The Detroit times., 1913-08-07

!
governor and our eccentric friend, WI
/ ley Il. Curran?"
She smiled In turn. She was too
predetermined 10 be sensitive over
the methods by which any movement
OF party interest was attained. When
they reached the News door Mr. Cur
ran was standing there. a galley o.
| type In his hand. lie waved TO the
prospect past the town. a squirt of yell
low stubble like a flame licking down
/ from the upland corn which was now
! high
Il can smell the tassel bloom" MUIR
INJURED Wiley, land the damp cloddy
earth and hear the rustic OF the
blades In the breeze off the river.
| Bless me, | was about 10 knock on
and steal away to the hills. but here
! you two come, abominably suggesting
work And ambition-and achieve
lment,"
Indeed We do" Janet smiled at
his whimsical grmace. And TO re-
mind you what the papers said OF
your speech at the Dallas county fair
Brilliant aggressive, eloquent
His grimace deepened Through the
weeks Janet had watched his progress
He had astonished every one as a cam
paigner; tricky" his opponents said
but winning by his likableness. lie
had been filled with boys delight to
discover that he could really speak in
public-that his old nervous hesitance
had gone like a mist before his new
ardors, his mercurial enthusiasms.
Ont In the other counties ~e had won
dashingly; but among his home peo-
pie. he confided 10 Janet, he was a
lame duck"
He could not explain that She
knew It was because here they had
seen his purpose, his hope, his imagi-
native life come TO nothing He was
of that type of which the towns ana
provincial cities have many-a person
whose chaste tastes intellectual as
pirations and social qualities had
starved under the stress OF making a
livelihood. Ideas, finer achievement,
all bartered with the standards fixed
by a vulgar need. Janet herself had
felt the impact; she knew his battle.
And so long he had given up, And so
late had risen, He seemed to have
forgot his useless years, his defeats;
he had gone out among men, and they
had honored him
Today he was In one of his
"slumps Janet weAt on with her
ingenious encouragement. IL wish
you knew what a. rare mystery you
are to the country people. And how
splendidly they believe in you You're
new sort OF politician. And I'm
very proud Wiley"
He still looked ruefully at her. The
fool editor he mourned-'I wonder
If spoke here-as | must sometime
who'd turn out to listen? You and
Aunt Abby, and my printer, and
| doubtless the undertaken" He sighed,
! and waved his hand out to the town.
Sometimes the old feeling comes
back | don't belong here I'm the
misfit, Janet The dreamer'-he let
his eyes go off to the summer land.
1t was too hich; never had II hun
gered, and never from it could arise
his epic song-never from this would
come the watchers of dawns II think,
sometimes. even now, that | ought
TO be a starving poet In a garnet. Eth,
then, Janet, I'd do something he
came to Harlan with his direct at
lection and put hand upon the
shoulder of the younger man. I'd
like to- be back where you are, boy!
And start anew-the slate clean" He
smiled sadly. What absurdity-me
a politician"
He could run on thus with these
two-Janet, with whom he had been
schoolmate, and Harlan, whom he had
loved after his return. These two
had made life livable in his shabby
years-they had understood. They
had made him keep faith with him
self. II need you two" he murmured;
"oh, need you
They saw his eyes the fondness in
them, watching out the door Then
he cried out
Carmichaels bus was at his plat
form. Two women were getting out.
One was a stout, light-haired person.
The other was Aurele Lindstrom.
She dropped her suit case, and lifting
her veil, ran forward to Mr.. Curran.
And she kissed him,
Mr.. Curran colored. He was dumb
| founded He gasped This Aurelie'
This being, SO mischievous with laugh
ter. so ripping with life. so complete
with happiness, and confident with
saucy tricks and clothes and person
atty,
Glad to see me, mon ami Yes
mo" She was laughing on. chattering
her barbarous French "Me-the lit
tie savage, Aurelie Am | chang
ed?"
She turned with an odd foreignness
and shrugged. displaying herself FOR
him. And then she saw Miss Vance.
and checked herself Then Harlan and
gasped But she came to him with the
most natural grace and held out n
hand
"And Harlan-glad to see me. are
YOU" Then TO Janet And you? |
reckon this old town won't know me-"
She turned with little fiutter OF hap
piness. Janet decided that Aurelie
had discovered herself, rare trick
of making the most Of whatever came
| her way, with natural players per
ception OF values. 1t all enhanced her
blithe drollery, this bit of the man
ners of the world, and she had the
wit to utilize II. In no other way
could Janet account for the amazingly
| changed Aurelie. Her lonely pride,
her defeated pathos were gone.
She introduced the stranger with q
mbiIant confidence. "ThisNs Ada Nor.
! man, and she was our heavy woman.
She sank into Mr.. Curran's chair with
an air OF having done the situation
| caraIaool,, Wan Then sha raised hpr