The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-10-02

1
besieged by stream OF
RWY.N] neishhors. calling with new
- born diffidcnce to say in per-
son what they had said in mass the
evening before No one doubted that
he would receive an enormous major
ity 1t was not until the middle Of the
afternoon that Haig found him alone.
We'll. Cato" he grinned. they tell
me they're n little exercised down Car
thage way"
John smiled family. Not much. I
suspect I've been thinking Of Cato.
I'm not even relative. Poor Jerry
Rrent,'
Great guns. You can think Of him?
Guess you haven't read his interview"
Yes. l have"
They alluded to Brents comment on
the convention. in which he made nu-
merous sarcastic references to the
lofty souled uplifter who had sold out
to the gang for an office"
ITS the cry of a bitterly disappoint-
ed man Rrent's chance Of a lifetime Is
gone He knows he can't beat you. aud
he's sore. wouldn't mind it.
| Il don't I'm sorry for him. He conld
have beaten Sherrod. really believe"
Look here. old man! l think ! un-
| derStand how you're feeling over this
You're not very happy because you
think it isn't your victory-thut You
| have it only by blackmailing Il man
you dislike
81 don't dislike Murchell-person-
ally"
AT least you don't approve of him
politically, Down ut the bottom of your
heart You're little peevisl, because n
hit of trickery has got what yonr the
ory of fighting wouldn't win. And you
feel that in sacrificing. for merely per
sonal considerations. what you conceive
TO be a duty to the general scheme Of
things You have been weak. Well.
you're right. You have been weak
And I'm glad of it. 1t will help you to
understand that no cold. abstract ideal
Of duty that ignores the primitive self
iSh instincts in men can attract. much
less impel. them. The truly good in
spires 10 sympathy The point of this
matter is. out Of your weakness has
come nothing but good The bank
will eventually become q sound inSti-
tuition. and you-l suppose you'll ad
NIT that you'll make a better governor
ihan Slerrod or Brent:''
II hope so. But that has come about
| A:.,L
have had no control"
"Relnember another thing" Haig
continued Three weeks ago this
county cast you aside. Now it Is yell
ing its fool head off for you. The
American people worship the great
god success. Keep successful. You've
been promoted from lofty souled
uplifter to a practical politician for the
glory Of God. Accept the promotion
He was relieved to note that John
could laugh. "And here" he grinned
''endeth the reading of my last lesson
It's one thing to share my vast store
OF wisdom with John Dunmeade. the
visionary reformer. and quite another
to lecture the next governor. Funny
thing what difference a prospective
office makes In ones attitude toward
man"
John smiled absently. He was think
Ing
"Haig," he said abruptly, II sup
pose I'm an obstinate prig. But. hon
estly. I'd give all hope to possess t.
he able to answer you If only they't
: renominated me as district attorney
I'd earned that. Or If l could belicv'
that the present hullabaloo were no
artificially lnannfacturcd"-
Even while he spoke footsteps sound
cd in the outer office. and there was :
knock. John opened the door to admi
--Murchell.
Good afternoonr' was the latter
nnsmiling greeting.
Won't you come in and sit DOWN."
Murchell accepted the invitation
There was n moment Of uncertainty
Then Hafs reached for his hat.
'Yon needn't 90 on my account.
Murchell answered the move. I'll
fact, I'd like you to stay"
Haig resumed his seat He and Johl
kept the silence Of surprise
But the senator recognized no Occa
Sien for conStraint
Il see he said. glancing around
..you keep the old office just the same
remember when y0ur grandfathe
hn;t if JTo was man who accom-
niishntl things"
And am not Is that your point?
Have vou the right to be bitter!