Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-03-13
HApTER XVI
J1NNrE OF THE TA1LoR-MApE.

Miss Vance met Harlan one after
noon Of mid August. He stopped his
saunter across the courtyard lawn to
help her hitch her span of fractions
colts. She pressed a handkerchief to
her flushed face.
= '"Thank you! You look so awfully
cool. Harlan. And clean! You've been
driving. too-and look at mel"
His leisurely smile followed her In
terested glance. 1t was their first meet
ing since he had announced his cam
didacy for the district attorneysaip-
q brief announcement, coming after an
equally brief conference with the party
leaders. The outside information was
that the Honorable Thaddeus Tanner
had selected young Mr.. Van Hart as
h best and most representative young
man Of the county to give strength to
the old-line ticket against the new
progressive league. There was some
comment on his youth and lack of ex-
perience. but it was regarded as a
shrewd move. nevertheless. of the old
court house ring. County politicians
said there would be none to contest
young MI. Van Harris nomination or
election.
Now. Miss Vance looked him over
and sighed. II feel a grudge against
you. Harlan! I wish fortune would
give You a quarrel now and then.
- III ~ W yOAs LUZ
this Is mere env isn't it,"
He smiled and walked with her to
the News office. The sense of his
rugged flneness and clean truth gripped
her as 1t must all ONE
"Your battle will come after you're
elected. Harlan. ~TfAy-they will ex-
your father" and then knew better.
Harlan had the same charm of breed
ing as his father: but the county ring
had kept the Judge in office for 20
years; 1t found its strength among 1.-The
best people,"
amusement in her caution. And as
for politics. here is Arne. and those
other long-horn students. travelling
over the county trying to interest the
farmers in seed selection. The state
board pays their way. but now. really,
aren't they out to talk politics for the
governor and our eccentric friend.
Wiley T.. Curran?"
She smiled in turn. She was too
practical minded to 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 OF type
pect past the town. a squirt of yellow
stubble. like a flame licking down from
the upland corn which was now high.
Il can smell the tassel bloom" muir
INJURED Wiley. and the damp cloddy
earth. and hear tho rustic Of the blades
IN the breeze off h river; Bless me.
I was about to knock off and steal
away to the hills. but here you two
come. abominably suggesting work.
And ambition-and achievement"
Indeed we dot" Janet smiled at his
whimsical grimace. And to remind
you what he papers said Of your
liant aggressive eloquent"
His grimace d%eepened. Through the
weeks Janet had watched his progress.
He had astonfshed every one as a cam
paigner.;; tricky" his opponents said,
but winning by his likableness. He had
been filled with a boys delight to find
that he could really. speak In public
that his old v hesitance had gone
like a mist before his new ardors. his
mercurial enthusiasts. Out in the 9TH
er counties he had won dashingly; but
among his home people. he confided to
Janet. he was a Tame duck"
He could not explain that. She knew
It was because hero they had seen his
purpose. his hope. his Imaginative life
come to nothing. He was Of that type
OF which the towns and provincial cit
les have many-a person whose chaste
tastes. intellectual aspirations and So
cial qualities had starved under the
stress of making a livelihood. Ideas.
finer achievement. all bartered with the
standards fixed by a vulgar need. ia
net herself had felt the impact; she
knew his battle. And 30 long he had
given up! And SO late had arisen! He
seemed to have forgotten his useless
years. his defeats. he had gone out
among men, and they had honored him.
Today he was in n Of his "slumps."
Janet went or with her ingenious en-
couragement. Il wish you knew what
a rare mystery you are to the country
people. And how splendidly they be-
lieve In you! You're q new sort OF
politician. And I'm very proud. Wiiey!a
He looked at her. Tho fool editor"
he mourned-I wonder II I spoke here