Of the interview between the father and the son, in which Evan announced
his intention of accepting a place under McVickar, nothing was said in
the newspapers, for the very good reason that no reporter was present.
If the young man who had so summarily taken his future into his own
hands was anticipating a storm of disapproval and opposition, he was
disappointed. He had seen Mr. McVickar's private car coupled to the
east-bound Fast Mail, and had dined with Patricia and her father, the
fourth seat at the table of reunion being vacant because the senator was
dining elsewhere. Later in the evening he faced the music in the
sitting-room of the private suite, waylaying his father on the Honorable
David's return to the hotel.
Planning it out beforehand, Blount had meant to give the ethical reasons
which had constrained him to put a conclusive end to the
attorney-generalship scheme. But when the crux came, the carefully
planned argument side-stepped and he was reduced to the necessity of
declaring his purpose baldly. The railroad people had offered him a
place, and he had accepted it.
"So McVickar talked you over to his side, did he?" was the boss's gentle
comment. "It's all right, son; you're a man grown, and I reckon you know
best what you want to do. If it puts us on opposite sides of the
political creek, we won't let that roil the water any more than it has
to, will we?"
To such a mild-mannered surrender, or apparent surrender, the stirring
filial emotions could do no less than to respond heartily.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119