The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-01-09

that would elect your opponent,
wouldn't 1t? Senator Murchell won't
allow it, surely"
Senator Murchell will be the first to
recommend the knifng," he laughed
shortly. Il begin to suspect that the
senator is a false god"
"What have you against the candi-
datesT'
'It's rather against the forces behind
them. Bad methods and general sus-
picion, I guess. l probably couldn't
make it clear"
"Just that? l do not think" she said
slowly, that like it, after all. I'm
disappointed in-for you"
"Would you have me lie? For that's
what it would amount to-"
"Oh," she cried, that's not a fair
way to put it. I'm so ambitious for
you! That's unwomanly, too, l sup
pose, but don't care. l am ambitious
for you. And l do so admire the men
who get along! And in politics you
could go so far. You have Senator
Murchell's friendship. You don't know
have brains and popularity. Do you
know what would do if were a man
like you? l would go into politics seri
ously. l would master methods and
conditions and adapt them to my pur-
pose. l would keep on until the organ
ization was mine. And then when my
power was secure would remove, lit
tie by little, the evils l saw, and when
had finished and measured my COM
promises against the good had done
know the balance would be in my ia
yor."
But he merely smiled bitterly. "And
suspect that by the time I'd got the
power in the fashion you describe, ia
have become the sort of man that
doesn't use his power for good"
"What are you going to do about iii"
"About the election" He shrugged
his shoulders in Indifference "Let 'em
beat me, l suppose. haven't thought
ahead as far as tomorrow"
"Now that it's all over l can admire
your refusing to make that speech. 1t
was splendid in way. You see,
can appreciate unselfishness in the alb
stract or when it can't be remedied."
81 told you that wasn't unselfish. It
was involuntary" he insisted. "But
I can add to the evidence-your kindly,
even If mistaken, interest in me and
my future. And you mustn't sneer at
yourself" he added gravely.
ha fT1rn 70 70 oirlu int 10
eyes. "Do you still think it necessary
to let me down easily% she asked
quietly.
His body became rigid, nails biting
into palms in the effort not to take
her in his arms. For. without reason
she unasked had offered would be to
place himself in her power. And that
he dared not! For long moment their
eyes clung, then at the same instant
they both looked hastily away.
The silent minutes heightened as the
East ridge. Behind them lay the val
ley, always beautiful. never so won
drous as in the pallor of night; but
they looked steadfastly ahead.
To his credit be it written John did
not think carpingly of her boldness-
let us use the word he used. courage.
His longing was not lessened because
she had abandoned the woman's weap-
on of indirection for the mans frank
Dess. Yet his hold on himself did not
relax-it became even the more secure.
And he wondered at the strength now
revealed within him. able to resist the
temptation or ner. he knew an mat
she was, and he knew, too, that he de-
sired, would always desire, her above
all good things that life holds, yet be-
tween them stood an ideal that was still
essential to him. And he believed that
he had strength to put her-the tempta-
tion-away from him.
ITO be Continued