The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-05-15
CHAPTER xvllI-continued.
Copyright, by Irving Bacheilerl

STINT Ell NNItt-SoIltiUuSus
--18-
He hAd q priceless and unusual tai
ent for avoiding school-reader English
md the arts of defamation and for
preparing difficult subject to enter
the average brain. The underlying Sc
cret OF his power was soon apparent
TO me- He stood always for that great
thing in America which, since then,
Whitman has called "the divine aggre-
gate" and seeing clearly how every
measure would be likely to affect Its
welfare, he followed the compass. 1t
had led him to height of power
above all others and was to lead him
unto the loneliest summit of accom-
plishment in American history.
Not much in my term of service
there Is important to this little task
OF mine. did my work WELL If l may
believe the senator, and grew familiar
with the gentle and ungentle arts Of
the politician.
One great fact grew in magnitude
aPd sullen portent as the months
passed: the gigantic slave-holdlng in
terests of the South viewed with grow
Ing alarm the spread of abolition SEN
timent. Subtly, quietly and naturally
they were feeling for the means to de-
fend and increase their power. Straws
were coming to the surface In that
session which betrayed this deep un-
dercurrent of purpose. We felt 1t and
the senator was worried, l knew, but
held his peace. He knew how to keep
his opinions until the hour had struck
that summoned them to service. The
senator never played with his lance.
BY and by Spencer openly sounded the
note of conflict.
= The most welcome year of my life
dawned on the first of January. 1874.
1 remember that arose before day
light that morning and dressed and
went out on the street to welcome 1t.
l had less than six months to wait
for that day appointed by Sally. had
no doubt that she would be true to me.
had had my days of fear and depres-
sion, but always my sublime faith In
her came back In good time.
Oh, yes, indeed, Washington was q
fair of beauty and gallantry those
days. l saw 1t al(. have spent many
years in the capital, and tell you the
girls Of that time had manners and
knew how to wear their clothes, but
again the magic Of old memories kept
my lady on her throne. There was
one of them-just one Of those others
who, sometimes thought, was almost
as graceful and charming and noble.
hearted as Sally, and she liked me,
know, but the ideal of my youth
glowed In the light of the early morn
ing, SO to speak, and was brighter thar
all others. Above all, had given m,
word to Sally, and-well, you know
the old-time Yankee Of good stock wa,
fairly steadfast, whatever else ma,
be said of him-often little tot
steadfast, as were Ben Grimshaw ant
Squire Fullerton.
The senator and went calling tha
New Years day. We saw all tn,
great people and some of them wer,
more cheerful than they had q righ
to be. 1t was weakness of the time
shall not go into details for fear O
wandering too far from my main road
Let me step aside q moment to say
however, that there were two cloud
In the sky of the Washington societ
of those days. One was strong drlnl
and the other was the crude, rough
coated, aggressive democrat from tn
frontiers of the West. These latte
were often seen in the holiday regali
of farm or village at fashionable funC
tions. Some of them changed slowly
and by and by reached the stage O
white linen and diamond breastpin
and waistcoats Of figured silk. ]
must be said, however, that their me
tives were always above their taste.
The winter wore away slowly 1
hard work. Mr.. Van Buren came dow
to see the senator one day from hi
country seat on the Hudson. The e1
president had been solicited to accer
the nomination again. l know tha
Senator Wright strongly favored tn
plan but feared that the South woul
defeat him in convention, 1t being we
known that Van Buren was opposed {
the annexation OF Texas. However
he advised his friend to make a figh
for the nomination and this the latte
resolved to do. Thenceforward unit
middle May gave my time largely t
the inditing Of letters for the senate
In Van Buren's behalf.
The time appointed for the conye1
ton in Baltimore drew near. One da