第19章

TheyweremarriedinTrinityChurchinthemonthofMay,andIwasoneofHam\'sattendants.Ralphwas"bestman."ForthelasttimetheoldWillettmansioninPowellStreetworethegalaairofformerdays;

carpetswerespreadoverthesidewalk,andredandwhiteawnings;roomswerefilledwithflowersandflungopentohundredsofguests.Ifoundtheweddingsomethingofanordeal.Idonotliketodwelluponit——

especiallyuponthatmomentwhenIcametocongratulateNancyasshestoodbesideHamattheendofthelongparlour.Sheseemedtohavenoregrets.Idon\'tknowwhatIexpectedofher——certainlynottearsandtragedy.Sheseemedtallerthanever,andverybeautifulinherveilandwhitesatingownandthediamondsHamhadgivenher;verymuchmistressofherself,quiteacontrasttoHam,whomadenosecretofhiselation.

ShesmiledwhenIwishedherhappiness.

"We\'llbehomeintheautumn,Hugh,andexpecttoseeagreatdealofyou,"shesaid.

AsIpausedinacorneroftheroommyeyefelluponNancy\'sfather.

McAleryWillett\'selationseemedevengreaterthanHam\'s.Withagardeniainhisfrock-coatandaglassofchampagneinhishandhewentfromgrouptogroup;andhisfamiliarlaughter,whichoncehadseemedsofullofmerrimentandfun,gavemeto-dayasomewhatscandalizedfeeling.

IheardRalph\'svoice,andturnedtodiscoverhimstandingbesideme,hislonglegsthrustslightlyapart,hishandsinhispockets,overlookingthescenewithtypical,semi-contemptuousamusement.

"ThisletsoldMcAleryout,anyway,"hesaid.

"Whatdoyoumean?"Idemanded.

"Oneortwolittlenotesofhiswillbecancelled,soonerorlater——

that\'sall."

ForamomentIwasunabletospeak.

"Anddoyouthinkthatshe——thatNancyfoundout——?"Istammered.

"Well,I\'dbewillingtotakethatendofthebet,"hereplied."WhythedeuceshouldshemarryHam?Yououghttoknowherwellenoughtounderstandhowshe\'dfeelifshediscoveredsomeofMcAlery\'sfinancialcoups?Ofcourseit\'snotathingItalkabout,youunderstand.AreyougoingtotheClub?"

"No,I\'mgoinghome,"Isaid.IwasawareofhissomewhatcompassionatesmileasIlefthim

XII.

OneNovemberdaynearlytwoyearsaftermyadmissionasjuniormemberofthefirmofWatling,FowndesandRiponsevengentlemenmetatluncheonintheBoyneClub;Mr.Barbour,PresidentoftheRailroad,Mr.Scherer,oftheBoyneIronWorksandothercorporations,Mr.LeonardDickinson,oftheCornNationalBank,Mr.Halsey,aprominentbankerfromtheothergreatcityofthestate,Mr.Grunewald,ChairmanoftheRepublicanStateCommittee,andMr.FrederickGrierson,whohadbecomeaveryimportantmaninourcommunity.Atfouro\'clocktheyemergedfromtheclub:

citizensinBoyneStreetwhosawthemchattingamicablyonthestepslittlesuspectedthatinthelastthreehoursthesegentlemenhadchosenandpracticallyelectedthemanwhowastosucceedMr.WadeasUnitedStatesSenatorinWashington.Thosewerethedaysinwhichgreataffairsweresimplyandefficientlyhandled.Nodemocraticnonsenseaboutleavingthechoicetoanelectoratethatdidnotknowwhatitwanted.

ThemanchosentofillthishighpositionwasTheodoreWatling.Hesaidhewouldthinkaboutthematter.

Inthenationatlarge,throughthedefectionofcertainNorthernstatesneithersoconservativenorfortunateasours,theDemocraticpartywasinpower,whichnaturallyimpliesfinancialdepression.TherewasnoquestionaboutourabilitytosendaRepublicanSenator;thechoiceintheBoyneClubwasfinal;butbeforethelegislatureshouldratifyit,ayearorsohence,itwerejustaswellthatthepeopleofthestateshouldbeconvincedthattheydesiredMr.Watlingmorethananyotherman;andsurelyenough,inalittlewhilesuchaconvictionsprangupspontaneously.Inofficesandrestaurantsandhotels,menbegantosuggesttoeachotherwhatafinethingitwouldbeifTheodoreWatlingmightbepersuadedtoacceptthetoga;atthebanks,whencustomerscalledtorenewtheirnotesandtightmoneywasdiscussedandDemocratsexcoriated,itwasgenerallyagreedthattheobviousthingtodowastogetasafemanintheSenate.Fromtheveryfirst,Watlingsentimentstirredlikespringsapafterahardwinter.

Thecountrynewspapers,wateredbyprovidentialrains,begantoputforthtenderlittleeditorialshoots,whichMr.JudahB.TallantpresentlycollectedandpresentedinacharmingbouquetintheMorningEra."TheVoiceoftheStatePress;"thuswasthecolumnheaded;andtheremarksoftheHon.FitchTruesdale,oftheSt.Helen\'sMessenger,weregivenaspecialprominence.Mr.Truesdalewasthefirst,inhissection,tobeinspiredbythehappythoughtthattheonemanpreeminentlyfittedtorepresentthestateinthepresentcrisis,whenhergreatindustrieshadbeencrippledbyDemocraticfolly,wasMr.TheodoreWatling.TheRossiterBanner,theElkingtonStar,theBelfastRecorder,andIknownothowmanyotherssimultaneouslybegantosingMr.Watling\'spraises.

"NotsincethetroubloustimesoftheCivilWar,"declaredtheMorningEra,"hadthedemandforanymanbeensounanimous."Asaproofofit,therewerethecountrynewspapers,"whichreflectedthesoberopinionofthefiresidesofthecommonpeople."

Therearecertainindustriousgentlementowhomlittlecreditisgiven,andwho,unliketheaveragecitizenwhoreserveshisenthusiasmforelectiontime,arepatrioticenoughtolabourfortheircountry\'sgoodalltheyearround.Whenintown,itwastheirhabittopayafriendlycallontheCounselfortheRailroad,Mr.MillerGorse,intheCornBankBuilding.Hewasnevertoobusytoconversewiththem;or,itmightbetterbesaid,tolistentothemconverse.LetsomelegallyandpoliticallyambitiousyoungmanobserveMr.Gorse\'smethod.DidheinquirewhatthepartyworkerthoughtofMr.WatlingfortheSenate?Notatall!ButbeforethepartyworkerlefthewastellingMr.GorsethatpublicsentimentdemandedMr.Watling.AfterleavingMr.GorsetheywendedtheirwaytotheDurrettBuildingandhandedtheircardsovertherailoftheofficesofWatling,FowndesandRipon.Mr.Watlingshookhandswithscoresofthem,andtheydeparted,wellsatisfiedwiththeflavourofhiscigarsandintoxicatedbyhispersonality.Hehadamarvellouswayofcuttingshortaninterviewwithoutgivingoffence.

SomeofthemheturnedovertoMr.Paret,whomheparticularlydesiredtheyshouldknow.ThusMr.Paretacquiredmanyvaluableadditionstohisacquaintance,cultivatedamemoryfornamesandfacesthatwastostandhimingoodstead;andkept,besides,anindexednote-bookintowhichheputvariousbitsofinterestinginformationconcerningeach.Thoughnotimmediatelylucrative,itwasall,nodoubt,partofalawyer\'seducation.

DuringthesummerandthefollowingwinterColonelPaulVarneycameoftentotownandspentmuchofhistimeinMr.Paret\'sofficesmokingMr.

Watling\'scigarsanddiscussingthecomingcampaign,inwhichhetookawhole-souledinterest.

"Say,Hugh,thisisgoin\'slick!"hewouldexclaim,hiseyesglitteringlikeroundbuttonsofjet."Ineversawacampaignwheretheyfellinthewaythey\'redoingnow.IfitwasanybodyelsebutTheodoreWatling,itwouldscareme.YououghttohavebeeninJimBroadhurst\'scampaign,"

headded,referringtothejuniorsenator,"theywouldn\'twoodupatall,theywasjustlistless.ButGorseandBarbourandtherestwantedhim,andwehadtoputhimover.IreckonheisusefuldownthereinWashington,butsay,doyouknowwhathealwaysremindedmeof?Oneofthosemud-turtlesIusedtoplaywithasaboyupinColumbiaCounty,——

shutsuptightsoonasheseesyoucoming.NowTheodoreWatlingain\'tlikethat,anywayofspeaking.Wecangetupsomeenthusiasmforamanofhissort.He\'sliberalandbig.He\'smadehispile,andhedon\'tbegrudgesomeofittothefellowswhodothework.Markmywords,whenyouseeamanwhowantsabigofficecheap,lookoutforhim."

This,andmuchmorewisdomIimbibedwhileassentingtomychief\'sgreatness.ForMr.Varneywasright,——onecouldfeelenthusiasmforTheodoreWatling;andmygrowingintimacywithhim,thesensethatIwashavingapartinhiscareer,ashareinhissuccess,becameforthemomentthepassionofmylife.AsthecampaignprogressedIgavemoreandmoretimetoit,andmadefrequenttripsofaconfidentialnaturetothedifferentcountiesofthestate.Thewholeofmybeingwasenergized.Thenationalfeverhadthoroughlypervadedmyblood——thenationalfevertowin.Prosperity——writlarge——demandedit,andTheodoreWatlingpersonified,incarnatedthecause.Ihadneitherthetimenorthedesiretophilosophizeonthisnationalfever,whichanimatedallmyassociates:animated,Imightsay,thenation,whichwasbeginningtogetintoafeveraboutgames.IfIrememberrightly,itwasaboutthistimethatgolfwasintroduced,tennishadbecomeacommonplace,professionalbaseballwasinfullswing;HamDurretthadevenorganizedalocalpoloteamThemanwhofailedtowinsomethingtangibleinsportorlaworbusinessorpoliticswascountedout.SuchwasthespiritofAmerica,intheclosingyearsofthenineteenthcentury.

Andyet,whenonehassaidthis,onehasfailedtoexpressthenationalGeistinallitssubtlety.Inbrief,thegreatAmericansportwasnotsomuchtowinthegameastobeatit;theevasionofruleschallengedouringenuity;andhavingwon,wesetaboutdevisingmethodswherebyitwouldbelessandlesspossibleforuswinnerstoloseinthefuture.Nobetterillustrationofthistendencycouldbegiventhanthedevelopmentwhichhadrecentlytakenplaceinthefieldofourcitypolitics,hithertothebattle-groundofIrishpoliticianswhohadfoughtoneanotherforsupremacy.Individualismhadbeenrampant,competitionthecustom;youboughtanalderman,orabosswhoownedfourorfivealdermen,andthenyounevercouldbesureyouweretogetwhatyouwanted,orthatthealdermenandthebosseswould"staybought."Butnowageniushadappeared,anAmericangeniuswhohadarisenswiftlyandalmostsilently,whoappealedtotheimagination,andwhosenamewasoftenmentionedinawhisper,——theHon.JuddJason,sometimesknownastheSpider,whoorganizedtheCityHallandcapitalizedit;anultimateandlogicaleffect——ifonehadconsideredit——oftheManchesterschoolofeconomics.Enlightenedself-interest,strippedofsentiment,endsonJuddJasons.HeranthecityevenasMr.Sherrillranhisdepartmentstore;youpaidyourprice.Itwasveryconvenient.Beingagenius,Mr.

Jasondidnotwhollybreakwithtradition,butretainedthoseelementsoftheoldmuddledsystemthathadtheirvalue,charteringsteamboatsforoutingsontheriver,givingcolossalpicnicsinLowryPark.Thepoorandthewandererandthecriminal(ofthemalesexatleast)werecaredfor.Buthewasnotloved,astherough-and-tumbleIrishmenhadbeenloved;hedidnotmakehimselfcommon;hewassurroundedbyanauraofmysterywhichIconfesshadnotfailedofeffectonme.Once,andonlyonceduringmylegalapprenticeship,hehadbeenpointedouttomeonthestreet,whereherarelyventured.Hisappearancewasnotimpressive

Mr.Jasoncouldnot,ofcourse,preventMr.Watling\'selection,evendidhesodesire,buthedidcommandtheallegianceofseveralcitycandidates——bothdemocraticandrepublican——forthestatelegislature,whohadasyetfailedtoannouncetheirpreferencesforUnitedStatesSenator.ItwasimportantthatMr.Watling\'svoteshouldbelarge,asindicativeofapublicreactionandrepudiationofDemocraticnationalfolly.ThismatteramongotherswasthesubjectofdiscussiononeJulymorningwhentheRepublicanStateChairmanwasinthecity;Mr.GrunewaldexpressedanxietyoverMr.Jason\'scontinuedsilence.Itwasexpedientthatsomebodyshould"see"theboss.

"WhynotParet?"suggestedLeonardDickinson.Mr.Watlingwasnotpresentatthisconference."ParetseemstoberunningWatling\'scampaign,anyway."

ItwassettledthatIshouldbetheemissary.Withlivelysensationsofcuriosityandexcitement,temperedbyacertainanxietyastomyabilitytomatchwitswiththeSpider,Imademywaytohis"lair"overMonahan\'ssaloon,situatedinadistrictthatwasanythingbutrespectable.Thesaloon,onthegroundfloor,hadtwoapartments;thebar-roomproperwhereMikeMonahan,chamberlainoftheestablishment,waswonttostand,redfacedandsmiling,togreetthecourtiers,bigandlittle,thepartyworkers,thedistrictleaders,thehangers-onreadytobehired,thecityofficials,thepolicejudges,——yes,andthedignifiedmembersofstatecourtswhoseelectionsdependedonMr.Jason\'sfavour:evenJudgeBering,whoseacquaintanceIhadmadethedayIhadcome,asalawstudent,toMr.Watling\'soffice,unbentfromtimetotimesufficientlytocallthereforasmallglassofryeandwater,andtorelate,withhisowl-likegravity,ananecdotetothe"boys."ThesaloonrepresentedDemocracy,sodeartotheAmericanpublic.Hereallwerewelcome,eventhelight-

fingeredgentlemenwhoenjoyedtheprivilegeofpoliceprotection;andwhosometimes,throughfortuitouscircumstances,werehauledbeforetheverymagistrateswithwhomtheyhadrubbedelbowsonthepolishedrail.

Behindthebar-room,andseparatedfromitbyswingingdoorsonlytheeliteventuredtothrustapart,wasanaudiencechamberwhitherMr.Jasonoccasionallydescended.Anecdoteandpoliticalreminiscencegaveplaceheretomattersofhighpolicy.

Ihadseveraltimescometothesalooninthedaysofmyapprenticeshipinsearchofsomejudgeorofficial,andonceIhadrundownherethecityauditorhimself.MikeMonahan,whoseaffairitwastoknoweveryone,recognizedme.Itwaspartofhisbusiness,also,tounderstandthatIwasnowamemberofthefirmofWatling,FowndesandRipon.

"Goodmorningtoyou,Mr.Paret,"hesaidsuavely.Weheldacolloquyinundertonesoverthebar,eyedbythetwoorthreecustomerswhowerepresent.Mr.Monahandisappeared,butpresentlyreturnedtowhisper:

"Sure,he\'llseeyou,"toleadthewaythroughtheswingingdoorsandupadarkstairway.Icamesuddenlyonaroominthegreatestdisorder,itstablesandchairspiledhighwithnewspapersandletters,itswindowsstreakedwithsoot.Fromanopendooronitsfarthersideissuedavoice.

"Isthatyou,Mr.Paret?Comeinhere."

Itwaslittlelessthanacommand.

"Heardofyou,Mr.Paret.Gladtoknowyou.Sitdown,won\'tyou?"

Theinnerroomwasalmostdark.Imadeoutabedinthecorner,andproppedupinthebedaman;butforthemomentIwasmostawareofapairofeyesthatflaredupwhenthemanspoke,anddieddownagainwhenhebecamesilent.Theyremindedmeofthoseinsectswhichinmychildhooddayswecalled"lightningbugs."Mr.Jasongavemeahandlikeawoman\'s.Iexpressedmypleasureatmeetinghim,andtookachairbesidethebed.

"Ibelieveyou\'reapartnerofTheodoreWatling\'snowaren\'tyou?Smartman,Watling."

"He\'llmakeagoodsenator,"Ireplied,acceptingtheopening.

"Youthinkhe\'llgetelected——doyou?"Mr.Jasoninquired.

Ilaughed.

"Well,thereisn\'tmuchdoubtaboutthat,Iimagine."

"Don\'tknow——don\'tknow.Seensomedead-surethingsgowronginmytime."

"What\'sgoingtodefeathim?"Iaskedpleasantly.

"Idon\'tsayanything,"Mr.Jasonreplied."ButI\'veknownfunnythingstohappen——neverdoestobedeadsure."

"Oh,well,we\'reassureasit\'shumanlypossibletobe,"Ideclared.

Theeyescontinuedtofascinateme,theyhadapeculiar,disquietingeffect.Nowtheydieddown,anditwasasiftheman\'sverypresencehadgoneout,asthoughIhadbeenleftalone;andIfounditexceedinglydifficult,underthecircumstances,tocontinuetoaddresshim.Suddenlyheflaredupagain.

"Watlingsendyouoverhere?"hedemanded.

"No.Asamatteroffact,he\'soutoftown.SomeofMr.Watling\'sfriends,Mr.GrunewaldandMr.Dickinson,Mr.Gorseandothers,suggestedthatIseeyou,Mr.Jason."

Therecameagruntfromthebed.

"Mr.Watlinghasalwaysvaluedyourfriendshipandsupport,"Isaid.

"Whatmakeshimthinkheain\'tgoingtogetit?"

"Hehasn\'tadoubtofit,"Iwentondiplomatically."Butwefelt——andI

feltpersonally,thatweoughttobeintouchwithyou,toworkalongwithyou,tokeepinformedhowthingsaregoinginthecity."

"Whatthings?"

"Well——thereareoneortworepresentatives,friendsofyours,whohaven\'tcomeoutforMr.Watling.Wearen\'tworrying,weknowyou\'lldotherightthing,butwefeelthatitwouldhaveagooddealofinfluenceinsomeotherpartsofthestateiftheydeclaredthemselves.AndthenyouknowaswellasIdothatthisisn\'tayearwhenanyofuscanaffordtorecognizetoocloselypartylines;theDemocraticadministrationhasbroughtonapanic,thebusinessmeninthatpartyaredownonit,anditoughttoberebuked.Andwefeel,too,thatsomeofthecity\'sDemocratsoughttobeloyaltoMr.Watling,——notthatweexpectthemtovoteforhimincaucus,butwhenitcomestothejointballot——"

"Who?"demandedMr.Jason.

"SenatorDowseandJimMaher,forinstance,"Isuggested.

"JimvotedforBill709allright——didn\'the?"saidMr.Jasonabruptly.

"That\'sjustit,"Iputinboldly."We\'dliketoinducehimtocomeinwithusthistime.Butwefeelthat——theinducementwouldbettercomethroughyou."

IthoughtMr.Jasonsmiled.BythistimeIhadgrownaccustomedtothedarkness,thefaceandfigureofthemaninthebedhadbecomediscernible.Power,Irememberthinking,choosesoddhousesforitself.

Herewasnooverbearing,full-bloodedwardruffianbrimmingwithvitality,butathin,sallowlittlemaninacottonnight-shirt,withiron-greyhairandawirymoustache;hemighthavebeenanoverworkedclerkbehindadry-goodscounter;andyetsomehow,nowthatIhadtalkedtohim,Irealizedthathenevercouldhavebeen.Thoseextraordinaryeyesofhis,whentheywerefunctioning,markedhisindividualityasunique.Itwerealmosttoodramatictosaythatherequireddarknesstomakehiseffect,butsoitseemed.Ishouldneverforgethim.HehadintruthbeenwellnamedtheSpider.

"Ofcoursewehaven\'ttriedtogetintouchwiththem.Weareleavingthemtoyou,"Iadded.

"Paret,"hesaidsuddenly,"Idon\'tcareadamnaboutGrunewald——neverdid.I\'dturnhimdownfortencents.ButyoucantellTheodoreWatlingforme,andDickinson,thatIguessthe`inducement\'canbefixed."

Ifeltacertainreliefthattheinterviewhadcometoanend,thatthemomenthadarrivedforamenities.Tomysurprise,Mr.Jasonanticipatedme.

"I\'vebeeninterestedinyou,Mr.Paret,"heobserved."Knowwhoyouare,ofcourse,knewyouwereinWatling\'soffice.ThensomeoftheboysspokeaboutyouwhenyouweredownatthelegislatureonthatRibblevalematter.Guessyouhadmoretodowiththatbillthancameoutinthenewspapers——eh?"

Iwastakenoffmyguard.

"Oh,that\'stalk,"Isaid.

"Allright,it\'stalk,then?ButIguessyouandIwillhavesomemoretalkafterawhile,——afterTheodoreWatlinggetstobeUnitedStatesSenator.Givehimmyregards,and——andcomeinwhenIcandoanythingforyou,Mr.Paret."

Thankinghim,IgropedmywaydownstairsandletmyselfoutbyasidedoorMonahanhadshownmeintoanalleyway,thusavoidingthesaloon.AsIwalkedslowlybacktotheoffice,seekingtheshadeoftheawnings,thefigureinthedarkenedroomtookonasinisteraspectthattroubledme

Theautumnarrived,thecampaignwasonwithawhoop,andIhadmyfirsttasteof"stump"politics.Theacridsmellofredfirebringsitbacktome.Itwasamedleyofrailroadtravel,ofcommitteesprovidedwithbadges——andcigars,ofopencarriagesslowlydrawnbetweenlinesofbewilderedcitizens,ofLincolnclubsandotherclubsmarchinginserriedranks,uniformedandhelmeted,stalwartscarryingtorchesandbanners.

Andthentherewerethedraughtyopera-houseswiththesylvanscenerypushedbackandplushchairsandsofaspushedforward;withanominoustable,apitcherofwateronitandaglass,nearthefootlights.Thehouseswerepackedwithmorebewilderedcitizens.Whatawonderfulstudyofmob-psychologyitwouldhaveoffered!MenwhohadnotthoughtofthegrandoldRepublicanpartyfortwoyears,andwhohadnotcaredmuchaboutitwhentheyhadenteredthedooms,afteranhourorsowentmadwithfervour.TheHon.JosephMecklin,ex-SpeakeroftheHouse,withwhomItraveledonoccasions,hadaspeechreferringtothemartyredPresident,endingwithanappealtotherevolutionaryfatherswhofollowedWashingtonwithbleedingfeet.TheHon.Josephpossessedthatmostvaluableofpoliticalgifts,presence;andwhenwithquiveringvoicehefinishedhisperoration,citizensweptwithhim.Whatitallhadtodowiththetariffwasnotquiteclear.Yetnobodyseemedtomisstheconnection.

Wewereallofusmostconcerned,ofcourse,abouttheworking-manandhisdinnerpail,——whomtheDemocratshadwantonlythrownoutofemploymentforthesakeofadoctrinairetheory.TheyhadputhimincompetitionwiththeserfofEurope.Suchwasthesubject-matterofmyownmodestaddressesinthis,mymaidencampaign.Ihadthesensetoseemyselfinperspective;torecognizethatnotforme,adignifiedandsubstantiallawyerofaffairs,weretherhetoricalflightsoftheHon.

JosephMecklin.Ispokewithacertainrestraint.Nottoodryly,I

hope.ButIsoughttocurbmysentiments,myindignation,atthemannerinwhichtheworking-manhadbeentreated;toappealtothecommonsenseratherthantothepassionsofmyaudiences.Herewerethestatistics!

(drawn,bytheway,fromtheRepublicanCampaignbook).Unscrupulousdemagogues——Democratic,ofcourse——hadsoughttotwistandevadethem.

LetthisterriblerecordoflackofemploymentandmiserybecomparedwiththeprosperityunderRepublicanrule.

"OneofthemosteffectivespeakersinthiscampaignfortherestorationofProsperity,"saidtheRossiterBanner,"isMr.HughParet,ofthefirmofWatling,FowndesandRipon.Mr.Paret\'sspeechattheOpera-Houselasteveningmadeamostfavourableimpression.Mr.Paretdealswithfacts.AndhisthoughtfulanalysisofthesituationintowhichtheDemocraticpartyhasbroughtthiscountryshouldconvinceanysane-mindedvoterthatthetimehascomeforachange."