The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1871-11-09
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and lbe contest ha, snd personal, AZ
fer rsttling Dire si long range for more
than month without resnlt, it was 10.
solved 20 try the cflcel OF bringing the
gombaiants to close quarters; 10 other
words 4 was arranged that lhcy should
meet and disrus. the issues 81 the hour,
Al Tick-kuob, central and accessible
point The day before the election
Both parties, Ia donning their armor,
boaslcd d only be should boast who
taketh u on box and his friends were
qnlte certain Jones would never come
70 the scratch. Hut ifnether backed out,
not grease spot Of either would be
\ LETT, II the other was to believed.
IN ambuscade Of secret afIldavits to
4 the effect that Dox', wifc's sister.in.law's
blother-in-law, who kept grocery at
sorghnmdalc, sold sand IN his sugar, con-
stituted principal feature in the Jones,
tactics. Dox, on the other, was supplied
with an equally convincing array Of
proofs that Jones step.father's uncle's
aunt's cousin by marriage, had sister
no better than she should be, These mask
cd batteries, held carefully in reserve on
either side when opened at the last mo-
ment, was confidently expected, by those
in the secret, would put final settler on
"the issue of the hour"
For the time being, Tick. Knob became
the centre of interest. Eerybody was
making ready to 20. In the remotest
corners ofthe district, the din of prepare
ton sounded. Heads Of households ar
+ ranged to take their families, and swains
their sweethearts. Carryals, buggies,
wagons, sulkies, horses, mules, saddles,
side saddles, and pillions, were all in de-
mand. TO see a couple of politicians
IVORY and dcvour each other" was Il
treat too rare to be forgone.
/ The dawn Of the eyentful day was as
bright as the hopes il horaded As Jones
walked the platform, "scenting the morn
/ ing air, and waiting for the train that
1 was TO carry lin to Tick-Knob and vic
tory, his reyeries were disturbed by a
touch on the shoulder
Turning about he saw an elderly gen.
tleman-no we can hardly say he saw the
elderly gentleman, for on the latter's arm
hung a creature of more surpassing
beauty than It had ever before entered
the heart of Jones TO conceive.
Going on the train sir5 the elderly gen.
| tleman asked.
Jones bowed without removing his
eyes from the object that riveted them.
Might | ask you to take charge Of lady
as far as the next stationY the gentleman
continued.
Might he? the question transported
Jones to the heaven Of the houries. lie
stammered something about being only
too happy, and was saved from making a
complete ass of himself by the arrival Of
the train.
Recovering himself, be handed the
lady on board, where another piece OF
good fortune awaited him; the crowded
state ofthe car compelled him to sit by
his charges side, and the road was mar.
row gauge. When 1t was building Jones
had gone with the broad gauge party; he
saw his error now.
For the next half hour, Dox, and the
issues Of the hour s,ipt from Jones mem
Dry. lie had never struggled for popu-
lar applause as he now laid himself out TO
win favor in the sight Of pair of lus-
trous dark eyes, far loyeier in their
strength than any Byron ever wrote of.
Nor, be flattered himself, were his efforts
unavaiing. His flashes of wit and gush-
es of sentiment with more than one in
toxicating smile and tender look that
made him feel as though his entire cuticle
was rising into "eoose flesh. .
At the end Of thirty minutes the con-
ductor sang ont "Sorghumdale = Jones
would have sworn the minutes had been
seconds Anxious to prolong the de-
licous momeuts, he escorted his charm
er 10 the platform, which they had barely
reached when sudden iaintuess seemed
to overcome the lady. Her step fatered,
her limbs toltered, and she must iuevit-
ably have fallen had not Jones caught
her
His first impulse was 10 shout, fire -
his second, Water Before he could do
either the bell rang, the whistle shrieked,
the locomotive snoltcd, and the train be
gan 10 move What was TO be done? If
he failed to reach Tick-knob in season,
after all his yauntng, he would be set
down as an arrant poltroon, and his po-
+ litical cake would be dough. lie had no
alternative but TO drop his burthen and
run or stand at his post till help cane,
/ leaving the issues Of the honr' TO take
4 tLcir own chances.
I Jones was too much Of man 10 hesi-
I tate. II was still early, aud there might
Be another train, il was possible to drive
10 Tick-kuob ia couple Of hours. But
come what would, hc would never leave
.ncb an angel In distress.
When the train was fairly or tie lady
/ It'll lhen ina dead iaint-opcned her
eyes, and looking mp conhdingly;
Where am She murmured.
safe III these arms was the assuring
answer
4 modest blush mantlcd her cheek a.
she made an effort 70 di-engage herself.
Don'ipray don't exert yonrsclf'
Jones pleaded. Permit me 70 carry you
II yoH only know tie pleasure feel i'm