Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-02-24

and yet it was more than mere inter
est or feminine attraction. Her cul-
ture her keen analysis of events and
men, her knowledge of conditions in
formed and instructed him. Her sub
tie humor and droll insight into the
characters of those who attempted to
pose in the public eye entertained him,
for he lacked humor. AS he sat beside
her and the horse walked on he was
conscious that in avoiding her he had
been depriving himself both of enter
tainment and valuable instruction 1t
was a rather selfish reflection, but he
could not help it,
Now, Mr.. Harlan Thornton, from
what my father says about the house
when he's so angry that he really
doesn't know what it is he's saying.
understand you're playing hob witfall
the traditions of politics. In order to
be honest, do you find it necessary to
oppose all the things my father wants
to do? If you dare to say so you'll be
called on to have some very serious
conversation with my fathers daugh-
ter
st don't want any differences with
your father, or with you, Miss Pres
son." he declared earnestly. 81 honest
ly don't! It all seems to be a mighty
mixed up mess. I sometimes wish I'd
stayed back home in the woods. I'm
too little fellow to be in such a big
game. I'm afraid I'm so small / can
only see one side of it,
You admit there are two sides7"
my grandfather and your father
have impressed that on me pretty
strongly"
isn't there any good in the other
side? Do you mean to tell me that all
the men in politics in this state are
wrong except you and old General
Waymouth?''
mo, but it's the way of doing things.
guess it's that
She drew her horse to a stop. The
country road was quiet. The hush of
the starry August night was over all.
| Mr.. Thornton" she said, looking
him squarely in the eyes, with all due
respect to the mighty masculine, be-
lieve you are in need Of a few sugges-
tons from'a woman's standpoint. You
are reckoning without the human in
| struments that you must employ. I'll
wait just q moment and let that re-
mark sink into your mind. You are
bit slow about grasping the full pur-
port of my remarks, Mr.. Harlan Thorn
ton" There was touch of her satiric
| humor in her tone. "Now, you don't
fully understand even yet. 1 think I'll
have to illustrate. I've already told
you that I've watched matters pretty
closely at the capital. 1 like to see
young men come here with ideals and
succeed; but, alas, they do not"
'They let themselves be bought or
bribed or bossed probably" blurted
Harlan.
I'm not talking about that kind.
| They are too obvious and too common.
1 do not believe you could be bought
or bossed or even coaxed from what
you considered your honest duty. You
do not need to assure me. But you
might be convinced, Mr.. Thornton
convinced by good reasons-that it is
not a young mans duty to ruin his
own prospects and his own influence
by undertaking something as imprac-
hcable as though he tried to be a me-
teor by holding a candle in his hand
and jumping off roof. I could praise
his tmaginad ton, but not his Judg-
ment."
She waited a moment. She gazed at
him with sudden sympathy.
"You are a straightforward young
man, used to winning your way by d.
rect meanS-aX to the tree, can't dog TO
the rolling log-but that isn't the way
In politics. One of the finest young
men I ever knew came down to the
legislature and started In to expose and
hold up every appropriation measure
that had the least appearance OF being
padded straight out and blunt
honesty, you understand; a little at
fectation, too; a bit of self advertising
as well. But we all excuse a little self
consciousness in youth. Well, he SIM
ply became a red rag to the house.
They sneered and Kissed when he
stood up. Just in blind rage they
voted for every appropriation he OPP
posed. He did much more harm than
he did good. He didn't get his own ap-
preparations for the district he repre-
scented. And it killed him In politics
and in his law business. The happy
people did not acclaim him as their
faithful watchdog Of the treasury.
They merely pronounced him a bore
with a sweIled head. You see, can
talk political talk with all the phrases
Mr.. Thornton"
But he was right, wasn't he-funda-
mentally right?'
HE meant to be right-that's the
term to use. But he forgot that he
must use human instruments In order
to accomplish anything And he just
failed miserably."
join In and be just like the others