Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-23
CHAPTER VI.

AT the Barbecue was clearly demonstrated the
fact that the Relief party, backed by the great
horde of Debtors the majority of the voting ele-
ment in the state, was so strongly entrenched
that they had little to fear from their opponents
This being the case Col Steale accepted Darralps
excuses in good part, being too shrewd politi
clan to ALLEVIATE friend
His answer to Darralls letter was therefore
couched in the most friendly terms, releasing him
from all personal obligation; constituting the an
nouncement of his marriage "a sufficient excuse
for the abandonment of old friend"
From this time on the political situation waxed
warm in the effort to secure suitable nominees
from each district for the Assembly. The unpopu-
larity of the AntRelief party, was so great that
it was with difficulty that leaders could be found
for the forlorn hope.
When the canvass became hot, and the Anti
Reefs became more and more desperate in their
endeavor to stem the tide of popular sentiment, so
great pressure was brought to bear on Darrall
that he could longer remain inactive, since
his failure to support his party in this crisis
meant for him political humiliation.
Marguerite watching the trend of affairs as well
she was able, OWNED the strain under which
he laboring. Returning afternoon from
1.-The store" whittier he had gone for the latest
news he found her on the porch anxiously watch
ing for his coming.
Seating himself beside her. while the misty twi-
light creeping over the hills EMBODIED them in her
soft gray robe, they spoke of the things which
chained their thoughts; chiefly of a mans duty
in those troublous times, and somewhat of the
dangers lurking by the way. AS they sat there,
messenger in hot haste came riding over the
bridge to bring news that Darrall had been
mated for the State Senate. The message came
from Judge Randolph with congratulations and
good wishes.
Marguerite could not fail to see how his face
lighted up with the keen joy of hope fulfilled.
Nervng her heart for the sacrifice, which she
must now make, she was ready when he turned to
her with the joyful news, to bid him God speed
with the supreme self abnegation of wife send
ing her husband or mother her son, to battle
though he may be brought back to her upon
his shield.
A few days later she sent him away, with a
smile on her lips and light in her eyes, that gave
token of the keen apprehension in her heart
Darralls accession to the ranks of the Anti
Relief party hailed with great rejoicing. For
a time he seemed to be really adding strength
to their disheartened numbers, creating a cores
ponding degree of unrest in the Relief party and
occasioning no small amount of bitterness in the
heart of Col. Steale, who was too polite, however
to reveal this except to his closest friends Through
his emissaries waged upon Darrall and by
the time the canvass had closed, great deal of
personal feeling and enmity had been injected
into the campaign all down the line.
The Relief party triumphed carrying the cleo
ton with overwhelming majority, most OF their
candidates being successful Marguerite wecom-
ed home her husband-hushed with his own indi-
vidual triumph; for having been elected, his sue
cess presaged for him, whenever his party should
come into power. it must-any office within the
gift of the people. All of this he told Marguerite
with eager enthusiasm sitting in the light of the
harvest moon, her head upon his breast.
The last of the summer months waned with no
cloud to the sunshine passing visit from
the Judge and Mrs. Randolph in the early fall
rounded out the pleasure of the occupants of the
Manor House. The Judge had only words of high
est approval of Darralls course and rejoiced over
his success. They left with promises from Oar
rail- and his wife to follow them to Frankfort; to
be present at the inaugural festivities lew
weeks later.
"There is nothing like keeping yourself before
the people," he said to Darrall on leaving. At