Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-18

-. +-r- - 1Au8nt. his proves IN the
poiitical neld, due to his wide knowledge
OF rien and conditions and bis ability &c
CON mano and execute, was 70 generally
recognized that whoever succeeded in Re.
tanning him as chief Of stan for state
can vass had almost won the battle, in The
popular idea. As result, 'sPhr' Anniz
vas spoken for years ahead. His present
eng Agement had been made, provisional
y, .ong before, when President Granger
OF the Overstate contemplated annexina
the title Of governor to bis other honors.
'hnt size Of his retaining fee-well. It did
no harm to speculate about II, and no one
vas the wiser. And, quite as pleasing to
PM. Annis, he had q good checkbool
With Hon. Prentiss Changers name lib
sra " signed In blank, to work with.
what wonder that he smiled serenely.
Miles away. In the small but hustline
town OF Westmont, the Hon. Prentiss
Grrnger's rival. Rollin Spencer. was by
no means idle. Lacking somewhat in
the potent sinews OF warfare already 90
conspicuous in the Granger movement, rs
we'll as In the disposition TO use them as
bis opponent was doing, Spencer had
contented himself with renting another
room adjoining his law Office to serve Is
MS headquartere- Here were the neces-
sary adiuncts-the reading matter. the
correspondence materials, the telephone
con nections and an extra stenographer.
II there were any cigars tson draught, {"
they came as occasion warranted and
taste inclined, from Mr.. Spencer's vest
pocket. Not even the loudest Granger
limited * any unseemly use Of liquor,
WHISTLER good news or bad came In. The
candidate held old-fashioned notions Of
the proprieties. He had no Ealaried man
ager. bat conducted the canvass himself.
There was no checkbook in use save his
own, aud in this the stubs were carefully
and with scrupulous exactness itemixed
when the corresponding check was draw q
in behalf of the really necessary expenses
Of ais candidacy. The reason whereof
will appear later.
kollin Spencer was a strong character,
and II not handsome, he had an attrac-
tiveness Of face and bearing that stamped
him as true gentleman. In age about
forty, he stood nearly six feet in height,
with a physique to match. Strength
shone in his every movement. His keen
eye, kindly smile and hearty handclasp,
with q round, heavy and pleasing voice,
denoted sincerity, courage and honesty
In his record, public or private, no flaw
appeared. A son OF the soil, be had ac-
CURED a thorough, II not an advanced,
education, and his mind, well stored
with useful knoRledge, was anime with
clear ore near the surface always.
Rollin Spencer was still bachelor. He
avsrred, whenever the subject was
preached, that his sister, Hazel, quite
filed the void, and to her he paid all the
love and vencration OF his intense nature.
Ladies esteemed and admired him, but
found him invulnerable to more than
mere good fellowship and pleasantly.
To Hazel Spencer, quite fifteen years his
junior, he paid the addresses of his heart.
Quite worthy OF them was she, too. and
sought none other. They lived together
in comfortable home, with housekeep-
or to conduct It, Hazel devoting most Of
her time to ONCE work with her brother.
She was bis counterpart in looks, nature
aud disposition, and a. thoroughly 3 lady
sc he was q gentleman. OF scholarly at
tainnsents, and-thanks to much self-ds-
Mai by her eollege-bred, she
possessed g rare mental equipment along
practical lines. Having early selected
her career, a. her brothers "silent part
nsr"--he laughed ct the adjective-she
had trained herself for it diligently, and
- NNAAa w ~ AuAN0tNAN ANAg8tA - AlNtN ~
declared that shs was q bstter lawyer. Z
better pleader and better politician
than be. The firm name, he said, should
rad, 'sHazel Spencer q Brother"
She had taken keen interest in Roiiin' Z
public service and had given him the in
spiration, as well rs the good advice, that
every man needs and requires from some
feminine source to achieve the best re-
suits. In the present iuncture, Hazel had
enlisted her full strength and spirit in
her brothers behalf. Philetas Annis,
lending over bis checkbook or dispens-
ing cigars in q distant corner Of the state,
might yet have to reckon with this dark.
eyed maiden whose work was the more
fruitful because II was a labor Of love.
As to the senatorial canvass. It was pro
ceeding on similar lines, but bad not vel
fully developed. Recognizing the exist
ing situation and appreciating that ths
first test would be on the governorship
the partisans Of the two known candi
dates for senatorial honor were at present
working for position in the earlier con
test. Neither side had opened headquar
ters. The Emery movement, indeed
seemed to depend altogether for ID
promise Of life in the fall on the outcoml
Of the first clash. II Rollin spencer coull
make no impression against the machin'
IN q direct appeal to the people, It seames
useless to hope that the combination
could be broken 30 as to prevent tn
contamination OF the Granger-Jenkins al
lance when It entered the maze Of legis
lative action, with its inviting possibili
ties to the deft masters Of wirepulling
Governor Jenkins smiled serenely ct th
prospect, doing his utmost meanwhile
to help the magnate Of Lotus in his pres
emit ambition-for reasons selfish, per
haps, but strictly political. The two ar
kin.
CHAPTER v.
As spring advanced, Mrs. Jed Alden
practical eve noted something amiss
Farm work on the Alden farm Jagged 8
never before. Jed said the weather wa
measley and therefore responsible, but Ed
ma, in her own mind, didn't fully coin
: eide. There had been, to be sure, mnc
! rain and storm, succeeding the earl
! spring drouth, but this could not accoun
: for the slackness with which the Aide
} acres had this year been prepared for q