Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-07-29
By CHARLES TENNEY JACKSON
Author Of Che Day Of Souls. My Brothers Keepe. Etc.
Copyright 1912. The Bobbs-Merrin Company

much use for the insurgent idea. And
you know our family; the senator Is
mothers cousin, and Hall was fathers
law partner" . '1.
Arne grimaced. He knew all that!
Your people expect you to be in poll
tics sometime, Harlan. don't they
Well, you want to look ahead!"
"The tramp of the young men up the
hill" Harlan quoted good-humoredly
well, good-by, old chap; it's east for
me tomorrow, and west for you!" He
held out his firm strong hand to Arne's
rough one. Next year I'll have out
my shingle above the bank corner, and
you'll be experimenting with soils
among the farmers, and We'll see!"
Arne smiled back the friendly chal-
lenge. "And Wiley-let's help put
him over, however things go. I'll be
out among the farmers, and you among
your sort of people-High street and
ali. Janet, there"-his eyes went to
the trim blue e-gowned figure Of his sis
ter sitting forward in the editors chair
she's set her heart upon it. Harlan,
she's waited all her life for Wiley's
awakeningi" He appealed in all his
boyish ardor to his friend. wiley, II
he'd have a career-if he'd do some-
thing, she'd marry him!" Then he
added hastily, "Or he'd marry her!
He'd realize, then, all she is to him.
Wiley's awakening-that's what I'm
after-and this is his big chance!"
Harlan nodded. All the country,
these many years, had put the names
of the erratic editor and the efficient
school superintendent together-and
in vain. Janet was one of the notable
women of the states educational
work. Curran was still "Curran Of the
News" ..... ... .....
Curran, this same minute. was badg-
ering Miss Vance about her political
proclivities. Il thought" he drawled,
that since you ventured to remark in
your address to the county institute,
that the constitution of the United
Safes was not. after all, supernally
wise instrument, Boss Tanner and all
the old bats about town had conclud-
ed that you were unfit to be school
superintendent! Old Thad, who, dur
ing the war, cleaned up his million on
shoddy contracts with the government
roaring for the constitution-ain't 1t a
holy show?"
Miss Vance arose and came to him
her clean-cut face look
ing down at him with humorous i'm
patience "Just the same Wiley, any
one who wants to get on in politics in
this county must reckon with Mr.. Tan
ner. I wish you'd know it,"
Its more fun" responded Curran,
ito insinuate he's a thief" ....
But not politics" .".
Upon my soul, Janet"-he looked
up, curiously-''you women Of the day
get me. You are so damned success
full at this game-tell me how you do
it?"
She smiled with some occurrences.
"If you insinuate I'm a woman politi-
clan, very we'll. I'll tell you some points
of my game-it's never to let my waist
line lose itself. And investing a deal
of my salary in masseurs and hair
dressing instead Of political assess
ments. And getting about casually
among the men and yet never ap-
pearing too WISE"
81 understand that the school board,
which fought you to the last ditch,
has removed all the cuspidors from
its rooms and shaves twice week
since the woman superintendent was
elected! And that the Democrats can't
find a man to oppose you. Thad Tan
ner tried to get young Mills of the
Earlville Normal to run against you,
didn't he? But Mills didn't rum"
Janet put a firm gloved hand on his
arm. Not since / put on my best
clothes and went to an Elks' Club La
dies Night dance purposely to put the
notion out of Mr.. Mills mind! 1t took
half my dance programme. thought"
Wiley rubbed his hands dellghtedly.
Lord, Janet-it's genius!"
"No-business. And Wiley-oh, /
want you to wake up! Do something!
n. .,,;.h ~, tba paonla u,hn try cnna
thing! Oh, Wiley, want you to-"
That was ever her old fond cry.
Ever since their school-days she had
tried something, and that was to make
q success of Wiley. Even he, with the
trifling blindness of a man, might
have known what was behind it all.
She went on mournfully: You said
something had stirred you at last, Wi
ley!"
He was looking past her out the
window to Harlan and Arne across the
square. The door was open, and the
evening held the first cool stealth OF
autumn. The breeze upon the gray
facades of the rock behind the town
showered down the red and yellow
leaves. Already, from the elevation
of Curran's shop. one could catch
glimpses of the distant river through
the denuded cottonwoods Of the bot
tom lands. And his eyes were there
with their old detachment of man
who dreams of what he had found and
lost out beyond the circling hills; OF
what the years had given and taken
away, and he had stood by empty
handed. But he turned to her with
sudden new eagerness.
Janet, l wonder if it's all as you
and Arne say? And Mcbride, over in
know or care!"
Earlville, and Purcell, and these men
who have such a curious notion that
can beat Hall in the primaries? And
Governor Delroy. he spoke of me-"
Yes. You know his organization
doesn't amount to much down here
1t needs local leadership. They want
a man out for congress. Assemblyman
Barrett, of Dallas county, was consid-
cred, but they need him where he Is
And all the other progressives are like
r. A1Any. n n