the vision spendid(美景)-第39章
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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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THE VISION SPLENDID
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
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to this were the affidavits of two detectives； a police officer； and the
druggist who had furnished the liquor。
The story exploded like a bomb shell in the camp of the progressives。
Rawson tried at once without success to get Jeff on the telephone。 He was
not at the office； nor had he reached his rooms at all after leaving the
_World_ building on the previous night。 None of his friends had seen or
heard of him。
The afternoon papers had a sensation of their own。 Jefferson Farnum
had left Verden secretly without leaving an address。 Evidently he had been
given a hint of the exposure that was to be made of his life and had
decamped rather than face the charges。
Rumor had a hundred tales to tell。 The waverers at the State House
chose to believe that Jeff had sold them out and fled with his price。 It was
impossible to deny the stories of his immorality； since it happened that
Sam Miller； the only man who knew the whole story； was far up in the
mountains arranging for a shipment of Rocky Mountain sheep to the state
museum。 Farnum's friends could only affirm their faith in him or surrender。
Some gave way； some stood firm。 The lobbyists and the opposition went
about with confident； 〃I…told…you…so〃 smiles writ large on their faces。
Within a few days it became apparent that the reform bill would be
defeated in the senate。 Its fate had been so long tied up with the people's
belief in Jeff that with his collapse the general opinion condemned it to
defeat。 Its friends hung back； unwilling to risk a vote as yet。
The situation called for a leader and developed one。 James Farnum
stepped into the breach and took command。 In
