The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-23
TIE EVENING STORY

BY Annie Hinrichsen. }

cellent one. Some time I can give it
to you. I ask you to trust me until
that time"
We have been the best of good
friends, Doane. Before the legislature
convened you came often from your
home in Johnsonville to Benton to see
me, a distance of seventy miles. After
the legislature assembled and you
were in Capital City, ten miles from
my home, you came once to Benton.
Then you wrote me that you could
not come again for many weeks, prob
Iably not until the legislature ad-
tjourns. You said there is a reason
which some time 1 shall understand
and-and you asked me tO-to-''
! To love me and trust me- Carter
broke IN on did not answer my
lletter."
"Of course, I did not. When a man
tells girl he does not intend to see
| her again she knows it is because he
does not want to. I come to Capital
City every few days to see my sister,
VINO IS IN hospital here. Today 1
meet you by chance, and you ask me
to believe that you care for me-"
You know 1 love you, Katherine.
WIN you not trust me a few weeks?
VIII you not believe that my reason
is good one and an honorable one %
Then why not tell me?''
Il can't, dear, YET
rs it because you can not trust me
with the reason Or-bacause there is
no reason except your desire to end
our friendship"
7 am not cad. although you seem
to think am could trust you with
anything in the world that 1 could in
honor share with you. But I can not
| tell you this
You need not" Katherine's voice
mad become suspiciously gracious.
Your affairs are no concern Of mine
You and I enjoyed for a time a pleas
ant friendship. You have ended it.
Wilt you please leave ne? 1 do not
care to walk with a stranger"
carriers perplexed, angry eyes met
and walked rapidly away.
FOR several weeks the general as
serrbly had been deadlocked over the
( election of a United States senator
There We're 93 RenubIican ,,9enobsrs
and SO Democratic ones The Republi-
cans had nominated Sheriff. Vane The
democratic candidate was James
Brown. AS the Republicans had a
majority of five it was expected that
their candidate would be elected on the
hrst ballot. But when the Republicans
met IN caucus and hose tlle1r candi-
cate. i've of the younger members of
the party rebelled. refused to support
Sheriff. Vane and demanded the cleo
ton of George Allerton.
Allerton had never been affiliated
with either party. He was the leading
lawyer Of the state, a man of incor-
ruptible honor and national fame
The five Insurgents openly declared
tl1O4i I1CSlAAlly 10 0neTIllt zane, the He
publican candidate, anG announced that |
the deadlock would remain unit. Geo. |
AIlerton was elected. The leader of |
the insurgents was Doane Carter.
Around the tnsurgelt baud RACED the |
political battle. The Republican party |
used every weapon and every strategy |
at their command to compel the five
TO support the party candidate. The
these for the Democratic candidate.
Day after day for many weeks the bal
lot remained the same; Sheriff. Vane So;
James Brown IS; George Allerton. s.
One morning Katherine Vane sat
in the gallery of the house of represen-
tatsVes. The ballotting began. Amid
the widest Bedlam the old hall had
ever held, George Allerton received the
vote of the entire Democratic faction
and of the insurgent band and was
declared the successful candidate for
the senate.
Katherine pushed her way through
the crowd toward the elevator. A
hand touched her arm. Doane Car
ter. the leader of the insurgent band,
as the man whose election he had
secured. stood beside her. He drew
her into comm ttee room and closed
the door against clamoring mob of
admirers.
You know now why I could not
come to see you" His voice was
cold. He spoke hurriedly as if in
topic. your uncle, It was known,
was using every means to secure
those five votes The Democratic
candidate was also doing his best to
get them. Both men are grafters
and bribers. We five stood out to
elect a good man. I was made chair
man of our band Every act of mine
was watched by the spies of each
side. Had it been known that I was
going to Benton. Sheriff. Vanes
home, to see his niece 1 should have
been suspected of secretly favoring
his candidacy. I could not have made
any one understand that he and your
father are bitter enemies because
your father despises his political
family would have made my men sus- !
picious of my sincerity and they
might have been won by one or the
other faction.
There was more at stake than
little glory for ourselves. We were ,
fighting to compel the assembly to
elect a great man instead of a hood .
Ter. Last night the Dem ocratic lead ,
ers agreed. since they could not elect
their candidate, to share with US the
honor of electing Allerton- A.,
Now you understand my reason.
When refused to tell you and you
refused TO trust me, the candidates
had not been nominated, and our
should be nominated. were still Sc
cret- I could not in honor tell you
the plans of my associates"
IT understand, Doane, and am
can't tell you how sorry I
am-how much I regret my unlTind- !
ness If you were to ask me again to
trust vou-''
IT shall not Since ] have been proved
honorable you are willing to trust me.
have given you the explanation I prom
ised you do not ask you to love me.
What sort OF wife would you bet A.