Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-01-09
ECHOES
FROM THE
PAST
By MILDRED GooDRIDGE

~ as you are" spoke old God
frey Bartels to his nephew,
IF | get 1t, uncle" submitted Ran
dal Mead with a smile.
IF you get itw shouted his eXct-
able relative-"with my money and in
fluence back of you and your good rec
ord, what's to prevent the nomination,
l should like to know? And that
means election"
Il can tell you in three words,
uncle" declared Randall.
"Well, speak them"
"The river precincts"
"Ahw
The delicate nostrlls Of the old arls-
tocrat dilated. He had been stern,
hard-driving master when he ran the
nail mills. Not that he was not emf
nently just to his employees, but he
rigidly exacted every penny of money
due him and every minute Of time
paid for.
"That rabblew he groaned out, and
showed his teeth.
Don't call them harsh names,
uncle" pleaded the young man child
ingly. You have wrong notion of
them and they Of you. They are pay
ing Off their old grudge on me now"
Don't see why" growled the old
man. You've wasted money and time
getting them libraries, and free hos
pitfalls, and clubrooms and all that"
well, my manager has been down
among them for a week." said Ran
dal, He will be back tomorrow.
Figuring closely, unless the mill dis
trict gives me one thousand five hun
dred clear majority, I'm off the slate,
sure"
II meant a great deal to Randall
Mead to secure the nomination in
view. There was nothing of selfish
pride or vanity in the ambition. If
ever there was a true man, 1t was
Mead. Always OF sober, serious
frame Of mind, when his uncle sold
out his mill interests, he, just gradu-
ated as physician and surgeon, re
jected promising practice In a near
city because of the field OF usefulness
he had chosen as Offering the mission
of his life.
II was among the poor and lowly
that he had found his vocation. There
were those who hated him because his
uncle had been looked upon as an in
dustrial tyrant There were others,
however, who idolzed the self-sacri-
ticing young man who had ministered
to their needs from pure humane
impulse
Naturally the scope of endeavor and
usefulness had brOadened. The fact
had dawned upon Mead that what he
could individually do for wretched
dOwn-trodden working people counted
MS little compared with his power II
he could influence legislation in their
behalf. Some of the advanced work
ing clubs strongly advocated his can
dldacy for office. The movement
grew. He was now in full-hedged con-
dition in holly contested political
campaign.
What Mead had said about the river
Iif'ih'AN was HOSc
were populated by a densely ignorant
and prejudlced class. A disreputable
and frec-treating demagogue had won
their ear and was using money and
artltice to sway the voters away from
Mead.
"Well, what have you to report?" he
inquired with some anxiety and dis
trust as his agent appeared the fol
lowing morning.
Good newsw buoyantly replied Ar
mold Carter. "See here, do you hap.
pen to know anybody of the name of
Lester?'
"Lester-Lesterf" repeated Mead
obviously. "No, am sure not. Why
do you askT
Because upon the efforts of com
probably depend all your chances Of
winning In this contest. It seems she
Is sort Of guardian angel to the
poor down MatlOck way. Why, / don't
know, but she is opposing your po-
litical rival strenuously and booming
you. II may be because Of the clear,
clean principles involved but one
would think she was a sister, or
sweetheart, the enthusiastic way she
goes about helping your cause"
81 declare" murmured Mead, you
quite interest me-"
"She is a graceful, reticent young
girl" proceeded Matlock "She has
addressed two or more meetings every
night for a week. She Is fast chang
ing the sentiment Of the voters. Mr..
Mead, | am going to give you very
good piece of advice. Get down to
Matl0ck at once, ana follow up the
splendid work this young settlement
worker has started for you with your
own eloquence and responsiveness as
n natural orator"
THANK you, Carter said Mead in
his quiet reflective way. am think
Of IT,"
Which Mead decided to do. More
than once on his way to Matlock he
recalled the name Lester. II gave no
clue to a real identity Then that
same night, as on the skirts Of a great
crowd he listened to n sllyery voiced
modestly attired young girl press his
claims upon a respectful and attentive
audience, he traced nothing familiar
in the sweet earnest face dawning
upon him ms the most beautiful he had
over seen.
They passed on FOR few square,
20 come upon second meeting. A