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.Thepoorandthewandererandthecriminalofthemalesexatleastwerecaredfor.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.\"