
They laughed again. but, as nothing yet
came from Pennsylvania. Harieys curl
osity about il began to rise Strange
that we do not near anything" he said;
but Mr. Dexter laughed. and promised to
read in an extra loud tone the first Penn
syivania bulletin thcy should get
Tt was nearly midnight now, and the
election was still undecided; midnight
came and the situation was yet I'M