The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-30

81 don't believe it's quite true that
you have lost your influence. I read
the newspapers. and some Of them
are saying that you are the hope Of
your party. and that you have Il
large following. But you wouldn't do
that, Dan; you wouldn't lend yourself
to such a thing as THAR
I'm not so sure" he replied dog
gedly. angry that they should be dis
cussing the subject at all. though
TO be sure he had introduced it. "A
mans family has got to suffer for his
acts: it's a part Of the punishment.
I'd ike to see Bassett driven out Of
politics, but I assure you that I dom
mean TO Go it. There's no possibility
Of my having the chance. He put
me in the legislature to use me; and
I'm glad that's all over. AS 1 tell
you. I'm out Of the game"
Il don't sympathize with that at
all. Dan; you not only ought to stay
in. but you ought to do all you can
to make it impossible for men like
BassetJ and Thatcher to have any
power. The honor OF the State ought
10 be dear 10 all Of US; and il I be-
ionged to a party 1 think I should
have a care for its honor too"
The time was passing. II was not
10 discuss politics that he had gone
10 Waupegan.
Come" he said. Lets find a
canoe and get out under the stars. 80
Sylvia went for w~ap, and they
had soon embarked. skimm'ag along
IN silence ior q time till they were free
Of the ores. There was no moon,
but L stars shone brilliantly; q fit
fUI Il wind scarcely ruffled the
wat Along the deep-shadowed
shC $ the dock lanterns twinkled, and
a. Ie and beyond them the lamps OF
I cottages flashed and vanished. Dan
.ddled steadily with a skilled.
plashless stroke. The paddle sank
nOiselessly and rose to the accom-
paniment of a tinkIng drip as the
canoe parted the waters. There is
nothing like a canoe flight under stars
to tranqUilize a troubled and per
picked spirit, and Dan was soon won
TO the mood he sought. It seemed to
him that Sylvia. EMBODIED in the sill
ve-y--dim dusk in the bow, was part
Of the peace OF sky and water. They
were alone. away from the st~ifes and
jars Of the world shut in together as
completely as though they had been
flung back for unreck0ned ages into
a world Of unbroken calm. The peace
that Wordsworth sought and sang
crept into their blood. and each was
sensible that the other knew and felt
it and that it was grateful 10 them
both.
Sylvia spoke. after a time. Of i'm
material things. or answered his ques-
tons as to the identity Of the con
sjeIations mapped in the clear arch
above.
I dream sometimes Of another ex-
Isteuce,' she said. as suppose every
one does, when 7 knew. quiet lake
lhat held the stars as this does. I
even think I remember how it looked
in winter. with the ice cleaning in the
moonlight, and Of snow coming and
The keen winds piiing it I'm drifts. It's
odd, isn't 1t? those memories We have
that are not memories. The me
tempsychosis idea must have some
substance. We nlve all been some
body Else some time, and we clutch AZ
the shadows Of our old selves. hardly
believing they are shadows"
It's a good deal a matter Of i'm
sgination. isn't it?' asked Dan. idling
with the paddle.
It seemed to him that ali the in
auences OF earth and heaven had com
bined to create this hour for him. To
be talking to her OF books that in
terpreted life. and of life itself was
in itself something sweet; he wished
such cOmTadeship as this, made pos
sible by their common interests in the
&c = sCrEing currents Of the cour
Try III which they lived, to go on f.
ever
sylvia he said softly: and ag.j
sylvia 1t seemed TO him that til.
silence and the beauty Of the nigh,
were his ally. communicating to her
infinite iongiags hidden in his heart
7 love you, Sylvia; ] love you.
came up tonight TO tell you that"
oh. Dan, you mustn't say it-yOu
must never say it,
The canoe seemed to hang between
z-atev and stars. a motioneless argosy
in a sea of dreams.
7 had to tell you, Sylvia. It was in
evitable that I should tell you; 1 won
der I kept it to myself so long. With
out you I should go adrift-nO bear
ings. no light anywhere"
You found yourself, Dan; that was
the way Of II. I saw it and appre-
Ciated tit meant more TO me than
can tell you. I knew exactly how il
was that you started as you did; it
was part of your fate; but It made
possible the finer things. It's nothing
IN you or what you've done or may
DO. But have my own work to do.
I have cut a pattern for my own life
and must try to follow it. think
you understand about that told
you that night when we talked OF
our aims and hopes on the campus at
Montgomery that I wanted 10 do
something for the world. And I must
still go on trying to do that. It's a
poor, tiny little gleam; but must
follow the CLEAN"
but there's nothing in that that
we can't DO together. We can go on
seeking 1t together" he pleaded.
II hope 1t may be so. We must go
on being the good friends we are now.
You and Aunt Sally are all I have
the best I have. I can't let you spoil
that" she ended firmly. as though,
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