The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-02-02

At the time Woodham had refused
because Graves was a young attorney
still struggling for recognition at the
bar, while Woedham was ambitious for
his daughter. Now he drew a sheet of
paper toward him and wrote rapidly
for moment Then he thrust the
sheet into an envelope and called a
messenger
An hour later Howard Graves. rest
ing in his room at the hotel for the
/ battle OF the morrow, received the mis-
sive and read it dozen times before
he placed it in his pocket.
1t was automatically worded. 1t did
not openly bride, but suggested that
the writer had learned that he was
mistaken as to Graves political afIlia-
tions. If it was true, as he now had
reason to believe, that Graves and the
Crosby delegation were in reality sup
porters of the Bailey boom, he begged
to withdraw his opposition to the
match Graves had suggested.
These ran about the four sides Of the
hall and directly above the chairman's
desk sat Marion Woodham. She had
come down in answer to her fathers
telegram the night before, and they
entered the convention hall before he
had explained to her the reason he had
sent for her.
You keep your eye on Graves and
he will vote right" had been her faith
er's admOnition. Your wedding pres
ent Will be that house on Maple Street,
and you can furnish it as you like.
I'll take your husband into the firm,
too"
1t was a heavy bribe. The house
alone was worth ten thousand and a
partnership with WoOdham, Gala &
Creagh would save Graves a weary
struggle. 1t was scarcely 20 be won
dered at that her face was white and
wan as she leaned over the balcony
rail and tried to smile at Graves.
From the first it was apparent that
the contest would be close. and as
e sBM 9Ieql peUBo sea- 6luno0 6qsoIO
SuIUIoW eql NV lieu Gun qSnOJV Ins
there had been rumors that some of
the Foster delegates would go over to
the ring candidate, and Crosby county
had been one of those mentioned. AS
Graves rose in his place men moved
forward on the edge of their chairs,
and MariOn's face went deadly white
For moment Graves stood. instead
Uy regarding the blur of faces, in
which MariOn's stood out distinctly.
Even at that distance he could see
that she was intensely interested and
the thought that she counted on his
treachery hurt for a moment, even
though he realized that it was natural
that she should be interested in her
fathers success.
To him the time seemed an hour, to
others it seemed a fun minute, though
it was not one-quarter of that time.
Then with a steady voice Graves an
swered:
Crosby county casts IL votes for the
Hon. Dudley Foster
For Il moment there was the still
ness of house of death, then the
ringing cheers broke out, and a mo-
ment later Danton county, one of the
uncertain quantities, followed Graves
lead and the stampede was started.
but not at all in accordance with
Woodlands plans.
The hall was still ringing with the
cheers of the triumphant Foster root
ers, when telegraph boy approached
Graves with a message that he was
wanted outside. Quickly he made his
way through the jubilating crowd to
the hall, TO come face 70 face with
Marion
Forgive me-" he said brokenly q
tried my best to answer your appeal,
but my vote was not my own. IL was
a trust of the people who sent me here,
and l could not be false TO them"
MY appeal" Marion clapped her
hands softly. You old darling, l was
so afraid that you would woe for Mr.
Bailey! Do you suppose I would care
for man who had been false to his
trust? knew only this morning why
father sent for me. Poor old dad il
will break his heart! But all the
same you were in the right, and l was
so -fColishly afraid that you might be
tempted"
Il was for moment" he confessed,
when 1 saw how anxious you were
Then ] realized that if ] bought your
fathers consent it would be with my
own self respect, and that | never
could look you in the face again"
Robert. Woodham came YEARLY from
the hall. In the last hour he had
aged 10 years. Elarion caught his arm
Dad, dear" she said gently, Il sent
for Mr.. Graves to tell him that. ElS.oslld
marry him, no matter what you said"
Revolt is in the very air." cried the
old man. Il guess / will have to drop
out of politics, when even my daughter
electioneers against me-"
Il didn't work against you. / just
left it to Howard explained Marion.
''He stood the test"
WOodham nodded, and with an arm
about the shoulders of each he led the
way to the committee room. On his
right was his daughter and on his
left the new found son who had stood
the test, and in his heart Woodham
was glad that he had
ST. LOUIS, SPECIAL-A charge of
disturbing the peace against John
Hansel. fifty years old, was dismissed
-.