The Washington herald., 1913-09-21

"Curran," muttered Mr.. Purcell
"Arne and / came on this man il
front of the billiard hall. He was say
ing something-telling some crazl
yarn. But we've heard bit, and w
took him awayf'
Curran glanced at his friends face
Arne was grim. The newcomer wen
on with reminiscent pleasure: "Yaas
sho' remember dat Wiley mani ]
say, when dis Rube tell me he is here
Our OF Wiley? Name o God-da
same Wiley of dem OF scalaway days
How we laugh-him an me, and Gam,
bin Gawge, when we all get run out
of Ascension TO dem games we run!
The candidate was staring, listening
Ladeau beamed on And at Plaque
mine We was all broke. Name O God
we all come down to AK OF man Bou-
vier TO feesh heads to make a cou'-
bouillon under de bridge"
Wiley raised a deprecating hand. He
smiled wanly. Maurice, I-I-never
touched a card since He smiled
still on his political hackers: Never
since"
Since dat leetle Adrienne made you
promise when you tax her to Nav
lyns. Eheu, dem OF Creole daysr He
sighed-"Dat lettle Adrienn of Butte
La Rosew
The dapper Mr.. Purcell coughed
Arne stirred. Wiley, were you ever
married."
The chuckle of the stranger broke
the pause Married? Dem Cajun
girls, when dey love-Nom de Dieui-
dey don't stop TO marriage!"
The Hon. T. P. Purcell coughed
again. He glanced hurriedly out OF
the door at a passer-by, then at the
candidate. Il think. gentlemen, this
is enough. All very interesting to Mr..
Curran, but it's nothing to do with
his campaign. I'm glad"-he wiped
his managerial brow perplexedly-"we
overheard thisl was coming to
speak to Mr.. Curran about his cam
paign this fall, and we just stumbled
on this-ah-gossip, fortunately We
brought him to you, Wiley" He looked
at his watch and smiled: This talk
if it is true-Well, / must go! And
Wiley"-he turned to the candidate
remember the committee wants you
to go through Dallas County like a
house afre. Start at Pleasantville on
the tenth. But Harper will speak with
you, and we'll arrange the rest of the
program later He came to take
Wiley's hand-"And, old man, I'd cut
out all these malingerings of youth
with our loquacious friend, here"
Tom" muttered Wiley, 1T was al
most twenty years agoP
Then it's all outlawed. But this
constituency of yours-and you know
how sensitive they are to gossip of
the sort. Decent, wholesome, God
fearing people-you know Americans
in general will never stand for any
sort of-of-well, this sort of thing,
Wileyl Puritans-that'S it-thatS what
we arel Except about money! But
this sort of thing"-he looked about at
the others again and smiled. Just be-
tween friends, eh?"
Arne nodded. If Wiley Curran had
confessed TO philandering with the
whole tribe of Cajuns. whoever they
were, there would have been those to
love him. When Purcell had gone,
Arne arose and touched Wileys arm.
Look here. why didn't you ever tell
some one of this?
Why? 1t was long ago-before
drifted West-when Id landed in New
Orleans broke from Cuba. We had a
hlibuStering gang and it busted. Oh,
we'll" he sighed. "Arne. whats the
use OF calling up things? I'm not
ashamed of anythfng-much. Young
and foot free-and. anyhow, | always
played fair with women and every
body"
Il know it. But this-girl, Wiley?
Did you marry herr"
There was a stiffness for a long
time. Outside a late bird was singing
in the sugar trees and the wind was
south. 1t seemed to bring a, dream 10
Wlleys eyes; nights OF youth, mis-
spent but unutterably dear in memory.
Did you marry her, Wiley"
Wiley turned slowly toward him
with touch of defiance. Yes"
Arne stood back That's all | want
TO know, old boy. And Janet, tool
You'd better tell her. You'd better
have everything aboveboard to begin
with. It's the only way. PurcelTs
right-the people, the great, clean,
heart of the people! They
sort of love you. Wiley-but they
wouldn't stand. for any thing in
leader that seemed-a-a double life"
1T never was that! | never con-
cealed a thing. Only here, when
drifted back to the old town, what
was the use? All dead and buried,
Arne."
This girl?" Arne turned abruptly
10 Ladeau. you know what became
Of herr"
Dat Wiley man-ask himl'
81 was told" retorted Wiley, that
,he died. II was after l went West
.wo years after. IL sent her money,
Arne. You see. we never lived to-
yether-we couldn't make it go. And
We parted-and she died"
Arne took his hand. 81 don't care.
won't ask any more. I'm with Pur-
ell. Well be with you to the finish"
He turned away with sort of choke.
To Arne Vance, with his ascetic
iumor of a propagandist, and his ca
,acity for enthusiasm, Curran had be-
,ome, since his victory, a figure pam
oplied with power, their leader, their
owed one. He had still boys vision
md the need of hero-loving. When
ne had gone out to his team at the
Rube Van Hart saun-
cred after. $50 Wiley's running for
Congress? Sufferin' Johnson, Arne-I
amt believe itl But if this here Ca
un / brought up from the buSh-league
owns is going to hurt him, I'll kill
I, Naa kalgo h1r,, a.. E,-1a