LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

Curry said. Turning toward McWorthan he said, “McWorthan will be in charge of the district and it will be him who’ll be meeting and leading y’all, and before we leave here tonight, I want to know who you have in mind that might represent you as a legislator come fall election. You need someone who’s young that’ll be there for a spell and patriotic to the cause. Most of the older politicians aren’t even eligible to run but that’s all right. We’ll get our men in there.”

      Starting with the Kemper county representative, each man gave Curry the name of a prospective person they felt was popular enough to carry their county. Finally it came time for Hendon to make his selection. “There are a lot of fine young men in Newton County, but I just don’t know. Let me think a moment.”

      “How ‘bout Mister Olliver there,” one of the men from Jasper County said. “With his money, he could buy the whole state of Miss’sippi.”

      Even though the men were trying to be as quiet as possible, they couldn’t help but laugh at his suggestion.

      “How about it Mister Olliver,” Curry said, taking a draw from his cigar and tilting his head backwards and blowing a gust of smoke high above his head.

      There was nothing Frank had rather do than represent Newton County in the state legislature. All his life he had dreamed of being in a position of power where people would have to look up to him. This would give him a chance to show what he could do. When he was growing up, it had always been someone else in school elected as a class officer or chosen to lead in a community project, never Frank Olliver.

      He won’t get the job done. You can’t depend on Frank. He’s nothing but a weakling, resounded through Frank’s mind. But I showed them. My father and I did it to them. I can buy and sell every one of them now. I might even become governor one day if I really set my mind to it.

      But then he remembered, there are things in my past that if brought up, could be detrimental to me and my family. There are a few people who not only could stop my election but could also place me behind bars. There’s no way I can take the chance.

      Finally Frank shook his head. “That’s not for me. I’ll help Professor Hendon but I have other responsibilities. You can depend on my means come election time. As I just said, we’ll carry Newton County.”

      “Sorry to hear you won’t run, Mister Olliver. How about it Hendon, you know someone else?” Curry asked.

      All of a sudden, Hendon’s eyes brightened. “I’d like to run John Wilson. He was a student of mine and I must say one of my best. He’s smart, hardworking, honest as the day’s long and he fought for us during the war. Got shot up pretty bad at Gettysburg. Yes Sir, he’s the best we have to offer.”

      “How about it, Mister Olliver? How about this John Wilson?” McWorthan asked.

      Frank thought for a second. Growing up, John had been his closest friend, the brother he had never had and many a time John had stood up for him when no one else would. If it hadn’t been for Rebecca, they would probably still be friends. When he was listed as killed, Rebecca was finally his and as the law goes, she was.

      But John knows too much about me and my family, Frank thought. What he knows is placing me in my own prison. If it weren’t for him and a couple of others, Mississippi might well could be mine.

      “Mister Olliver. How about this Wilson?”

      Frank looked over at Hendon. “He’ll do fine, that is if you can get him to run. He ain’t been too sociable since he came home. War affects people in strange ways. He’ll do.”

      After the meeting Hendon and Frank decided to go downstairs for a late drink and possibly a little female companionship. Sitting next to a roaring fire and enjoying a refreshing drink of Kentucky bourbon, the men began to reflect on all that had transpired that evening.

      “Fessor, think this thing can be pulled off?”

      Putting his glass down and scratching his head as he often did when thinking, Hendon replied, “We don’t have a choice. Things couldn’t be any worse than they are now and somebody has got to take a stand. Might as well be us.”

      “Yeah, but what if’n we’re standing out there by ourselves. We could end up in big trouble,” Frank replied.

      Taking a sip from his glass, Hendon said, “We won’t be by ourselves. There are plenty of men ready to do what it takes. As I taught you in school, revolutions are always carried on by a minority. The vast majority don’t want to get involved, especially if it becomes violent. We’ll get the men.”

      “What about John, Fessor? You think he’ll run?”

      “I’ll have to talk to him. I’m not sure he’ll go along with the Klan. I think he’s a good man, maybe too honest for his own good and you know he’s always been idealistic. If he’ll run, he’ll win. How about you talking to him about it or better still get your sister to speak with him? They have been seeing each other a lot.”

      “I don’t know, Fessor. Me and John speak, but we’re not close like we used to be.”

      “You boys have got to forget what happened between you. Time’s passed and there’s nothing you can do about it. You need to make amends.”

      “Easy to say but I don’t think it’ll ever happen. I guess the breech is just too wide. Suzanne will be the one to convince him if anybody can. She adores the ground he walks on,” Frank said. “She’d marry him tomorrow if’n he’d consent. Heck, she’s probably sleeping with him now. She may be my sister, but she’s one beautiful woman and he’s human, ain’t he?”

      “Frank, you know as well as I do that John isn’t doing any sleeping with her, but to change the subject, do you think he’d leave his parents’ farm?”

      “The Wilsons ain’t nothing but small time farmers. Suzanne’s been trying to talk him into expanding or coming to work for us. He could be our foreman or bookkeeper. Who cares, all she wants is a man in her bed and a father for her children. He could marry her and do nothing. We got more money than we’ll ever spend in my lifetime and with me investing into the railroad business, I need someone I can trust to help me run things.”

      “He probably won’t do it, will he Frank?”

      “I’m not sure, Fessor. He says that he won’t work for no Olliver and he won’t be no puppet on a string. He just says that he’d rather be a smalltime farmer. You know what I say? I say that his pride is keeping him from being one wealthy man. I think he’s crazy as hell. What do you think?”

      “I think he does things his own way, and I also think he would make the state of Miss’sippi one hell’ova politician if we can get him to run and teach him the art of compromise somewhere along the way.”

      All of a sudden the Professor noticed two women making their way down the stairs toward the bar. “Frank, you see that tall red-headed woman who just came in? I was hoping I wouldn’t run into her tonight. That is one fine woman. I could turn down most, but sir, I will not neglect her. I’ll see you in the morning or sometime next week. Lord forgive my sins.”

      5

      COURTSHIP OF A POLITICIAN

      January, 1869

      Several weeks after the meeting in meridian, john’s parents were enjoying a late afternoon, relaxing and reading in front of a warm fire while John and his brother-in-law, James Robinson, were down behind the barn working.

      During the winter months farmers in east central Mississippi had less work than during the growing season. They would maintain and repair farm equipment, take care of their livestock and split wood for fence rails and fireplaces.

      Mrs. Wilson, hearing an approaching rider, eased the curtain back and peered outside. “Looks like John’s got a visitor, Lott. A pretty one, too.”

      Rising from his chair, Lott replied, “You

Скачать книгу