triumphs, which had been intended as an argument favorable to himself,
give birth to a rival; one also who, for his geography and the
popularity which those personal obstinacies and thick-skulled
integrities invoked, might work a grave disturbance in his plans. To
make bad worse, the Obstinate One possessed a sinister luck of his own
and with closed eyes backed into a fight on the right side and won it
against a pack of lobby wolves who were yelping and snapping about the
State Treasury. This, although the Obstinate One of all men least
appreciated what he had done, confirmed him as a valuable asset of
party; pending further honors the public to reward him gave him the
title of Governor Obstinate.

In his white, still, rippleless way, Senator Hanway hated in his soul's
soul the name of Governor Obstinate. Night and day he carried that dull,
fortunate gentleman on his swell of thought and never ceased to consider
how he might deal him a blow or withstand him in any Presidential
stepping forward. And yet at no time had Senator Hanway--and himself the
master of every art of cord and creese in politics--felt more helpless.
If Governor Obstinate had been no more than just a finished politician,
a mere Crillon of political fence, Senator Hanway might have flashed his
ready point between his ribs. But the other's very crudities defended
him. He was primitive to the verge of despair. Even his strength was
primitive, inasmuch as it dwelt among the people rather than with the
machinists of party. Senator Hanway's monkish brow went often puckered
of a most uncanonical frown as he thought upon that sardonic Destiny
which had thrust this Governor Obstinate forward to become a stumbling
block in his way. In his angry contempt he could compare him to nothing
save a grizzly bear.

Whatever the justice of this last shaggy simile, even Senator Hanway