Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-27

alasl most short. Could its shortness
have been connected with Mr.. Godfrey
Uppingham's absence? Anyhow, by
some family legerdemain he was gone
soon after the ball, whisked of to Lon
don, where it was announced relative
in high places was "going to do some
thing for him."
A" Pack of stuck-up paupers!" growled
Mr.. Smith, by way of comment on his
departure. Cant even afford to give
their sons decent start in the worldl
dare say the young fellows got nothing
in him, and win go to the dogs now he's
left his mothers leading-strings." An
unkind speech, which brought a hot
blush to Mabers cheeks, and, for the
first time in her life, a spark of anger
toward her father.
1t was early in the next year when
some town friends, rich like themselves
so rich that they trod upon the skirts
OF the true upper ten"-became urgent
for visit from Miss Smith, and to Ken
sington she went, for once in her life
glad TO leave home. Absent a month,
she begged for one week more, and Mr..
Smith, deeply engrossed in an exciting
new piece of business, let her stay
readily. What that business was Mabel
found ont when hastily summoned home
by telegram one February morning.
You are not i'll. papa?" was her
frightened greeting, the moment she
alighted at Narbridge Station.
" Ill, my pet! Never better in my life.
Why. child. you're shaking. startled
you by sending for you in hurry. You
won't mind, though, when you hear the
reason
Then. as they drove home, Mr.. Smith
disclosed his secret. Of course Mabel
had heard of the dissolution. For the
next fortnight all the country would be
given over to elections. Narbridge was
looked upon as safe. An Uppingham
or an Arden had represented the place
for fifty years. The Conservatives al
ways expected TO walk over the course.
But would they, though, this time? A
deputation of Liberals-clever. far see-
ing men-had waited on him, Mr..
Smith, and petItioned him, in the inter
est of his native land, to oppose this
naughty cabal. He had felt It his duty
To yield to their entreaties and
"What will you say to hav, your
father an M. P.-eh, Nab? / fancy my
little girl will hold her own among the
best of them then-don't yOu?'
But, papa" faltered Mabel, "if-ii
you don't get imp"
"fu'lge, fudge, fudge! Fiddlesticks,
my deari I'm sure to get in! The
body of the people are growing intelli.
gent. They'll be thankful to throw of
the yoke of the other party. I've got
capital committee; my address is out
to-day. don't care what it costs
will get in!''
Whatever Mabel thought she dared
not speak. The terrors of the fortnight
that followed she will not forget to hel
dying day. Every spark of malice in
her fathers composition entered into
the contest.
She, her half-hearted self, wa.
dragged, an unwilling witness, to the pub
lie meetings; was terrified nearly out o.
her senses by the uproar of the nomina
ton day; all but tainted when brought
Unexpectedly face to face with the op
position canvassing party (Mr. Geoffrey
among them, fetched down in hurry
to assist at this crisiS); and fairly fei
into Mysteries when the final number!
went up at the close of the poll:
Uppingham CONSERVATIVE 1.OO9
Smith UiberaD 3O2
The defeat was crushing; but, what
ever the beaten candidate felt, he wa.
not going to show craven front for hi
conqueror to crow over. With tn,
smiling confidence of approaching vic
tory he had driven into Narbridge tina
morning. With bland SET ming of dis
regard at the days doings he woulc
| drive ont that afternoon; and, witt
poor, shivering Mabel swallowing he
nervous sobs at his side, he did so.
Their departing was the signal for
burst of ironical cheers from the Blue
element in the mob. The horses in tn
tall phaeton fidgeted at the sounds
1ells of derision were hurled after then
by the roughs, and the sensitive bay
quivered and curveted under less firm
rein than their master usually held
The crashing of church bells and tn
vile braying of an itinerant brass ban,
finished the mischief. OFF went tn
spirited animals, dashed round by ST
Mary's Church, tore along the mail
road from the town, upset a fish stall
smashed bakers cart, and were onl,
brought to standstill by the pol
breaking and one of the runaways com
ing swiftly To his knees. Among tn
terrified throng that came rushing afte
them, Godfrey Uppingham was fore
most.
Thank God. you're safe. nv dar
ling! the groom vowed he heard hir
say as he disentangled Miss Smith, I'm
hurt though insensible, and bore her +
Captain Uppingham's brougham, whic
| speedily drove up. But perhaps tn
groom was only inventing. Mr.. Smitl
had not escaped so easily. Flung cleal
over laurel hedge into a garden, h
/ lay unconscious, one broken arr
doubled up under his head. CAREFUL
raised by his late adversaries, he wa
placed beside his daughter, and, with
tribe OF doctors in attendance, was 500
in his own home. There the first me
ment he had power to speak he desires
that his daughter should he sent to hir
he must talk to her alone at oncel
Mabel, trembling and loving, leanin
over him: Child" he said, Eve don
know how this may end. II / have Z
go-don't cry!-I should die happier
| left you promised to a worthy-hus
band" mabel started back as whit
as a ghost.) Your Cousin Robert, N
at StOckpool, wants you for his wife
Will YOU marry himP"
"No, fathcr!r she murmurcd. catch
ing his hand; don't ask me to-"
why not?"
Because" dropping on her knee
and weeping wildly, because I'm maj
ried now! Oh, father, will you forgiv
me?''
ITO whomP" said he, after a paus
of actual seconds, seeming hours.
"Geof-fe-ry Up-Uppingham, faith
er. We were Unmarried in Londo
half an hour before you sent for m
home"
The sufferer lay very still under thi
fresh blow. Mabel turned calm wit
| Frsr~ De- Al. 4