The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-11-15


6xz&S3 ure disappeared around the
corner. Murchell with faint twinge
at his heart, saw the distaste plainly
written "a the young mans face. The
twinge was because the time had
come to grind his young friend through
the mills Of the organization. The
senator, who set a low value upon
gratuitous services, proposed to make
the grinding process worth while to
the man who was to be ground. He
was already forming vague plans of
setting him on the road to high po-
litical station. Perhaps John might
even prove to be an Elisha, some day
to assume a fallen mantle
To the portrait of the state leader al
ready painted we may add that William
Murcbell was a bachelor, a matter for
which he is not to be censured too Sc
verely, since he once made an earnest
effort to repair the condition. His had
been a very simple romance. He had
loved, had laid himself and his aspira-
tions at the lady's feet and had been
rejected. A short time afterward he
stood with his best friend as the latter
took the same lady in holy wedlock.
1t is probable that he had his period
of suffering; but, as became a man of
ambition, he quickly put an end to it
and gave himself to the climb to pow
er. In time his romance was almost
forgotten.
Almost, for in later years some
times in a mellow hour he would
construct for himself scene in which
gentle faced woman with gray
green eyes sat across the hearth and
around them an indefinite number of
the second generation. In the scene
was always n pleasantly laughing
young man who peered out on the
world through eyes like his mothers
This often occurred after Senator Muir
chell had met or heard something of
John Dunmeade, a young man in whom
he thought he saw a masculine replica
of the woman Of his romance. The
senator's memory must have been
good, for she had been dead many
years. HI was seeing her that June
afternoon.
John returned to his chair. Murchel
looked around at the dingy Office. Over
the desk hung a calendar and another
faded, old fashioned print of Daniel
Webster. Save for this adornment
the walls were given over to calf and
sheep bound books-rows and rows set
upon plain pine shelves. The old ma
hogany furniture, doubtless splendid
In its day, had been battered and
scratched by many careless hands and
feet.
You keep the old Office just the
same, i see. / remember when your
grandfather built and furnished it."
Yes; | don't like to disturb things,
though Aunt Roberta thinks it's fear
full mess. Three generations of Dun
meades have used this Office just as
1t is"
81 used to come here to borrow books
from your grandfather and talk poll
tics He was mighty smart man.
He would have been governor during
the war if he hadn't died. He gave
me my start"
"Yes," John said idly. senator
he leaned forward abruptly-"what do
you think Of Sheehan? Why don't you.
with all your power, put men like Shee-
han out Of politics?"
young man." Murchell answered
dryly, 'if were strong enough to put
all the rascals out of politics I'd make
the Almighty jealous. Are you going
TO take the nomination.
81 hate to be under obligations 10
Sheehan."
hn obi 10
Sheehan."
81 don't want to be under obliga-
tions"-John hesitated a moment-"to
you. Something might come up that
would make me seem ungrateful."
"Ill risk it,"
but I'm not sure I'm the kind Of
man you want"
'I'll risk it," Murchell repeated.
'But | don't think you understand"
John persisted. 'Ive been-bothered
little lately about some things. That
trust company affair, for instance-it
doesn't look right. And then Sheehan-
] can't quite stomach his power. l
don't like to seem to criticise, senator,
but 1t looks to me as though the sys-
TEN that allowed that trust company
affair must be wrong somewhere"
Tut, tut, young man" the senator
answered a trihe testify. Don't go
flying off at a tangent with harebrain-
ed theories about perfect systems"
John shook his head in troubled fash
ion. "I've got 10 figure that out in my
own way, senator"
Murchell looked out of the window
into the square thoughtfully. 1t was
warm, listless day. There was moth
ing iD the peaceful, indolent scene to
tell him that the serene waters upon
whsrh Re had sailed TO power were to