Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-11-04
ELECTION EVE.
BY COLBY.

''NNNps DCSan III -
with sleepy yawn, as he stretched
his feet little higher the merry
cracking fire on the hearth, his arms
at the same time threatening to de.
molish a well-appointed lamp hang
ing suspended over his writing ia
Bile. 81 wonder
But just there the Judge stopped
and gazed long and earnestly into
the fire as if it could help to solve
some hard, knotty problem OF some.
thing to come or something that had
passed. Not that he had any partlc
ular problem to solve; nor vet had
he asked any question of any body oil
thing, and if you could have asked
what he wondered, he could not have
told you any mere than /. But to be
plain with you, kind reader, the Judge
had had these spells of wondering
very often since his nomination for
expected Congressional honors some
two months before.
And tonight was election eve.
What mattered it to the Judge
that the cold wind howled dolefulIy
round the corners of bis snug, warm
house, or raved and moaned in bis
ample chimney, or chased the dull.
leaden clouds across the bright moon
in fierce phrenzy of delight =? VIVA,
mattered it to him, say, for had he
not rolled every log, pulled every
wire, touched every hidden spring
known to political craft, that to-mor-
rows harvest of votes might bring
him unto the land flowing with pen.
sion milk and Immigrant honey?
Perhaps
There was a patriarchical smile on
the Judges face, too--a smile that
had been taken on at the convention
and that had, sleeping or waking, re
NAMED steadfast-a smile that was
not once disturbed by the Judges
rising in an distracted manner and
attempting to shake hands with his
overcoat that hung by the door.
Then, after seating himself, the
Judge wheeled around to the table
under the hanging lamp, and took a
survey OF its chaotic contents Here
were books, papers. writing materi.
al and letters all heaped together in
confusion here was little hand
book containing the registry of his
precinct, each name having d or r
set opposite it, showing that his cleo
ton was probable, and here also was
tabulet of many figures proving it
beyond doubt He surveyed it all
tor few moments and then began
languidly to overturn first this pile of
pagers and then that bunch of letters,
until something suddenly fell from
somewhere, fiuttered a moment in the
air, and lit on the table before him.
he ceased has runmaging and gazed
inditfsrently at it for few moments:
but as he gazed growing interest
manifested itself on his features.
Strange how some black plume
will fall from dark Yesterday to cloud
our bright To-day. Would that the
church'ya contained one. half the
tomb stones of our buried. Think
you today's accounts will not be
footed up to morrow in agony or in
joy? If you have buried anything
OF the past into utter forgetfulness,
search not the secret hooks of your
surroundings lest its clammy ghost
creep forth and gambol in the sun
shine.
The Judge at last folded his arms
upon the table and laid his head upon
then. The FIRE cracked and burned
within, the wind Kissed and shrieked
without, and moment after moment
passed UNDECIDED by the silent figure.
Could it be that he was sleeping ?
Some one suddenly and quietly
enters the room. He hears the soft
rustling of dress, and instinctive,y
he feels that the hour of stern action
has come. Before him stands a Young
female of rare loneliness. Her dark
halr falls in silken ripples about her
graceful form, and the gauzy fabric
OF her dress but shows her perfect
mould. If we have come to know
the Judge, we must also know that
this fair girl of nineteen summers is
his daughter.
She approaches him and falls upon
her knees. Surely he will throw his
arms about her neck and imprint a
goodnight kiss upon her fair cheek
But, stopl she has something in
her arms-something that snuggles
near her breast. If we failed to hear
the quiet sigh, the gentle COO coming
from her precious burden, we cannot
mistake the little pink wsxen fingers
resting upon the snowy neck of the
Judges daughter.
Slow, stern and almost savage
came these words from the husky
voice of the Judge:
"What! you here ?"
eyes, father" answered the girl.
and her words came choked and
painful,
"What for ?" he asked.
"To beg mercy and shelter for
myself and child" she sobbed.
"What claim" he said, vehement.
ly, shave you and your brat for
mercy and shelter upon one whom
you have everlastingly disgraced ?''
She made no reply, but claspad
Der infant nearer to her bosom, as
the Judge continued, rising TO his
feet:
"No. | have no mercy for such as
you. never wish to see your face
again. There's the door. You have
my parting curse. Go-go, / say -
"What, into the Storm" she cried.
wildly, rising to her feet and shaking
with terror.
"Yes-into the cold into the
Storm into the street into the
ve-anywhere. Go" be roared,
stamping his foot
But she did not 90 toward the
door which he held open. Perhaps
she had not power enough left to
move. So he snatched the infant
from her arms, carried it down the
stairs TO the outside door and tossed
it into the street, where the mother
followed but too quickly.
The Judge shut aud bolted the
straot donr tool- b,o uav baaI- -.