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

10 keep it going and to be continually
breathing new life into it In itself 1t
was not important to the public, but 1t
was made to appear so. and my oppo-
nents We're now after me about it in full
CRY. I will not deny that il caused me
many painful moments. Ny past life was
vulnerable, and as little thing may
grow into big one, the opposition. press
and speakers, were making the most OF
what they chose to call THE Great Mys-
terry in the Life of the Democratic Can
didate." The very fact that it remained
unanswered and unexplained caused it to
grow.
| came to Louisville at last and [ spoke
there to a great audience. which was en-
thUsiastic and which cheered me plenti-
fully, but toward the close some one
raised the foolish cry. Where was Har-
ry when the light went OUT" which the
opposition had now turned into catch
word. | took no notice Of it, and ii soon
died, the crowd was friendly, but
did not fail 10 remember it. and | felt
that I must soon take action to stop it.
Another thing that made me ignore for
the present the silly but most annoying
cry was the presence of A pale, lovely
but infinitely sad face in the gallery
had not seen ii until near the close of
my address, and then l felt sudden
thrill of pride and joy because Alicia
had come 10 hear me. She, too, must be
troubled by the question they were rails
ing. and | would not have her to think
i
with Mrs. Guthrie. and under the cover of
her friend I resolved to speak with her
later on if | could find d good opportun-
ity-
The audience went out slowly after the
speech and as / fingered i'm the rear [
caught d glimpse OF the smoothly shaven
earnest face of the young member of
Congress from the city, Mr.. Guthrie
knew that his wife and Alicia would he
near, and, letting the crowd thin yet
I rvyt h.N InJt
the ladies' He gave me Il hearty wei
come. spoke well of my speech, and told
me that 7 had two devoted political fol-
lowers In Mrs. Guthrie and Mrs. Grey.
These We're but the commonplaces of
meeting and I uttered my own in a sim
liar vein but | waited meanwhile to
speak with Alicia. unheard by the 9TH
erS. 1t came presently. Guthrie went
on ahead with Mrs. Guthrie and l came
behind with Alicia
You heard that cry / said. "They
wanted to know where 1 was in all the
years before I came back to Carlton
Yes, / heard she replied, as her lips
tremhled and her face, If possible, grew
whittier than ever. land / understood.
Some one suspects, some one instigates
this cry | have seen it before in the
papers. oh, Harry. how much better it
would have been if you had never seen
me again. 7 always wish you the best
of fortune, and I can never bring you
anything but misfortune!''
You have brought me all of good that
1 have" / replied. land there Is moth
ing to lament. Without that incident
I'm our lives ! should have gone straight
to ruin"
IF it is about to become known she
said. 'if they are about to learn where
you were. l shall tell the whole truth.
1 shall tell how |, weak coward, let
you suffer for me. But, Harry, L have
been awfully punished"'
Her hands clinthel and nnSlincled and
saw that she had a touch of hys-
terra.
Il am going to explain" I said gently.
Not that you were therein that hor-
rible placer
mo. but 1 will say what I was be-
fore / came back, that l was in the
west. that l was degraded, disapated
creature
"Dissipated. you might have been; de-
We were in the street now and Guthrie
had called his carriage.
Leave it to me, won't you?" 1 en-
treated. For both our sakes say moth
ing. Promise"
"If you wish It," she replied family,
yielding to my will.
1 helped her into the carriage beside
Mrs. Guthrie and then the three Of them
drove away. Poor Alicia! How often
much oftener have 1 thought it?
/ spoke the next day at Shelbyville and
there | replied to the famous republican
campaign watchword Where was Harry
when the light went out?" / said that
my past had not been what l could have
wished, | said that there were disgraceful
things in it, that / had not lived as
should have lived. but that, 1 claimed.
concerned me alone. Whatever faults
and sins l had committed l had paid for
them and had paid in full. Young blood
often rose too high and 1t would serve
no good purpose to rake up the old dis
graceful records of my youth. 1 denied
nothing, 1 admitted everything. and it
was for the people to judge.
(To be continued tomorrow