The citizen., 1919-06-05

SCISSOR OF his home, your enthusiasm
has welcome sound to me but I hap
pen 10 know that Senator Wright will
not allow his name to go before the
convention"
He read the letter Of which I knew.
Mr.. Benjamin +. Butler then said:
"When that letter was written Sena-
tor Wright was not aware that Mr..
Van Buren's nomination could not be
accomplished, nor was he aware that
bis own nomination would be the al
most unanimous wish OF this conven-
tion. / have talked with the leading
delegates from Missouri and Virginia
today. They say that he can be nomi-
mated by acclamatlon. Is IL possible
that he-a strong party man-can re-
sist this unanimous call of the party
with whose help he has won immortal
fomei No, II is not so. II cannot be
so. We must dispatch a messenger to
him by horse at once who shall take
to him from his friend Judge Fine
frank statement OF the imperious de-
mand Of this convention and a request
that he telegraph withdrawal of his
letter In the morning"
The suggestion was unanimously ap-
proved and within an hour, mounted
or one Of the best horses In Maryland
so his groom Informed mel was on
my way TO Washington with the mes
sage Of Judge Fine In my pocket. Yes.
] had two days to spare on my sched-
ule Of travel and reckoned that, by re-
turning TO Baltimore next day l should
reach Canton In good time.
II was the kind Of thing that only a
1.-THE. supple. strong hearted lad such
as ! was In the days OF my youth,
could rellsh-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 a
fever. for the notion had come to me
that was making history.
The lure Of fame and high place hur-
ried me on. With the senator In the
presidential chair l 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. I reached Washington very
sore, but otherwise In good form. soon
after daybreak. l wes trembling with
excitement when I put my horse In the
stable and rang the bell at our door. II
seemed TO me that was crossing the
divide between big and little things. A
few steps more and | should be look
ing down into the great valley of the
future. Yet. now that l was there. /
began TO lose confidence.
The butler opened the door.
Yes. the senator was up and had
Just returned from a walk and was In
his study. | found him there.
"Well, Bart, how does this happenT'
he asked.
Its important business" I said, as
| 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. II seemed to
puncture my balloon, so TO speak, and
l 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 II he were asking
for the change OF a dollar. queried:
"Well. Bart. what do you think we
had better do about it7"
IL was hoping-you-you would
take IT," l 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. II is possible that they would
nominate me. We don't know about
that, we never shall know. II they
aid, ana accepted. what would he ex-
pected of me is also clear. They
would expect me TO abandon my prin-
ciples and that course of conduct
which l conceive 10 be best for the
country. Therefore l should have TO
accept II under false pretenses and
take their yoke upon me. Would you
think the needle pointed that wayr
NO" l answered.
Immediately he turned TO his desk
and wrote the telegram which liked
his place I'm history. II said no.
Into the lives of few men has such
u moment fallen. looked at him with
a feeling of awe. What sublime calm
ress and serenity was In his facel AS
If II were a mere detail In the 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 l
think Of him standing there with the
morning sunlight falling upon his face
and shoulders. He had observed my
emotion and l think II had touched
him little. There was moment OF
silence. A curious illusion came TO me
then, for II seemed as II l heard the
sound of distant music. Looking
, thoughtfully out Of the window he
asked:
"Bart. do you know when our first
fathers turned out Of the trail OF the
beast and found the long road OF hui