The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-09-25

the state.
He had the fighting temperament
which southern people demand in their
leaders. With this temperament he
combined the skill of diplomatic tact.
He had no moral scruples of any kind.
The problem of expediency alone in
terested> him in ethics.
In politics he was at his best. Here
he was cunning. plausible. careful.
brilliant and daring. He never lost his
head in defeat or victory. He never
forgot a friend nor forgave an enemy.
He preferred to associate with white
people. but when it. was necessary to
win negro he never hesitated to go.
any length
He was fond of saying to crowd of
youngsters whom be had taught to
play poker and drink whisky:
':As a rule. my advice is-get money.
Get it squarely and fairly if you can.
but whatever you dO-get it. When
you come right down to it, moneys
your first. last. best and only friend.
Others promise we'll. but when the
scratch comes they fail. Money never
fails
A boy of fifteen asked him one day
when he was mellow with liquor:
Mcleod. which would you rather
be. president of the United States or
millionaire?"
Boys" he replied. smacking his lips
and running his tongue around his
cheeks inside and softly caressing
them with one hand. while he half
closed his eyes. they say old Simon
Legree is worth $5O.OOO.OOO and that
his actual. income is 70 per cent on
that. They say he stole most of it, and
that every dollar represents a broken
life. and every cent of it could be
painted red with the blood Of his vic
tins. Even so. would rather be in
Legree's shoes and have those millions
a year than to be Almighty God with
hosts of angels singing psalms to me
through all eternity"
And the shallow pated satellites
cheered his blasphemy with open eyed
wonder.
The weakest side of his nature was
that turned toward women. He was
as vain as a peacock. and the darling
wish of his soul was to be successful
libertine. This was the secret Of the
cruelty back of his desire Of boundless
wealth.
His vanity was being stimulated just
now by two opposite forces. He was
in love. as deeply as such nature
could love. with Sallie Worth. Her
continued rejection Of his suit had
wounded his vanity. but had reused
all the pugnacity of his nature to
strengthen this apparent weakness.
He had discovered recently that he
exercised Il potent influence over Mrs.
Durham. The moment he was re-
pulsed his vanity turned for renewed
the immense power even the slightest
indiscretion on her part would give
! him over the preachers life.
He saw that if be could entangle her
name with his in the dirty gossip of
village society he could strike his enc
nv a mortal blow. He knew that she
had grown more and more jealous of
dog the heels Of a powerful minister
with f1attery and open admiration. He
determined to make the experiment.
He had sent her a book he felt sure
{ would influence her character.
| Mrs. Durham, while nine years his
senior. did not look day over thirty.
| Her face was as smooth and soft and
| S,1Sc I4, S%vs Srpn$
and full. and her every movement In
stinct with stored vital powers that
had never been drawn upon.
She was in a dangerous period OF
her mental development She had
been bitterly disappointed in life. Her
loss of slaves and the ancestral pres
tige of great wealth had sent the steel
shaft Of poisoned dagger into her
SOUL. She was unreconciled to 1t.
She found herself asking the reasons
for things long accepted as fixed and
eternal What was good. right. truth
And what made it good. right. or true!
And she beat the wings of her proud
woman's heart against the bars that
held her. until tired and bleeding. she
was exhausted but unconquered.
She was furious with Mcleod fol
his open association with negro poll
tfcians He had come to talk senti
1ment, but she insisted upon talking
| politics.
ALLAN. in my soul. | am ashamed
for you when | see you thus degrade