The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-07-11
candidate, and he is from the north

not run if were you
Martin was shocked and grieved
He had counted on the support OF
the paper. He explained in detail
how he could and should and would
be elected.
1T will cost a good deal to make
the race. And even if you are elect
ed, the Office does not pay much. You
are sure to lose money. I would stay
out of it, Mr. Martini
Martin was still more shocked and
grieved, and went off and told his
friends he believed the Banner. was
going to "lie down on the party
In spite of Clelland's good advice
and that of others Martin announced
his candidacy.
The county convention was to meet
Monday, August 8. On the Saturday
before, local meeting would be held
in the town to elect delegates to the
county convention. The Well City
delegation would be one of the largest
in the county; and if it went instruct
ed to work for Martin, he would
probably be nominated. Nobody
seemed particularly to want him; yet
unless there was objection he would
get the delegation merely because he
lived in the town and no one else
in that part wanted the office.
AS Clelland prepared his editorials
that week, he had the hardest wrestle
of his life with his conscience. He had
expressed an opinion on all the other
candidates. He had never refrained
from discussing any matter of vital
public importance. This was vital.
He could not possibly praise Martin
and recommend him for the office.
And to keep silent-that was dodg-
ing; that was a violation of his news
paper ethics.
But there was Irma. 1t would end
his dreams; and, worst of all, it
would hurt her, for she was loyal to
her father.
1t was a plain issue, his personal
interests and happiness against his
principle. He sale it would not be
very wrong to dodge this one time;
but, the more be- wanted to, the
sharper was the pinch of his consci-
ence. He decided he must be true
to his convictions.
He told the readers that John Mar
tin should not be endorsed as Well
City's candidate for representative.
He would almost certainly be defeat
ed if nominated, and ought to be, as
he was entirely incompetent for the
work. He not only lacked the neces-
sary qualifications of an efficient rep
resentative, but stood wrong on sew
eral important State issues.
The, banners" opposition put
Martin out of the race-and onto the
warpath. At first he wanted to get
out of the house with his shotgun,
but his family prevented that. Then
he went on the streets, and told into
how many fragments he was going to
beat that young Smart Aleck," but
the marshal easily secured promise
that he would do nothing violent.
He did, however, go to the office
the door, and order the editor never
to set foot in his house again.
But Clelland had not intended to-.
He knew. that for him the end had
come. The glory had gone from the
sky, and the earth was no longer fill
ed with roses and white clover.
When the office force had gone, the
young man sat at his desk and leaned
his chin on his hand, blankly staring
at a calendar on the wall, wondering
how he would ever live through all
those days. This was his night at
Martins; he had intended to speak
tonight.
. The sun was almost down. He sat
up, sighed disconsolately, and shut
the desk.
There was a step at the door; some
one entered. He turned to face Miss
Irma Martin. Clelland wanted to run,
to sink through the floor, to hide, or
do anything except face the anger
and reproach and the tears that he
knew were coming. He tried to seem
cool, tried to smile, tried to say cas-
ually, Good evening, Miss Martin, !"
but he made pale, shaky work of it
all.
For a moment she stood silent,
and then amusedly asked.
'Do you never offer visitors a
chair?"
He hastily made the offer, amazed
and wondering at her smile and tone.
ConI6 If he2 No. he chOked back his