Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-09-21
Gormly wants to know where ~ are

Gormly wants to know where ~ arc
going"
+ thought we'd swing over past me
park and go out Riverside. Drive. We
can geta decent bite { o eat Ia some
quiet place along the river road. and
9 spin will do us all good. Is that
agreeable to your"
Il am in your hands, answered
Gormly gratefully. And indeed 1
think I should like it very much. /
had no idea how tired I was and you
don't know how few opportunities /
get like this for an hours quiet en-
joyment."
Leave It to me. said young Hal
dane I'll turn you up at your apart
ment in proper time and in good
shape. Tonight you are going to en-
Joy yourself and drop the campaign
for q little while"
Whether or not Gormly would have
engaged In the battle If he had had
foreknowledge Of this alliance be-
tween the father Of the woman he
loved and the powers he was trying to
overthrow, is a question. AS to his
present attitude, he had begun his
campaign with mingled feelings. It
had been at first In a certain sense
and for a short time a campaign for
the winning OF Eleanor Haldane: but
iarger issues had speedily relegated
that as a motive into the background,
and now the campaign made every
possible appeal to his honor as a man.,
to his sense Of duty as a citizen. And
while Eleanor Haldane bulked large
before him, he knew that no matter
what might be the result Of the cam
pafgn SO far as she was concerned.
he must Of absolute necessity press
on to the end Of it. He wanted to
win for her; but il 1t became neces-
sary, he would win without her. and
for the peoples sake.
It would make his election prob
ably certain to reveal to the public
the vast corruptive influences behind
the traction company and the Sachem
society. His agents had been thorough
in their work. and they had discovered
what nobody suspected; that the syn
dictate Of which Haldane was the head
practically controlled all the public
utilities and afforded all the financial
backing for the Sachem society and
Its immense corruption fund.
Gormly had meant to carry on his
campaign to the end, and then tell
her that he loved her and ask her to
be his wife. He saw swiftly that with
all the complications before him this
would be an entirely fruitless proceed
ing. Indeed, If under more favorable
circumstances he could have won her
affections. It was probable that now
such an endeavor would be unavail
ing. He had been wondering since
the knowledge had come to him how
he could get speech with her without
too great, publicity, and behold for
tune had given him the chance. Al
whatever hazards he intended to avail
himself Of it.
Miss Haldane," he began, after
they had been running along for some
time in silence, 81 said that I hat
something to say to you-sI don't sup
pose either the time or the circum
stances are propitious, but necessit.
compels me to say it now.
II shall be very glad indeed to lister
to anything that you have, to say Il
me-" was the answer.
Thank you. I meant-it was m,
purpose intended-when I had wol
the first step to ask you If you woul,
not help me with the rest of the bat
tle."
Help you, MI. Gormly?"
Eyes, Miss Haldane, 1 purposed t
ask you to be my wife,"
Your wife!" exclaimed the girl.
J TT surprises you doubtless. Poi
sibly it dismays you"
TT surprises me, certainly"
"And yet you must have known
you must have seen-you are woma
enough for that-that I cared a gres
deal for your opinion"
II will not deny 1t, Mr.. Gormly,
returned the girl. Things you hav
said, not SO much that perhaps as til
way you have said them, have led m
to think so. But / really never in
agined-You see there is so much di
ference"
II know that I am almost old enoug
! to be your father" returned the ma
q gravely. II am no boy. Therefor
I am the mor sure and convinced
i what / say, and you can be the MOI
O sure also that love you"
1T is a great honor that you pa
a me-" began the
d "Wait!" said the man. ST am n,
through. I did not intend to tell yc
d tonight. AS I say, I was going to wa
until I had something worth while
offer; but things that / have learne
, have made it necessary in my jud
!, ment to inform you of this fact
once"
4 What things, Mr.. Gormly? Is son
one making charges against you /,
: discovering things about your"
"Not. one. It Is not of myself / a
thinking"
= ."Of whom! OF what then?"
= CAS- I said BEFORE" returned tt
= man, Il can say no more. It. seems
- me that now my honor demands tn
I put you in possession of the state