The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-07-14
1Alsteea vsoes, - the Wager.
A rRug STORY.

| In town in the interior Of the Granite
State not many years since, = gs"slemaa q
so.sa property, and not little political con
| sideration, resided, whose name we shall
| call Martyr. He was great stickler foi
party principles, insomuch that he was some
times induced by party zeal to violate hi
moral duties. On one occasion in particular
when very important election was taking
place, upon the result Of which, perhaps
/ the very existence, Of his party depended
ne was 80 carried away by his party feelings
| ~ 20 deposit thirteen rofn for one individual
q the same time in the ballot box, in def
ance Of the law which provides that no man,
& whatever party he may belong, or how
ever worthy may be his favorite candidate,
shall deposit mcrc than one ballot Cor an,
individual for any one office.
Waite Martyr was unfortunately detect
ed in this equi,ocal act---and although no
legal action was had IN relation Ia this sub.
jcct, yet there was those in the town in
which lac resided, who were unwilling to
admit that excess of party zeal was sutfi-
c'cnt apology for his dcrcliction Of moral
duty-and the simple act 81 aepositing thir
teen votes for one candidate, AT one time in
the ballot Lox, although palIiated aud cx-
cuscd BY ,omc Of his warm political friends,
was severely censured by Others This &C.
currcncc furnished subject Of conversation
among the worldly citizens Of the town for
several wccks--at the end of which time il
gradually died away and was forgotten.
Poor Nj. Martyr was doomed 90 hear the
words thirteen votes " occasionally repeat
ed BY his foes in the most indignant manner
evidently with the design Of disturbing
the equanimity IT his feelings In this they
ucceeded but too well These words, ~
harmless In themselves, or when applied 10
others, if addressed 10 Mr.. Martyr, or even
uttered in his hearing, seemed to possess the
power VI . magic cabala, 81 wonderful m |
instantaneous was the effect which they
produced ON the appearance and conduct of
that gentleman. The moment thirteen
votes" reached his ear. his features were
clondcd with iiown of indignat ion--hi~
eyes were lighted with most unholy fire
his hands involuntarily grasped the nearest
weapon OF defence within his reach, and his
voice. naturally clear and sonorous, rcscn,-
bled the sound of distant thunder, or the
rumbling Of the pcntup volcano. Indeed
the effect produced ON Sir Picrcie Shaiton
BY the sight Of the bodkin, a. related in the
" Monastery Of Sir Walter Scott, was mo-,
more sudden and terrible than the effect
produced On Waite Martyr by repeating
the words thirteen votcs.n His weakness
on this point was psovcrbial, aud wicked
youth OF the village, now a very worthy
and respectable legal practitioner Of Boston.
once made Martyrs iniirnity the means I'll
playing oil mi~chievous and cruel Joke, to
the great amusement of the bystandcrs.
Mr. Smith, the young gentleman to whom
we aliulc, being one day BY the village tav-
er,l, entered into conversation with scnieel
looking stranger, while the lan.llady was
preparing some refreshments, with which 10
refresh the exhausted frame and spirits of
her guest. The conversation turned u,s,u
the difficulty u pronouncing the names ii
places VI Indian origin, winch are often met
with IN the New England States In the
midst OF the colloquy, Mr.. Smith saw his
political opponent, Waite Martyr, coming
down the rad lie was certain that Wat
tic would pop into the tavern, and in the
spur u the moment, laid hi- plans accord
insly.
What you say, SIR said Mr.. Smith, .rc-
>pccting those jaw breaking names, /, pcr-
icctly corrcct--l agree with You certainly,
and am much gratilied To make the acauaint-
ancc VI gentleman of such taste. HUT, nv
dear sir, there are familiar English words.
which, although they may not be very diff
cult 10 pronounce, are exceedingly difficult
TO repeat. For instance, il is almost i,npos-
-ib'c Tor any one not familiar with the ptac-
tice, TO pronounce the words, hiffeea roies,
Mirfeta rofes, thirteen rotes, for any length Of
time, without making the most ludicrous
mistakes"
Thirteen votcs! thirteen votes thirteen
votes' repeated the stranger. u do not
&c any difficulty Ia that could 90 On re-
pcatine the words thirteen votes thirtceen
votes thirteen votes until tomorrow morn.
ingr'
IL J. Car more difficult, my dear SIR, than
You imagine, replied Mr. Smith in L,s bland
est manner. Il am not much in the habit
II betting, but for The curiosity II the thing,
! am willing 60 bet you the price II a din
ner for yourself and horse, that yon cannot
repeat the words, thirteen votes, thirteen
votes, thirteen votes fifteen minutes, with
out making some cg9regio,s blun.lcrs.n
Done, said the traselcr--who reloiced
ut the idea IL paying the landlords charges
81 easil =" aud will begin at oncc.n SO
saying he took nut his watch AMI noted the
timc--thcn planting himself firmly against
the wall, with his face toward the tlonr, he
assumed the look III great determination. n.
II he had undertaken an unpleasant lob, but
was resolved To g. through with Il az Nil
hazarsls--and commenced proi,ouncing In n
loud, clear voice, with due emphasis and dis
erection, the cabali-tic words, atbirteeu
votes thirteen votes thirteen Votes -
In the meantime, Mr.. Martyr, not dream
ing Of the insult that awaited him, bent his
sfeps, ~ lac was wont, towards the tavern.
As he reached the threshold of the door, he
heard the Offensive words, " thirteen Votes
thirteen votes" pronounced with
frame trembling with passion and with fury
strongly imprinted u, his ruLicand ,isaVe.
he abruptly entered the bar-room. 10 CON
front the man who dared thus triac with,
his feelings, and attempt to ovcrwiclm him
with insult.
His eye, bcaming with wrath, fell upon
the stranger, who regarded hi. whitening
Chances with the most provoking Indifference
and who paused not moment In bis reel
tation, but continued Ia repeat the madden
ing words, thirteen VOTES thirteen votes
thirteen votes p
The indignant Martyr next caught sight
of Mr.. smith, convulsed with laughter
What Is the meaning 81 this, sir,r said
he IA voice ot thunder. Hut the only re-
ply he received was from the mouth III the
stranger, who, with the most irritating per-
tinacy continued 10 bawl. even louder than
before, "thirteen Votes thirteen votes
thirteen votes
Martyr then advanced towards the stran-
scr, his frame absolutely quivcring with
rage. who are you, scolndrcl ~ demand
ed he In the most inperious manner, and
how darn you insult me in thi. way ~
= The stranger thought the rage Of Martyr
was countcrieited, and rsisc of Smiths 10
win the wager and the answer 10 this a,,c~-
ton, shouted out in still louder voice than
before, was, thirteen votes tairteen votes
thirteen v0tes p
~ will not put up with this insult,n
screamed Martyr, doubling up his tist and
putting himself In an attitude.
Thirteen votes thirteen votes thirteen
votes" vociisnted the stranger q the top
Of his lungs.
III you repeat those words again I will
knock yon down, Won rascal, said the IN
fariated Martyr, with howl Of despera-
ton.
The stnnger felt somewhat indignant ct
being thus addressed in this rude and un-
cescnOnious manner, bur be- was determined
Tn win tkA ~s>xl -.