The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-03-20

Some days later q new ordinance,
drawn up under Bob's direction,
was introduced. In due time il
passed, signed and accepted by
the gas company.
The night after Bob's victory,
fifty thousand of the Steel City s
best citizens paraded before his
home and cheered him as the next
governor.
The cheering thousands march
ed on, leaving the quiet street to
return to it's wonted dingy calm.
Kathleen, proud and rejoicing,
sought Bob in his library. The
man in whose honor a great city
had made holiday sat before the
fire in an attitude of complete de-
lection. Unnoticed, she halted on
the threshold; often during the
past year she had found him so
and had stolen away without
breaking in on his loneliness.
She started to steal away as be-
fore. Then, impulsively turning,
she went swiftly to his side.
Bob" she cried TREMENDOUSLY,
"whst is it,"
He looked up at her, startled,
and rose with an evident effort to
collect himself.
Nothing, Kathleen" he said in
a tired voice. Nothing that mat
tiers much"
"Ah! but there is something
that matters. Haven't we all seen
1T? You're breaking our hearts,
Bob"
II haven't meant to trouble you
with my moods"
And tonight, with all these
people showing you their love and
pride in you-when you have de-
served it so well-when you
should be only proud and happy
I find you here-so!" Her
voice almost broke.
DON'T" He shrank from her
praise as he never shrank from a
physical blow. That's what
hurts tonight. 1 have not de-
served their kindness. / have done
SO little. Nothing!"
Nothing! 1t means nothing
to you to have stood between
nearly a million people and injus-
tice?"
But I didn't do that" he insist
ed, with weary patience. "What
has been done, the people did
themselves. All l did was to veto
a bill any clever politician would
have vetoed as a matter Of policy
and to pull off a shallow, theat-
rical trick that, after all, probably
wasn't necessary"
But" she cried, "who began
the fight? Who led public senti-
ment and made it effective? These
people tonight were right has
been your victory! No wonder
they're SO proud of you-the good,
kind people!"
"Too good, too kind!" he an
swered with a bitterness that was
all toward himself. "They forget
all the evil and remember only the
little good. But 1 can't. And to-
night-they have made me feel
small and mean"
Small and mean! Bob, will
you never learn to know yourself?
l." Her voice broke in a little
laugh that was near to tears-"I'd
like to shake you'll"
He smiled. 81 wish you would,
Kathleen. That's the only way /
can learn, it seems, by having the
truth shaken, pounded into me-"
Tears came to her eyes. "Ah!I
don't think I don't know what this
long year has been to you," she
said pityingly. "You were always
cruel to yourself, driving your
self mercilessly, even when"
When l was a selfish brute"
Before you found yourself. And
now you're far more harsh and
unforgiving toward yourself than
you are to others. Haven't 1 seen
your heartache? / know how you
have counted on finding Paul and
remaking his life, and how bitter
the disappointment has been.
And, she rushed on, though she
knew his soul was writhing at be-
ing thus laid bare, II know about
her. Bob, give over your self-in-