National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-10-17
PAUL PERKINS PASSES.


at the windows revealed to him the guests Of
| Gen Standish at the very height Of their
| symposuC, the general himself at last the
| acknowledged sympOsiarch, but this view
seemed only TO increase the melancholy Of
this unknown oulooker lie turned and
paced gloOmily, medltatlvely under the great
elms, on the lawn of Gen. Standlsh's resi-
dence In Lcverby-by.thc-Sea. Once in
awhile he glanced at the open window, hop
ing TO catch one glimpse Of her he yearned
to see, whose voice he now and then heard
with pangs Of passion. AT length fair
woman came TO the porch aud seemed 10 be
| about TO venture out, aud Paul Perkins
rashly stepped forward, as quickly TO draw
back again In the shadows. For he had
seen one with classic brow and heavy gold
bowed spcctaclcs step beside the young
woman, and he heard the philosopher say
abe prudent, lady; the dew Is falling; II
| you speak In this night damp let your lung
| al vbrnto the local Chorls. In your larynx
gently, that Inflammation set not In"
"Dew!n she said, gently. "Surely there
Is no dew, professor. That Is but the license
Of poetry II il the exhalntou of vegcta-
ton To which YOU refer. How beautifully
the moon fuuctiouates tonight. Leave me,
professor, for awhile. | would meditate.h
The scholar did as he was bid, returning
TO his fellows. Then suddenly the fair
woman rushed down the steps, out upon
the green sward, her face strangely passion
ate In view NJ the recent calmness of II.
| She clenched her hnnds ms though In agony.
Young Perkins saw her, heard her agi-
tatcd breathing, and unable longer to re
strain himself, he came from his conceal
| nnent.
"Mincrva,m he moaned.
She heard him. She gave one quick
| glance at the window, that she might know
II any saw her, and, seeing no one, with
| impassioncd manner she seized the young
| mans hand and icrcely dragged him 10 u
place Of concealmcnt. Then she wildly
turned upon him, and he saw her beauty,
| that IL was maryclously enhanced.
| paul she said, "l'm fabbcrgasted. Go
back not on me. No, how Is II sadly Don't
| you 20 back on me-
lie gasped.
"Drop that she said, ilerccly. "Oh,
there must be reaction, or-or I'll lly-iy-
off the handle. Stand still there, Paul
| Perkins, and let me talk slang TO you until
| bring Minerva Standish back TO earth
again"
And she did.
When the reaction came she said 10 the
| wild-eyed young man "lf you ever talk
anything more to me but downright Yankee
dialect ri let you slide ofr--away-no, I'll
| let you slide; that's IL. Oh, how much good
that does me Now that pops won and is
at last crowned one Of them, let me be
frisky girl again; and you, you up brace
no, brace up, for my sake, Paul.
The young man became himself. In place
of melancholy there was almost frenzy of
joy, .,,., $50 ,,...o, MI. vo,,,u,
worth my life, hut hang me II | could have
kept up this culturedMugwump racket an
other month. 1t would have killed me.
But the old gent will sour on me worse
than ever, now he's high-cock- alorum
among 'cm, after trying so hard, ever since
Blaine was nominated. | swear, Min, I've
tried the culture and Mugwump dodge on
him for all | know, but it wouldn't wash
"Thats II, Paul Talk to me some m,re
like that. 1t does me good"
"But, Min, how am ] going to fetch the
old man roundY I've played my last card
"No, you haven't. Pm just Boston girl
enough to tell you how you can work noise
no, racket--ahl like that-that'll fetch
him. First make him break all up--no;
what is that term, Paul ?"
"Break him all up, you mean"
"Yes; splendid. Break him all up by
joining the-the-oh, the Prohibition party.
Tell him that's the evolution Of Mugwump-
ism. That'll make him swearing mad, and
when he swears you can handle him. lie
hasn't sworn since he's laid on this--no,
been on this lay; that's 1t. Then tell him he's
got to be aconsistent Mugwump, and as you
are an applicant for the office Of son.in-law,
make him examine you, give ylKes GER
tilcate, and send you to me. That I" way
the commission does, and I'm tbs point
ing power In this business, commSv<Dr no
commsh. Then, for taffy, just Praise his
horseback riding. Tell him there isn't a
Mugwump in Boston that has a better
mount than he. Now, If I'm worth having
Pm worth bamboozling pop out of his non
sense to get.n
1But, Min, can't praise his mount.
Everybody laughs at it. It's like"
"a pair of andirons describing a circle.
Yes, | know; but that kind of taft always
washes pop-no, that taft Will wash with
him. There's the professor looking for me.
So long" And, resuming her intellectual
cast, she returned to the parlor.
The next evening, dressed for the first
time in six months In the most precise garb
of fashion, Paul Perkins called on Gen.
Standish
l "pm here on business, old man, and don't
, you forget it, said Paul Perkins In most
elegant though peremptory manner.
Gen. Standish looked inquiringly upon
him. "Have you been dining with the St.
I TobOlphians ~ he asked.
| mo. but want to say you've worked
g your little racket for year and have at last
! won. You're in the cult and are a boss
! Mugwump. | worked my racket and it's
| no go, so Pm going to try another. I'm q
a PrOhibtiOnist, gone to join FaXon, and III
s get an interview in the Advertiser, telling
5 how your Mugwump business drove me into
/ it, and how you are getting ready to take
the Mugs into that party yourself If yor
r don't give me fair show.n
i "Perkins, you've been dallying with The
n wine glass;
: mot bit of it. I'm myself again"
y "Then,-it, get out of my house?"
II "That's right. | knew old Adam was II
r you. You've been playing the cult. for al
j you were worth and have Won You cal
d afford, between us, to let up little. Now
@ examine me or I'll expose you. I'll Civ,
+ the whole racket away. BY the shades o
Eaton himself, If you don't examine m,
IS for the Office of son-in-law I'll expose al
- your Mugwump ,pretensions and give tn
IS whole snap away"
I, "Sh-h-h! Not so loud, Mr.. Perkins"
rs snow, general said the young man
J, more gently, II want to say one thing
y Yesterday was seized with Il fierce deter
10 mnation to win Minerva. WhyY Well,
rs saw you out riding on lIannibal-fn
y. horse-what grace, what dignity, what com
a mand-and said TO myself, What philosC
ID pher can ride like thatY The daughter @
10 such a superb horseman must be the mos
n noble, splendid girl In Boston. | will wi
t. her. | want her, but | want to be able t
III say when any one sees you riding by
ut Doesn't that man ride superblyg He
or my wifes father That's the reason
d. Now want to be examined"
'y Gen. Standish smiled knowing smile.
"What are you worthY'
"Fiye thousand Il year,
"A very satisfactory answer Are yo
~, going to be Prohibitionistg'
w "Not II get the office. If get the ofllC
I'm after I'll be Mugwump enough to l,
IL parties 90 to the devil.n
'Negy satisfactory. What is the aim I
nv the higher cultureY
- "ro put on lugs."
Vi "What necessity is there for the eXistent
W of the Independents
nd "Nothing succeeds like humbug.h
de MDOes my dnmghter love YOU "