The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-10
THE EVENING STORY
Papa,s Politics.
by Annie Hinrichsen.

ELSA DrYQ6n opened In0 llDIdEy OOOh.
) Then she raised her hand suddenly to
wave Kent Bane, who was behind her
back into the hall She held the door
half open for a moment and then soft
ly closed it. Her face, which moment
before had been flushed and laughing
was very white.
What is it?" Bane asked.
''It is nothing-nothing. Come in
here She led him into a room across
the hall. Father has guests in the
Il library"
VERY terrible guests, 1 think. They
have frightened you.''
st am not frightened. I ami am
a little worried; that is ALL
Her anxiety was reflected in his face.
Elisa, what is it? Is there anything
L can do to help you? You know that
unhappy"
IT can't tell you about this, Kent.
1t is something that-that-- on, l
can't speak of it to you-to you or
all people Let us talk about some
| thing else"
When Horace Dryden, after accom-
panying his guests to the door, re-
turned to the library he found his
daughter waiting for him.
Father, will Colonel Bane lose his
position as president of the canal
| board?'
Mr. Dryden stared at her. YES" he
| said, coolly, che will.
t'But, father, have you no thought
for Kent and for me?"
| Mr.. Dryden slowly lighted a cigar,
| threw the match into the crate ano
watched it flare and turn to a cinder
! before he answered his daughter
why should 1 consider Kent?" he
asked deliberately. What is Kent to
me? And what" he added, after
significant silence, what is Kent to
| you?"
Kent is-he is Her eyes dropped
before her fathers keen ones, apd the
words were almost inaudible.
Kent is not your affianced hus-
| band There is no engagement be-
tween you two"
But, father, I care "a great deal
for him, and he-I believe he cares
for me-"
Tow did you know that his father
is to be ousted from the canal board!
Tonight 1 opened the library door
I did not know there was any one IN
the room. You and the governor and
Mr.. Greene were there. 1 heard you
say, Wen GUST Bane from his pres
ent place. 1t is the best PLAN closed
the door and heard no more. You con-
tro1 fbe governor Every one knows
that If he dismisses Colonel Bane
every one will know that it is your
work, and-well Kent and I've can't
be friends if my father is his fathers
enemy
Elsa" the curtness was gone from
Mr.. Dryden's voice, and he spoke gent
Iy, eff you and Kent really care for
each other, my action in dismissing his
father will not separate you. But
the colonel shall leave the canal board.
AS YOU know, desire to be reelected
chairman of the state central commit
tee. The governor also desires my re-
election. Mr. Greene is my one for
midable opponent. He met the COVER
nor and me in consultation tonight and
agreed to withdraw from the race
if the governor would place him at the
head of the canal board. Colonel Bane
will be asked to resign. You can't ex-
pect me to allow the friendship between
you and Kent, friendship which is
not an engagement, to interfere in the
plans of a governor and his state ma |
chine"
The newspapers announced the res
ignation of Colonel Bare from the pres |
idency of the canal board ard the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Greene in his place |
The papers which were antagonistic TO |
the governor informed the public that
the governors action in ofsmissing |
Colonel Bane and appointing Mr. Greene |
was prompted by Horace Dryden; that |
Mr. Greene had been made president of |
the canal board in order that he might |
not oppose Mr.. Dryden's reelection AS |
chairman of the state central commit |
tee.
A few hours after the announcement |
Kent Bane went to the Dryden home.
elisa he exclaimed as she came in
to the room, I'm the happiest man I'm
the world"
Happy. Kent? Ind your father"
Father is quite unconcerned about
his retirement. He has plenty of mon
ey and many other interests His re-
tirement affects me more than it does
him. It makes me free to tell you how
much 1 love you and to ask you to mar
ry me. 1 could not do while my father
held his position through your fathers
influence
Else stepped away from him. why
couldn't your"
Because the whole orld would have
said that I was marrying you in order
to retain Mr.. Dryden's influence for
my father
And now, when people can no longer
say that, you are ready to marry me?
You loved me so little that you allowed
your pride-your silly vanity--to stand
between US. don't want the fnsignff-
cant, poor little gift you offer-your
love. 1t isn't worth having. A real love
is without vanity and selfishness. If
your father had not lost his position
you would never have asked me to
marry you. I will not marry a man as
cowardly as you. a man afraid to mar
ry the woman he loves because some
one may call him petitioner for a pol
itician's influence Z
A week later Mr.. Dryden handed a
paper across the breakfast table to
his daughter. 1t contained the an
of Colonel Bane's ap-t
pointment to one of the highest Of
fees in the gift of the governor.
What does it mean, father?'
when we decided tc GUST Bane
from the canal board we also decided
to give him something better. 1 asked
him not to mention the new appoint
ment to any one, not even to his son.
| thought that if Kent's love for you ;
could be shattered by my dismissal