The Dillon tribune., 1886-12-17
Ghe 1illo,, Gribn',e.
THE STORY OF A mime.
By BRET HARTE.
Copyrighted, 1885, by Fo-t yhton Mif1lin & Co., and
published by arrangement with then.l

published by arrangement with thenl.l
.1orc than chat, I've introduced him into so.
ciety, put him in a dress coat - such a
figure.-and you know how the best folk wor-
ship everything that is outre as the sincere
thing. I've made him complete success.
Why, only the other night, when Senator
Misnancy and Judge Fitzwaddle We're here,
after making him tell his story-whieh yoa
know, think he really believes-I sang:
There Came to the Beach Poor Exile Of
Erin and my husband told me afterward it
was worth, at least, dozen votes"
"But about this rival Of yours-this niece
Of Garcia'sy'
"Another of your blunders; you men know
nothing of women. Firstly, she's swarthy
little brunette, with dots for eyes; and strides
like man, dresses like dowdy, don't wear
stays, and has no style. Then, she's single
woman, and alone; and, although she affects
to be an artist, and has Bohemian ways,
don't you see she can't go into society with
out chaperon or somebody to go with her.
Nonsense"
"But," persisted Wiles, "she must have
some power; there's Judge Mason and Sen
ator Peabody, who are constantly talking
about her; and Dinwiddie, of Virginia, es-
corted her through the Capitol the other
day."
Mistress Hopkinson laughed
"Mason and Peabody aspire to he thought
literary and artistic, and Dinwiddie wanted
to plquo mel"
"But Thatcher Is no fool"
lis Thatcher lady's man?' queried the
lady, suddenly.
Hardly, I should say" responded Wiles
"He pretends to be absorbed in his swindle
and devoted to his mine; and don't think
that even you" he stopped with a slight
sheer.
"There, you are misunderstanding me
again, and, what is worse, You are misunder-
standing your case. Thatcher is pleased with
her because he has probably seen no one else.
Wait till he comes to Washington and has an
opportunity for comparison" and she cast a
frank glance at her mirror, where Wiles,
with sardonic bow, left her standing.
Mr.. Gashwiler was quite as confident of his
own success with congress- ave are within
few days of the end Of the session. We
will manage to have it taken up and rushed
through before that fellow Thatcher knows
what he is about"
IF it could be done before he gets here"
said Wiles, "it's a reasonably suro thing. He
is delayed two days; he might have been de-
layed longer" Here Mr.. Wiles sighed II
the accident had happened on mountain
road, and the stage had been precipitated over
the abyss, what valuable time would have
been saved, and success become q surety! But
Mr.. Wiles' functions as an advocate did not
include murder; at least, he was doubtful if it
could be taxed as COSTS
ave need have no fears, sir" resumed Mr..
Gashwiler; "the matter is now in the hands Of
the highest tribunal Of appeal in the country.
It will meet, sir, with indexible justice. I
have already prepared some remarks"
"By the way" interrupted Wiles intellect
ously, "where's your young man-your pri-
vate secrctary-Dobbs?"
The congressman for moment looked con-
fused. HE is not here. And l must correct
your error in applying that term to him. I
have never put my confidence in the hands of
any one"
"But You introduced him to me as your Sec
retary"
"a mere honorary title, sir. A brevet
rank. l might, it is true, have thought to
repose such a trust in him. But was de-
ceived, sir, cs fear am too apt to be when
I PERMIT my feelings as a man to overcome
my duty as an American legislator. Mr..
Dobbs enjoyed my patronage and the oppor-
tunity it gave me to introduce him into pub
lie life only to abuse it. He became, fear,
deeply indebted. His extravaganza was un
limited, his ambition unbounded, but with.
out, sir, 4 cash basis. I advanced money to
erty you SO generously extended to him for
his services. But it was quickly dissipated.
Yet, sir, such is the ingratitudc of ln.n that
his family lately appealed to me for assist
ance felt it was necessary to be stern, and
I refused. l would not for the sake of his
family say anything, but have missed, sir,
books from my library. On the day after he
left two volumes of patent Office reports and
a Blue book Of congress, purchased that day
10y me at store on Pennsylvania avenue,
were Distinguishing! had difficulty, sir,
great difficulty in keeping it from the papcrsl
As Mr.. Wiles had heard the story already
from Gashwiler's acquaintance, with more OF
less free comment on the gifted legislators
economy, he could not help thinking that the
difficulty had been great indeed. But he only
L.