the vision spendid(美景)-第17节
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James conceded a reflective assent with a manner of impartiality。 〃Of
course your friends wouldn't think any the less of you。 They're not soso
〃
〃respectable as yours；〃 Jeff finished for him。
〃I was going to say so hidebound。〃
〃All the same； isn't it？〃
〃But it would be a sacrifice for you。 I recognize that。 And I'm not sure
that I could accept it。 I will have to think that over；〃 the lawyer concluded
magnanimously。
〃You'll find it is best。 But I think I would tell Miss Frome； even if I
didn't tell anybody else。 She has a right to know。〃
〃You may depend upon me to do whatever is best about that。〃
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James was hardly out of the office before Captain Chunn blew in like a
small tornado。 He was boiling with rage。
〃What's this infernal lie about you being the son of a convict； David？〃
he demanded； waving a copy of the Herald。
〃Sit down； Captain。 I'll tell you the story because you're entitled to it。
But I shall have to speak in confidence。〃
〃Confidence！ Dad burn it； what are you talking about？ Are you trying
to tell me that Phil Farnum was a thief and a convict？〃
Jeff's steel…blue eyes looked straight into his。 〃Nothing so impossible
as that； Captain。 I'm going to tell you the story of his brother。〃
Jeff told it； but he and the owner of the _World_ disagreed radically
about the best way to answer the attack。
〃Why must you always stand between that kid glove cousin of yours
and trouble？ Let him stand the gaff himself。 It will do him good；〃 Chunn
stormed。
But Jeff had his way。 The _World_ made no denial of the facts charged。
In a statement on the front page that covered less than three sticks he told
the simple story of the defalcation of Robert Farnum。 One thing only he
added to the account given in the opposition papers。 This was that during
the past two years the shortage of the bank cashier had been paid in full to
the Planters' First National at Shelby。
There were many forecasts as to what the effect of the Farnum story
would be on the election returns。 It is enough to say that the ticket
supported by the _World_ was chosen by a small majority。 James was
elected to the legislature by a plurality of fifteen hundred votes over his
antagonist； a majority unheard of in the Eleventh District。
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THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 8
Is not this the trouble with our whole man…made world； that the game
is played with loaded dice？ Against the poor； the weak and the unfortunate
have the cards been stacked。 A tremendous percentage is in favor of the
crook； the scoundrel； the smug robber of industry by whom the hands are
dealt。
Wealth； created by the many； is more and more flowing into the vaults
of the few。 Legislatures； Congress； the courts； all the machinery of
government； answer to the crack of the whip wielded by Big Business。
The creed of the allied plunderers is that he should take who has the power
and he should keep who can。
Until we mutiny against the timidity of our times Democracy and
Prosperity will be dreams。 The poor and the parasite we shall have always
with us。
In that new world which is to be MEN and not THINGS will be
supreme； property a means and not an end。 The heart of the world will be
born anew under an economic reconstruction that will give freedom for
individual development。 For our social and industrial life will be founded
not on a denial of God but on an affirmation of Brotherhood。From the
Note Book of a Dreamer。
THE HERO MEETS AND ADMIRES A MONA LISA SMILE。 HE
IS TENDERED AN APOLOGY FOR A PAST DISCOURTESY
PART 1
Came James Farnum down Powers Avenue carrying with buoyant
dignity the manner of greatness that sat so well on him。 His smile was
warm for a world that just now was treating him handsomely。 There could
be no doubt that for a first term he was making an extraordinary success of
his work in the legislature。 He had worked hard on committees and his
speeches had made a tremendous hit。 Jeff had played him up strong in the
world too； so that he was becoming well known over the state。 That he had
risen to leadership of the progressives in the House during his first term
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showed his quality。 His ambition vaulted。 Now that his feet were on the
first rungs of the ladder it would be his own fault if he did not reach the
top。
His progress down the busy street was in the nature of an ovation。
Everywhere he met answering smiles that told of the people's pride in their
young champion。 Already James had discovered that Americans are eager
for hero worship。 He meant to be the hero of his state； the favorite son it
would delight to honor。 This was what he loved： the cheers for the victor；
not the clash of the battle。
〃Good morning； Farnum。 What are the prospects？〃 It was Clinton
Rogers； of the big shipbuilding firm Harvey & Rogers； that stopped him
now。
〃Still anybody's fight； Mr。 Rogers。〃 The young lawyer's voice fell a
note to take on a frankly confidential tone； an accent of friendliness that
missed the fatal buttonholing familiarity of the professional politician。 〃If
we can hold our fellows together we'll win。 But the Transcontinental is
bidding high for votesand there's always a quitter somewhere。〃
〃Does Frome stand any chance？〃
〃It will be Hardy or Frome。 The least break in our ranks will be the
signal for a stampede to P。 C。 The Republicans will support him when they
get the signal。 It's all a question of our fellows standing pat。〃
〃From what I can learn it won't be your fault if Hardy isn't elected。 I
congratulate you on the best record ever made by a
ember in his first term。〃
〃Oh； we all do our best；〃 James answered lightly。 〃But I'm grateful for
your good opinion。 I hope I deserve it。〃
James could afford to be modest about his achievements so long as
Jeff was shouting his praises through the columns of the _World_ to a
hundred thousand readers of that paper。 What the shipbuilder had said
pleased him mightily。 For Clinton Rogers was one of the few substantial
moneyed men of Verden who had joined the reform movement。 Not a
single member of the Verden Club； with the exception of Rogers； was
lined up with those making the fight for direct legislation。 Even those who
had no financial interest in the Transcontinental or the public utility
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corporations supported that side from principle。
James himself had thought a long time before casting in his lot with
the insurgents led by his cousin。 He had made tentative approaches both to
Frome and to Edward B。 Merrill。 Both of these gentlemen had been
friendly enough； but James had made up his mind they undervalued his
worth。 The way to convince them of this was to take the field against
them。
He smiled now as he swung along the avenue。 Both Frome and Merrill
yes； and Big Tim too； for that matter！knew by this time whether they
had made a mistake in sizing him up as a raw college boy with his eye
teeth not cut。
A passing electric containing two young women brought his gloved
hand to his hat。 The long slant eyes of the lady on the farther side swept
him indolently。 In answer to her murmured suggestion the girl who was
driving brought the machine round in a half circle which ended at the edge
of the curb in front of Farnum。
The lawyer's hat came off again with easy grace。 The slim young
driver leaned back against the cushions and merely smiled a greeting；
tacitly yielding command of the situation to her cousin； an opulent young
widow adorned demurely with that artistic touch of mourning that
suggests a grief not inconsolable。
〃Good morning； Miss
