Guy Wetmore Carryl

“ Rathbawne. It’s not necessary to tell you, that for me there can never again be such a thing as trusting the word of Governor Abbott; but, at the same time, I can hardly bring myself to believe that he would openly countenance the practical existence of anarchy in the capital city of Alleghenia.”
“Well, I can, then!” declared Rathbawne. “I can believe anything of him! Mark my words, John, he’s as sleek a scoundrel as you’ll find outside of the State’s Prison. He cares less for Alleghenia and her capital city than you do for one of the hairs on his rascally head. ”

“ I don’t believe our people, as a class, are actually vicious and corrupt — only callous and indifferent, accustomed so long to the spectacle of political chicanery and depravity that they have lost their ability to appreciate its significance. But, so far as results are concerned, it all amounts to the same thing. Once, I hoped I should be able to do something. But now — I’m a nonentity, Mr. Rathbawne, as you know, and not only that, but a man who has taken a false step, from which he can never recover. ”

“ Elijah Abbott as a trickster is alone in his class. You were never more powerless to act for the right than you are at this moment.”
“But I have his assurance” —
“Oh, his assurance! It isn’t worth the ash off your cigar. What, give you a chance to interfere with the will of the Union which made him, and owns him, body and soul? Never in God’s world! Listen to me. I spent an hour in his office this very afternoon, discussing the strike — and he never so much as mentioned your name!”
The Lieutenant-Governor winced as if the words had been the touch of a lancet. Then he closed his eyes. ”

“ Alleghenia has a big enough burden of disgrace to carry, as it is.”
A servant entered, even as he was speaking, to summon him to the telephone, and with an exclamation of impatience he left the room. Immediately, Natalie stepped from her post at the window, and came toward Barclay with outstretched hands.
“Oh, Johnny boy,” she said, “I’m so sorry. How you’ve been hurt, dear, and disappointed, and cruelly wronged!”
The Lieutenant-Governor’s hands clenched again at the sound of sorrow in her voice, and he strove in vain to control the tremor of his lip. Tenderly he put his arms about her. ”

“ Rathbawne. I’ve a little business with him, so, for the moment, I’ll have to give Natalie the cold shoulder.”
“Oh!” said Mrs. Rathbawne, lifting her fat hands. “Of course, Lieutenant-Governor! I understand perfectly. Business before pleasure, always. Go right in, won’t you, and send Natalie here to me. I’ll stay here. Aren’t we going to have tea, Dorothy? Oh, do try to sit up straight, my dear!” ”

“ Some one in the crowd — threw a torch in at the window — there is a great crowd — a throng of strikers — watching — cheering the flames — hissing the firemen. They’ve begun early — and this is only the beginning! ”

“ And you’re taking care of him?”
“Oh, just directing the cure, that’s all! I’ll tell you more when I can report definite progress. Do you suppose there is a single secluded corner in all this mansion which has not already been preëmpted by Dorothy and Nisbet?”
He slipped his arm about her again, and together they went out, across the wide hall, toward the drawing-room. Rathbawne was standing at the telephone under the stairway, but, as they approached him, he replaced the receiver, and stepped forth under the light of the chandelier. ”