"General, it's only because my grandfather is your old friend and has
commanded me that I dare to speak. I simply have a hope. It has become
dear to me. I'm hoping for a privilege. I honestly believe that outside
of all party preferences there are thousands of young men in this State
who will feel proud to have that same privilege--will esteem it one of
the honors of their lives. Their fathers had the same honor. And that's
to go to the polls and cast a ballot for Gen. Varden Waymouth. It will
make politics seem worth while to us, sir."

"Good!" ejaculated the Duke. "You're hearing the voice of the young men
of this State now, Varden." He stood up. "Here's my boy for your
service. He'll be in the next legislature. Use him. Depend on him.
You're old--you've earned your rest. I know it. But here's a loud call
for a sacrifice. This boy and such as he can lift a lot of the load.
Varden, give me your hand. Say that you'll do it!"

"Let's sit down a moment," said the General, solemn gentleness in his
tone. "I have something that it's in my heart to say."

He drew his chair even closer to them. They waited a few moments for him
to speak. In that room with its dignity of ancient things, with the
silence of the summer night surrounding, that waiting was impressive.
Harlan felt the thrill of it. Even his grandfather was gravely anxious.
The General leaned forward and put his thin hand on the elder Thornton's
knee.

"Thelismer, you yourself link the past with the present, so far as the
politics of this State go. You link them even more than I do, for you
are active in the present. You have been a strong man--you are strong
to-day. But I want to say to you, and this is as friend to friend, you
haven't always used that strength right. I know what reply you'd make to
that. We've talked it all over many times. You say that you've had to
play the game. That's right. And I've played it myself, too. But in the
years since then, while I've sat at one side of the arena and looked on,
I've had a chance to meditate and a chance to observe. I don't think
matters have been running right in this State--and now I'm not speaking
of Arba Spinney or his ilk. You come to me to-night and you ask me to be
the Governor of this State once more. You want me to come back into the
game. You ask me to appeal to the suffrage of the young men who admire
what little I've accomplished. I want to warn you. I may be putting it
too strong when I call it a warn