The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1909-06-17

| a1NES quickly "alheu oNeI anu
! - touched the Southerner on the
4 L We'll, my boy, what can
DO for you:" asked the new senator,
/ turning. with pleasant smile.
My name is Uaines. Senator Ste
vens was 10 speak to you about me.
I'm the first of the newspaper CORE
( spondents come 10 interview you"
! Langdon's familiar smile Droadened.
We'll. you don't look rs though you'd
! bite. Reckon l can stand for 1t. Is it
very painful:'
Il hope it won't be. senator" HaineS
said, feeling inStinctivcly that he was
going to like this big, hearty citizen.
"All right, Mr.. Haines. just as soon
as I've said goodby to my old friend.
! Colonel Stoneman, III be with YOU
And to his continued amazemcnt
Haines saw the senator walk away
with the old Union colonel, slap him
on the back. cheer him up and finally
/ bid him goodby after extending cor
dial invitation to come around to din
ner. meet his daughters and talk over
old times.
The antiquated Federal soldier march
ed away more erect, more brisk, than
/ in years, completely restored to favor
in the eyes Of the hotel people. Lang
don turned to the reporter.
"All right, Mr.. Haines; my hands are
up. Do your worst Senator Stevens
spoke to me about you; said you were
the smartest young newspaper man in
Washington You must come from the
south"
Bud shook his head.
"No, Just New York." he said.
well, that's a promising town."
drawled the southerner. They tell me
that's the yicksburg Of the north
II suppose you haven't been to New
York Of late, senator?" suggested the
newspaper man.
"WeI, I started up there with Gen.
eral Lee once" responded Langdon
reminiscently, "but we changed our
minds and came back. You may have
heard about that trip"
Haines admitted that he had.
"Since that time" went on Lang
don, "I've confined my travels to New
. Orleans and Vicksburg. Ever been IN
New Orleans about Mardi Gras time,
Mr.. Haines?"
Sorry, but I don't believe have"
confessed the reporter reluctantly.
The senator seemed surprised.
well, sir, you have something to
live for. I'll make 1t my special busi-
ness to personally conduct you through
one Mardi Gras, with a special under
standing, Of course, that you don't
print anything in the paper. I'm a
vestryman in my church, but since
misfortune has come upon our state ]
have to be careful"
Haines searched his brain. He knew
of no grave calamity that had hap
pened recently in Mississippi.
"Misfortune?' he questioned.
Senator Langdon nodded.
Eyes, sir, the great old state Of Mis-
sissippi went prohibition at the last
election. / don't know how 1t hap
pened. We haven't found anybody In
the state that says he voted for 1t, but
the fact is a fact. ! assure you, Mr..
Haines, that prohibition stops at my
front door, in Mississippi. So I've been
| living a quiet life down on my planta-
ton"
This new life will be great change
! for you, theuT suggested the reporter.
Change! It's revolutionary, sir!
When you've expected to spend your
old days peacefully in the country,
Mr.. Haines, suddenly to find that your
state has called on you
A flavor of sarcasm came into
Haines' reply.
"The office seeking the man, He
could not help the slight sneer. Was
man never to admit that he had
sought the Office? Haines knew only
| too we'll Of the arduous work neces-
sary to secure nominations for high Of
fee in conventions and to win an cleo
| tion to the senate from state legis-
| lature. In almost every case, ne Knew,
the candidate must make dozen diff
ferent IDEALS" to secure votes, might
promise the same Office to two or three
different leaders, force others into line
by threats, send trusted agent to an
other with a roll Of bank bills-the re-
cipient of which would Immediately
conclude that this candidate was the
only man in the state who could save
the nation from destruction. Had not
Haines seen men who had sold their
unsuspecting delegates for cash to the
highest bidder rise in the convention
hall and IN impassioned, dramatic
voice exclaim in praise Of the buyer,
Gentlemen, it would be crying
shame, crime against civilization, II
the chosen representatives Of our