A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE

New Zealand Tablet, 13 September 1906, Page 5

A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE

*— : A^drizzling rain from a leaden sky-is frequently symbolic of the heavy-hearted feelings qI a ■ disappointed person. . John Hanson thought so as he ..gazed out of the window of his law office into great banks oi black clouds seemingly endless "and impenetrable. He felt terribly out of sorts this particular morning. He had worked, but clients were few and far between, and -the outlook was far from promising. He had education and natural talents -and "felt that the only thing needful was__an opportunity to, display the knowledge and power he possessed. For a long time he had nursed the ambition of representing his district in Congress. Once more, he felt that his future - would-be assured. Time after time he" had made, ad- * vances in this direction, only to -be repulsod because ,of youth and inexperience. While he sat musing he was roused by a knock, followed by the entrance of .a heavily-built man with a black moustache. Hanson recognised the newcomer at a glance. It was ' Dave ' Hendricks, the political leader of the district. Hendricks nodding coolly to Hanson, seated himself "in a comfortable chair. Then pulling out, a cigar, he. lighted it with deliberation, and calmly blew a cloud of tobacco smoke in the direction of the young lawyer. The yo 7 ung man felt' called upon to begin the conversation. • 'What can 'l do for you, Mr. Hendricks ?' , • Nothing,' was the prompt reply. ' You' can do nothing for me.' . - " .\C' :- • . "There were several moments oj silence, antf- theri~ Hendricks resumed: 'But" "I can do a great deal for you."' •I know it,' replied Hanson,^ who realised the enormous power wielded by the visitor. ' There was another , significant silence, and then Hendricks, ceasing to puff his' cigar, gazed steadily at ' the young man., Finally. he spoke:. . , , VY'ou look like an., ambitious young man.'. - ' Did "you come here this morning for the purpose of flattering me ?' - • , -» . - • No,' was the reply. ' I to ask you a question.' „ " , ' ' •What is it.?' . , w • Would you like to go to Congress ?' j . Hanson gripped the arms of his chair to conceal the agitation he felt: Could it be possible that . the long-coveted opportunity ,was at hand ?~ It j seemed too good to be true. Nevertheless he answered- as calmly as possible. ' - | - • Yes, I confess I would like to go to Congress.' 4 All right ; your opportunity is at hand.' ' Are you serious.?' asked Hanson. 4 Never more" so in my life.' - 'But how about Congressman Sandall— has , he' decided to retire ?' . -V- , .k .. « No;' with a laugh, ' but we have- decided to retire him.* . - , ■ \ ■ ' ' 'Da you think,' asked Hanson, anxiously,' 'il can win ..-against ia \man like Samuel Sandall? He pas represented this district" in Congress for a generation. . if he wants to he can surely control a majority of the delegates to the Congressional convention.'!

'That's where the joke comes in,' cried Hend- . ricks, laughing uproarously, -'we don't intend to let the man know a thing about it. He- thinks everything is all, tight and has planned :to t go out of the city on the day s ot the nominations. -If he. was there- he could, control the convention ; but our "game is to see that he is -not -1 -there.'--. . , ' 1 Our' game,' echoed Hanson with uplifted eyebrows'. - -, . \ _ ' - ' Yes, our game,' pursued the other, ignoring the dangpr signals 'bufore him; ' You . see, the old man is getting too independent, and we- want to punish him. He refused to vote for two important bills that. we were interested in at the. last session. We don't propose to ~ run that risk again. We want our own man s there. We want^you there.' It was Hanson's turn to stare at his . visitor. In that stare all of his hopes for preferment were dashed to the ground-. He spoke clowly, choosing his words carefully. ; „ - ' The conditions' of- my nominations 'are that I shall deceive Congressman Sandall first; and -after that pledge - myself to vote as you wish without regards to the ' merits of legislation ?.'-._. 'Ah, now, Hanson,' "remonstrated the other, 'you needn't put it fh that fashion. We are going to attend to Sandall ; all you have -to do is to keep quiet and go along.' - 'Well- then; Mr. Hendricks-/ said Hanson, rising from his chair and- shaking: with suppressed 'excitement, - ' All that I have to Isay is .that 'IV refuse to go along in- any such despicable game.' • C n • What ! ' almost shrieked Hendricks; '-do you mean to say that you are. going to refuse this nomination ? Why, man alive, it!s a. chance* in ten /thousand. And it don't 'cost you any thing? - - ' Ah, but. there you aie mistaken".' ' No, I*im_not,'- insisted Hendricks, thinking ' -the youngi lawyer was about to yield; 'it don't cost you anything.' - .-.-.. 1 It would cost me my self-respect : I 'declineto part with that.' . - *"• Hendricks did not say another word, but his. face in- _ dicated " extreme -disgust" and incredulity.. As. he made his way down the staircase he could be heard muttering to himself : % Well, of all the "" blithering fools I ever met, this one is the worst of, -them all. 1 ' "" After the departure of his visitor, Hanson sat in his office looking out at the drizzling rain, "which still fell from the lea-den sky. -The mass of heavy clouds, remained, and heMelt thoroughly disheartened and' discouraged. While he looked", the: rain ceased, the lowering clouds lifted slightly, and a rift of sunshine coming out of the sky penetrated -the little office. - That night as he sat talking to, the deafest girl, on earth, Hanson could not rid himself of the recollection of the day's events. Julia Joyce- was thoughtful and sympathetic, and- she noticed his preoccupation. ' John,' she said.g ently, ' you do not seem yourself to-niglit. You are pale and troubled. Share your difficulties with me— l am sure you would do so with your joys..' V . - John . tried to evade the question, but she was persistent in her own tender way. VBeing a woman, she carried" her point. Man-like; John -blurted out -the.. thing that filled his mind most. - . 'I am troubled," 1 he said.~ -\ I. have made a brave attempt .to be,, somebody on your account, but-it seems futile. My: prospects were never so discouraging as they are now, and for that reason there .are times when I think it would be wrong! to ask you to share your lot with me.' - ' What nonsense, John,' . she cried with a hearty outburst of indignation.. ' Don't talk to me as if I were a doll or a fashion plate." If you - win me, it will - be because we have iaith in' each other, and not because of prospects or any sort of * rubbish" of that kind.' • * Her honesty seemed to clear the cobwebs out of his . head. , , ' ' I think you are right,' he said ; ' forgive me for talking -in such a despondent strain.' . - ' ' You are forgiven,' ©he said smilingly ; b.ut now tell me really what you haye^ on* your, mind.'' He started at this and stammered "a Bit; ; . , ' "Why, Ive I—l've—just1 — I've— just been telling you.' ' No. you haven't ; "you've been, indulging in glitter1 ing generalities. Now tell me what lias happened today to upset you so much.' T Retreat was impossible now, so he told the whole * story as gracefully as possible, omitting . only the names. At its conclusion she said simply.; - . 'Do you regret your decision ? ' -' ' Not in the least,' - was jthe -answer. . ' Then' why are you troubled ? ' " 1 It's simply a matter of conscience." 1 think sometimes that it is my duty to go and warn the Congressman of the conspiracy that has been organised to

accomplish his defeat, and then again, I feel that I received the information to a certain extent under the seal -of , "confidence. ' ~ ' _ ' LUd you-pludge yourself to secrecy ?' ' Oh.'rio.' ' ' . ----- - ''.=>■'-- 1 Well, this -Congressman— what sort of a man is he?' ' I never met him in my life, but from all that j hear a'Uout him, he must be a very unattractive person. He is- hard in his- manner and conversation-, dislikes young, men exceedingly, and was never known to extend a. helping hand, to a person in distress.' ' Not a very pretty- picture.' 'No, but that ;s his reputation— he has taken, -a, , Quarter of a century to earn it.' ' ' ' Are there no bright sides to the portrait ?.'- ' Only -that he is rigidly honest.' " ' 'ihat is a great deal in these days.' ' I agree with you.' " ' •By the way,' t>he exclaimed * suddenly-, ' what * is • the name of this monster with _ the one redeeming trait ? ' ■ ( r --- • ° ' dongressman 'Samuel Sandall,' replied Hanson - without pausing to consider. ' She gave a scream and almost, jumped from the . chair. - _ 1 What is the matter ?' he asked' anxiously ; 'are you ill? ' . - ••; - ' -.- - ' Oh, no ; only a sudden pain ; still, you had better leave me, now. ' - _ _ This was? rattled off so quickly, so feverishly, and so unnaturally, that Hanson was dazed.- He "recovered qwickly. "Reaching for his hat and cane, he walked to' the doior, sayinjg stiffly : ' , - ' I'll bid you. good evening.' 1 Oil ! ' she ciied, running after- him ; ' don't be cross.' He melted like, a snowball before the refulgent rays of the noonday sun. - ' Promise me,' she said, laying her hands -on his t-houlders, promise me you will not mention thus thing to another living soul, and come " here again to-mor-row, night.' - • - - lie promised, and going home wondered what in the world had come over the gentle girl, who had never before, in all, their acquaintance, shown such excitement He remained at his office all- of the next" day, and as - he was about leaving, for home, received this -telegram : ' ~ ' You have been unanimously nominated for Con- - gress. Congratulations. " JULIA JOYCE.' His head was in a whirl. What did it mean ? How did it happen ? Had he not been remiss in not notifying Sandall of the conspiracy?' What should he.^lo now ? How did Julia learn of this. What did her telegram mean.- While he was revolving all of these_ thoughts in -his mind, a delegation called to officially apprise him of his nomination. ' Dave ' Hendricks,. was the chairman. Hanson, in responding, said the news was a complete surprise, and he would have to take the matter under consideration- before accept--ing or declining. - ■ , Hendricks laughed outright* at this, apd as he left the room gave Hanson a dig in the ribs. ' You're all rig>ht,' lie leered ; ' you'll make a dandy Congressman. I'm for ; you.' That night, when he started to keep Ms appointment with Julia, Hanson wondered what he ' should do . or say to explain - himself. The room was darkened, but Julia came out of the gloom, leading a gentleman by the hand. 'John,' she said softly, 'I want you to meet this gentleman.' - " -„';' Hanson looked. at the old man with iwrinkled face " and ©ray 'hair,- who stood before him, and. bowe"d respectfully. _ . - 'John,' resumed Julia, "this.- is Congressman Samuel Sandall.'" . . " /.-SandalL ! ' shouted John, unable to control liisex- .. citement. - * Why—' ' Mr. Sandall,' she interrupted, with a cjuiet wave of - the little hand, 'is my uncle and my guardian.']' " •« Why, I didn't know-- -' " * , "Certainly not,' she said, cutting him short again-; * how could you ? We have'-oiily known each ■ other - for a few months, and I didn't have time to tell of all my family condiectioins. Besides, uncle has Vbeen in Washington all of the time.' ; ' J 'But this nomination,' protested John; '«'iie should know my position.' "" • ' ', ' I knew it last night,' said the Congressman kindly. ' Julia told me everything-. I have been thinking! of rc- • tiring for years, _and when I heard ol this, I ' jdetermined to turn the tables on those fellows. I remained ran town, arod,: controlling the convention, named you. , You earned it by the way you preserved your selfrespect, 1 " • - ' '

' And "you will accept, John, won't you? ' asked Julia, 'nestling , up to him.. --' Yes,' he said ~heartily", ' I will- accept".' ' '"" ,yHe turned a look of, tenderness, on heiv She re--cognised-its meaning' and blushed -furiously.^ - ' '"-And you-?' said John. - ' " i. '-• -;- * '-• • 'I,' she said faintly, 'I will accept, too,' John.' — ' Benziger's Magazine.'. 7 _ ,""",', - /V- «» ■ " ~> r * ■ j.. - - - . •; . ' " ■•-"".