the vision spendid(美景)-第12节
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as if she were fascinated by his oratory。 Her father watched her； a trifle
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amused at her eagerness。 In her admiration she was frank as a boy。 When
Farnum's last period was rounded out and he made to leave the stage her
gloved hands beat together in excited applause。
After the ceremonies were over James came straight to her。 Jeff missed
no detail of their meeting。 The young lawyer was swimming on a tide of
triumph； but it was easy to see that Alice Frome's approval was the thing
he most desired。 His cousin had never seen him so gay； so handsome； so
altogether irresistible。 For the first time a little spasm of envy shot through
Jeff； That the girl liked James was plain enough。 How could any girl help
liking him？
The orator was so much the center of attention that Jeff postponed his
congratulations till evening。 He called on his cousin after midnight at his
rooms。 James had just returned from a class banquet where he had been
the toastmaster。 He was still riding the big wave。
〃It's been a great day for me； Jeff；〃 he broke out after his cousin had
congratulated him。 〃I've earned it； too。 For seven years I've worked toward
this day as a climax。 Did you see me talking to P。 C。 Frome and his
daughter？ I'm going to be accepted socially in the best houses of the city。
I'll make them all open to me。〃
〃I don't doubt it。〃
〃And the best of it is that I've made my own success。〃
〃Yes； you've worked hard；〃 Jeff admitted with a little gleam of humor
in his eyes。 He would not remind his cousin that he had lent him most of
the money to see him through law school。
〃Oh； worked！〃 James was striding up and down the room to get rid of
some of his nervous energy。 〃I've done more than work。 I've made
opportunities 。 。 。 grabbed them coming and going。 Young as I am Verden
expects big things of me。 And I'll deliver the goods； too。〃
〃What's the program？〃 Jeff asked； much amused。
〃Don't know yet。 I'm going into politics and I mean to get ahead。 I'll
make a big splash and keep in the public eye。〃
His cousin could not help laughing。 〃You always were a pretty good
press agent for J。 K。 Farnum。〃
〃Why shouldn't I be？〃
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〃I don't know why you shouldn't。 A man who gets ahead puts himself
in a position where he can bring about reforms。〃
〃That's it exactly。 I mean to make myself a power。〃
〃Get hold of one good practical reform and back it。 Pound away on it
until the people identify you with it。 Take direct legislation as your text；
say。 There's going to be a strong drift that way in the next ten years。
Machines and bosses are going to be swept to the junk heap。〃
〃How do you know？〃
Jeff could give no adequate justification for the faith that was in him。 It
would be no answer to tell James that he knew the plain people of the state
better than the politicians did。 However； he mentioned a few facts。
〃It's all very well for you to be a radical； but I have to conserve my
influence；〃 James objected。 〃I've got to be practical。 If I were just going to
be a reporter it would be different。〃
〃Don't be too practical； James。 You've got to have some vision if you're
going to lead the people。 Nobody is so blind to the future as practical
politicians and business men。〃 He stopped； smiling quizzically。 〃But
you're the orator of the family。 I don't want to infringe on your copyright。
Only you have the personality to be a real leader。 Get started right。
Remember that America faces forward； and that we're going to move with
seven league boots to better conditions。〃
James mused out loud。 〃If a man could be a Lincoln to save the people
from industrial slavery it would be worth while。〃
Jeff did not laugh at his conceit。 〃Go to it。 I'll promise you the backing
of the _World_。〃
〃What have you to do with the _World_？〃
〃Beginning with next Monday I'm to be managing editor。〃
〃You！〃
〃Even so。 Captain Chunn has bought the paper。〃
〃Chunn； the man who made millions in a lucky strike in Alaska？〃
〃Same man。〃
James was still incredulous。 〃How did Chunn happen to pick you for
the editor？〃
〃He's an old friend of mine。 'Member the day I had the fight with Ned
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Merrill。 Captain Chunn was the man who stood up for me。〃
〃And you've known him ever since？〃
〃I've always corresponded with him。〃
〃Well； I'll be hanged。 Talk about luck。〃 James looked his cousin over
with increased respect。 He always took off his hat to success； but he had
been so long accustomed to thinking of Jeff as a failure that he could not
adjust his mind to the situation。 〃Why； you can't run a paper。 Can you？〃
Jeff smiled。 〃I told Captain Chunn he was taking a big chance。〃
〃If he's as rich as they say he is he can afford to lose some money。〃
James took the news of his cousin's good fortune a little peevishly。 He
did not grudge Jeff's advancement； but he resented that it had befallen him
to…day of all days。 The promotion of the reporter took the edge off his own
achievements。
PART 2
As James understood his own genius； it was as a statesman that he was
fitted preeminently to shine。 He had the urbanity； the large impassive
manner； and the magnetic eloquence of the old…style congressman。 All he
needed was the chance。
With the passing months he grew more restless at the delay。 There
were moments in the night when he trembled lest some stroke of evil fate
might fall upon him before he had carved his name in the niche of fame。
To sit in an empty law office and wait for clients took more patience than
he could summon。 He wanted an opportunity to make speeches in the
campaign that was soon to open。 That he finally went to Big Tim himself
about it instead of to his ward committeeman was characteristic of James
K。
After he sent his card in the young lawyer was kept waiting for thirty…
five minutes in an outer office along with a Jew peddler； a pugilist ward
heeler； an Irish saloonkeeper； and a brick contractor。 Naturally he was
exceedingly annoyed。 O'Brien ought to know that James K。 Farnum did
not rank with this riff…raff。
When at last James got into the holy of holies he found Big Tim lolling
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back in his swivel chair with a fat cigar in his mouth。 The boss did not
take the trouble to rise as he waved his visitor to a chair。
Farnum explained that he was interested in the political situation and
that he was prepared to take an active part in the campaign about to open。
The big man listened； watching him out of half shut attentive eyes。 He had
never yet seen a kid glove politician that was worth the powder to blow
him up。 Moreover； he had special reasons for disliking this one。 His cousin
was editor of the _World_； and that paper was becoming a thorn in his
side。
O'Brien took the cigar from his mouth。 〃Did youse go to the primary
last night？' he asked。
James did not even know there had been one。 He had in point of fact
been at a Country Club dance。
〃Can youse tell me what the vote of your precinct was at the last city
election？〃
The budding statesman could not。
〃What precinct do youse live in？〃
Farnum was not quite sure。 He explained that he had moved recently。
Big Tim grunted scornfully。 He was pleased to have a chance to take
down the cheek of any Farnum。
〃What do youse think you can do？〃
〃I can make speeches。 I'm the best orator that ever came out of Verden
University。〃
〃Tommyrot！ How do youse stand in your precinct？ Can youse get the
vote out to go down the line for us？ That's what counts。 Oratory be
damned！〃
James was pale with rage。 The manner of the boss was nothing less
than insulting。
〃Then you decline to give me a chance； Mr。 O'Brien？〃
〃I do not。 In politics a man makes his own chance。 He gets along by
being so useful we can't get along without him。 See？ He learns the game。
You don't k
