The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-01-27

or course. l wanted dad TO come along,
but he said no. his interest in politics
was practical. not sentimental. and he
preferred to take his vaudeville
straight. He was in quite bad
humor because 1 wanted to come But
II am here"
81 wish you hadn't come" he said.
still in a daze.
That's kind, I'm sure" She tossed
her head in burlesque hauteur I'm
stead, you might offer to drive home
with me. Williams can stay here and
drive back when you return"
He shook his head. I'D better not"
he muttered. He still wanted to get
away by himself to think
''PIease?' She leaned forward and
urged him softly. Its our last chance
for a good chat We go away tomor-
row morning"
He tried honestly to resist, feeling
instinctively she spelled danger and
that every hour with her added to the
danger But he made the mistake of
looking at her Always she was re
Vealing some new charm for him and.
despite his inner warning, now bred in
him a sort of recklessness. He called
himself a weakling. a fool that played
with fire. And, so styling himself, he
assented. Soon they had left the town
behind them and were bowling along
the moonlit road
John. letting the rally and the prob
lem it presented drift into the back
ground. gave himself up to reckless
enjoyment of the hour. The white
splendor OF the moon, undimmed by
smoky torches. the silent majesty of
the hills with their shadows and silvery
sheen, alone were real. The crowd of
faces peering intently at him through
the half gloom. the struggle within
him as he stood before them, his ironic
rejection Of the part assigned him
seemed unreal. creatures of a fantastic
dream. And the girl beside him, like
him smitten into silence, was real, very
real.
"It seems" she said, that I must
always take the aggressive. But then
you never hunt me out-so what can
/ do? 1 suppose most people would
call me unwomanly. Do you think me
thatT"
'T do not" he answered unsteadiIy.
"You can't expect the beneficiary to be
critical"
do you mean that, / wonder? Or
is It only your nice way of letting me
down easily? But am not comforting.
I am seeking. A-a friendship-such
as ours-means a great deal to me-
Her voice dwindled away into silence.
He was hard put to 1t to keep tight
grip on himself, to fight down the long
ing surging within him. Insistently he
tried to think Of her as she was, an
uniformed woman of essential selfish
ness, OF generous caprices. He had not
yet found the solution to the problem
presented to him by his campaign, but
he felt blindly that it was leading him
into paths whittier she would not fol
low, into which he. If he yielded to his
longing, would not--could not-go
alone. He had sometimes thought he
felt in her that which would carry her
TO great heights; yet he knew she was
now OF the earth, earthly. She was
creature Of luxury. He thought of his
last years income and laughed un-
pleasantly.
why this sudden hilarity2" she de-
manded.
IT'S joke I've Just thought of-you
wouldn't appreciate it"
WAS It," she pressed him-"was 1t
about your speech tonight?"
Indirectly, l suppose" he replied.
"Will you tell me about that? 1t was
the reason-one reason-why ] wanted
you to come home with me- I'm of
two minds about It. OF course didn't
understand what it was all about, ex-
cept that you were expected to say far
more and something different. Any
one could see that the men on the
platform were angry. But one had the
feeling that somehow you were finding
and asserting yourself-doing some
thing rather splendid. know it made
Aunt Roberta begin to snuffle-she said
It was a cold In her head heard one
man near us-a big, hulking farmer
say, by Joshuai / always thought
u
that white skin of Johnny Dun
meade's.' He didn't mean to be funny.
! think. Another. a different sort OF
man. laughed and said. Now that's
the cleverest move yet It's a grand
stand play, but it'll make him If he's
big enough to follow 1t up. It'll get
him following"
She looked up at him inquiringly
He saw again the eager interest in her
eyes.
1T was neither splendid nor crafty"
he said grimly. Il was expected to
rant and lie about the virtues of can
didates I've no faith in, cover up a lot
Of things that, it seems. can't be an
swered. had that speech ready. But
when it came to the point l couldn't
say It. That's all. Sheehan and the
organization viii probably knife me
under cover and beat me If only as
horrible example to the next young
man who happens along with a work
Ing conscience"
'sWhy," she exclaimed incredulously,
that would elect your opponent,
wouldn't It? Senator Murchell woa't
allow 1t, surely"
Senator MurcheIl VIII be the first to
recommend the knitting" he laughed
shortly. Il begin to suspect that the
senator Is false god"
What have you against the candi-
datesY'
tits rather against the forces behind