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Updated: May 23, 2025
In truth, I need it; for, thanks to your political activity, my own position is gone." "But he's a a damned rascal!" Wounded self-conceit was now getting the upper hand. She laughed. "I think he is. But he's such an exceptional rascal; he appeals to me. You know, Tom, we're all more or less rascally except one." "Except who?" he asked quickly. "Bles Alwyn." "The fool!" "Yes," she slowly agreed.
His voice came slow and firm: "Emma? But I don't love Emma. I love some one else." Her heart bounded and again was still. It was that Washington girl then. She answered dully, groping for words, for she was tired: "Who is it?" "The best woman in all the world, Zora." "And is" she struggled at the word madly "is she pure?" "She is more than pure." "Then you must marry her, Bles."
But Bles asked coldly: "Why didn't you have him arrested?" "For what? And suppose I had?" Bles threw out his arms helplessly. "Oh! it isn't as bad as that all over the world, is it?" "It's worse," affirmed Miss Wynn, quietly positive. "And you are still friendly with him?" "What would you have? I use the world; I did not make it; I did not choose it. He is the world.
Sam Stillings!" he exclaimed delightedly, and was soon grasping the hand of a slim, well-dressed man of perhaps thirty, with yellow face, curling hair, and shifting eyes. "Well, of all things, Bles er ah Mr. Alwyn! Thought you were hoeing cotton." Bles laughed and continued shaking his head. He was foolishly glad to see the former Cresswell butler, whom he had known but slightly.
It seemed very natural; and closing her eyes, she fell asleep. Thirty-four Bles Alwyn stared at Mrs. Harry Cresswell in surprise. He had not seen her since that moment at the ball, and he was startled at the change. Her abundant hair was gone; her face was pale and drawn, and there were little wrinkles below her sunken eyes.
Others he did not recognize they seemed strange and alien sharper, quicker, and at once more overbearing and more unscrupulous. There were yet others and at the sight of these Bles stood straighter and breathed like a man. They were well dressed, and well appearing men and women, who walked upright and looked one in the eye, and seemed like persons of affairs and money.
"But what do Teerswell and Stillings want?" "They want Bles Alwyn to make a fool of himself." "That is a trifle cryptic," Miss Wynn mused. The Senator amplified. "We are giving the South the Washington schools and killing the Education Bill in return for this support of some of our measures and their assent to Alwyn's appointment. You see I speak frankly." "I can stand it, Senator."
He glanced across at her and answered shortly: "Georgia, ma'am," and was silent. The girl tried again. "Georgia is a large State," tentatively. "Yes, ma'am." "Are you going back there when you finish?" "I don't know." "I think you ought to and work for your people." "Yes, ma'am." She stopped, puzzled, and looked about. The old horse jogged lazily on, and Bles switched him unavailingly.
And away he went. He had scarcely reached the highway and ridden a quarter of a mile or so when he spied Bles Alwyn hurrying across the field toward the Cresswell Oaks. He frowned and rode on. Then reining in his horse, he stopped in the shadow of the trees and watched Alwyn. It was here that Zora saw him as she came up from her house. She, too, stopped, and soon saw whom he was watching.
The speech was a softened English, purely and, on the whole, correctly spoken so much so that it seemed at first almost unfamiliar to Bles, and he experienced again the uncomfortable feeling of being among strangers. Then, too, he missed the loud but hearty good-nature of what he had always called "his people."
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