THE GOVERNORS CHOICE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11413, 25 October 1902, Page 4

THE GOVERNORS CHOICE.

BT J. A. ALTSMXER. T!»e Governor had the faculty of discharging all expression from his face, an unusual gift and valuable upon occasion. Now he was silent, while the men talked, gazing through the window: of hie office at the grand circle of hills that curved about the little capital. This had always been his favourite view, and to-day it was especially so, with the slopes glowing in all the intense reds, yellows, and browns of Indian summer foliage, and the deep, beautiful river flowing through tie cut there that looked like a- great sabre slash.

But the Governor, despite his look of inattention, was paying close heed to every word, and his soul was full of indignant rebellion. He was very young—in fact, many people thought him too young when, at thirty-two, he became the Governor of a great State, with more than two million inhabitants. But be had done well; hie own conscience told him so, and, moreover, he bad public approval. He felt so strong that he woe a candidate for re-election, and he had. hoped to secure an easy nomination in the approaching convention of his party.

His first nomination was a lucky chance. The strong candidates had worn each, other out in the convention, and. his name being; offered by his friends at an opportune moment, he was accepted as a sort of compromise and relief from the others. Now he had hoped to be reuominated on his merits, and there was every prospect of it ftfitil this troublesome affair came up.

He had known Bill Curtis well, and lie knew, too, that the mam thoroughly deserved his fate. Yet hero were Curtis's friends pleading in the most, plausible manner for his pardon, and under everything that they said was a threat too. He saw the threat as well as if it had been spoken in plain words, and they knew that he saw it; they intended that he should.

Bat the Governor, -while the men talked, silently reviewed Curtis's whole story, his wealth, his influence as a politician, his powerful connections throughout the 'western part of the State, the killing, and the expectation of his friends through these agencies to secure his acquittal. But. the tide of public indignation was too strong, and them followed his sentence to imprisonment 'for life, a verdict reduced from hanging through the obstinacy ol oae juryman, who was moved by the tears of his wife and children in the court-room.

■ Yes, Bill Curtis was a man who deserved 'his fate and more—he should have been hanged. He.had now served four years of his term, and had been a good, tractable prisoner. His friends were making the most of this, as they pleaded to th* Governor for his pardon. Price, the State Senator, Cnrtis's brother-in-law, was tie chief spokesman of tie party, but Bush, wiho was Judge of White County, and Hart, the Representative in the Legisluture from Wolf County, also took an active part. AH the men were prominent politicians, some in office and some out, except the Reverend Mr Llttlebury, the paetor of the leading church in Breckfield, whom they had induced to come . with tbfcm by pointing out the complete reformation in Ctrrtis's character and the beauty of forgiveness. ''I ask you, Mr Governor, to tSiink oi poor Ciirttls'e -frife and children," said Senator Price. "They sit there in their desolated home mourning night and day for their natural protector, wrenched from them by a cruel law, and forced to pass his life in • that awful place." Thjy could just s*e over the roofs oi «oi»a lorn , honr-cs the dark stone walls of tho prnitrrtlary. "Why did net. Curtis think of these things when he killed Adah?" asked the GovciLcr.

"Curt; 3 sifi!i?(\ and his &«nd& know it row—ho toimva it him»:if,7 said the Reverend. Mr Littkbury, in a high, sing-eoog voifco, "but he has* rrpanted—aye, he has repented in sackcloth and aelren. The William Curtis who went through that awful gate is not the William Curtk whom we seek to bring forth. ' ' No, he is a redeemed man. 'Vengeance is mine/ saith the Lord,' rfnd we ask you to give him back to his wife and children that by a life of good deede he may expiate the great fault he has committed." The Governor made on" impatient little movement. He hod much knowledge of men, and lie had gome through the penitentiary two weeks before. He saw Curtis then, and he read at once bis sly, sanctimonious look. Moreover, the recklessness of his State in regard to human life always weighed upon him, and it would ill become a Governor to encourage this feeling. Curtis should have been hanged, and (nothing could change the fact. "Yon ought to do this for Us, Qov- , crnor," said Judge "and, besides, a: man should not be above thinking of his own interest wh«n it goes with the right Such A noble act of mercy would help you greatly in the convention, Mr Hastings." Th* significance of this speech waa t»ltt«n—they were not dealing in veiled hints hwBV-but the Governor seemed to take no notice. He was looking through the window at the Bplesdid' curve of hills, glowing in toe deep dyes of the Indian summer and the blue ribbon of the peaceful river. Hie had been a pleasant life in the capital. He loved the picturesque little city.' Hβ had come to it in the flush of youth, with, his yonng wife; then a bride, toe Governor and tae first lady of the State. He had tried to do well, and the press &ad the people «aid be had succeeded. He had been happy there," and his wife too. Hβ wanted to stay another four years; he was ambitious—very ambitious; he did not conceal from himself that fact, nor did he wish to do so; he believed ambition legitimate; if-he made a good Governor for another four years, he might hare a chance later on for a seat in'the United States Senate.

Now everything was ruined by the wretched Curtis case. Why did not his friends leave the man to the punishment that he bo richly deserved? But they would -not, and. among them they would control the entire delegation from the western, part of the State to the convention. And if he did not pardon Bill Curtis, they would oast all that* vote against him, thus insuring the nomination of Westoott, his opponent, and the nomination of his party was equivalent to election. The Governor saw in a glance his future, Ids Removal ffroni. the stage of real affairs, . the dull little, country town, ' where the must Suing out bis sign and practice law \ again for a. thousand dollars a year or less, waiting through weary years for the something to turn up that would never turn . up. So, he could not go back to such a life as that, nor could he drive Lucy to it, used sow as she was to this nradh greater and brighter sphere. "Gentlemen," he said, "this is a matter of importance, and I wish that you would give! mc. a little longer time to think about it. Suppose you meet mc here at the same hour to-morrow afternoon and I will tell you my decision." An almost imperceptible smile of triumph appeared on the face ol Senator Price, but he was too keen to indulge in any effusive words. ..The minister began again on his favourite theme of "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord," but the others checked him, and* with a few words of thanks they went out. ,

The young Governor sat for a long time in his lonely office, thinking. It was the first time that he ha<| been consciously untrue to himself, and the feeling of it was even more unpleasant than he had expected. But there was the other side, glory, a brilI liantt career, the Governship again, and then I the United States Senater-m short, a life I among great men and in the midst of great atfairs. How dull now seemed that little country town from, whicii he came, with ' its petty gossip and narrow existence! Tne twiligfct was falling, and the river and gleaming hills were sinking away in the darkness, when he was roused from his abstraction by the coloured doorkeeper. "Miss Lacy done comin* for you, Mr Hastings," lie said i "she wonderin', I guess, why you stayin , co late." He put on his light overcoat and hurried out to meet his wifel* She was coming across the Capitol yard, a hood over hee head ud » shawl About her shoulders, to

protect her from the late autumn breeze, which -was full of chill.

The Governor's face lighted up with deep tenderness. He was a young man, but he ■was ten years older than his -wife. She was a mere girl when he brought her there to be the first lady of the State, and she had enjoyed it with the pure, innocent joy of a girl. And she had brought to her high station a grace and dignity which with her youth had endeared her to all the people. How could he take her back to that dull life in the hills. Hβ had shored with her, too, that dream of the United States Senate, and she had found it hard to hide her enthusiasm.

Now she came to meet him, a wisp of her brown hair falling from her hood across her face.

"'Why do you stay so late, Paxil?" she asked. "Don't you knew that it is night, and dinner is waiting?"

They had just begun to light the gaslamps on the lawn. * '"Affairs of state, mighty cares, Lucy," he replied, smiling. "Oh. yes, I know," she said, returning his smile", "the delegation of politicians that came this momiKg. You're been sitting up there all day with them, smoking and telling each other bad political jokes. See, everybody else has gone home. There are no lights in the Auditor's office. I met the Commissioner of Agriculture going down the street, and the Treasurer went home an hour ago."'

She had always been a tonic to him. after the work and worries of tie day. It was only a few steps from the Capitol across the lawn and down the street to the old-fashioned house which the* State had built for its Governors three generations ago. There he was in another atmosphere, one of youth cud gaiety. Hβ put her arm in his and they walked on together. Two "trusties" in their striped convict suits ab work about the Capitol grounds bowed respectfully to the Governor and his wife. In the street they met other people, and everybody had the same bow and smile of genuine warmth.

"How nice it is," said Mrs Hastings, "and how pleasant the people are, and, oh, to- think, Paul, that we shall have four years more of it! Mr Guthrie, of tie "Herald-Record," paid liis party call today, and he said you were sure to be renominated. Hβ said you were much stronger in the mountains and the central part of the State than Mr Westcott, and the votes you would draw from the west would be sure to give you the nomination. He regarded it as all settled, he said, and I was so glad to hear him say so, because Ido want so much to stay here. Don't you, Paul?"

"Oh, yes," he replied. "I'm as anxious as you ar? to stay, and I hope that Guthrie is right in his prophecy." "Why, you haven't any doubt of it. have you; Paul?" Mr Gubhrie is in a position to taiow. He goes all over the State, and he'sees all the politicians." "Of course he knows, if anybody does," replied the Governor, hastily, "and I haven't any doubt, Lucy, that you and I will be walking across this lawn just as we are this evening a year from now and two years from now and three years from now, still the Governor and his wife."

They reached their home, the Governor's mansion, a low, weather-stained building, of which the State sometimes' complained as inadequate- to its dignity, but which every Governor who had lived in it—there had been more than twenty of them —loved. One found so much comfort in its large rooms, wide halls, and ancient eas*. ■ '

They passed into the sitting-room, where a great fire of crackling 'hickory logs was blazing in the wide fireplace, and warmed their fingers before it, jirefc as the twenty Governors before them and their wives had wanned their fingers at similar fires in that very fireplace. The Governor thought again how comfortable and cheerful ifc was. He had never realised until this .moment how thoroughly he was permeated by this life and how he loved ifc. And Lucy, tool It was the very air to KerT He looked around at the wide, low-ceilinged room, tie wood, polished by age, the quiet Teposeand dignity of everything, and then he reflected that Paul Hastings was Governor of that State and ehcttld %a to Again.

At dinner Lucy was in her gayest mood. She was looking forward to a brilliant winter. Three of ijer girl friends -were to be much in the house, and , she and the wife of the Secretary of State and the wife of. the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals, acting as a committee, had arranged in perfect harmony a long series of official balls, receptions, card parties, and other entertainments. The Legislature, too was to fflbeet for its. biennial session., and alt things promised the gayest'season the little capital had ever known. ' She was so full of these plans and their promise that she did not notice for a long time her husband's absent, and deprewed mood.

A peculiar feature of thia dining-room is the portarits of its Governors arranged in twrs around the walls, making a goodly a-rray, with several faces of marked character in the number. The State pays for them. Each Governor as he goes out is painted by a good artist, and the picture is pat in its proper .place. • The Governor glanced occasionally at the stern, faces. This State is proud of its Governors; it has never yet failed to elect a men of distinction and character to the place, and the Governor fancied that all of these men, some of them running back into the eighteenth century, were looking at him with reproach. He knew it wae only an idle fancy., but it weighed upon him. and by and bye his wife noticed his depression. "What is the matter, Paul?" she asked. "Have you got a headache?"

"A little, Lucy," he replied, with a faint emile. - a%ard day at the office— I've.;really been working—but it will pass away presently." His degression did not depart, however, as be would glance -up, despite himself, at the rows of grave, steadfast faces on the wall,,and he always saw on every one tht same look of reproach. His wife's eyes followed his own, and she smiled. "It will be nice to see your picture there, Paul, five years from now," she said.

"I would much rather «cc it there five rears from now than cue year from now," he replied. • "Why, we can't think of suoh a thing as having it there only a year from now," ehe said, brightly.' "Why, yon'd be much too young then, Paul* for such grave, elderly company.'' "That is a good reason, for us," ha eajd, laughing a little, "but-I'm^ afraid it wouldn't count much with the delegates to the convention." -

They went back presently to the sittingroom, • where the fire in the wide fireplace was bigger and more cheerful'than ever. The hickory.' logs crackled under its blaze with a sound like subdued pistol-shots. It was dark and cold outside, and a rising wind whistled around the old house, making it all lihe more cosy inside. They seldom passed an evening without visitors, as there was no gayer house in the little' capital with its young host and hostess, who stood so highj both officially and personally. " . "Mrs Hastings gazed out of the window into the cold dark, and then she turned back to the bright fire. ' Tve grown to like this old house, Paul," eho said.

'•All the Governors* wives do," he replied. She sai down before tie fire and, leaning her chin on her hand, was silent, gazing into the coals- The Governor watched herThe wilful brown curl which would steal from under her red hood when ehe crossed the Capitol lawn still fell across her face. There was a spiritual note in Lucy's beauty, something childlike that appealed to all that was deepest and best in him. Hβ not only loved her, but Be felt that he must be her shield, too, from the rough world. But a girl when she came here, she wae Sow both girl and woman, and this new life had been good for hex. He might endure again that dull world of the libfcle town in the hills, but not she. He was sure that even now she was building air-castles in the coals, and her beauty seemed to him more appealing than ever as the red flatne of the fire fell across her cheek.

Her abstraction ceased after a while, and she turned and gazed at her husband, who now had fallen into a reverie, though his thoughts -were moody. "Paul," she said, "you are ill. I know tuai you aTe. You have been working too bard. It was only a jest of mine about your smoking and joking with those politicians." "Didn't I know it was only a jest ol yours, Lucy, dear?" he said, putting his hand on her shoulder with a caressing mo> tian, "Bat I have Tad a pretty hard

strain for the last month. There's aU th- regular work, and Jvc gflt to. gefc teadv for the Legislature. I have to wnte, too. mv annual message, andthat a .bohglj task, " And then l> mast look *rmy SerWs in the couventwn also.-Garters Z bTrny leader'there, but, of course, I should help him." ~ - t t,, He turned his face aside, .iii I'ttouH avoid her gaze, «methm ? . *«* h f had never done before- The action •truck her, and she was silent for a bttle while. Then she said: . • "Paul, there is something eke on your mind You hare worked hard before, but it never worried you in this way. What is it, Paul?" "There ie nothing else, Lucy, he reThen he walked uneasily to the -window and gazed out into the darkness. She watched him keenly and with growing uneasiness. She had all a woman' 3 intuition, and a most delicate sensitiveness to her husband's moods. She rose presently and joined him at the window. Then she put her arm in his and; she said Again: "What w it. Paul? Won't you tell mc? I know that you are troubled. Something disagreeable has happened to-day. It must have been those politicians."

She waited, obviously for on answer, but he hesitated. She" said nothing, bub increased the gentle .pressure upon his arm. . . "Yes, there is something," he confessed at length. She still waited.

"Come back to the fire," he said, after a pause. He put her in the easiest chair before the coals and stood beside her, still hesitating. He thought liow well she looked, sitting) there in the Governor's mansion, the first lady of the State. She, too, said nothing, merely waited. "You are right, it was those politicians from the western part of the State," he said at last; '"they wanted something from mc, and they wanted it very much. They were relatives and friends of Bill Curtis."

"The man who committed that murder, and who was sent to the penitentiary for life?"

A shudder shook her delicate frame. "Yes, the same; and they want mc- to pardon fcim." . ' "Why, Paul, you /wouldn't think of such a thing!" , "They tell of his wife and children left desolate. They say he is a changed man now, and would lead a good life. They ■had with them, too, a minister who pleaded for him. He spoke df rejoicing over the sinner who was forgiven. He quote-i to mc the text, 'Vengeance is mine, eaith the Lord.'." ■~;..

Her lips -set firmly.. "I feel very sorry for his wife and clrik. dren, Paul," she said, "but the-man. committed a murder, and he was tried before a judge and jury. The jury, not you, put him in fche penitentiary, and that minister had no right to come to you with such texts. If you were to pardon him, you would be only undoing what the law has justly done." "But think of his chance to lead a better life, Lucy. They say thai he is a reformed man."

"I don't believe ifc, Paul. Their friends say it about ail of,, them. And we have too many killings in this State, you know that as well as I do, Paul, and you must not pardon Curtis."

He made no reply just then, and she waited.

"But that is not all, Ltioy," be said, after- a while. "Curtis was an influential man' and related to nearly everbody.: of prominence in his part of the State. Well, they threatened mc to-day." ■ "Threatened you, Paul? How could they do that?"

'It's just this, Lucy. They will control the delegation in the convention from .their end of the State, and if I don't pardon Curtis we won't be here for a second term."

"They will defeat your

Her face blanchtd, and be saw her lips) quivering.

"Do you mean,- Paul, that those men will beat you in the convention if you refuse to pardon Curtis?"'

"That's it," he replied, trying to laugh. "They lave the power, and they will certainly use it. • Mr.Weetoott ie an able and good man, and there is no reason why they shouldn't vote for him if they wane to."

"But they would vote for you if you pardoned Curtis?"

"Yes," he replied, and he was Biirprised to find that he was trying to be gjib, "and I might pardon Mm after all. Hβ has served fire years already. Think what a punishment that is for a man in the position that he once held. , I could say that -h« has reformed and needs a new chance. I could tell how the minister himself came to plead for him." He stopped, suddenly ashamed of himself, and the red flushed his face. But the colour returned to ther cheeks and her lips grew firm again.

"No, Paul," she said steadily, "we must not deceive ourselves that way. If you pardoned Curtis, it would be because we want to come back here four years more." "But I may really be justified in pardoning him. Perhaps the minister i slight. He may do more good for the world and himself outside the walls of the penitentiary than inside them. Think, Lucy, of what it all means! We can't go, back to that pinched little life in the hills." She rose now and, putting iher arms around bis neck,* lay her cheek against his. I know all that it means, Paul," she said. "It is as hard for mc, as it is for you, to give up our life here. I will not make any secret of that. I know, too, that it ruins your career; but I can go back to the hUJs and you can go with. mc. I would not have you, Paul, my "husband,' to buy even a governorship with any such sacrifice of the right. Are those nfen still here?" "Yes, and I am to answer them tomorrow afternoon."

"There is only one answer you can give them, Paul."

He pressed her cheek more closely to his.

When the Governor walked up the steps -of the Capitol the next-morning he met Guthrie, the correspondent of the "HeraldRecord," a young man with, a grave, cool face. They were good, friends: Guthrie had written very pleasant things about him in the "HerakMfecord," the State's most powerful newspaper.

"I -hear that delegation of Bill Curtis's friends are here seeking his pardon," said Guthrie, after the good mornings. "Yes, they came up yesterday, and I shall give them an answer at five o'clock this afternoon."

"They are influential men, Governor," said Guthrie, significantly. "So I know."

"Would yon mind intimating what your answer will be?"

"If you wish, you can be present in my office when I make it," replied the Governor.

The delegation, led by Senator Price, came at the appointed time. All of them looked happy, as if they thought "the victory already won.

"Well, Governor,", said Senator Price genially, "a night to think over a knotty problem usually puts a man in the right frame of mind, and we hope that you have good news for poor Bill Curtis and us."

"I have thought long over the matter," replied the Governor gravely, "and I have come to the conclusion that murder is murder and must be punished. Gentlemen, I cannot grant the pardon." The faces of the committee fell and then grew threatening. ;

"Of course, you understand, Governor," said Senator Price, in smooth, even tones, "that poor Bill Gurtis's friends are likely to feel a little hard about this."

"On, I understand," replied the Governor, weartty, as he turned away. The" committee stalked out, their brows lowering, and the Governor was left alone with Guthrie.

"Governor,'' said the correspondent warmly, "I honour you more than any other man I know." «.

"Thank you. Billy," replied the Governor sadly, "but I am beaten for the renomination," and you .understand that as ■well as I do."

He spoke the trath, although Ms friends made a great fight for him. The "HeraldHecord" came down to the Capitol "with a

glowing account of his firmness!, and the true state of the case was soon known all over the State. It drew additional votes for him from the centre and east, but the west, where the friends of Curtis had a powerful organisation, remained obdurate. The Governor's lieutenant, Carter, made a thrilling speech on the floor of,the convention, appealing for fair play and justice to a man who had aone right in the face of great temptation, the press was solidly his friend, but everything waa unavailing, and Westcott was nominated by a majority of twenty votes, a narrow margin in a convention that contained nearly a thousand, but enough.

"I did my best, Governor," said Carter sadly, after the convention was over.

"I know you did, Tom," replied the Governor, "and I know* too- that my friends are left to mc."

The year ended somewhat gloomily in the old house at the little capital The Governor found bis chief consolation then m Lucy. She sought to be cheerful and gay and she never complained of anything, but there were momenta when depression overcame them both.

As Christmas approached' the Governor feared that he would collapse through overwork and nervous strain, but prj.de and »ecessity did not permit him to relax. The Legislature would meet on the last day of the year, and he must have his annual message ready. Besides, all bills passed by the Legislature must come to him for approval. He was" able to keep up with the work until his message was read to the Legislature, and then the collapse came. The doctors told him that he must go away from the capital, and the farther he could get from railroads, newspapers, Legislatures, and the affairs of men the better. A rest for a few weeks under such conditions would restore him completely, and then he might return and attend to the bilk.

The whole eastern part of this State is a mass of wild and tangled mountains, almost a primitive wilderness, and there the Governor and Lucy went, Tom Carter having placed at their disposal his comfortable hunting-lodge on the side of the highest peak.

It was a wonderful world to them, this world of the mountains in its winter robe of white, and there in the keen, frosty air, aided by his youth and good constitution', the Governor's health and spirits returned rapidly. There was not much for them to do, but the log cabin with the great> blazing fire, and its two attendants, was ailwaya cheerful. Tom Carter, too, had left plenty of books, and with them they whikd away part, of the time. But they talked often of.their prospects now, and their courage came back. They would return to the little town in the ibills when his term expired, and no one should think that they were not content. He would work with all 'zeal, and perhaps he might eon"* to the front again; it would be a long struggle, but it was worth toying, and at least they had each other.

When they were there about two weeks the snow melted, the earth was dried by a strong wind, and a day so beautiful" came that they climbed to the very top'of the mountain, the highest peak of the State, and looked far out over a range of eeventy miles, embracing parts of four States, a view not to be surpassed east of the Mississippi. ..;■.. •flow near one feels to heaven ihere," said Lucy. ' '■' > "One surely feels above earth," replied the Governor.

She glanced down aaid along the path by which they had ascended. "Why, there's a man coming," she said "A hunter, or maybe one of our own men from the house," ho replied.

"No, it is not," she said; "he is not dressed like either;, it's eomebody from the city, and I believe I know him. Why, it's Mr Gutfarie, of the "Herald-Record 1 . , " "So it is,'.' said the Governor. "What on earth can be doing here!" ■ Ifc was Guthrie sure enough, and whan he saw them he hastened his steps and gave a joyful halloo. The Governor was standing then directly upon the crest of the v 'highest, peak, his tall, straight figure outlined black against ;the red gold of a brilliant sun. J Gjithrie' ;oame up to them, stopped a (moment to ""recover his breath, then bowed ;to the Governor's wife, but spoke directly to the Governor.

"Mr Senator," he said, "I am happy to find you at last." "Why, what do you mean, Billy?" exclaimed the Governor. Guthrie took a copy of the "HeraldRecord" from ,'his overcoat pocket, held it up, and they read the flaming beadltines on the first page:] Still Lost in the Wilds. -. l No One yet able to Reach the Unites ... States Senatob-Elect. ■. Corbespondeht Hopes to' Get* through "With the News when the Show Melts. "Why, what does this mean, Billy?" repeated the Governor. "It means that you are the new United States .Senator-elect from our State," replied Guthrie, jubilantly. "It was a surprise, but - everybody says that it has come right. You know old Mr Litchfield was so sure of renominatdon tba£ nobody opposed him. Well, the old gentleman—he's seventy-two next March—had a paralytic •stroke, and the doctors told him Jue muse retire. It was so unexpected that the Legislature was at a loss. A half-dozen candidates, all weak, sprang up. Then Walker, at Fayette, proposed your name. It took like a house a-fire. Sort of poetio justice, everybody said: they knew why you had lost the nomination for the Governorship. Besides, you were the real timber for the United States Senate, and the State couldn't do beibter. And Fm happy to be the first to reach you with the news* I offer my sincerest congratulations to you and to your wife." Lucy put her hand softly upon her husband's arm.

"You have found repayment, Paul," she eaid.

The Governor took off his Irat, and standing there on the crest of the peak, he said humbly: "Aβ God is my witness. I shall strive the best I may to be worthy of this great honour."