The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-08
THE RECOVERY. A Story of Kentucky
 Copyright, 1908, by JOSEPH A. ALESHELER Entered at Stationers' Hall
 All rights reserved
(COntinued.A

Grey's wrath was about to blaze u again, but his manager checked him That is true,'' said Harrison. Come Mr. Grey. We can't wish you gool luck in this instance, MT. Clerke." I bowed shortly to them, as the, turned away, and then went up to m! room, where I awaited the end. Iha end and how it was reached, | Shal describe in the words of Jimmy War field.
 'Tt was coup detat, and we had arranged it with the greatest care,
 said Jimmy afterWard. We didn't lei you into it because we were afraid yol
 would spoil things-you can be such 2
 stubborn fool when you wish-beside!
 you were our only chance and we
 didn't want to take risks. Well, w
 were able to spring the trap in the
 most dramatic manner. It was Zap
 py idea to have old synonds nominate you, age presenting youth, and dldn't he do it beautifully!'
 we were finely launched by old man Synonds and the Grey crowd were completely surprised. They had
 raver thought of you. and they took fright at once. Good cause they haG. It l was really no task to beat that fellow i Grey after the opposition was consoli-
 dated. Most of the little fellows dgop-
 ped out at once in your favor, leaving only two in. besides Grey and yourSelf. 1 The first ballot gave you majority of eighty over Grey, but not a majority over all. On the second the two re- n1aining little fellow withdrew, and you received more than two thirds the vote of the convention.
 l Harrison has a good nerve. He rose, 1 and, without sign of chagr1n, moved | that your nomination be made unani- nous. It was done. and you are the 1 Democratic nominee for Governor of [ k ar1fy " '0 hfsr Q 1 Clarke. now what do you propose to 1 Go about it?"
 1 My eyes became wet, and again sor- getting my power I grasped his hand and gave it a grip that made him vince with pain.
 If I am elected Governor" I said, q shall try to deserve the place. "Well,' said Jimmy whimsically, ''that makes me think of the epitaph those Western cowboys put over one of their number: he done his damned est: angels could dc no more.' Stick to that principle. Harry" Pecen was put on the ticket with me for the Lieutenant Governorship, an act of the convention that delighted me greatly. and. as good men were chosen for all the other places, too, felt that I should have the aid of a strong ticket. Then the convention Rd- journed and I took the train for home, still wondering at the great and un- expected event that had happened in my life. Jimmy Warfield left ma at Louisville. and he said:
 'Tll do my best for you Harry. No you don'ti Just mild handshake if you please.''
 I smiled at the recollection, and mod erated the pressure. A few hours later I was in Carlton. and then home. Uncle Paul and Aunt Jane were not demon strative, but I could see their deep satisfaction. Uncle Paul said quie tly: T wasn't surprised, Harry: I had got & hint that they were thinking aL out you."
 I remembered now our evening on the porch and the questions that he had asked me, and realized how little a man often knows of an event ill which he is to be the central figure. Although letters at once came to me in a flood. and some visitors, too, I did not attempt for several days to do any real work. The fourth day after my return. I was sitting on the back porch, meditating a course of action, when Uncle Paul handed me letter in 8 square envelope, faintly tinted blue.
 '"The postman just left that" he said, "It looks like 1ady's letter, and guess it's a request already fer a position"
 But I knew. even before I looked at
 
 ter. It was something about the cave lope, an jndefinable air of resembl ance to her, perhaps the touch of her hand or the faint fragrance of her breath that told me, but be it any one of those or something else I could not be mis- taken.
 I sat a few moments with the letter in my hand before opening it. Fate had again played us strange pranEs. I had snatched the nomination from Alicia's 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 Cover nor's wife. It is impossible to foresee always the motives that will move even the best. I felt that. if Alicia blamed me I could put little heart in the cam paign, and thus I hesitated. I opened the letter at last and read what she wrote.
 T was surprised at your nomination" she said, "but it has caused me no pain rather pleasure. I was opposed from the first to MT. Grey's candidacy. T did not believe that the office would suit him, nor that he would suit the office, nor have I ever believed that he could get the nomination. But that it would suit you and that you would suit it I do believe. It is better then that you should be the man.
 T know that you will make a vigor- CuS campaign and | have no doubt Of your election. All this I think is com ing to you because you deserve it. It seems to me that there is certain bal ance preserved in the lives of many of us. You suffered a great and terrible punishment for something that you did not do, and now you are having a great reward as an atonement.'
 She wrote more, saying things that showed, however poor and little man is, he may be large and fine in a wom- ans eyes. It seemed to me that what she called my punishment, but which in reality was the making of me, would always i1lunine me in Alicia's sight with a fictitious glow.
 l folded up the letter, opened it and read it again. It 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 male no apologies. But I tore it into little bits, which I threw away one by one, and then watched the wind take them out of sight.
 She had not condemned me- She had approved, and I felt that I could now enter upon my fight, fully armed
 The contest would not be long de, layed. Peden and I were to make speeches together and he was coming to Carlton to join me. He arrived a 1 few days later, and I met nlm at the station. He gave me a hearty grasp of the hand and said.