Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-10-19
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN WHICH THERE is TO BE APPOINTED A
NrU1xr pNcr c~DSpCp

IN WHICH THERE IS TO BE APPOINTED 4
NEW POST .scRAPER
The first shouts of victory were be-
ing echo ed through the forests of Tan
bark Township and the new constable
flushed with victory and blushing with
a sense of his own modesty, stood con-
templating the scene hardly knowing
whether he was asleep or awake, when
some one touched him on the arm.
The happy official who had realized
that of which he had never dared
dream, was not to be brought back to
consciousness by mere touch. To
know that he was exalted to a position
of honor and trust, to have all the peo-
pie in Tanbark point to him as the
constable of Tanbark Township was
enough honor to have turned the best
balanced head in all Tanbark.
We are sorry to say that he began to
feel a contempt-not much. but just
the least,-for corn blowing, hoeing,
and pulling weeds. He felt that he
would henceforth sit on goods boxes
and cultivate his mind by talking poll
tics and learning to chew fine cut to-.
bacco.
Some one gave his arm quite a pull,
and he looked about TO find himself
confronted by Bitterbile.
"Come with me-" said Bitterbile with
as much earnestness as if an Office
holder was not his own master.
Where 2" asked the new constable.
"Never mind, come on"
He spoke as though he owned the
constable. and the constable turned
and followed as though he was Bitter
biles specific property. The leader
led the constable to his warehouse,
where Col. Plnglory and some of his
special friends were seated. Poor Bet.
tersee looked all around the room, but
here was not one of those friends pre-
'ent who had helped him to procure
he nomination. Not one who stood
~ him in that the darkest hour of the
for he could be easily elect
ID after getting the nomination.
Before him like grim executioners Of
ome horrible secret council. sat Col.
'inglory and his imperturbable friends.
3ettersee gazed all over that crowd to
meet one friendly eye, but stern. cold
md rigid as monuments of stone, each
nan sat. Col. Pinglory acted as
pokesman.
You are now constable Of Tanbark
township" said the Colonel. "You
now that l openly declared that
'ould give no man my support who
'ould give one cent public patronage
. the Snowflake. That l would try
nd beat him in tie convention and if
nat failed would beat him with an
dependent. But you promised to
bide by the decision of a committee
the Pullers as to which post you put
our notices of Constable sales Or"
Poor Bettersee was speeches.. Slow
yet surely he saw his Liberties slip.
ing away from him. In the hands
nd power Of a clique Of his own party,
e felt that he was an abiect slave.
Those noble friends who had stood
y his side must be sacrificed. There
as no help for it, and like Dipper who
ad sacrificed his heart, he felt that
aulting ambition in his soul which
ould trample to the dust all that in
IS days of innocent, unambltious toll, /
S heart held dear. Bettersee could
" give up without struggle, that
anly independence which had been ;
S from early childhood.
Bitterbile who saw the struggle going
! in the breast of the new officer, I
ept to his side and whispered: i
"You are sacrificing your liberty and {
but acting the part OF pru-
mt man." s'ks {
All prudence and policy, what 4
uzy veil for cowardicc thou art. The I
IN who dares not assert what he T
ow to be right, because it is not pru- I
mt or policy dictates that he keep '
iet, or assert a different doctri ne, is G
most Infamous coward,