The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-04-02

$500
tnusiasm. Curran had become, since
his victory. a figure p%anoplied with
power. their leader. their loved one He
had still a boys vision and the need
OF hero loving. When he had gone
out to his team at the hitching rail.
Rube Van Hart sauntered after. s
Wiley's running for congress? Suf-
ferin' johnson. Arne-I can't believe 1t.
But If this here Cajun 1 brought Up
from h bush league towns is going
to hurt him. I'll kill the Gus. Yes, sir,
take him to Eagle Point and let him
fall off-accidentally.'
Arne looked back at the News shop.
Harlan was In the door. The Cajun,
Wiley's office seat. rolling a Gig
aret, had come to stay, 1t seemed.
Hurt him?" blurted Arne. THAT story
beat him, If Tanner and his
crowd ever got it. But we've can
keep it close, Rube, If you'll help"
Help? Help Wiley? Why. we was
kids together-him and me-"
He got in with Arne and they drove
off to h 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'
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 n who had come on a lucky turn
of fortune. And I come up wit dat
RUDE and find yo' first thing. RUB
say You run To- congress-"
Yes: 1 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 h Meth
here. Maurice. I'm mighty glad to
see you-but Il wish you hadn't
come" He seemed to have forgotten
Harlan's presence. Suddenly he uprose
and came swiftly to the other.
See here. Maurice, why can't you
get out Of town? You see you'll get to
talking, if you hang around, and my
friends-it will bother them. Person
ally, I don't a r but they-the people,
these western country people"
He stopped. In Ladeau's small eyes
was a curious confidence Of evil.
Eheu! Desc Yankee! Dey boil d
coffee, Wiley! Savages! But dey don't
Curran was staring out tho window.
Ladeau came nearer. II reckon yo' got
a dollar To- an old friend, Wiley?"
W1ley's hand went down. Here"
'Mebbe IS? Look at dem shoes
name Of God! Dat Rube-we walk from
st. joe"
tt haven't that much here. Mao
rice. But-weil I'll get it. But Cor
Gods sake, go; let me think a bit"
Then. as Ladeau shalnbled on a step.
he hurried to him. Wait You know
Of A%drienne? She died-are you sure
Madame Artois tell me when I go
ock to NJ wlyrS ~ vearS after She
a h write yo'. She say yo' send
back wan beautiful letter when
Adrienne died-just what q poet would
say, Wiley. Wan beautiful letter-but
no money to bury Adrienne."
Il know. 1 was broke out in Ar-
that. I just could thank her for taking
care Of Adrienne, that was all"
ooh, madame know! She cry when
she read dat letter. All women yo' can
make cry. somehow. madame she say.
Eheu. dat beautiful letter."
Curran was watching past him to
the western sky. Tomorrow" he NUT
tered, come back, Maurice, and I'll do
what I can-that money. But Haven't
much. I'm in debt terribly"
He watched Ladeau shamble down
the street feeling Of the dollar, turn
ing presently into the billiard hall
among the oilers. He did not see Har-
ldll = LIN <AkO1 q "llllo -
raised his hand toward the shiftless
figure. "That-might have been me!
Meme! But God help me-Im saved. !"
From h numbing vision of his own
past he turned slowly and saw the
younger He came to him swiftly.
shambler, a wreck!" He sat down and
covered his face with his hands. Pres
entity he writhed with some agony.
God. what a man misses" he exclaimed.
what he filings away" What ghosts
come back. Harlan! After 20 years."
What is 1t, Wiley-that hurts sou
II don't know. Feer-that must be
fine just to live, Harlan. To go down
the street and feel thai you've done
something. That you have ambition,
purpose; and that they've counted with
men. That's it-that you've won! New
ing it to all the world"
II know, Wiley"
mo, you don't boy. You've got to
be down and out first; you've got to
be adrift and lose hope, and know
yourself the failure first, before you
can ever realize how fine it is to sue
coed, how sweet 1t is to live. Oh, boy,
when I was your age I drifted over all
the old west-it was a big adventure.
I wanted to write what 1 felt-its sweep
and power and bigness. Nevada, New
Mexico. California, Alaska-wherever
life peat fast and free, I wandered.
But I couldn't write it-no-no.
1t was too big and splendid for
me-the epic. But I lived it, Har-
Ian. And then l came back here
when father died and left me the old
shop. No one knew; I had failed, that's
all. I settled down here and worked,
but the old fine ardor was gone. Eight
years of this village-common, prosy,
dull-not to speak with Of the big
things but you and Janet! And then ]
awakened-why here was he poe ]
had dreamed and lost-here was my
work, my place, my people" He
lifted his arm and swept it out to hills
beyond the leafy square. Yes, / got
back my old spirit, my fighting soul
but I didn't put 1t into a poem, Harlan
but into politics, this battle-and
won!"
Harlan had stirred before his ecstasy
Was this the man Of yesterday?-this
winging spirit, whom the SNUG town
had never understood2-who had come
back to an %ennobling youth?
Wiley came to put his hand upon the
younger mans shoulder: Il won, and
there's something for me, Harlan
There's work there's life-there's
Lowell" He Strengthened and struck his
fists together. And I am not afraid
boy! l tell you I've not been myself
all this year-Tve been rebornl" He
sat at his desk and stared out at the