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About Klamath republican. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1896-1914 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1914)
14 i CALIFORNIA FARMER SECTION "THE MIDLANDERS By Charles Tenney Jackson L ronttiGiiT, isix tuk borbs - mmr hii . i . company . Syaopals of I’receJI«« t'hapters. Uncle Michigan, an after the war rebel soldier living with another old Corfederale captain in the Louisiana swamp« picks up Aurelie. a baby girl, astray from an orphan asylum, on tha streets of New Orleans, mistaking tier for a boy. Tha old «oldlers have been looking for a boy to bring up and edu cate that he may revive and lead their lost cause They bring her up to young girlhood and Uncle Michigan and Aure lie find themselves settled near the Iowa river town of Rome with John Lindstrom, a uuarry hand, who becomes soured and turns against the world be cause he Is unjustly sentenced to a day in Jail for contempt of the court of Judge Van Hart. Harlan's father—Har lan loves Aurelie and meets har out side the village tn the evening and In duces her to go with him to Ills mother to confess their attachment. Wiley Curran sends her picture to the beauty contest in a Chicago pa per. and to everyone’s surprise, she wins it. Such publicity and vulgarity shocks the people of Rome. Harlan is in-ens. 1 and their love affair Is broken off. Receiving offers from the theatrical managers Aurelie here upon the stage, horrifying the town the mor- an I iC-r i % Mi yf l»arn- storming is starred in musical com edy. In the meantime Wiley, more to please his old sweetheart. Janet Vance, now superintendent of schools. Ilian anything else, runs for congress Cur ran Is popular with the progressive people of the community, «o tn or der to prevent him from getting the election his opponents circulate tales of his wild youth, even using his friendship for Aurelie as a basis for some Meeting a man who had known Curran in his youth they discover that h» had ■ y married a creole girl in New Orleans. Sending him there they obtain proof that he has a daugh ter, no other than Aurelie. Being ~ :._ con- fronted with this the ’Viy before elec- tlon he withdraws from the race In order to protect Aurelie—his child— whose existence he did not know of. Janet and Harlan discover what has been done before the withdrawal has been made public. They confront Cur ran's opponents with papers which would do them great harm if made public and so get possession of the withdrawal. The excitement of the election Is overshadowed by the news that Lind strom. who has b.-«n living the life of an outlaw, allowing no one to enter his land, has fired on some of the quarrymen. killing the foreman <*ur- ran attempts to talk to the erased fanatic who has held against the crowd trying to take him all night, but in vain. Aurelie returns, hastens to him across the field, exposed to the firing and Is wounded by the vol ley which kills him Rushed to the Van Hart home by Harlan and Curran, both razed by grief, it Is found that she 1« not se verely wounded. Judge and Mrs. V* Hart, who have l>««n opposed to the love between Harlan and Aurelie, con sent to the marriage and Aurelie Is ma>- h ippy too by the knowledge that Curran Is her father. To his surprise Curran Is elected to congress and realizing at last that Janet Is his guardian angel and that hi- annot do without her. their love affair Is consummated, too. and lie takes Janet, who has always been faithful to him. to Washington. (< ««ti “No, I don’t. But I want to be loved by somebody just like I am—a sort of wandery person who'd be willing to go off on adventures. people or careens. foolish, like you.” And not have any Just be brave and Mr. Curran contemplated her quite calmly. "Aurelie,” he demanded, "are you going ever to marry Harlan?" "Never, never-never! It wa* only because I was lonely and a sentimen talist—is that It? It was such a great thing that summer But now? Why, I have theatre managers come and help mi roll stockings and stick 'em in my trunk! Mr. Feldman just did?" "Aurelie," went on Mr. Curran stead ily and sternly, “about Harlan—you're making a great mistake If you throw him off!” Hhe regarded him demurely through * f-cloaed limpid eyes. “Home people I know wouldn’t be sorry If I did!" Aurelie was plainly playing with poor Mr. Curran He felt It and was enraged. “If you weren't so grown up, I'd spank you! You—a young lady!" “I'm not Ask Harlan’s mother or Home of the Shakespeare club. I’m vulgar and nobody Just Old Miehi tin’» girl!” Mr. Curran sat despairingly down. Never to him had she been so beauti fully buoyant, so arch with joy, so Infinite with possibilities, so gay with blithe courage. Love Harlan? Hurely not! This was life she was loving smiles and tears and triumphs—she was enraptured with it all, and she would love no one now! She was finding hemelf; she was unfolding splendl f, dangerously, out of the >• s • - « *•♦#•*•»* ■ « hard and meager years «he had served "John says the reason ho won't let the family have your presents Is be- cause you're a contrlvance of the devil!" “But you like the devil's contrlv- ancca, don't you. 1 Mr Curran ’*' “I expect I do. Aurelie “ whut “And you don't congress thinks!" “I'm afraid not. Aurelia.” She came with laughter to him and kissed him. "Nobody can see ua - What's the one of hating anybody? Or being sorry Or pining because they don't love you? Oh. let's Just go on and be tine with every one! I'm trying to be religious. I 1 say prayers when I ain't too sleepy, And I'm col- locting Madonna heads, and I give dimes to all the beggars. Ada says it's silly to cross the street to give dlm«M to people, but I tell her It's rs- liglous!" “Somehow." he muttered, “I have to forgive you. Do you know you are living, Aurelie. every day? That's what It means—to be gay and happy and kind, and not bother too much about other things." He took her hands: "Dear girl, life Isn't so much winning anything as always trying It's better to travel than to arrive, ns some one said. And oh. so many years I stood still—until you came, Aurelie! I can't exactly explain it you can't Imagine how you helped me!” wide-eyed She looked at him "Helped you?" “I knew you wouldn't. he w<~nt on despairingly. She was still for a time. "I wish I It’a fin« to know could understand! I never used t> feel so hopeleas you after I met you. You made mo happy because you saw something in ma I common to you.” Ho wasn’t just looked up to see some grateful shin ing In her eyes—“And the funny old town—we were both rebels, weren't we? And Just suppose you did go to congress, and I became a real actress!" Hhe stood by the window and stared out across the busy street to where, even In Earlville, one saw the encircling hills. “What then. Aurelie*" "Why, we'd both remember how we helped each other!" He went away with a surge of his heart he could not still "Now write me every week." she had said. “Nice, friendly letter»—and not fatherly- advice letters as if you were bald- headed. Mr Curran!" When he had gone home, he climbed Eagl > Point trail before he could sleep. And he did a curious thing for a possible member of congress: he kissed his fingers toward the eastern hills and whispered: "Because you’re there, Aurelie—Just because you're there!" ran's spectacular victory that It for • got the local ticket. Hut all the old- line county officers wore nominated— a Tanner alate clean Young Mr Van i Hart, nominated without opposition, , was the only new face to tie In the 1 Home courthouse. Every one ap proved of young Mr Van Hart, a i quiet, reserved, allogeyier likable chap > —he would have n« opponent from the other party camp. The Honorable Thnddeus Tanner met young Mr the primary. Van llart the day after Then he was silent. Janet was think ing of the long years' fight And tha best people had hot been with her until of late Hhe wus too practical, too busily efficient, to be about tha Hhakcapcarn dub teas at Mrs. Van Hart's. Harlan sharply differentiated her from the tabby affairs of High Street 11« told hl« mother that night that Janet Vance would resign her next term and go east. The lady elevated her bn.ws wisely. The teas had heard something of the kind “! suppose that "Well, young man, what the devil Will end the affair between her and did you mean by allowing this erway Mr Curran." “The affair” was a mailer of years* anarchist to beui your father's old goS’ip Harlan said nothing, he had friend for congress?' never, after a man’s fashion, bothered “I had nothing to du with Mr Hall's hla head about It. fight, Mr Tanner." "I imagine It s true. then, that that The county tssis bar«<| hla yellow Llmi«trom girl has come betweeu teeth and snorted, “That's what they them." all say. It's these young fellers did 11« looked attentively at her with a It—fellers Ilk« them cow-college stu trace of suspicion of her subtlety. dents whom Jack Vance and Purcell Aurelle'a name had never been men sent Into every district to work for tioned between them except In th« Curran, And these damned labor peo- lady's amiable satire on her "career " - pie over In Earlville—but I notice Hut that wu» common to the town. they all voted for you. Harlan; thia Ami Harlan had never looked upon McBride. hey' and hl* cattle!" Aurelio’s appeal to lb« erratic roman "C< 'nndltions ar« changing '• ticism in Mr Curran In that light It The boss eyed hla nominee with a seemed preposterous Mrs Van Hart shrewd doubt "Young man. did your went on with th« cool impersonality, father ever talk much to you?" humanized by her sense of umiisrment, "Father haw no use for politics, liv'd with which she looked on the affaire hardly presume to Influenc« me." of h«r neighbors, even the ladles be Thad snorted amln. These Van mused In the Hhak«ap«arc afternoons; Harts always did Irritate him with "I think It would be quite nt Those their Ideas of the proper thing, Htlll. two Mr Curran In congress* and they were useful, because their Idruta Imagine a person whs goes along High of the proper thing did not allow them stre-t whistling to sll the dogs on his to oppose him, either wsy to th« postofflee, In his shirt- “Well, Harlan. I hope you undcrslnml sleeves. In James Hall's seal!" you didn't even have to make a tight. Ilnrlan looked at her In ImpertiirtMi- People know your dad and they could bl« silent« The Judge smoked his Just figure on you It'» a good thing dinner cigar with Ills d< precutlng you're our man.“ assent Mr Van llart smiled Impersonally "Ilka nomination, my dear. Is mor« “I am not your man " than amusing He and all the rubble The county boss stared at him. Then of demagogism take It as an endorse he bit the end off u cigar, Then he ment by th« people of th« runt that Is spat on the sidewalk against the ordi subverting our political theory, our nances made and provided. "Well, public i men. our financiers, persistently I'm a son-of-a-gun!” he murmured. yelped at by Currun's sheet, and our ‘’Curious I never stoppod to talk with sober constituency applaud"* II« rubbed you before!" Then he rubbod his looked mildly over hla glasses “My gold headed cane against Harlan's 1 boy. I wish you had stayed out of sleeve. "Young man. you're mighty It all!** young—you'll get over this." "I do not!" The molher was In- But the Honorable Thaddeus Tanner clslvo. "It Is time he was In the sidled Into Judge Van Hart's chain- battle. It la the parting of the ways, bers after court that day, nnd had a nnd there is enough common sense in talk of a number of things, but mostly the county to make Harbin's career. of Harlan and what a brilliant career It Is the day-of the young men." And the ho had opened for Harlan, And to Harlnn'a mind there came th« Me rcury- next day the Earlville memory of n phrase. A vision Arno Journal—controlled through the stock Vance and the trump of hl* young m«n Which CBl Rli’i's wife owned in It ■ up the hili. He became eonwlous of came out with a fulsome forecast of a conflict within him here In the dear, young Mr. Van Hart's career. familiar home Here were his people - Harlan met Arne Vance reading that the l>est people, ever clinging to fixed column to hla slater when he left the CHAPTER XIX. forms, righteous, worthy, leisurely de office that night. The farmer-student veloping hut needing Inherent privi Ths Way of Hie Caste. fixed hla black eye* on the nominee. lege this was the good But hern was The day after the autumn prlma- "Trying to rope and brand you, eh? another good out In the w*>rld; n new, Hee here- Mike McBride nnd I sup politics was conaclous of rles, slate hungry, lustful good, eager to seise, to shock. The “Insurgent" posed ws had something to do with make place, to break down forma and a distinct governor had triumphed again, but that your big vote." privilege- thia use the eternal battle. Harlan smiled. "I think so, Arne. There was no ground under a man's was expected. But what once was You surely put Wiley over!” feet—he was with one or with th« the sensation, attracting even national head Arne grimaced, nodding his other And slowly It eamo to him Janet. “ I know," continued toward attention, was the defeat of James H thut, In the eyes of hl» purenta, the Hall, chairman of the mowt powerful Harlan. "Every one says she did It!" eyes of hla world—a world rigid with Ho put out Ills hand to Janet In the caste, rerlstant with ideals, however confidant of committee In congress, She appeared tired and dfs- buggy, much It mlgh assent to the babble of In his home tho president—beaten trait. "1 'It has been a strain, hasn't It? democracy - Aurelie wns the symbol of constituency, the sober, cautious coun- Hut Wll«y It'll be the making of him, th« lower standards. It woe for him ties of the Iowa Reserve, by an obscure Janet.” to choose, nnd hla love was the ernx Hhe smiled a rare gratefulness. “ He country editor! of It all, a signpost ut the purling of now Only"— The press buzzed with explanations. can’t fall of election the ways. He might light to win her, It marked the temper of the rural she paused nnd Harbin lifted Ida seri try to bear her from the vulgar mid ous eyes to hers, “ I have sort of a west' it meant the downfall of tradi common mod«, but his social sons« tional control; It was revolutionary, feeling, Harlan, hr he'll <lo some of told him exactly what thnt would the erratic, audacious things Hint have demagogic Curran was a Horlallst, mean Io Ills people, the "bmt people,'• anarchist, freethinker, what not! No always wrecked him!” who, with a Nietzschean ruthlessness, "Like taking up the enusc of these body knew exactly. Down In his home must set their faces against ths emwnty folk said: “Well, we always Pocket squatters whom the county la trampling onward marching forces did eort of like Wiley Curran out our going to evict for the new creek dam thut would level or destroy. "Did muttered Arne, way.” In the other precincts of the Lindstrom—” Even now his mother touched on ths plead* you see the News? He's already district they said: “That editor put heart of it. “I see that Mr. Curran's up a slashing fight—he come over here Ing some right of theirs.” N owh Is Insisting that the county, or Janet looked away. “Well, I hope— tho benefited landholders, should pay and give us facts!” Then Wiley!" Anyhow, Curran was the regular I trust—but It's llko those squatters in th« Pocket whose “Well, I am party nominee. In Rome the best peo she smiled upon them, patches will be flooded by the now away." I ’ m going tired out. ple coul I not have been mure Indig dam. Ho Insists they have a moral Harlan'» tun« lifted. “To “Away?” nant if one of tho billiard-hall Idlers title to that no-man's hind." had gone Into the First National bank rest?” "And acting on thut anarchistic the. toy “To work. I feel uh If—well, and deliberately kicked Cal Rice on the Judge, amiably, ory,” went on And I the shins. It was rumored that Thad- work iviw done here, Harlan, “Lindstrom drove away the workmen To speak, to write— deus Tanner, county chairman, who have chances, I whom the contractor sent there. had complacently promised his baili well, for all the fine things wo used call that an excellent example Curran to discuss in the old News office, you wick against the governor's league, does not hesitate to put the law nsldo wan enraged beyond reason. He swore remember. The child-labor laws—the In his crylngs for what he terms Jus old ambi he would not support Curran; the old- women’s movement my tice. To announce outlawry." line men would vote for the Demo tions, Harlan.” “If Llndritrom Is an outluw, father,’• He nooded sympathetically. Then cratic candidate, whoever that spind Harlan suld quietly, "the law made muttered: “ But your place here — It's ling county organization put up, even him one.” hard to All, Janet. The school system If it was a yellow dog The county talked so much of Cur- jyou've made a model for the state!** (To be Continuedj I ~.i. * . I 'Hill • — •«•*•«« —• |.B