Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-09

CHAPTER NlA-Contihueo.
The Honorable T. p. Purcell coushed
again. He glanced hurriedly out the
door at a passer-by, then at the can
didate. 81 think, gentlemen, this is
enough. All very interesting to MT.
curran, but it's nothing to do with his
campaign. I'm giad'-he wiped MS
managerial brow perplexedly-"we ov-
erheard this! was coming to speak
to Mr. Curran about his campaign 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 1t Is true
Well, I must go! And Wiley'-he
turned to the candidate-"remember
the committee wants you to go through
Dallas county like house afire. start
at Pleasantville on the tenth. But Har-
per will speak with you, and Wen ar
range the rest of the programme Ia
ter" He came to take Wiley's hand
"And. old man, I'd cut out all these ma
lingerings Of youth with our loquacious
friend, here"
Tom" muttered Wiley. sit was al
most twenty years ago!"
"Then it's all outlawed. But TINS
constituency Of yours-and you know
how sensitive they are to gossip OF the
sort. Decent wholesome, God-fearing
people-you know Americans In gener-
al win never stand for any sort of-of
well, this sort Of thing, Wiley! Puri-
tans-that's it-that's what we are!
Except about money! But this sort OF
thing"-he looked about at the others
again and smiled. "Just between
friends, eh?"
Arne nodded. II 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 Wiley's arm.
Look here, why didn't you ever tell
some one Of this?"
"Why? It was long ago-before 1
drifted west-when I'd landed In New
Orleans broke fro mCuba. We had a
filtbustering gang and it busted. Oh,
we'll" he sighed. "Arne, what's the
use of calling UP things? I'm not
ashamed of anything-much. YOUNG
and foot free-any, anyhow, ] always
played fair with women and every
body"
.I know It. But this-girl, Wiley?
Did you marry herr"
There was stiffness for a long
time. Outside q late bird was singing
in the sugar trees and the wind was
south. 1t seemed to bring dream to
Wiley's eyes; nights Of youth, mis-
spent but unutterably dear in memory.
Did you marry her. Wiley?"
Wiley turned slowly toward him with
a touch Of defiance. yes"
Arne stood back That's all want
to know, old boy. And Janet, too!
You'd better have everything above
board to begin with. It's the only way
PurcelIs right-the people, the great,
clean, wholesome heart Of the people!
They sort of love you, Wiley-but they
wouldn't stand anything In leader
that seemed-a-a double life"
1T never was that! I never conceal
ed a thing. Only here. when / drifted
back to the old town, what was the
use? All dead and buried. Arne."
'"This grip Arne turned abruptly tol
Ladeau. "You know what became OF
herr"
Dat Wiley man-ask him!"
"I was told" retorted Wiley, that
she died. It was after ] went west
two years after. II sent her money,
Arne. You see we never lived togeth-
er-we couldn't make 1t go. And we
parted-and she died!
Arne took his hand. Il don't care. !
won't ask any more. I'm with Purcell.
Wen be with you to the finish" He
turned away with a sort Of choke. To
Arne Vance, with his ascetic humor of
a propagandist, his capacity for enthu-
siasm, Curran had become, since his
victory, figure panoplied with power,
their leader, their loved one. He had
still a boys vision and the need OF he
ro-loving. When he had gone out tol
his team at the hitching-rail, Rube Van
Hart sauntered after. 80 Wiley's run
ming for congress? Sufferin' Johnson.
Arne-I can't believe 1t! But II this
here Cajun / brought up from the bush
league towns Is going to hurt him, I'll
kill the cuss! Yes, sir; take him tol
Eagle Point and let him fall off-acci-
dentally."
Arne looked back at the News shop.
Harlan was in the door. The Cajun, In
Wileys office seat, rolling q cigarette, |
had come to stay, it seemed. Hurt
him?" blurted Arne. THAT story
would beat him, II Tanner and his
crowd ever got it! But We've can
keep 1t close, Rube, II you'll help"
Help? Help Wiley? Why we was
kids together-him and mel"
He got in with Arne and they drove
of to the stables.
Back in the Office, Ladeau, with the
air Of a barber in distress, oily-haired.
shabby Of coat, was fumbling in a
pocket for tobacco. Curran silently ex-
tended his case.
"Merci!" smiled the Cajun. "Yo'
sho' new fo'get old friends, Wiley!"
Still Curran had no word. Harlan.
studying him silently, had never seen
him so in a dream. The stranger set |
tied himself in the chair with the air
Of one who had come on a lucky turn
Of fortune. And l come up wifi dat
Rube and find yo' first thing! Rube |
say you run TO congress?"
Yes. I have the nomination.
Who'd fought dat? Old Wiley who
used to play dat guitar TO dem island
girls to dance at La Cheniere!"
The candidate ran his hands through |
his hair and looked off at the Methodist |
church spire. It's different up here, |
Maurice. I'm mighty glad to see
you-but I-I-wish you hadn't come!"
He seemed to have forgotten Harlan's
presence. Suddenly he uprose and
came swiftly to the other.