Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-20
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.

could do no more Stick to that principle,
Harry
Pcdcn was put OH the ticket with me
for the lieutenant governorship, an act
of the convention that delighted me great
~, and as good men were chosen for all
the other places, too, | felt that | should
have the aid of a strong ticket. Then the
convention adjourned and | took the
train for home. still wondering at the
great and unexpected event that had hap
pened in my life Jimmy WariieId left
me at Louisville, and he said
II II do my best for You. Harry. No you
don't. Just Il mild handshake if YOU
please.
| smiled at the recollection, and modcr-
ated the pressure. \ few hours later |
was in Carlton, and then home Uncle
Paul and Aunt Jane were not demonstra-
tive, but | could see their deep Satisfac-
ton. Uncle Paul said quietly:
Il wasn't surprised. Harry, had got a
hint that they were thinking about YOU"
L remembered now our evening on the
porch and the questions that he had
asked me. and I realized how little d man
often knows of an event i'll which lie is
To be the central figure
Although letters at once came to me in
Il flood, and some visitors too, ] did not
attempt for several days to do any real
work. The fourth day after my return
| was sitting on the back porch, meo,-
tating a course of action. when Uncle
Paul handed me Il letter in a square en-
Nelope, family tinted blue.
'Thv postman just left that he said.
1t looks like ladr'S letter, and ] guess
it's request already for a position.
But knew, even before l looked at the
address, who had written the letter. 1t
was something a bout the envelope an ill.,
deiinable air of resemblance to her, per-
haps. the touch OF her hand or the faint
fragrance of her breath that told me- but
be II any one of those or something
else I could not be mistaken
| sat d few moments with the letter in
my hand before opening it. Fate had
again played US strange FRANKS. had
snatched the nomination from Alicia $
husband Would she blame me? She did
not love her husband, rather she hated
him. but she bore his name. and she
might have been the governors wife. -.
is impossible to foresee always the mo-
tives that will move even the best. |
felt that. if Alicia blamed me l could put
little heart in the campaign, and thus
heSitated. / opened the letter at last and
read what she wrote
II was surprised at your nomination."
she said. but it has caused me no pain,
rather pleasure. / was opposed from the
first to Mr.. Grey'S candidacy. / did not
believe that the office would suit him. nor
that he would suit the office, nor have
ever believed that he could get the nomi-
nation. But that it would suit you and
is better then that you Should be the
man.
Il know that you will make a vigorous
campaign and / have no doubt of your
election. All this l think Is coming to you
because you deserve il. 1t seems TO me
that there is a certain balance preserved
IN the lives of many of us. You suffered
a great and terrible punishment for some
thing that you did not do, and now you
are having great reward as an atone
ment."
She wrote more, saying things that
showed. however poor and little man is.
he may be large and fine in woman's
eyes 1t seemed to me that what she
called my punishment, but which in reali-
ty was the making of me, would always
illumine me in Alicia's sight with f1cti-
tiouS glow.
l folded up the letter. opened it and
read it again. 1t was unsigned, though I
believe that Alicia had written to me
without any intention of secrecy. Had
the letter come to the attention of her
husband. she would have said at once that
it was hers; and would have made no
apologies. But l tore it into little bits,
which | threw away one by one, and then
watched the wind take them out of sight.
She had not condemned me. She had
approved. and l felt that I could now
enter upon my fight. fully armed.
The contest would not be long delayed.
Peden and l were to make speeches to-
Sether and he was coming to Carlton to
join me. He arrived "a few days later.
and | met him at the station. He gave
me q hearty grasp of the hand and said:
We've good won already, Mr..
Clarke. I'm proud to be on the ticket
with you, and I'm proud to make a cam
paign with you"
Good old Peden, He was ever blind to
my faults. and with his homely wit and
strong character he was certainly a tower
of strength when we began our tour. l
do not propose to enter into any detailed
description of the way in which we made
our speeches or the manner in which they
were received. Where it dealt with these
details our campaign did not differ great
~ from other campaigns, and l enjoyed
the travelling, the crowds. and also the
controversy. The demands of energy and
ambition alike were satisfied and the days
were very full.
| was anxious to see the attitude of
Harrison and Gray, and when Jimmy
Warfield joined me at Paris, which. as all
know. is in the famous old county of
Bourbon / asked:
Jimmy. have you heard anything from
Harrison? Is he taking any part in the
cdmpaign?'
Wartield gave me a comprehensive look
and then smiled.
Il was expecting that question from
you he replied. land I'm a little bit
surprised that you haven't asked 1t soon
or. He made great professions of loyalty,
but i haven't heard yet of his doing any
thing"
Then YOU call upon him to speak" j
said. You're one of the committee and
YOU have the right. He ought to do his
part.
1T shall be DONE" replied Warfield de-
ciSiVely. I'm glad to see that you're
taking the bull by the horns, rather
Harrison by the hair We must know
whether his crowd are going to support
you Suk?'
] was in Covinston a few days later and
read there in Cincinnati paper that
Harrison had made two speecehs for me.
| knew that it was bitter pill for him,
but ! did not see any reason why he
should not take it: he was a party man,
and If Grey had secured the nomination
he would have expected me to speak for
him
and then we went southeast into the
mountains where for about q week we
were cut off from railroad or telegraphic
connection. When we returned to the rail-
road station. coming on horseback, l
naturally looked with much interest at
the few newspapers that we could obtain
1t was a republican organ that ! secured
first and ii devoted much space to the
campaign. Partsanship is still rather
strong I'm our state, and it jeered at my
speeches, which | did not mind. and also
had some personal ridcule for me, which
| did not mind, either but a short edi
torial paragraph claimed my startled at
tentiou. II frivolously worded, but
1t sent a shiver through me. 1t read:
Where was Harry when the light went
out? We know Mr.. Clarke'S record since
he suddenly reappeared al his old home,
but where was he for three or four years
before that time? Who viii answer"
| looked at the words--common black
t,,i- hit t,,,f I