South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-10

commanding one of the gorgeous
views characteristic Of a iittle com
monwealth which has many larger
sister state. but worthier.
The politics Of the place was un-
der the control Of the church party
which something more than three
quarters Of century ago held away
over many OF the towns of New
England. But the career Of "Old
Hickory" was giving a new impulse
10 democracy and p0rtended little
good TO any ruling class. whatever
its virtues All that was needed was
"A leader and one was found I'm a
young man named Jethro Bass.
who was the son Of well-tO-dO
tanner Jethro Inherited from his
father a snug little fortune. but his
education had been almost wholly
neglected. He skIfully made use
OF the rising discomfort by appeals
OF ambition and personal interest
IT became clear that the ruling
party was 90 be challenged At the
coming town meeting and so pre-
sumptuous a thing stirred society TO
its depths.
The spiritual leader Of the church
party was the clergyman. His love
" daughter. Cynthia. filled "A large
place in the eyes Of Jethro and she
was drawn 10 him hy the unmis-
taxable signs OF power apparent un-
der his awkward exterior They
used sometimes 10 meet by chance
and. unlike as they were i'm point
cf cultivation. they were really very
much in love with each other. q
circumstance that had rather TO be
inferred becS use JcthrO was little
likely 10 exercise the initiative and
say anything about IL. once when
in Boston he bought a beautiful
locket and had engraved upon i'll
"Cynthy from JethrO." but he never
mustered up the courage to present
It, When the political tempest was
rising Cynthia who sympathized
strongly with her fathers party, de
cided 20 go TO Jethro and plead with
him 10 stop the fight Before ne
knew her purpose he broke his ST
Ience and declared his love Perhaps
if he had been given a chance for
reflection and had not been so up
set by his own confession he would
have granted her request, but that
did not seem possible at the mo-
ment. Cynthia took his refusal as
a decree OF separation; and she left
him never TO see him again and he
set out upon the career which end
cd in his becoming the uncrowned
king OF his state.
The town meeting fight went on
and Jethro was chosen first select
man. the only office he ever held
and in which ne continued for So
years Cynthia went to Boston.
where she became teacher in high
school and inthe course of time
married William Wetheriu. the clerk
who has sold Jethro the locket She
first learned about the locket from
her husband and confessed TO him
her love for Jethro After few
years she died leaving a little girl
who bore her name Wetherill
moved TO Coniston. taking young
Cynthia with him, and went %
keeping the village store
In the years that had gone by
Jethro had found Coniston too
small and was engaged in carrying
had his Ieutenants in every county
and possessed such AN organization
that ne was able 90 select most of
the men who held the important
Offices and 90 control their actions
afterwards I'm brief ne became
the Boss" of the state and people
who desired legislation or offices
found 10 necessary 10 visit him
Avarice did not seem TO DE the mo-
tive which controlled him. Rail
roads were being buiT. manufac-
turing developed and be took pride
in making himself Indispensable i'm
what was going on. When little
Cynthia appeared at Coniston he at
once loved her as be would have
loved his own daughter. Her father
was unable 20 meet his obligations
at the bank. Jethro quietly bought
the mortSaEe and had &c assigned %
himself Cynthia used 90 call him
Uncle Jethro and loved him as she
did her father.
After time the railroad corpor-
ations decided 90 consolidate. Jethro
whether he feared thar they would
become too large FOR the state or
for him. did not approve of con
soldation. Thereupon they decided
TO overthrow him The hight began
over his home postonice HE was
known 10 favor an old soldier
named Eph Prescott who had been
badly wounded IN the wilderness
and whom ne had helped i'm his up
hiu night as he had helped many
another person. The railroad part,
decided 20 defeat Jethro's candidate
in order To weaken his prestige in
the state and it had the support
OF many men who had formerly
done his hiddine and Of the econ
gressman from the district" The
offices of that class
Jethro went 90 Washington and
conuivcd Co have an apparent,
chance meeting between Pres-t
Grant and Eph Grant WAS attract
ed by Eph's simplicity They talk
ed over the battles they had fought
together with "a modesty which fur