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About The news=record. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1907-1910 | View Entire Issue (July 24, 1909)
A GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI By THOMAS A. WISE Novelized From the Play by Frederick R. Toombs CHAPTER XX. THE CALX. TO ARUS. BOTH Randolph and Carolina were deeply affected by their father's words. The dauehter attemnted to take on herself the blame for her broth er's action. "I was the older one. I might have stopped him If I had wished and should bear the burden." "No, no, father," exclaimed the youth, his Inborn self reliance prompt Mtin uiru 10 buouiuer me consequences of his own mistakes. "I, and I alone, am responsible for what I did. I did sot realize that It was wrong. I will not hide behind Carolina." ' Carolina Langdon bore herself better than was to have been expected under the strain of the painful interview. She saw more clearly now how she had erred. She was undergoing an Inward revolution that would make it impos sible for her ever again to veer so far from the line of duty to her father, her family and to herself. When Randolph had finished Carolina took up her own defense, and eloquent ly she pleaded the defense of many a woman who yearns for what she has not got. for what may be beyond her reach the defense of the woman who chafes under the limitations of world ly position, of sex and of opportunity. It was the defense of an ambitious woman. "Perhaps I ought to have been a man of the Langdon family," she ex claimed. "Father, oh, can't you un derstand that I couldn't doze my life away down on those plantations? You don't know what ambition Is. I had to have the world. I had to have money. If I had been a man I would have tried big financial enterprises. I should have liked to fight for a for tune. You wouldn't have -condemned toe then. You might hare said my methods were bold, but if I succeeded I would have been a great man. But Just because I am a woman you think I must sit home with my knitting. No, father, the world does move. Women must have au equal chance with men, but I wish I had been a man!" ''Even then I hope you would have been a gentleman," rebuked her father sternly. "Women should have an equal chance, Carolina. They should have an equnl chance for the same virtues as men, not for the same vices." "But an equal chance." returned the girl fervidly. "There, father, you have admitted -what. I have tried to prove. The woman with the spirit of a man, the spirit that cries to a woman, 'Ad vance,' 'Accomplish,' 'Be something,' 'Strike for yourself,' cannot sit idly by vrhlle all the world moves on. If it is true that I have chosen the wrong i;ieans, the wrong way, to better my lot I did It through ignorance, and "Women must have an equal chance. that Ignorance is the fault of the times In which I Uve, of the system thf t guides the era In which I live. "I am what the world calls 'educat ed.' but the world, the world of men, knows better. It laughs at me. It has cheated me because I am a woman The world of men .has fenced mo In and hobbled me with convention, with precedent, with fictitious sentiment. - If I pursue the business of men as they themselves would pursue it nm called an ungrateful daughter. If I should adopt the morals or men i would be called a fallen woman. U I adopted the religion of men I would have no religion at all. Turn what way I will" "But not every woman feels the way rou do. my daughter," broke in the senator. "No, you are right, because their spirit has been crushed by generations, by centuries of forced subserviency to men. They tell us we should be thank ful that we do not live in China, where women ore nhrslcal slaves to men. In our country they are forced to be mea tal and social slaves to men. Is one very much worse than the other?" "Then, dear." aud her father s COPYRIGHT. 1900. "BY THOMAS A. WISE was very gentle, "it you want an equal chance want to be equal to a man you must take your medicine with Randolph, like a man." "What are you going to do, sir?" she asked, afraid. "I'm going to spoil all your Uttio scheme, dear," be returned, smiling sadly. "I'm going, I fear, to make you lose all your money. I'd like to make it easy for you, but I can't. You've got to take your medicine, children, and when It's all over back there In Mississippi I shall be able, I hope, to patch up your broken lives and togeth er we will work out your mistakes. I can't think of that now. The honor of the Langdoiuj calls. This is the time for the fight, and any one who fights against me must take (be conse quences." He walked over and touched the bell, "Thomas," be said to the servant who responded, "take that letter at once to Senator Peabody, in the libra ry." "What is it, sir?" asked Randolph. "It's the call to arms," responded his father grimly. Senator Peabody read the letter to which Haines had signed Langdon's name and Jumped up from his chair in the library In astonishment. Without a word to the startled Stevens he rush ed to confront Langdon. "What's the meaning of this?" he shouted as he burst in on the Junior senator from Mississippi. "Of what?" asked the southerner, with a blandness that added fuel to Feabody's irritation. "Don't trifle with me, sir!" cried "the boss of the senate." "This letter. ToB sent It. Explain It! I'm in no mood to Joke." Langdon looked at him calmly. "I think the letter is quite plain, sen ator," he said. "You can read." Then ho turned to his daughter. "This dls. cusslon cannot possibly interest you, my dear. WW you go to the drawing room to receive our guests?" Carolina obeyed. She seemed to be discovering new qualities in this father whom she had considered to be too old fashioned for bis time. "Now, senator, go ahead, ind, Ran dolph, you bring Stevens." "You're switching to Gulf CityT de manded Feabody, 'I'm considering Gulf City," agreed Langdon. Feabody brought down his fist on the table. "It's too late to consider anything, Langdon," he cried. "We're committed to Altacoola, and Altacoola it is. I don't care what you heard of Gulf City. Now, I'd like to settle this thing in a friendly manner, Langdon. J like always for every member of the senate to have his share of the power and the patronage. We've been glad to put you forward in this naval base matter. We appreciate the straightforwardness, the honesty of your character. You look woll. You're the kind of politician the public thinks it wants nowadays, but you've been in the senate long enough to know that bills have to pass, and you know you can't get through any thing without my friends, and I tell you now I'll throttle any Gulf City plan you bring up." "Then if you are as sure of that you can't object to my being for Gulf City?" asked Langdon. "Are you financially Interested In Gulf City?" demanded Teabody. "Senator Feabody!" exclaimed Lang don. . "Don't flare up, Langdon," retorted Feabody. "That sort of thing baa happened in the senate. There are often perfectly legitimate profits to be made In some regular commercial ven ture by a man who has inside Infor mation as to what's doing up on Capi tol hill." "Senator Teabody," asked Langdon, "why are you so strong for Altacoola?" The Pennsylvania hesitated. "Its natural advantages," be said at last. The southerner shook his head. "Oh, that's all? Well, if natural ad vantages are going to settle It, and not influence, go ahead and vote, and I'll Just bring In a minority report for Gulf City." "The boss of the senate" was In a corner now. New and Elegant Furniture Queensware Glassware AT Huosakep & Taylors JOSEPH. OREGON Same low prices that save money for every customer and accounts for our rapidly increasing trade. "Confound It, Langdon, if you will have it, I am Interested In Altacoola." Langdon nodded. "That's all I wanted to know," he said. "Now you see why It's got to be Altacoola," persisted the boss. "I don't mind telling you, then, Sen ator Peabody," answered Langdon calmly, "that my being for Gulf City was a bluff. I've been trying to draw you out. Gulf City is a mud bank and no more fitted to be a naval base than Keokuk, la. Altacoola it's got to be, for the good of the country and the honor of Mississippi. "And one thing more, senator. I'd Just like to add that not a single man connected with that committee is got tng to make a cent out of the deal. You get that straight?" CHAPTER XXI. "IF YOU CAN'T BUY A SENATOR, THREAT EN MM." SENATOR FEABODY was the most surprised man In Wash ! lngton when be heard the Jun ior senator from Mississippi state that no one was to enrich him self out of the government naval base project. He heaped a mental anathema on the bend of Stevens for saddling such a man on the senate "machine," for Langdon would of course never bad been pt on "naval affairs" (Just now very important to the machine) with out the "O. K." of Stevens, who had won a heretofore thoroughly reliable reputation as a Judge of men, or of what purported to be men. The thought that at this time, of all times, there should be a man on the commit tee on naval affairs that could not be "handled" was sufficient to make him who reveled In the title of "boss of the senate" determine that he must get another chief lieutenant to replace Ste vens, who bad proved so trustworthy In the past, Stevens bad lost his cun ning! As the vote of Langdon could not be secured by humbug or in exchange for favors and as it could not be "dellv ered," Peabody, of course, was willing to pay in actual cash for the vote. This was the final step, but one in po litical conspiracies of this nature cash. But Langdon would not take cash,' so Peabody had to resort to the last agency of the trained and corrupt ma nlpulator of legislation. Ho would threaten. Moreover, he knew that to make threats effective, if It Is possible to do so, they must be led up to systemat lcally that Is, they should be made at the right timer The scene must be set, as in a play. Senator Peabody glared at Langdon as though to convince the latter that to stand in his way would mean polit ical destruction. "So nobody is going to make a cent. eh' Well, I suppose you want all the profits for yourself." Turning to Ste vens, who had Just entered, the Penn sylvanlan cried; "Do you but listen to our suddenly good friend Langdon. He wants to be the only man to make money out of the naval base.- He won't listen to any other member of the naval committee ranking a cent out of it. Why, he" "Great God, sir!" exclaimed Langdon. 'You are going' too far, Teabody. You state what Is false, and you know It, you you" "Then you are willing that others should have their rightful share?" put in Stevens." "Oh, I understand now, senator." "No, no, nor' cried Lnngdon. "You do not understand, Senator Stevens, and I must say I am ashamed to speak of you by the honorable title of sena- tor, sir. I will not listen to any person enriching himself at the government expense, aud I am your enemy, you, Peabody, and you, Stevens, beyond re call. You both know ycu misrepresent me." Langdon walked over to Stevens and faced him directly. "Do you remember, Stevens, Lorimer Hawkslee, back iu wartime?" "Yes." Bald Stevens, puzzled, "I re member bim a very fine gentleman." The old planter sneered. "Yes, a very line gentleman! You remember he got rich out of contracts for supplies furnished to the Confed erate government when it wasn't any too easy for the Confederate govern inent to pay and when be was in that government himself. 1 never quite thought that the act of a gentleman. Stevens. It seemed to me to be very like dishonesty. I refused to sieak to I,orlmer Hawkslee in the Carroll hotel at Vlcksburg, and when the peo ple there asked me why I told them, I want to warn you, Stevens, that I'm likely to meet you some time la the Carroll hotel at Vlcksburg." Stevens backed away angrily. "1 catch your insinuation, but" he re celved a warning glance from Pea body and broke Into a pleasant smile calculated to deceive the old planter "this once I will overlook it because of our old friendship and the old days la Mississippi." "You are a fine talker, Langdon," said Peabody, coming to Stevens' res cue, "but I can readily see what you are driving at. You want an lnvesti- rUop You think von will catch -some Professional Directory of Wallowa Co THOS. M. DILL ATTORNEY-AT-UW Office first door south of New fraternal Bldg., Enterprise, Ore. BURLEIGH & BOYD ATTORNEYS-AUAW $ Practice In all State Courts and 4 Interior Department. Careful at- tentiou to all business. D. W. SHEAHAN I LAWYER ENTERPRISE Practice in State and Federal Courts and Interior Department. rights C. T. HOCKETT M TV miMUAN AM MKUtUN Office upstairs In Bank Build- ing. Ind. Home phono in office j and residence, j of us with what you reformers call the goods but forget evidently the entirely simple, facts that your family has Invested in Altacoola lands more heavily probably than any one else among us. You want to ralso a scan dal, do you? Well, go on and raise It, but remember that you will have to explain how it happened that there Is $50,000 invested in the name of your son and $25,000 In the name of your daughter, Miss Carolina, not to men tion u few thousands put In by the gentleman who, I am given to under stand, is to be your son-in-law, Con gressman Norton. "How about that, Norton?" Peabody asked, turning to the congressman, who had followed Stevens. I corroberate all you've said," re marked Norton, "I can state positively that Senator Langdea knew that bis "fm likely to meet you some time In th Carroll hotel." money was going Into Altacoola land. I will swear to it if necessary," and he glared bitterly at Carolina's futher, feeling certain that the girl would cling to him as opposed to her parent. Langdon made a threatening move at the congressman. "I consider my riddance of you mighty cheap at the price," he cried. "Come, come, Langdon," fumed Feu body, "I must get away from here to catch the midnight train. Let's gut through with this mutter. You must realize that you cannot fight me iu Washington. You must know that men call me the 'king of the senate. ' I eau beat any measure you introduce. I can puss any measure you want passed. 1 can make you a laughing stock or a power. "Why, my friend from Mississippi, 1 ;au even have your election to the sen ate contested, have a committee ap pointed to Investigate the manner of your election, have that committee de cide thut you bought your way Into the houoruble body, the senate of the Unit ed States, and on the strength of thut decision have you forfeit your seat! What a pretty heritage to band down to posterity such a disgrace will be! Why, the very school children .of the future will hear about you us 'ixotel Langdou,' and their parents will tell them how particularly degrndiug it was for a man of your reputation to drag into your dishonest schemes your sou, sir, aud your daughter. For who will believe thut this money was not put in these luuds without your con sent, without your direction, your or der? Did you not sign the mortgage on which lids $50,000 was raised?" Senator Langdon waved his hand deprecating!)-. "I'm learning the under handed ways of you professional poli ticians. I'm getting wise. I'm learn ing 'the game,' so 1 know you're bluff ing me, Peabody. But you forget thut the game of poker was Invented In Mississippi my native state." Pressing a button, Langdon sum moned a servant and said: "Send In An Awful Rebulo. Once upon a time a certain commu nity planned to five a dinner to a Judge there. When the ludire came to scan the list of those invited he raised vigorous protest against one name, that of a man who bad been the most brilliant lawyer In town, but who was now the town drunkard. They finally overcame his opposition, but the town drunkard had heard of It. He was the last speaker called upon. He arose aud said: "Mr. Toastmaster Fifteen years ago I had n practice in this town that amounted to $12,000 a year. I had a wife and family whom I sup ported in comfort. I had my own horse and carriage. At that time the guest of the evening was on his way west in an emigrant wagon. He land ed In this town and started in to make his living. Since then, Mr. Toastmas ter," he cried, with a pathetic break in his voice "since that time I have been going steadily down, down, down, and our guest has been going up, up. up, until now we are just about on a level." Twenty-Five Cents is the Price of Peace. The terrible itching and smarting. Incident to cerfaln sltln diseases, is almost Instantly allayed by applying Chamberlain's Salve. Price 25 cents. For sale by Durnatigh & Mayfield. r. Haines, i guess i ve got to nave a witness for my side." "it's no bluff," Rpoko Stevens as Haines entered. "Peabody can and will break you like a plpestetn: he's done It to other men before you who who tried to dispute his power. But I'll try to save yon. I'll us!; him to bo mer ciful. Yon j.re not of nny importance In the senate. Wo do not need to deal with you" "Then why do you both spend so much tlmo on me 7" asked Langdou in nocently. "Why doesn't Peabody go to Philadelphia?" "Langdon," said Peabody, "you know my control of the senate is no piece of fiction. But I will forglvo your obsti nacy, even forget it. I" "Look here," cried Langdou, "just because I'm n fat man don't think that I can't lose my temper." Ho stopped and gazed at his two colleagues. "Now, you two men stay still one moment, and I'll tell you what really 'Became I'm futihm't tlilnlt I can't lone my ir ni tier." will happen tomorrow," he exploded, "and I'm only n beginner In the game :hat's your specialty. The naval base Is irolnir to AltHeooln" uood!" simultaneously cried both Peabody and Stevens. "You're coming In with us!" "No, I'm not, but I'll pass the bill so that nobody makes a cent, just as I said I would. I'll fool you both and make you both honest for once In spite it your natural dispositions." Stevens und the Pennsylvnnian Jtarod at each other In disgust. "Furthermore," continued. Langdon, 'Altacoola noixf Imvo Ou Iiiihk liooinuj Good Wheat Lazic From $20.00 to $25.00 per acra Will raise from 40 to 50 buihels por acre. The New Kni Land Company has somo of the cheapest and best wheat land in Ka it em Oregon. This is not wl.id but the actual facts. Come mid investigate It for yourself. Also good dairy anil timoiliy rancln. cheap, and I have some of the biggest snaps In town property in Eastern Oiegon. New Era Land Company J. B. Seibert, Manager, Enterprise, Cri-Sua. 1st Door West of Shcahnn's Red Front Feed Stable First Class Accommodations Best of Hay and Grain ONK I5LOCK SOUTH OK W. A, MOSS, PrOpHCt I10TKL KNTI'.KI'UISK Successor to Bcsvvell S S W. C. KETCIIU.d I dentist - Nm:r;;bL f JM e i:eriaml liniUKns. I 4 Independent Phono. CON'AWAY & CORKING. J A. B. Conaway. 0. M. CorUia.- I LAWYERS !f. Enterprise, Oregon. j' E. T. ANDERSON, M. I). II PHYSICIAN AND SUGRr,' V Culls attended to 'ay or Home phone. Kalei-priso, (.,. DR. C. A. AT'LT PHYSICIAN AND St'SUTi Office in Bank IMillia Homo phono bo:!i oiVico T residence. i'VO KIii'iW ii tor kc.;.c t; - ' City was Impissr'tilc. tv.i! . Hi senator-! vo' !d Vr.v i If they'd known It. so t!n v i. , It. Altacoola, that i rnul :. . jreat g'.'.lf. v 11 1 hive t ...,. : tloating on her invad In;, u ; ?ouutry ill he the belter i will the sovereign state i f y i CJoil bless it-bul neither i-Vic: body of Pennsylvania : reus of Mississippi I; . r: ; , . better because of it. .W, : i men come to lay cunni:;. : , . , 12:30 tomorrow Horn y. w". .'banco to hear how all t'li.' ibout. If you are r..-t IV. v rime I'll bring In a tnlin i i;. i favor of Gulf City ju. t ( t ': :hat I know how to play t'r :hls Washington jaime" "Come, let's uo. We can d with him," raid 1'e.thndy to l!i senator from Mississippi. "Well, senator, in the inline aess, what are you pilni; to o. Mm you win for Altacoola wi; :lng those grafters laake r.ioiie t?" asked Unities In nstoni it he other two walked away. " hat 1'ou going to do at 12:"0 toiaoi i- Langdon turned to him mid r jyes toward tho celling despai "I'm blamed If I know:'' Maimed. !!ed ingl he his (Conlliiuad next v Ik : v i K '-l TCnIHG oCmP i - T irvrvriM"1 A yAnwKurriiij i- '' FAUINCrHAlR. ere bill outward styns of the evil done in secret by myriads of dun Jruff germs s.ippin;; the lite blood, of llie hair. Micro kills the para site, soothes the itching radp. Rives lustre to the hair and stops it fallinz out. A single nnclication ej liivcs relief and proves its wcriii. bnve your hair before too late. Micro prevents baldness. It is z (Iclihiful dressing for t!ie hair, free from grease ant! sticky oil;. Ask j our druggist for free book!:. HOYT CHEMICAL CO, - PORTLAND, OlO.faOrt Livery fl