The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-26
fraudulently induced to sign the paper.
I-besides, It's outlawed."


II-besides, it's outlawed."
1t Is not outlawed," answered the
devil, firmly. Everything is legal and
regular, and after mature deliberation,
/ have determined to hand you over to
my undertaken here"
The DEVILS undertaken stepped up
with smile, and q courteous nod to Mr..
Blaine.
"But SURELY continued Blaine, ''you
will not enforce the bond. O, think OF
my family, my friends, my connections.
longer. / can still be OF service to you.
/ do not feel that / shall be a deadhead
in any enterprise you may suggest. |
see various channels in which l know L
can be useful.
With e waive Of his hand the devil re-
ferred this piteous petition to the under
taker.
'.It is sonominated In the bond," said
the undertaken. II must insist upon =
strict Interpretation of its provisions. :"
.Let me retire into private life, into
obscurity, into oblivion" urged the ex-
TT will not do" said the undertaken.
II remember coming here under similar
circumstances Just about four years ago.
We were after Colfax then. The poor
wretch pleaded SO hard and wept SO Bit
terly, that. agains tiny better Judgment
/ gave hahn up as q corpse not worth the
burying. How did he repay me Went
lecturing to Young Mems Christian AS
sociationsl That Is my last experiment
In the merciful line"
'At least" said Blaine, In apparent
despair, You will allow me to look
over the bond. Give me fair play.
There may be some flaw in the phrase
ology."
drawn" said the devil, with q smile ];
but have no objection to letting you
satisfy yourself, provided, of course,
you will give me your word OF honor as
between gentlemen, that you will re-
turn the document.
Certainly" said Blaine, "Igive you
my word"
The paper passed into Mr.. Blaine's
hands. He sat down on the Capitol
steps and read it attentively, while the
Devil and the Devils Undertaken stood
by, patiently waiting.
| Then q sudden change came over Mr.
| Blaine's countenance. He flushed to
the roots OF his hair with virtuous in
dignation. He buttoned the bond In
his inner breast pocket and jumping to
his feet exclaimed in an excited manner
"What is this An attempt to inJure
me with my own private papers! An
invasion OF the personal rights OF an
American citizenl An outrage on the
inalienable privileges OF every free
born Republican! A dastardly attempt
to blacken my reputation by q perver-
sion Of my own handwriting Nevers
never, shall give up this bondl | defy
the ex-Confederacy and all its mlnions.
| The vehemence Of Mr.. Blaine's invec-
| xiya had 3rouu crowd around him.
Somebody suggested that there must
be something in the paper which called
for concealment.
Concealment! he shrieked, re-
pudiate the thought. Whenever con-
cealment is desirable, avoidance is ad-
visable. Ny action is entirely based on
broad principles OF abstract right.
Listen, and will read to you and to all
the world, and to all the universe, what
is in that bond"
Then he read, and what the admiring
audience heard was letter written from
Augusta by Mr. Blaine to Hannibal
Hamlin, complimenting the latter on
the possession OF ability, skill, pluck,
wit, personal beauty, magnetic elo-
quence, and integrity even to blameless
ness.
"vindicated! Vindicatedw shouted
the crowd, tossing their hats In the air
and cheering till the heavens rang.
INDICATED triumphantly, but hadn't
you better show the letter to somebody,
just as mere form 2"
"Oh, that is wholly unnecessary,
said Mr.. Blaine, buttoning the bond in
his pocket again and walking coolly
away. Didn't / read it ?"
The Devil and his companion had
watched the vindication with quiet in
i terest "There's some servica in Jim
Blaine yet," said the Devil, at last.
think we'd better let him run little
longer
| And the two walked down Pennsylva-
mia avenue to call on Secor Robson.