Connecticut western news., 1919-03-27

turning to Baltimore next day should
reach Canton in good time.
It was the kind of thing that only a
1.-THE, supple, strong-hearted lad such
as was in the days of my youth,
could relish-speeding over a dark
road by the light of the stars and a
half-moon, with horse that loved to
kick up a wind. My brain was in q
fever, for the notion had come to me
that 1 was making history.
The lure of fame and high place hur-
ried me on. With the senator in the
presidential chair / should be well
started in the highway of great sue
cess. Then Mr.. II. Dunkelberg might
think me better than the legacy Of
Benjamin Grimshaw. A relay awaited
me tWenty-three miles down the road.
Well, reached WASHINGTON very
sore, but otherwise in good form, soon
after daybreak. I was trembling with
excitement when put my horse in the
stable and rang the bell at our door. 1t
seemed to me that l was crossing the
divide between big and little things. A
few steps more and l should be look
ing down into the great valley of the
future. Yet, now that / was there, 1
began to lose confidence.
The butler opened the door.
Yes, the senator was up and had
just returned from walk and was in
his study. ! found him there.
"Well, Bart, how does this happenW
he asked.
"It's important business" said as
I presented the letter.
Something IN his look and manner
as he calmly adjusted his glasses and
read the letter Of Judge Fine brought
the blood to my face. 1t seemed to
puncture my balloon, so to speak, and
/ was falling toward the earth and so
swiftly my head swan. He laid the
letter on his desk and, without looking
up and as coolly as if he were asking
for the cnange of a dollar, queried:
.Well, Bart, what do you think we
lad better do about it?"
"I-I was hoping-you-you would
take it," stammered.
"That's because the excitement of
the convention is on you," he an.
swered. 'Let us. look at the compass.
They have refused to nominate Mr..
Van Buren, because he is opposed to
the annexation Of Texas. On that sub
ject the will of the convention is now
clear It is possible that they would
nominate me. We don't know about
that, we never shall know. If they
did, and accepted, what would be ex.
rected Of mc is also clear. They
would expect Inc to abandon my prin-
ciples and that course of conduct
which I conceiTe to be best for the
country. Therefore l SHOULD have to
accept ii under false pretenses and
take their yoke upon lie. Would you
think the needle pointed that way?"
+"No." I answered. -.
Immediately he turned to his desk
and wrote the telegram which fixed
his place in history. 1t said no.
Into the lives of few men has such
= moment fallen. / looked at him with
o feeling of awe. What sublime calm
ness and serenity was in his face! AS
If 1t were mere detail in tho work Of
the day, and without a moments fall
tering, he had declined crown, for he
would surely have been nominated and
elected. He rose and stood looking
out of the open window. Always i
think of him standing there with the
morning sunlight falling upon his face
and shoulders. He had observed my
emotion and think it had touched
him little. There was a moment OF
silence. A curious illusion came to me
then, for it seemed as if l heard the
sound of distant music. Looking
thoughtfully out of the window ne
asked:
/ "Bart, do you know when our first
fathers turned out of the trail of the
beast and found the long road of hui
nIanity? / think it was when they dis
covered the compass in their hearts"
So now at last we have come to that
high and lonely place, where we may
look back upon the toilsome, advcn
turouS way we have travelled with the
aid of the candle and the compass
Now let us stop a moment to rest and
to think. How sweet the air is here
The night is falling, l see the stars il
the Sky.
Just below me is the valley of Eter
nal silence. You will understand III!
haste now. I have sought only to dc
justice to my friend and to give m!
country Il name, long neglected, BIT
EQUAL in glory to those Of Washington
and Lincoln.
Come, let us take one last look to
gether down the road we have trav
elcd, now dim in the evening shad
ows. Scattered along it are the LITTLE
houses of the poor Of which l have
written. See the lights in the win
dows-the lights that are shining int
the souls OF the young-the eager
open, expectant, welcoming souls o
the young-and the light carries man,
things. but best of all a respect for tn
ala n1noN, criv, 80 nu,c