Besides, there was a temptation to a man of my Yankee blood to see how these people would take to reform government, and the advantages of the day.
Why, perhaps in a year’s time a score of wonderful things might mark the footsteps of progress—telephones, electric cars, modern guns for defending the forts, and an army that meant business, and would command the respect of all neighboring republics.
It loomed up before me.
Such is the magic of ambition; the calling of my name outside beckoned me to fields of glory, and—I yielded.
Perhaps the excitement through which I had passed had something to do with it, for the smell of burnt powder was still in the air, and my nerves quivered with their recent flush; but deep down in my heart, I am free to confess that this sudden ambition was born in quite another desire—Hildegarde would see how grievously she had wronged me in the past when she contemptuously declared that I must be lacking in those attributes that go to fashion a man into heroic mold.
True, I had already proven the falsity of that belief, and her repentance had been sincere; but man is weak, and the temptation to shine, even temporarily, in this fierce light of a public idol, was irresistible.
A president in an hour—few men could boast such sudden elevation to power.
Unconsciously, I drew my figure erect, and assumed a consequential air.
Upon which Robbins laughed outright, knowing, the sly dog, that the golden bait had been swallowed, and that I was hooked fast—but he never guessed the true reason of my acceptance.
“Hurrah! It’s arranged, then—you’ll give them a run for their money!” he said, shaking my presidential hand with great enthusiasm; and I really believe he enjoyed my sudden rise to popularity better than if it had been himself whom the good people had selected.