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voter that the time has come for a change。〃
I began to keep a scrap…book； though I locked it up in the drawer of my
desk。 In it are to be found many clippings of a similarly gratifying
tenor。。。。
Mecklin and I were well contrasted。 In this way； incidentally； I made
many valuable acquaintances among the 〃solid〃 men of the state； the local
capitalists and manufacturers； with whom my manner of dealing with public
questions was in particular favour。 These were practical men； they
rather patronized the Hon。 Joseph； thus estimating； to a nicety； a mans
value； or solidity； or specific gravity； it might better be said； since
our universe was one of checks and balances。 The Hon。 Joseph and his
like； skyrocketing through the air； were somehow necessary in the scheme
of things； but not to be taken too seriously。 Me they did take
seriously； these provincial lords； inviting me to their houses and
opening their hearts。 Thus； when we came to Elkington； Mr。 Mecklin
reposed in the Commercial House； on the noisy main street。 Fortunately
for him； the clanging of trolley cars never interfered with his slumbers。
I slept in a wide chamber in the mansion of Mr。 Ezra Hutchins。 There
were many Hutchinses in Elkington；brothers and cousins and uncles and
great…uncles；and all were connected with the woollen mills。 But there
is always one supreme Hutchins； and Ezra was he： tall； self…contained；
elderly； but well preserved through frugal living； essentially American
and typical of his class； when he entered the lobby of the Commercial
House that afternoon the babel of political discussion was suddenly
hushed； politicians； traveling salesmen and the members of the local
committee made a lane for him； to him； the Hon。 Joseph and I were
introduced。 Mr。 Hutchins knew what he wanted。 He was cordial to Mr。
Mecklin； but he took me。 We entered a most respectable surrey with
tassels； driven by a raw…boned coachman in a black overcoat； drawn by two
sleek horses。
〃How is this thing going； Paret？〃 he asked。
I gave him Mr。 Grunewald's estimated majority。
〃What do you think？〃 he demanded； a shrewd； humorous look in his blue
eyes。
〃Well； I think we'll carry the state。 I haven't had Grunewald's
experience in estimating。〃
Ezra Hutchins smiled appreciatively。
〃What does Watling think？〃
〃He doesn't seem to be worrying much。〃
〃Ever been in Elkington before？〃
I said I hadn't。
〃Well； a drive will do you good。〃
It was about four o'clock on a mild October afternoon。 The little town；
of fifteen thousand inhabitants or so； had
a wonderful setting in the widening valley of the Scopanong； whose
swiftly running waters furnished the power for the mills。 We drove to
these through a gateway over which the words 〃No Admittance〃 were
conspicuously painted； past long brick buildings that bordered the
canals； and in the windows I caught sight of drab figures of men and
women bending over the machines。 Half of the buildings； as Mr。 Hutchins
pointed out； were closed；mute witnesses of tariff…tinkering madness。
Even more eloquent of democratic folly was that part of the town through
which we presently passed； streets lined with rows of dreary houses where
the workers lived。 Children were playing on the sidewalks； but theirs
seemed a listless play； listless； too； were the men and women who sat on
the steps；listless； and somewhat sullen； as they watched us passing。
Ezra Hutchins seemed to read my thought。
〃Since the unions got in here I've had nothing but trouble；〃 he said。
〃I've tried to do my duty by my people； God knows。 But they won't see
which side their bread's buttered on。 They oppose me at every step； they
vote against their own interests。 Some years ago they put up a job on
us； and sent a scatter…brained radical to the legislature。〃
〃Krebs。〃
〃Do you know him？〃
〃Slightly。 He was in my class at Harvard。。。。 Is he still here？〃 I
asked； after a pause。
〃Oh； yes。 But he hasn't gone to the legislature this time； we've seen to
that。 His father was a respectable old German who had a little shop and
made eye…glasses。 The son is an example of too much education。 He's a
notoriety seeker。 Oh； he's clever； in a way。 He's given us a good deal
of trouble； too； in the courts with damage cases。〃。。。
We came to a brighter； more spacious； well…to…do portion of the town；
where the residences faced the river。 In a little while the waters
widened into a lake； which was surrounded by a park； a gift to the city
of the Hutchins family。 Facing it； on one side； was the Hutchins
Library； on the other； across a wide street； where the maples were
turning； were the Hutchinses' residences of various dates of
construction； from that of the younger George； who had lately married a
wife； and built in bright yellow brick； to the old…fashioned mansion of
Ezra himself。 This； he told me； had been good enough for his father； and
was good enough for him。 The picture of it comes back to me； now； with
singular attractiveness。 It was of brick； and I suppose a modification
of the Georgian； the kind of house one still sees in out…of…the way
corners of London； with a sort of Dickensy flavour； high and square and
uncompromising； with small…paned windows； with a flat roof surrounded by
a low balustrade； and many substantial chimneys。 The third storey was
lower than the others； separated from them by a distinct line。 On one
side was a wide porch。 Yellow and red leaves； the day's fall； scattered
the well…kept lawn。 Standing in the doorway of the house was a girl in
white； and as we descended from the surrey she came down the walk to meet
us。 She was young； about twenty。 Her hair was the colour of the russet
maple leaves。
〃This is Mr。 Paret； Maude。〃 Mr。 Hutchins looked at his watch as does a
man accustomed to live by it。 〃If you'll excuse me； Mr。 Paret； I have
something important to attend to。 Perhaps Mr。 Paret would like to look
about the grounds？〃 He addressed his daughter。
I said I should be delighted； though I had no idea what grounds were
meant。 As I followed Maude around the house she explained that all the
Hutchins connection had a common back yard； as she expressed it。 In
reality； there were about two blocks of the property； extending behind
all the houses。 There were great trees with swings； groves； orchards
where the late apples glistened between the leaves； an old…fashioned
flower garden loath to relinquish its blooming。 In the distance the
shadowed western ridge hung like a curtain of deep blue velvet against
the sunset。
〃What a wonderful spot！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Yes； it is nice；〃 she agreed； 〃we were all brought up hereI mean my
cousins and myself。 There are dozens of us。 And dozens left；〃 she
added； as the shouts and laughter of children broke the stillness。
A boy came running around the corner of the path。 He struck out at
Maude。 With a remarkably swift movement she retaliated。
〃Ouch！〃 he exclaimed。
〃You got him that time；〃 I laughed； and； being detected； she suddenly
blushed。 It was this act that drew my attention to her； that defined her
as an individual。 Before that I had regarded her merely as a shy and
provincial gi