Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-12-18

had an idea the Judge was suffering.
His mother shrugged. MY dear. the
made 1t ear ago, and it's the natural
bed of the creek. Those people haven't
a sign Of title!"
II know" the son retorted. Wiley
told me-
Il wish. my boy, you didn't get 81
much OF your knowledge Of county at
watched him curiously. Did you sec
his scandalous editorial on the SUI
preme courts decision in the labor in
junction case?"
Yes. That labor organizer Earlville,
McBride-got Wiley excited about 1t.
It would smash the union movement.
Wiley said"
The judge sighed. For the first time
he had seen a flash of Harlan's old
cheerful eagerness-and it took Wiley
Curran's insurgency to bring 1t. This
man, Mcbride. is organizing the soft
coal miners on the upper creek-all
there. And he denounced Congress-
man Hall last Sunday at the Earlville
Turn Verein meeting, l hear"
They're after Hall, father-hard.
Old Jake Vance says that Wiley Cur
ran ought to run against him-he says
the governors crowd will get behind
any n to beat Hail."
The judge laughed. wiley Curran
in congress? Harlan, I saw him last
week down on his knees digging up
gerantums for that funny old lady who
Keeps house for him-they were throw
ing cupfuls Of earth at each other and
shouting like children!"
Hnr1on cvoS141 at D..A
dad, this political move is getting big.
Jake Vance ays it's the young mems
movement. Look at the chaps like his
boy, Arne, who's come back from the
agricultural school chuck-a-block with
what he calls the Wisconsin idea. And
gee how Governor Delroy won on it
he's he young mems governor"
The state" retorted the judge,
dryly, is in an uproar ove nothing.
When this Wisconsin senator got up to
speak at the last session the solid and
representative men simply would not
listen-he talked to their empty seats.
A demagogue, a disturber-and as for
Jake Vance, he has been the county's
original malcontent since granger days
and greenbackism."
The young man listened quietly.
Father, his son is different. You ought
to see how earnest he is. A student
farmer come back from Wisconsin
whooping 1t up for the initiative and
recall, and direct elections, out In his
fathers locality among the old moss
backs-and showing 'em how to raise
better corn than they ever did before!
Pigs and politics-Arne says!"
IT," smiled the judge, "am still for
the constitution-and my boy, I'm glad
you went to Harvard instead Of our
politics" he grimaced, for politics
was distasteful to him, and yet Harlan
had grown up with the consciousness
that some day he should enter politics.
His mothers ancestry Of Virginia had
given it to him as the milk he drew. Il
had been he n grievance Of her
married life that the judge had not
cared for a. more militant public. life.
She had an ~old-fashioned ideal for her
boys future-she was not sure of 1t
all. but 1t was to be a career honoring
the state, reaching up, perhaps. we'll
one could neve tell how far such a
son might go, one who had the best Of
east n west in him. Despite their
tradition, the Van Harris felt the mid
lands to be the heart and soul of the
republic, the seat Of power and inspira-
ton. Loyal to every inch of the At
lantic s~eaboard, they knew the mighty
valley would home the millions Of the
breed OF the soil. the determining
economisrn, the building and enduring
individualism.
The mother glanced brightly at him.
Q course, Harlan's going into poll
tics! And he'll never have the struggle
that Billy Lee will have. Here, among
his own people" she dreamed an
instant. her eyes going out to the en-
circling hills-"Harlan, dear-there's
no limit to what I see for you. Oh,
we want vol to go on, boy-always on
to the best and highest" She arose in
her eagerness and came to him, parted
the fair hair from his brow and kissed
him.. Dear boy, won't you thank US a
little bit-down in your heart-for
saving you'll"
He was still. But his arm stole
about her slender waist. Her smooth
cheek under the silvery hair, which had
a gtrlish trick Of coming down before
her ears, was again his own. After all
she was the best Of mothers" as he
had told Aurelia. Always about him
ence this exalting standard Of life. AL
ways this warm, serene, home-guard-
tng-all that was best.
He kissed her in their old comrade-
ship Of mother and son between whom
nothing could come. Mother, dear"
he answered slowly, II know! Oh, it's
been a battle, but I know!" And he
looked up to see now his fathers pa
tient eyes shining upon them. Yes,
they had lived only for him-they lived
for him now.
When he went out later, they
watched him swing across the lawn
and down High street in the unbroken
spirit of youth, a noble sunniness, q
clear freedom about him. They had
given him to the land, the best that the
land could offer. They watched him go