Lifted Masks

n his shoes. The Governor had not devoted a large portion of his life to nursing a desire of that nature, for he was a man in whose soul the flame of self-sat

ter things in the world than the governorship of that State. He might have suggested a seat in the Senate of the United States as one of t

t his life would outstretch his term. He had been sent back, not for another six years of service, but to hold out the leader of the Boxers, as they called themselves-the younger and unorthodox element of the party in the State, an e

Washington. It had not been considered safe to nominate the Governor. Had his supporters conceded that the time was at hand for a change, there would have been a general clamour for the leader of the Boxers-Huntington,

the fire and reading quietly of what other men were doing in the Senate of the United States. But they told him he must sacrifice that w

econd term. They had assumed that the Senator would live on for at least two years, but now they heard that he was likely to die almost at once. His Excellency could not very well name himself for the vacancy, and it seemed dangerous just then to risk a call of the Assembly. They d

his mistakes. As he sat there reading and rereading the letter which told him that the work of the senior Senator was almost done, he said to

that night, and wanted to see the Governor at the hotel. Things always cleared when Style

tics when he had so many other things on his mind, and that he must be a very public-spirited man. That he took an interest in politics, no one famil

e two men had held together through all the vicissitudes of life was touching and beautiful-at least, so some people observed

nd his old friend had a long talk. When twelve o'clock came they were st

sn't put me in a good light. It's too apparent, and I'll suffer

c benefactor never paced the floor; it did not seem necessary. He smok

u anything bet

Governor, tartly; "but it s

devoted himself to the art of smoking. There were times w

've got to go ahead with this. And really, I don't see that it's so bad. You have to go South to look after your cotton plantation; you find now that it's going to take more time than you feel you should take from the State; you can't afford to give it up; consequently, you withdraw in favor of the Lieutenant-Governor. We all protest, but you say Berriman

th. When he returned, the newspaper men were startled by the announcement that business considerations which he could not afford to overlook demanded his with

the indecency of the Boxer journals. The Governor went to his cotton plantation. The Lieutenant-Governor went into office, and was pronounced a worthy successor to a good execut

of his death, they printed speculative editorials on his probable successor. When the bereaved family co

Many came and looked upon the quiet face; but far more numerous than those who gathered at his bier to weep were

ut the State-house much as usual, save that the absorbing topic was the senatorial situation, and that every one was watching the new chief executive.

g in the fact that an occasion admitting of a grand rising had never presented itself. Before he became Lieutenant-Governor, he had served inoffensively in the State Senate

an idea that it was proper for him to vote with his friends, and he always did it. Had he been ca

nt of Huntington. That, of course, was a fixed matter, and t

hought of announcing the appointment that very night, but the newspaper men had all left the building, and as

He knew but little of political methods, and had primitive ideas about honesty. There had always been a strong tie between the brothers, despite the fact that Hiram was fift

ing I announce the se

?" returned

ger, and it's getting on to the time the

erious face to his brother, "that you've thought

back his head wit

e much thought on my part

ntended Hiram warmly. "You're Governor of

nted John Berriman with the question whether or not he was his own bo

ell enough it was all fixed before I went in." The other man looked at him in bewilderment, and the Governor continued brusquely: "The party

r was scratch

e, and so the Governor told that lie about having to go S

ion-if you want to

going to appoi

ouldn't do anything

y n

t you any idea of political ob

you promise to app

difference. The understanding was that the Governor was to pull out and I was to go in an

ed a troubled f

Senate. I take it that in appointing him, John, you feel sure he will guard the interests of the people before ever

imed the Governor irritably.

brown face warm

at do you mean by saying you're going to put a dishonest man in there to make laws for the people, to watch over them and protect them? If you don't think he's a good man, if y

iram," said the Governor in an injured

ang of men that's trying to steal from the State? Good God, I wish I had never lived to see the day a brothe

s a little too strong!

boozlin' them, and that's all there is about it. I don't know much about politics, but I ain't lived my life without learning a little

held his peace. This seemed to quiet the irate farmer,

ce to do a thing that's goin' to help thousands of people, and that the whole country's goin' to say was a move for the right. You want to think of that, and when you're thinkin' so much about honour, you don't want to clean forget about honesty. Don't you stick to any foolish notions about bein' fa

down, and he was too absorbed to grow cold. He thought of many things. Like the man who had precede

lave feel like a free man to drink in such air, he was thinking. Snatches of his brother's outburst of the night before kept breaking into his consciousness but curiously enough they did not greatly disturb him. He concluded that it was wonderful what a walk in the braci

espectful salutations. His mood let him give the greetings a value they did not

looking ahead at the State-house, he now looked out over the city really seeing and understanding it, not merely taking it for granted. He found himself wondering if many of the people in that city-in that State-looked to their Governor with the old-fash

now, Governor?" ask

w the affairs of the State well, an

ho do you think is the best man we

im, startled at that strange way of putting it. Then he told himself he must be dis

hat the Governor is looked upon a

you think is the man who would most conscientiously and credit

mself answering it as simply. "If you put it that w

of the people

ow th

ter of popular vote, Huntingt

r. I think they all have to admit that.

. I merely wondered wha

d sent a telegram. Then he settled quietly down to routine wo

r," he said briskly "h

ing to tell you to-day, except that

eporter excitedly,

Governor, smiling

I'll just catch the noon edition,"

other room when the G

to me you're a str

w s

tment-a matter of some slight importance-and y

hed the Governor would not detain him wi

with strained pleasantnes

d. "Huntington," he said qu

ed the repor

of being so easily taken in. "Guess you're try

of the telegram I sent this morning, if you are still sceptical. Really, I don't see why

med unable to speak. "May I ask," h

the people should have the man they wanted. I am with them in believing Huntington

hing else. After their first rage had subsided, and they saw there was nothing they could do, they wondered, sneeringly, why he did not "fix up a better story." That was a little too simp