In a little time, in a few minutes, even, he would not dread a few words so much; but _now_ he couldn't quite bear to be told he had found his friend only to lose him, the man he had always most needed, wanted, loved.

Everybody had always cared for Harkless, wherever he went.

That _he_ had always cared for everybody was part of the reason, maybe.

Meredith remembered, now, hearing a man who had spent a day in Plattville on business speak of him: "They've got a young fellow down there who'll be Governor in a few years.

He's a sort of dictator; and runs the party all over that part of the State to suit his own sweet will, just by sheer personality.