the vision spendid(美景)-第31部分
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man who is the son of a convict？ I've got a future before me。 Already I've
been mentioned for governor。 What chance would I have when people
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know my father is a thief？〃
〃Son；〃 winced the old man。
〃Oh； well！ I'm not picking my words；〃 James went on with angry
impatience。 〃I'm telling you the facts。 I've got enemies。 Every strong man
has。 They'll smash me like an empty eggshell。〃
〃They don't need to know about me。 I'll not do any talking。〃
〃That's all very well。 Things leak out；〃 James grumbled a little more
graciously。 〃Well； you better sit down now you're here。 I thought you were
living in Arkansas。〃
〃So I am。 I've done right well there。 And I thought I'd take a little run
out to see you。 I didn't know but what you might need a little help。〃 He
glanced aimlessly around the well…furnished office。 〃But I expect you
don't； from the looks of things。〃
〃If you think I've got money you're wrong；〃 James explained。 〃I'm just
starting in my profession； and of course I owe a good deal here and there。
I've been hard pressed ever since I left college。〃
His father brightened up timidly。 〃I owe you money。 We can fix that up。
I've got a little mill down there and I've done well； though it was hard
sledding at first。〃
James caught at a phrase。 What do you mean？〃
〃Owe me money！
〃I knew it must be you paid off the shortage at the Planters' National。
When I sent the money it was returned。 You'd got ahead of me。 I was
THAT grateful to you； son。〃
The lawyer found himself flushing。 〃Oh； Jeff paid that。 He was earning
money at the time and I wasn't。 Of course I intended to pay him back some
day。〃
〃Did Jeff do that？ Then you and he must be friends。 Tell me about
him。〃
〃There's not much to tell。 He's managing editor of a paper here that has
a lot of influence。 Yes。 Jeff has been a staunch friend to me always。 He
recognizes that I'm a rising man and ought to be kept before the public。〃
〃I wonder if he's like his father。〃
〃Can't tell you that；〃 his son replied carelessly。 〃I don't remember
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Uncle Phil much。 Jeff's a queer fellow； full of Utopian notions about
brotherhood and that sort of thing。 But he's practical in a way。 He gets
things done in spite of his softheadedness。〃
There was a knock at the door。 〃Mr。 Jefferson Farnum； sir。〃
James considered for a second。 〃Tell him to come in； Miss Brooks。〃
The lawyer saw that the door was closed before he introduced Jeff to
his father。 It gave him a momentary twinge of conscience to see his cousin
take the old man quickly by both hands。 It was of course a mere detail； but
James had not yet shaken hands with his father。
〃I'm glad to see you； Uncle Robert；〃 Jeff said。
His voice shook a little。 There was in his manner that hint of affection
which made him so many friends； the warmth that suggested a woman's
sympathy； but not effeminacy。
The ready tears brimmed into his uncle's eyes。 〃You're like your father；
boy。 I believe I would have known you by him；〃 he said impulsively。
〃You couldn't please me better； sir。 And what about Jameswould you
have known him？〃
The old man looked humbly at his handsome； distinguished son。 〃No； I
would never have known him。〃
〃He's becoming one of our leading citizens； James is。 You ought to
hear him make a speech。 Demosthenes and Daniel Webster hide their
heads when the Honorable James K。 Farnum spellbinds；〃 Jeff joked。
〃I've read his speeches；〃 the father said unexpectedly。 〃For more than a
year I've taken the _World_ so as to hear of him。〃
〃Then you know that James is headed straight for the Hall of Fame。
Aren't you； James？〃
〃Nonsense！ You've as much influence in the state as I have； or you
would have if you would drop your fight on wealth。〃
〃Bless you； I'm not making a fight on wealth；〃 Jeff answered with
good humor。 〃It's illicit wealth we're hammering at。 But when you
compare me to James K。 I'll have to remind you that I'm not a silver…
tongued orator or Verden's favorite son。〃
The father's wistful smile grew bolder。 Somehow Jeff's arrival had
cleared the atmosphere。 A Scriptural phrase flashed into his mind as
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applicable to this young man。 Thinketh no evil。 His nephew did not regard
him with suspicion or curiosity。 To him he was not a sinner or an outcast；
but a brother。 His manner had just the right touch of easy deference youth
ought to give age。
〃Of course you're going to make us a long visit； Uncle Robert。〃
The old man's propitiating gaze went to his son。 〃Not long； I reckon。
I've got to get back to my business。〃
〃Nonsense！ We'll not let you go so easily。 Eh； James？〃
〃No； of course not；〃 the lawyer mumbled。 He was both annoyed and
embarrassed。
〃I don't want to be selfish about it； but I do think you had better put up
with me； Uncle。 James is at the University Club； and only members have
rooms there。 We'll let him come and see you if he's good；〃 Jeff went on
breezily。
James breathed freer。 〃That might be the best way； if it wouldn't put
you out； Jeff。〃
〃I wouldn't want to be any trouble；〃 the old man explained。
〃And you won't be。 I want you。 James wants you； too； but he can't very
well arrange it。 I can。 So that's settled。〃
In his rooms that evening Jeff very gently made clear to his uncle that
Verden believed him to be his son。
〃If you don't mind； sir； we'll let it go that way in public。 We don't want
to hurt the political chances of James just now。 And there are other things；
too。 He'll tell you about them himself probably。〃
〃That's all right。 Just as you say。 I don't want to disturb things。〃
〃I adopted you as a father about a year ago without your permission。 It
won't do for you to give me away now；〃 the nephew laughed。
Robert Farnum nodded without speaking。 A lump choked his throat。
He had found a son after all； but not the one he had come to meet。
PART 2
At the ensuing election the progressives swept the state in spite of all
that the allied corporations could do。 James was returned to the legislature
with an increased majority and was elected speaker of the House
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according to program。 His speech of acceptance was the most eloquent
that had ever been heard in the assembly hall。 The most radical of his party
felt that the committees appointed by him were in their personnel a little
too friendly to the vested interests of Verden； but the _World_ took the
high ground that he could render his party no higher service than absolute
fair play； that the bills for the rights of the people ought to pass on their
merits and not by tricky politics。
Never before had there been seen at the State House a lobby like the
one that filled it now。 The barrel was tapped so that the glint of gold
flowed through the corridors； into committee rooms； and to out of the way
corners where legislators fought for their honor against an attack that
never ceased。 Sometimes the corruption was bold。 More often it was
insidious。 To see how one by one men hitherto honest surrendered to
bribery was a sight pathetic and tragic。
The Farnum cousins were the centers around whom the reformers
rallied。 James directed their counsels in the House and Jeff pounded away
in the _World_ with vital trenchant editorials and news stories。 Every day
that paper carried to the farthest corner of the state bulletins of the battle。
Farmers and miners and laboring men watched its roll of honor to see if
the local representatives were standing firm。 As the weeks passed the fight
grew more bitter。 Now and again men fell by the wayside disgraced。 But
the pressure from their constituents was so strong that Jeff believed his bill
would go through。
His friends forced it through the committee and pushed it to a vote。
House Bill 33； as the initiative and referendum amendment was called；
passed the lower legislative body with a small majority。 The pool rooms
offered five to four that it would carry in the senate。
It was on the night of the twenty…first of December that the
amendment passed the House。 On the morning of the twenty…third the
_Herald_ sprang a front page sensation。 It charged that the editor of the
_World_ had ruined a girl named Nellie Anderson at a house where he had
boarded and that she had subsequently disappeared。 It featured also a story
of how he had been seen to enter his rooms at midnight with a woman of
the street； who remained there until morning reveling with him。 Attached
