The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-12
THE RECOVERY. A Story of Kentucky
 Copyright, 1908, by JOSEPH \. ALTSHELER Entered at Stationers' Hall
 All rights reserved

SoIlpt1oIl Ol d SudI0 III c llcdNg Ic-
 sponsibility. but felt through it his strong sense of personal attachment
 Even if he were to know the full truth
 he would never swerve a hairs breadth
 in his loyalty and affection. I had no
 doubts at all of him and the knowledge
 made my heart warm to him.
 l Place brings worry, Seth,' I said
 with an attempt at cheerfulness. "Yo ou have harder time here than you had
 at Carlton"
 That's so,' he replied gravely. "Tve
 got to keep all sorts of people from you
 here, and there wasn't no such trouble
 at Carlton. It's a hard world for us
 public men, MT. Clarke.''
 I did not laugh, I did not even have
 any temptation to do so; on the con- trary I felt keenly the support of his
 sympathy, and I said:
 We'll bear it the best we can,
 Seth.''
 "Yes, sir, we will," he replied cheer fully and went on with his task. His | trouble slipped from his mind like wa ter over a dam, and I envied him. He l too. had been in the penitentiary, but he never made any secret of it; on the contrary if the evil-minded introduced the subject to him he would boast of it in order to show the depths from
 which he had come and the heights on which he now stood. I can truly
 say that, at that moment, 1 enVied i poor Seth.
 August days passed and the attacks 1 upon me thickened. My very silence now was an encouragement to my
 enemies, and I did not doubt that liar rison, Connor, Grey and Cobbett were using every means to incite them. Grey | l heard was back again in Louisville and was full of malice against me both on personal and political grounds. He even dared or sank so low as to make rriv 1,f1 l wife. indirect and vague. it Is true, hut 1 to the initiated clear enough. But the fat Cobbett was the most vociferous l of the lot. Oh, he knew things about me. I was a fine specimen, I was. to be at the head of the government of nobody knows where and pushing my l self forward in the most shameless and interruptions manner! The truth would come out, it must come out at last, and when it did come out, people would realize how they had been trick ed. Such were the reports that reach ed me, but whether he knew anything positive about me I was uncertain, but did know that. if he learned the truth, it would make a luscious morsel for such man as he.
 Late in August, as I strolled across the deserted lawn of the Capitol I saw Jimmy Warfield coming over the brown dSS duu lldllSO IlliII 6Iddly.
 Got to look up the records of case in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals he said briskly. Doesn't Frankfort look deserted? Why do you stay here in August? Why don't you come down to Louisville. and have good time with your friends. one of whom I am?"
 He spoke lightly. jestingly even, but his manner was unlike his words, and noticed that he shook my hand with unusual fervor. Jimmy Warf1eld was seldom a demonstrative man, and I felt deeply grateful for this sign that he had rallied again to my defense-I could not interpret it otherwise. How long do you expect to be here?' asked
 Until tomorrow" he replied "Then come over and spend the night at the mansion with me. Come, its a favor; I'm lonesome"
 He accepted promptly and about five o'clock in the afternoon joined me at the Governors residence. I had left the Executives office early, it being a slack day. and was there before him. His coming was like a fresh breath of wind, and he brought a new spirit into the old house. Even Seth who waited on us brightened up and cast off the load of public life. Warfeld was in one of his rarest ard finest moods, finding humor in everything and showing the gayest of spirits. In his presence and under his influence I felt young again; life seemed to be well worth the living.
 I dif not understand why Warfeld was in such spirits; he and had been almost as brothers and knew that he felt intensely the bitter attacks upon me now long unanswered. Apparently he was doing it ali to please me and to make me forget. "Old fellow" 1 said to my self. you are a true friend, if ever man had one, and I wish I knew how to repay you."
 sat in my smoking room and talked over our cigars. The weather had turned somewhat cooler and a fire was lighted in the grate. not much, but just enough to throw out a mellow glow that both took away the chill and made the electric lights unneces- sary.
 I did little talking, but Jimmy gos- siped long and agreeably, and from time to timo he spoke of the people with whose fate my own was so in extricably woven.
 Harrison is in Louisville" he said, land he is devoting himself to pleas ura. doubt whether he goes back to the Legislature-he could if he wanted to do so-but he seems to have become suddenly tired of politics, he is not a man who can take defeat. And, oh, by the way, the beautiful Pauline Harmon is there too, and he is in frequent at tendance upon her. An odd man! I'd have sworn that he was in love with George Grey's wife and is yet for that matter"
 Warfield relapsed into silence and smoked a reflective cigar, and I, say ing nothing, did the same It is Gods truth that even then and in the full belief that he had raised the clamor against me I did not hate Harrison and I should rather have seen Alicia his wife than George Grey's. Alicia was in Warfield's thoughts as well as mine as he said:
 T saw Mrs. Grey in Louisville a few days ago with the Guthries. A noble woman, Harry, and she seems to nie to have acquired a new strength. I'm clumsy at telling my meaning, but I don't think, Harry, I ever before saw woman so completely clothed in spiritual atmosphere; don't mean any sanctimonious air, but the genuine moral greatness that belongs alike to great Pagans and great Christians"
 Then he, too. had noticed the change in Alicia. But I had seen it also in a man, the Reverend Elias Peabody, and I would have given worlds to have learned it from either for myself.
 T think she could get a divorce from George Grey,'' said Warfield.
 ''No doubt" I replied, "but she will never seek it. She has certain beliefs that forbid her."