The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-02

as she disappeared In the crowd.
She was soon talking to others, and left
but few without taking at least one dime
from them. After she had left them Mr..
Lockwood asked:
"Who is this Miss Dickens that we
have been voting for2 voted on your
credit, Boutelle."
"Sbe is splendid lady," calculated
Mr.. Boutelle, and /, for one, am deter
mined she shall have the chair and If
money will give me the foot rest, why,
George Boutelle will get it. have tried
harder to get acquainted with that lady
than any other in town but somehow she
is so terribly dignified that could never
approach her, and if 1 could get the mate
TO her chair the ice would be broken"
"Look here" said the bachelor, " am
not so sure but two, or even three, can
play at the same game. I'll empty my
pocketbook, see il don't, in order to win
the prize"
al will try to euchre you both," said
the widower.
"I think" interrupted Boutelle, that
l have the aces in my own hands, for you
see, Lockwood, that you will be hash--a
kind of warmed-up man and Allen,
you are too old and orusty, 80 try away.
All is fair in politics, 80 if we vote for our
selves it will do the church just as much
good, and may do me a great deal nor ;
az believe" said Lockwood, after Bou.
telle had gone to buy some votes for him
self, "that that man has more conceit than
have, and that is useless I'll beat him
if in my power"
"But," said DR.. Allen, tive have
double game to play-we have to see that
Miss Dickens gets the chair, and that
Boutelle is defeated. Now, are you will.
ing to leave the field open TO me if l will
give you lift elsewhere 2"
"No," replied Lockwood" will do
my best, and you and Boutelle may do the
same the more the merrier."
While they were talking tall lady
mined air and mien, came up to them
and said:
Gentlemen, am soliciting votes for
that foot rest you see upon the platform |;
we ask ten cents vote, and you can vote
as many times as you please, provided you
pay every time"
"Who are the candidates, miss ?" said
DR.. Allen.
ave have three" she replied, Mr..
Boutelle, merchant In town, young
man of excellent principles and worthy in
every respect the vote of all present. Mr..
Lockwood, lawyer, l understand, who
came from Philadelphia recently, and
settled in Boston. l know nothing Of
him, only that he is a young widower, and
is highly spoken of by people from that
place. The third candidate is DIR.
Allen, who recently graduated from a
medical college in New York. have
never met the last two, and think they
are not as yet in the hall; but Mr.. Bou-
telle stands only little distance from us,
talking with Miss Hillyer."
"pll give as much as you will, I'll give
twenty votes for the doctor (giving the
doctor the wink, if you will give as many
for the widower."
agreed"
So they voted for each other. The
lady, thanking them, passed on.
owe are both sure of twenty votes If
we get no more" said the doctor.
Soon after they were accosted by q
large, good.natured married lady, who
came up to them and said:
Gentlemen, il you are not married you
ought to be, and as am soliciting votes
for Mrs. DR.. George, one of the candidates
for the chair, would like your help
Matters seem to have taken an unexpected
turn, for all the unmarried are voting for
Miss Dickens, and only the married for
Mrs. George. l am afraid she will moi
have good showing. / saw that you
helped Miss Dickens literally when she
oobod for uofao for tho foot opI ~, "
| not hope for as much ?"
Both looked up in surprise. Is that
Miss Dickens, the candidate for the
chair said the doctor.
I" She is one of them," she replied, "but
l want help for Mrs. George, the Other
candidate"
They each gave her four votes, and she
smiling knowingly, disappeared to inter
view others.
"Whos next ?" said Lockwood.
Interest seemed to increase first in on,
part of the hall, then another, until thu
climax was reached and appeared to b.
centering around Annie Hillyer. She wen
to old Captain Richards, wealthy farmer
who had not acquired his property by thu
sweat of his brow, but had married thre'
times, and had won fortune each time
"Csptain," she said, al do not need to ex
plain to you why am here with thi
paper in my hand; but l do want you
and Deacon Perry here by your side, te
help me in this work. You know how
much the church needs an organ, and
know of no one better able to help buy i
than you two gentlemen"
an tell you what will do, Annie,
said the good-natured captain. "Yol
see Major Page on the other sid of tn
room, don't you 2"
"Yes," said Annie.
"You know, too, that he will neve
spend a cent for good object, in fact, TO
anything but whiskey; it is,a mystery Il
me that he spent fifty cents to come il
here to night"
"You said you would tell me some
thing" interrupted Annie. 81 am wait
ing to hear, for you know my time i
precious"
"Well," said the captain, III was goin,
to tell you that would buy Just doubl
the votes you can get out of the major"
al will do as much as the captain,
said the deacon.
Every well, gentlemen" said Annie
81 suppose you think you are safe enougl
in making this proposition but will g
and see the major, and'you, in the mean