The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-12-23

comfortable determination took posses
sion of me to abandon forever the bust
ness | had been engaged in for so
many wears. and devote myself to the
dangerous destinations of political life.
While | WIS in this cyaltation of
mind. absorbed in contemplation of the
brilliant future that unioded itself be-
fore nv mental gaze. time seemed to
melt away imperceptibly; night passed,
the breakfast hour came and went,
leaving no definite impression except
that ! could eat nothing. SO filled to re-
pleton was with the new power that
dominated every thought.
Upon waking mp, as it were, from
this day dream. who should see sitting
opposite to me but the very friend
whose unreflective inquiry, at yester-
DAYS dinner-I have no doubt II was
that ike the infant touch at Hallctts
Reef. swept every obstacle away, and
showed me the clear and unobstructed
: channel of my destiny.
Strange to say. he knew exactly what
I | was thinking about.
Ohio" said he, with Jolly laugh,
" / thought you didn't mean what you
said yesterday.
Il did at the time. ! replied {" but
! have come to the conclusion recently
that the safety of our glorious country
depend upon my individual exertions,
sir the elements of disintegration de-
cadence. and dissolution infused by the
miserable wretches who oppose our pa
triotic party, into the very vitals of the
BODY polite. will ere long submergc
4 l,tt 70
erected by the wisdom of our forefath-
crs. unless some powerful intelligence
shall arise, and with strong Will
shall check these anarchists in their
mad career. and save the country from
impending ruin, Well, sir. that cham
pion has arisen. and | am he.
"Wby, don't know it ?" replied my
friend oy the way his name is Sella-
man. " And let me tell YOU he went
on, "that as the mouth-piece and popu-
lar exponent of public opinion
What, | the month-picce =
Certainly" he continued. 1T
would he false dclicacy in YOU. dis
tinguishcd senator, representing our
national council one of the most en-
lightened constituencies
Just at that moment the rapidly fol-
lowing events of the past three or four
wears suddenly occurred to NE. | had
nearly forgotten that had gone through
the regular probationary conditions OF
the legislature and the House of Repre-
scntatives. While indulSing i'll my
strange ievcric. now, however. 1t all
flashed upon my memory at once. and
the Importance of my high station en-
vcloped me in haze of self-satlstied
dignity. OF course it would not do for
me to be quite so familiar with my old
friend, SO | proceeded to freeze him
with my civility.
MY good Sellaman," said I, with a
supercilious glance, laying one finger
upon his arm. "These things are not
for the outside crowd to NEEDLE with.
Leave them to MS, my excellent friend.
When | go to Washington
600 to Washington" said Sellaman.
Why. You are at Washington"
On looking around me. found that
we were there in one of the most sump-
tuous parlors of the Arlington. and yet.
so much had | to think of. and so alb
sorbing is the nature of public bust
ness. had really forgotten all about 1t.
Sellaman, nothing daunted by my
frigidity of manner continued To give
me what he called sound constitutional
advice. intersperscd with hints about a
certain post-tradcrship which he assert
ed | had promised him. Il circumstance
was entirely unable to call to mind.
At length, tired of his importantly,
and. moreover. expecting visit from
member of the cabinet. | gave him