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."