The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-02-22
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Every step
"Even to your speechw
. He nodded smilingly. "You know
! Mrs. Gilbert. there never was speech
J worth giving that wasn't prepared be
) forehand, Every word Of that speect
was written out and memorized verba
tim"
: "Then all those burning words were
q sham. all that display Of splendid
passion a theatrical trick to save q
man not worthy
mo. no." he broke In eagerly. "AlI
! said was true-true rs lifc and death
And Bob-you don't know him. He Is
magnificent. worthy OF"
"Spare me-" she tmpatiently inter
rupted. II heard that once before-in
your speech, | am frankly disappoint,
ed. believed you genuine master
spirit. compelling us to see the truth,
Now, ! see you are only clever actor,
tricking us into ignoring the truth"
She drew a deep breath.
please don't so yet" he begged
n have something to say to You. Do
you believe in pre-existences?'
Decidedly not. I'm fairly healthy.
And. besides. the present existence
demands all my attention"
what would you say If ! were to
tell you that although l have just met
you and have seen you but twice be-
fore so far as ] can remember seem
to have known you always?
She shrugged her shoulders again, q
fashion she had. I'm sorry-you will
forgive me. Mr.. Remington PPM not
deeply impressed-and bit incredu-
lous'
81 didn't expect you to be impressed"
he answered quietly, land I'm not pro-
posing-yet But. Mrs. Gilbert"-his
head went up, eyes tlashing-"l'm not
q sentimental fool | am to be taken
seriously"
why don't you go on the stage?"
she fleered
Paul looked at her uncertainty for
moment; then his gravity was cast
aside as cloak. He made some inco1f-
seQuent answer and promptly led the
talk into other and lighter channels.
whittier she followed him carelessly.
She was not quite free from the spell
he had woven about her during his
speech Something in the man broke
down her habit of cold indifference to
men. and put her on her mettle. She
strove to meet his occasional witty
sallies in kind. sometimes with sue
cess that delighted them both. Once,
vhon thoir "a Cd
personal tone, she protested.
"We're talking as though we were
old friends" she said.
"Of course" he responded calmly,
"weare. That was written long ago.
"You have many friends?" she
Quesied curiously.
have been lucky In the matter of
friends"
"And do you give them all the same
romantic appreciation and return you
Drofessed for Mr.. McAdoo. or was
that part Of the play acting too7 !
can't see what you nnd in common
with one who, my brother tells me. 10
typical of the very worst in our poll
tics"
II forgot you are of the enemy" he
laughed and added more soberly:
"Your brother is wrong. There may
have been regrettable things In Bob's
earlier career But in the six years
have known him I have seen little
of the dirty politician. His victories
have been won chiefly by his courage
and resourcefulness and the fact that
men. whether they like him or not, in
stinctively trust him and follow him.
If he has resorted to questionable tao
tics it has been only to meet similar
methods of the opposition. And his
victories have been very much to tn"
advantage of this city"
"And to the advantage of his hyH'
friend, suppose. she suggeste. ~
Quiringly. you are no douh' u
very ignorant of politics-somt
very important high ofhcer. CO.
gresham. at least?'
"Oh. no. I'm only q senator Of the
common or garden variety. very un.
important member of our state legis.
lature.'
ME ne mas become DOSS, Sne
added. 1T seems
Don't. Mrs Gilbert, ! beg OF you,
he interrupted gravely. 1T would b.
disloyal for me to listen to such sug-
gestions even from you. The least
can do is to trust him. could I'll
higher position. and often chafe over
my slow climb. II were to insist he
would help me to the best in his power
to give. But his judgment and bis
heart are to be trusted You shall
know him, and then you will under
stand why trust him so absolutely"
''Thank you. nor she said indiffer
emily. II approve Of your loyalty, OF
course. But saw your friend this
afternoon, and. frankly, ! don't think
l should like him. don't care to
meet
She stopped suddenly. and both look
ed up startled. feeling another's pres
ence. 1t was Bob who had come into
the box, unnoticed by them. To both
Paul and Eleanor it was as though
cloud had passed across the face Of the
sun.