The Washington herald., 1913-08-31

bluebirds were calling to you this
morning, and not Congress 1t is
spring, Wiley.
But Mr.. Curran was put out and
angry. He did not want her to divert
the matter with her serenely measur-
ing smile. 'Janetl" he cried again.
Il don't love her-no, no"
'No-nol Merely attracted. As you
are to bookposter girls and the mag
azine-cover girls" She laughed now.
"Oh, well, the eternal masculine !"
Then she turned to him stubbornly {:
But you are coming through this
hght-this campaign-this mans work
for us all"
Yes" he answered quietly. Il will.
And you've hurt me, Janet. But per-
haps you were intending to-"
She left him with another banter.
He had feeling that she was guess
ing shrewdly at the struggle dimly
growing in his mind; he was trying to
grasp her larger standards, her vic
torious self as a woman of the time,
and his yielding to. the common thrall
of men IN this chit OF a girl. And
he gave it up as bad job, and turned
to his work. But he observed that he
did work the rest of the day, savagely
and with effect. He would not listen
to the bluebirds.
Bluebirds and spring ushered in full
June. With his shop and his outer
activities he was busted, but not too
busted to read the scrawly letters from
Aurelie which Uncle Mich brought
Things had happened. The McFet-
ridge combination had transformed the
Northwest and then booked into a
Chicago stock house. Then it lost
the money garnered on one-night
stands. The city did not seem to rec
ognize last years winner of the beauty
contest. The Chronicle, having worked
its subscription lists as far as might
be on the exploitation, was rather in
different to Miss Lindstrom. Other
reviews were perfunctory. Morris
Feldman said it was Mr.. Hanbury's
rotten" play. But every one cheer
fully admitted that, even young Mr..
Hanbury, of the Dubuque Register.
All this between line of Aurelie's
exuberant letters. She was undaunted.
She was expanding vivaciously, throw-
ing herself into work, living every
minute. Her first glimpse of a city
fascinated her. She bewildered Uncle
Michigan with her adventures.
That limb OF a girl" commented
Aunt Abby, she ought to be home. 1t
"Home?" murmured Mr.. Curran,
Where is Aurelie's home?'
She ought TO be gathered UP auS
taken care Off
Yes" Mr.. Curran sighed. 'I think
so. too, now."
The next they heard was of a
wrangle between the McFetridges and
Morris Feldman. Then Mr.. Feldman
was out" and the house was dark"
and she was boarding with Miss Nor
man who was a perfect dear" Then
the company reorganized with LOT
OF expensive scenery and a new play
which the angels" had procured. Then
they had a summer booking and Au-
relic was to be leading lady!" Out in
the West again somewhere! So Au-
relic put it.
Mr.. Curran was struck dumb. Au-
relic a leading lady~ He could not
kick his job press that day. That
girl" he unused, must just be rum
ming that show and the twins and
everything!"
Done goin' to occupy the land!"
chuckied Uncle Michigan.
One afternoon when the sugar trees
over the town were summer heavy,
and from the uplands came the faint
click-click OF the first mowers, and
the young corn was high across the
black bottoms, Mr.. Curran, looking up
from his press, saw the Van Hart
surrey at is door. 1t held two suit
cases and bulldog the like of which
in a jowl and legs Rome, Iowa, had
never before seen. And a broad
shouldered young man was descend
ing. Mr.. Curran threw proofs to the
wind and seized his hand.
Harlan! Back to the old town"
Fine! Going to stay, Wiley. Not
exactly at the head of my class, but
got through comfortably" Harlan
drew himself up and looked across at
the dingy windows of his fathers old
law offices above the bank. I'm go
ing to buck into the work, the worst
you ever saw, Wiley"
ITS great So many of our young
men drift West or to the cities. But
you-right here with the home folks.
Right here" He looked at his
friend with the old affectionate in
timacy. Il hear, Wiley, you're going
to run for CongressP
yes. They got me into it. We1l
make Hall busy, too"
Harlan smiled gravely. Father wrote
me of it"
Wiley glanced up at . him. your
father isn't for me, Harlan. And he's
a pretty big man. But-eastern. We're
rafting on pretty strong for 'em out
herel Direct elections for Senators,
the initiative, the recall of judges-the |
control of wealth by the State-the |
new democracy, boy. But you know
all of it. The old dreams we used
10 argue in the News shopl Why we
the old News and 1--WE sort of
raised you, Harlan. We made you as
much as Harvard"
Harlan smiled. Wileys eyes were
shining. They had a great brother
love, faith, pride.
What's got into you, Wiley? You're
changed you're awakenedl Your
hat itF" \
Il shouldn't wonder; Everything |
seems changed. Even the old town
God bless it, it's come to seem green
md fair and livablei Yes, / awakened,
Harlan. Sos the old townl We're
even going to have a new building
the McFetridge twins are going to
remodel the tin opera house"
"Yes"