The Van Buren press., 1873-07-01

iHe mind Talk woman S voting Why,
nv dear madam, they have always voted
bv proxy. Give me with whimsical
blending of fun and cenfdence), the
gsod will of the cslieoss and l should
have no fears in regard to my election. y
or course Mrs Mason Was a very silly
woman to swallow all this chat, as
ven or | would 20 doubt have prenounc
ed it. nor would certain vague hint IN
regard 10 the appointment of new post
master have awakened any wild and fosi-
| ish hopes in our we'll balanced minds,
whatever it might have dsns in hers; but
truth compels me to say that, when the
two sat down to their rather late dinner,
there was feeling Of proud satistactisn
in that foolish woman's heart, that would
forever set apart this as one Of the red
letter days OF her quiet, uneventiul HE.
| The dinner was oxesheut-~wholesome
well oked country fare, and plenty OF
| it, NOR was the complacsnt guest at all
spariug in his praises Of it.
What superb corn! and those beans
(thank YOU, | will take a few more, If
You pease) are perfectly splendid-snch
rich flavor A new variety, | should
judge2' -.
Mrs Masen smiled, well pleased with
the compliment to fa'orite vegetable
while she told, with pleasant volubiilly,
its historv-how the seed had been sent
to them by mail frem cousin in Indiana
and how she had planted it in her own
flower garden, saving every rpsned bean
for the next years seed, and that this,
the third years crep, was large enough
for thoir summers supply, WITH plenty
for next years planting.
Would she he so kind as to spare him
Just few fer his vegetable garden at
home? To be sure nothing could give
her greater pleasure, and the hands that
fumbled with the faded strings OF little
Melly's dinncr-bag trsmbled quite as
much with pleased excitement rs with
tender memories.
There is nothing else handy TO put
them into, " she whispered, in excuse to
her own heart, 4" be&, or basket would
be SO inesnvenieut fer him to carry
And So the little calico bag freighted
with its sad tender memories re less than
with tho visible and unromantic load,
found the way into the pecket OF the col
onsls travelling coat, while ITS owner as
be rode briskly away frsn the hospltaols
farmhouse smiled coniiientlally WITH an
uttered comment;
This Young Mason is a man OF note
among his country nei2hbors, and bis
good will is worth winning, If one does
have to hatter his pretty wife a lI1'is TO
wiz it.
And he laughed low selfsatiShed
laugh, as, glsncing furtlvely over MS
shoulder, he caught q glimpse OF the trim
little figure that fingered on the psruco'
whore he had so ls;ely hidden her SO
impressive an adieu.
lisa saying that all asprants for po-
hrcal honors would do well to remem oer'
"natter the caicoes, ifyou want TO make
friends of the fusiian. a sage concln
sion, the wisdom of which seemed to
stand fair chance Of being proved that
evening at John Mason's tea table
Hes a perfect gentl man, was Mrs
Mason's commeat. So free lrom any
thing like atrectaton er pomposlty why
| don't believe that he noticed that the
forks were steel and the ceflee pot TN;
and he ate rs if he really rellshsd ms
food-didn't make me feel all the while
rs If he wasn't used to such homeiy larc,
as some people in this place would have
done
Her husband smiled geod.humoredly.
"Oh, the colonel is too we'll bred to put
on any silly airs OF superiority IN the
house where he is guest, but, with
slight compression OF his bearded lips,
we need something more than that Ia
our governor The man who nils that
position must be something moro than
well bred man. To be sure he added
thoughtfully, "the colonel promises WE'LL
and his friends boast that ho is perfectly
honest. man who means and will do ex
ac,ly what he says. l wish could have
seen him and sounded him on some
points, the liquor law for one thing
ooh, he's all right on that, inter
rupted Mrs Mason, briskly. - thot
Of that, with little complacsnt prlnk
iny OF her pretty mouth, "and so | just
mentioned il in careless way you know,
that intamperance was sadly on the IN
crease even in our quiet town, and that
something ought to be done to check 1t,
and, oh, John, her eyes sparkling snthu.
sastiealy at the remembrance, how l
do wish you could have heard him talk,
a,l IA. ,uas G "a sousibla about IT, too, de
said that moderate drinking was the
curse Of the day, and that, if he had his
way. laws should be made that would
basish the rich mans wine and brandy
from his side board a. e6actually US taey
would keep tho glass or whisky from the
poor topers lips. He looked 90 deter
mined when he said it that it came across
me all at once, what would sister Miriam
da say if she could hear hil now2 You
know be has pat w as Their mouse sever.
al times, aad hrs % as proud as pea
cock oft But I guess if he should up
hold a law that would empty their bar
she Il sing another song.
II think in that case, laughed Ma.
son, evidently pleased with his wife's
sbrswdsess, IL should he like Artemas
Ward, willing to sacrifice all my wlfs's
relations for the gsod OF my eouhtry,
although | houestly believe that Watson
would make as much in the long run II
he kept q temperance house 4" he does
now"
80 I've told Mira hundred llines.
4 r. a. al la