Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-08

Organization viii ls.Dilal.y knife me
uGdcr c4prcr ard heat me If only ~ a
horrible example 10 the next young
man who happcns along with Il work
inE cons hence"
Why" she exclaimed increduonSly.
that would elect your opponent,
wouldn't It? Senator MurcheIrwon't
allow il. surely" FL.
Senator Murchell viii be the first 10
recommend the kniting." he laughed
shortly. Il begin TO suspect that the
senator is a false god - sl -.
What have you against the candi-
datesT'
Its rather against the forces behind
them. Fad methods and general Sus-
piciOn. guess. probably couldn't
make it clear" -. H.
".Iust that? | do not think" she said
slowly. that | like 1t. after all. Pm
disappointed in-for YOU ~.
Would you have me lie? For THAT'S
what it would amount to-" IL.
oh" she cried. 'thnt's not a fair
way to put 1t. I'm so ambitious for
you. That's unwomanly. too, l sup
pose. but don't care. am ambitious
for you. And | do SO admire the men
who get along. And in politics you
could 90 so far. You have Senator
Murchell's friendship. You don't know
how much he admires you. And you
have brains and popularity. Do you
know what would do if l were man
like you? ! would go into politics seri-
ously. / would master methods and
conditions and adapt them to my pur-
pose. / would keep on until the organ
ization was mine. And then when my
power was secure / would remove, lit
tie by little. the evils ] saw, and when
| had finished and measured my COM
promises against the good had done ]
know the balance would be in my ia
vor"
But he merely smiled bitterly. "And
/ suspect that by the time I'd got the
power in the fashion you describe, I'd
have become the sort Of man that
doesn't use his power for good"
"what are you going to do about it?"
about the electionY' He shrugged
his shoulders in indifference. let 'em
beat me, suppose. haven't thought
ahead as far as tomorrow"
"Now that it's all over / can admire
your refusing to make that speech. 1t
was splendid In a way. You see, /
cantappreciate unselfshness in the abb
stract or when it can't be remedied.'
81 told you that wasn't unselfsh. 1t
was involuntary" he insisted. but
can add to the evidence-your kindly,
even If mistaken. interest in me and
my future. And you mustn't sheer at
yourself" he added gravely.
She turned to look fairly into his
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
ing, he knew that to accept now what
she unasked had offered would be to
place himself in her power And that
he dared not, For long moment Their
eyes chung. then at the same instant
they both looked hastily away.
The silent minutes heightened as the
cob drew them slowly up the face Of
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 rs 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
ness. 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 Of her. He knew Ill that
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.
He put aside his self measuring.
From what2 What was he to do that
made impossible the taking of this girl
by his side, his to take?
He had said in answer to her ques-
ton, 81 don't know. Let them beat me,
l suppose" He suddenly knew that
was not true. He must make his fight
A warm glow enveloped him, his blood
quiekened. He spoke aloud.
81 viii fight them"
She turned to look at him again.
~You have thought as far ahead as to-
morrow" she said steadily.
Further than that"
When he had helped her to alight at
her home both her hands were in his,
He did not release them, nor did she
seek to disturb his clasp. She met his
gaze unfalteringly.
LISTEN" he said gently. 81 didn't
know that you cared. l, too. care-far
moro than Won will hpliaye