The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

Tanner had selected young Mr.. var
i Hart as the best and most representa-
tive young man of the county to give
strength to the old-line ticket against
the new progressive league. There
was some comment on his youth and
lack of experience, but it was regard
ed as a shrewd move nevertheless OF
the old courthouse ring. County poll
ticians said there would be none to
contest young Mr.. Van Harris nomina-
ton or election.
Now, Miss Vance looked him over
and sighed. q feel a grudge against
you, Harlan! | wish fortune would
give you a quarrel now and then.
Everything comes so easily to you.
But this is mere envy, isn't IT?
He smiled and walked with her to
the News Office. The sense of h;s
rugged fneness and clean ruth
gripped her as it must all women.
Your battle will come after you're
elected, Harlan. They-they will ex-
pect to use you as they do" she
hesitated. She had been about to say
your father" and then knew better.
Harlan had the same charm of breed
ing as his father; but the county ring
had kept the judge in Office for twen-
ty years; it found its strength among
the best people"
Nobody owns me, Janet" He found
| amusement in her caution. And as
for politics. heAe is Arne, and those
other long-horn students, travelling
over the county trying to interest the
farmers in seed selection. The State
board pays their way, but now, really,
aren't they out TO talk politics for the
Governor and our eccentric friend,
Wiley T. Curran?"
She smiled in turn. She was too
practical-minded to be sensitive over
the methods by which any movement
of party interest was attained. When
they reached the News door Mr.. Cur
ran was standing there, a galley OF
type in his hand. He waved to the
prospect past the town, squirt OF yell
low stubble like a fame licking down
from the upland corn which was now
high.
Il can smell the tassel bloom" muir
INJURED Wiley and the damp, cloddy
earth, and hear the rustic of the blades
in the breeze off the river. Bless me,
l was about to knock off and steal
away to the hills, but here you two
come, abominably suggesting work.
And ambition-and achievement"
Indeed we dor Janet. smiled at his
whimsical grimace. And to remind
YOU what the papers said of your
speech at the Dallas County fair.
Brilliant aggressive eloquent!
His grimace deepened. Through the
weeks Tanet had watched his progress.
He had astonished every one as a.
campaigner; tricky" his opponents
said, but winning by his hkableness.
He had been filed with a boys de-
light to discover that he could really
speak in public-that his old nervous
hesitance had gone like mist before
his new ardors, his mercurial en-
enthusiasms. Out in the other coun-l
ties he had won dashingly; but among
his home people, he conhded to Janet,
he was a Lame duck"
He could not explain that. She
knew it was because here they had
seen his purpose, his hope, his imaagi-
native life come to nothing. He was
of that type of which the towns and
provincial cities have many person
whose chaste tastes, intellectual aspira-
tons and social qualities had starved
under the stress of making a livelihood:
Ideas, finer achievement, all bartered
with the standards fixed by a vulgar
need. Janet herself had felt the i'm
pact; she knew his battle. And so
long he had given up! And so late
had arisenl He seemed to have for
got his useless years, his defeats, he
had gone out among men, and they
had honored him.
Today he was in one of his
"slumps." Janet went on with her in
genious encouragement. Il wish you
knew what a rare mystery you are to
the country people. And how splen-
didly they believe in you! You're a
new sort Of politician. And I'm very
proud, Wileyp
He still looked ruefully at her. "The |
fool editor" he mourned-"I wonder |
if l spoke here-as / must some time !
who'd turn out to listen? You and |
Aunt Abby, and my printer, and doubt
less the undertaken" He sighed, and
waved his hand out to the town. |
Sometimes the old feeling comes
back. l don't belong here. I'm the
misft, Janet. The dreamer"-he let
his eyes go off to the summer land. 1t
was too rich; never had it hungered,
and never from it could arise his epic
song-never from this would come the
watchers of dawns Il think, some
times, even now, that / ought to be a
starving poet in garnet. Eth, then,
Janet! I'd do somethingp He came
to Harlan with his direct affection and
put a hand upon the shoulder of the
younger man. I'D like to be back
where you are, boyl And start anew
the slate clean!" He smiled sadly.
What absurdity-me a Politician
He could run on thus with these
two,-Janet, with whom he had been
and Harlan, whom he
had loved after his return. These two
had made life livable in his shabby
years-they had understood. They
had made him keep faith with himself.
Il need you two" he murmured; "oh,
need youp
They saw his eyes, the fondness in
them, watching out the door. Then
he cried out.
Carmichaers bus was at his plat
form. Two women were getting out.
One was a stout-ight-haired person.
The other was Aurelie Lindstrom. She
dropped her suit case, and lifting her
veil, ran forward to Mr.. Curran. And
she kissed himl
Mr.. Curran colored. He was dumb
founded. He gasped. This Aurelie
This being, so michievous with laugh
ter, so ripping with life, so complete
with happiness, and confident with
'aucy tricks and clothes and personal