"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 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.
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