The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1872-10-10
me fick.Ynos pebate.

the Pennsvlvanl3 DiStfict. u'o o'S
trict was close, and the contest hot ana
persoual. After q rafting fire at long
range for more than a month, without
rasuh. il was resolved 10 try the effect OF
bringing the contestants to close quar-.
ters: in other words, it was arranged
that they should meet and discuss the
issues Of the hour" ut Tick-knob,
central and accessible point, on the day
before the election.
Both parties in DOMINIC their armor
boosted as only he should boast who
taketh il off. box and his friends were
sure Jones would skulk, and Jones and
his were quite as certain that Dox woula
never come TO the scratch. But II mel.
Their backed out not a "grease spot OF
either would be left if the other was To
be believed.
An ambuscade of secret affidavits to
the effect that Dox' wifc's sister-ln-law
brother-in-Iaw, who kept grocery at
Sordumdaie, sold sand in his sugar. con-
stituted principal feature in the Jones
tactics. box on the other hand, was
supplied with an equally convincing ar
raw of proofs that Jones stepfather's
uncle's aunt's cousin by marriage had
half sister no better than she should be.
These masked batteries, held carefully
in reverse on either side, when opened
at the last moment, were confidently cx-
pected, BY those in the secret would put
final settler on "thc issues OF the
hour"
For the time being Tick Knob became
the center of interest. Everybody was
making ready to go. In the remotest
corner of the district the din OF prepar-
alton sounded Heads of households
arranged TO take their families, ana
SWANS their swecthearts. Carryalls,
busgies, wagons, suikies, horses, mules
saddles, sidc-saddles and billions were
all in demand. To see Il couple OF
politicians "worry each other was a
treat too rare TO be foregone.
The dawn of the eventful day was as
bright as the hopes it heralded. AS
Jones walked the platform, "scentin
the morning air." and waiting for the
train that was to carry him to Tick
Knob and to victory, his reveres were
disturbed by 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 latters
arm hung creature Of more surprising
beauty than il had ever before entered
the heart Of Jones TO conceive.
"Going on the tram sir :" the elder
" gentleman asked.
Jones bowed without removing his
eyes from the object that revited them.
"Might ask you to take charge OF a
lady as far as the next station the
gentleman continued.
Might he? The question transported
Jones to the heaven of hours. lie
stammcrcd something about being only
too happy, and was saved from making
complete ass of himself by the arriv-
nj of the train.
Recovering himself, he handed the la
DIV on board, where another piece OF
GOOD fortune awaited him the crowded
state of the car compelled him to sit by
his charges side, and the road was a
narrow guagc. When it was building
Jones had gone with the broad guage
party; he saw his error now.
For the next half hour box and the
issues of the hour slipped from Jones
mind. He had never struggled for pop.
ular applause as he now laid himself out
TO win favor in the sight of pair OF
lustrious eyes, far lovlier in their strength
than any Byron ever wot of. Nor, he
flattered himself, were his efforts who'll
w unavailng. His flashes Of wit and
pushes of sentiment were rewarded
with more than one intoxicating smile
and tender look, that made him feel a:
"goose flesh"
At the end of thirty minutes the con
ductor sang out "Sorghumdalc ~ Jone:
would have sworn the minutes had beer
seconds. Anxious to prolong the deli
ciOus moments he escorted his charmel
to the platform, which they barely
reached when sudden faintness seemed
to overcome the lady. Her steps falter
ed, her limbs tottered, and she must in
evitablc have fallen had not Jone
caught her.
His first impulse was to shout Fire
his second, Water!" Before he coul'
do either the bell rang, the whIstl
sounded, the locomotive snorted and tn,
train began to move! VIVA. was TO b
done! If he failed to reach TiekKno'
in season, after all his Wanting, h
would be set down rs an arrant potrol
and his political cake hencetorwar'
would be dough. He had no alternativ
but to drop his burden and run or STAN
at his post till help came, leaving 9Th
issues of the hour" to take their owl
chance.
Jones was too much of man to hes
tate.
1t was still early, and there might b
another train: it was possible to driv
to Tick-knob in - couple of hours. Blu
come what would he would never IL
SORT such an angel in distress.
When the train was fairly off, the !:
dy-then in dead faint-opened he
eyes and looking up confidently
Where am z" she mumercd.
"Safc in these arms" was the assn
ing answer.
"Don't-pray don't exert yourself!
Jones pleaded. Permit me to carr
your-if you only know the pleasure
fcel-in.
"You have my sincere thanks, sill
she answered sweetly but l am reall