The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-26
The Memoirs Of !
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BY
ROBERT HERRICK-
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Western road, which owns the state. is
putting up against us we shouldn't
have any trouble. They want to keep
US out, and Strauss and his crowd
want to keep US out. too. SO that they
can have all the pie to themselves. l
have been working at this thing for
years in order that We can get an out
let to the seaboard, untouched by our
rivals. They think to block US just ut
the end, but l guess they will find out
they are mistaken when the lineup
comes next month. That's all"
do you think that explanation is
satisfactory: or course. Van, you
want the bill passed." May said iron
ically.
What does it mean-what has Van
been doing?" Sarah asked for the first
time. sitting up and looking from ono
to another in puzzled way.
None Of US answered, and finally
Will said:
II guess, Van, you and I don't see
things quite the same way. l know
you wouldn't ask me to do what you
thought was bad, but all the same
there's too much that's true in that
piece in the paper. and I don't want to
have it said-there's things going on
down there that aren't right-and May
feels-I feel myself-that it amt right
We don't think the same way, you and
I. So we had better part now. before
we have any bad feeling"
"All right! Did you come over here
tonight to tell me that?"
mo, Van." May put in hastily, her
voice trembling with feeling. THAT
wasn't all. Will and came to ask
you to give up the sort Of business
you are doing down there. We want
you to turn back into the right road
before 1t is too late. If you don't land
in the penitentiary. Van Harrington,
your money will do you no good. It
will taste bad all your life!'
We were all pretty well stirred up
by this time. I was weary Of meeting
these charges Of dishonesty ON all
sides. This last was too much-to
have my family accuse me Of a crime
when I did not feel guilty, not for q
minute!
Il don't see why you should say that,
May" Sarah suddenly bridled. After
all, it's only the newspapers, and no
one believes them today"
This unexpected defense from Sarah
aroused May afresh.
"Oh, he don't deny it! He can't
First it was a judge-he bought a
judge and paid for him, and he never
came out and denied it! Now it's
worse even than that. It's the people
Of whole state he's trying to buy
through their representatives"
who are there for sale?" laughed.
Does that make 1t any better p
She turned on me. Seems to me,
Van. you don't know any longer the
difference between black and white"
We've got a perfect right to build
that road. and build II we will. That's
all there is to that matter"
And 50 we argued for hours. May
and l doing most Of the talking, for
wanted her to understand just how
the matter lay. No business in this
large. modern world could be done on
her plan Of life That beautiful scheme
Of things which the fathers Of our
country drew up in the stasecoach
days had proved itself Inadequate in a
short century. We had to get along
with it the best We could. But we
men who did the work OF the world
who developed the country. who were
the life and force Of the times. could
, not be held back by the swaddlins
clothes Of any political or moral theo
| ~. Results We must have-good re
suits. and We worked with the tools
| We found at hand
It's no use your saying any more-
May exclaimed at last Il understan nd
just what you mean. Van Harrington
It's the same way II was with the
| judges peaches. You wanted EN-. and
you took EN-! What you want you
| think is good for every one. especially
for Van Harrington. And you are %
wise and strong you think You can
break through all laws because laws
are made for small people. like VIII
! and me. and you and your kind arr
Sapoleons- You talk n IL you were q
part Of Gods destiny. And 1 say"-hers
her voice broke for q moment-'I say
Van. you are the devils instrument
You and those like you-and there an
good many Of them-are just plain
big rascals. only the laws cant gel
hold Of you"
Her lips trembled and At the end
| broke into that little ironical smile
which 1 knew 20 well. the smile sh<
had when I used to get into some boy
fsh scrape. and she was locking
through me for the truth But for al
her hot words I knew she had kindly
feelings for me- somewhere b bel
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