The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-28

ing accepted morality in theory, he was in many respects most punctil- ious about points of honor. When he gave his word he never broke it. In his political speeches he never pandered to popular cries. He did not say things because they were popular, and even while he declared that all men had their price, he was never known to sell himself.
 At the present time many eyes were turned towards him. He had become a great favorite in his con- stituency. The leader of his party had come to speak at a great gath ering, and when, as the accepted candidate, he had also to address the meeting, the great man had been simply carried away by his speech. As ne remarked afterwards to his colleagues, it was the speech of a statesman and an orator It might have been Macaulay or Burke who had come to life again.
 At times Leicester pretended to despise all this, but at heart he was proud of it. Indeed, as I have said before, ambition was the one thing which kept him from being a wastrel.
 No doubt Radford Leicester's story has been repeated many times in many ways; nevertheless it is necessary to tell it again, in order to understand something of the complex character whom have introduced to my readers.
 The club in which they had met was situated in the region of Pail Mall, and while not in the strict sense political, it was mostly fre- quented by those who were of Lei cester's ways of thinking. As I have said it was not large club; never theless, it provided a limited num- Der of beds. These young men had come up to listen to a debate at the house of commons, and preferred spending the night at the club than going to a hotel.
 Going to carry this thing through Leicester?" said Winfield when the others had gone.
 eff only to knock the nonsense out of those prigs,'' replied the other.
 Marriage is a dear price to pay"
 'Then why are fellows 50 eager for it?"
 .I don't know. Men are mostly fools. I suppose"
 "Yes, but then it was not a ques- ton of marriage. It was only a question of being accepted as pos sible husband"
 "The same thing. No man of hon or can win a woman's promise to be his wife and then jilt her."
 "A great many do it. Besides, wo- men don't care"
 Don't they? Why do you think so?"
 Because women are women. And it isn't as though this Miss Castle maine had fears of being placed on the shelf"
 "You are very cool about it, old man.
 Quite the reverse. I am quite ex- cited. Just fancy my scheming to be the promised husband of a beauti- full heiress. sort of glorified Quak- eress, rich, pious, and high-minded. Winning an election will be small thing compared with winning her"
 sBut surely you'll not try andcar- ry the thing through ?'
 "Why?'
 Because you don't love her.
 Leicester gave a significant whistle.
 Love- he said; "does that come in?"
 "Its supposed to-"
 "It's one of the many illusions which still exist among a certain number of people. As for it's real ity-"
 He shrugged his shoulders signi- ficantly, and then became quiet.
 'ewhat are you thinking about ?" asked Winfield presently.
 "A mans secret thought are sac red," replied Leicester mockingly. ''Do you think my pious sentiments are for public utterance?"
 Winfield rose and held out his hand.
 Goodnight Leicester" he said.
 What, going to bed?"
 "Yes, it's past one o'clock"
 ''well, what then? You've no wife to regulate your hours"
 "No, but have work to regulate them. A journalist is a slave to the public"
 ''Stay half an hour longer"
 What's the good?''
 "I can't sleep and it's horrible to go to bed and lie awake. Besides I believe I've a touch of D. IT.
 Nonsense. You who boast that your nerves are steel. and that no whisky can bowl you over."
 That's true, and yet-look here, Winfield, you are not one of these whining sentimentalists, and one can speak to you plainly. I was never drunk in my life; that is, was new CT in a condition when I couldn't walk straight, and when I couldn't express my thoughts clearly. Never theless, it tells, my son, it tells. ]