Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-10-21

potent with information and so freed from
local prejudices, it Is understood, vaguely,
that great things would be done. This was
always understood. There never was a time
in the history of American politics when. to
use the expression of the journals before al
luded to, "the present session Of congress- did
not IBID fair to be the most lnonnentous in
our history" and did not, as far as facts 60,
leave a vast amount Of unfinished important
. business lying hopelessly upon its desk, hav-
ing "boltedn the rest as rashly and With as
little regard to digestion o. assimilation as
the American traveller has for his railway
refroshment.
In shis capital, on this languid midsummer
day, in an upper room Of enc of its second
rate hotels, the Hon. Pratt c. Gashwiler sat
at his writing table. There are certain large.
aeshy men with whom the omisSlsn Of even a
necktie or collar has all the effect Of an in
decent exposure. The Hon. MIR. GasIwiler,
in his trousers and shirt, was a sight to be
avoided by the modest eye. There were such
palpable suggestions of vast extents Of unc-
tuous flesh in the slight glimpse offered by
his open throat that his dishabille should have
been as private as his business. Nevertheless.
when there was knock at his door, he IN
hcsitatingly said, "Con1e I'M" pushing away a
goblet crowned with a certain aromatic herb
with his right hard, while he drew toward
him with Lis left few proof slips Of his
forthcoming speech. The Gashwiler brow
Laao ,,,, &c 81 ,r.,,,, ;,,t,l1 ~ olt.4,
The intruder regarded Gashwiler with a
glance OF familiar recognition from his right
eye, while his left took in u rapid survey of
the papers on the table, and CLEANED sardon-
ically.
"You are at work, see" he said apologet-
ically.
Yes replied the congressman, with an
air of pcrfunctory WEAKNESS, aone Of my
speeches. Those id printers make such a
mess Of it. suppose I don't write very
fine hand
Ii tho gifted Gashw,ler had added that he
did not write a very intelligent hand, or q
very grammatical hand, and that his spell
ing was faulty, he would have been truth
ful, although the copy and proof before him
might not have borne him ont Tho near
fact was that tho speech was composed and
written By one Expectant Dobbs, a poor re-.
tainer Of Gashwiler, and the honorable mem.
ber'S labor as a proof-reader was confined to
the introduction Of such words as "anarchy."
"oligarchy,p satrap," palladium a,N
"Argus-eyed" in the proof. with little rel
evancy as to position or place, and no per-
ceptiblo effect as to argument.
The stranger saw all this with his wicked
left eye, but continued to beam mildly with
his right. Removing the coat and waistcoat
Of Gashwiler from chair, he drew it to-
ward tho table, pushing aside portly, loud
ticking watch-tho very image Of Gashwiler
that lay beside him, and resting his elbows
on the proofs, said:
"WellT
Have you anything new97 asked the par
Iamentary Gashwiler.
"Much! a woman!n replied the stranger.
The astute Gashwilar, waiting further in
formation, concluded to receive this fact
gaily and gallantly "A woman2-my dear
Mr.. Wiles-of counsel The dear creatures
he continued with fat, offensive chuckle,
somehow are always making their charm
ing presence felt. Ha! la! a man, sir, in
public life becomes accustomed to that sort
Of thing. and knows when he must be agreea-
blo-agrocablc Sir, but firm, I've hid my
experience, Shiny oarn axperience"-and
the congressman leaned back in his chair. not
unlike a robust St Anthony who had with
stood ono temptation to thrive on another.
yes, said Wiles, iinpatiently, but d-----n
it, she's on the other side.
@Thc other sidc!7 repeated Cashwiler, va
caatly
~Nes, slo's niece of Garcia's. A little she
devil
But Garcia's on our side,o rejoined Cash
wilcr.
Yes, but She is bought by the ring
A woman Y suoered Mr.. Gashwier? what
can she do with men who won't be made
fools Of? Is She 50 handsome II
II never saw any great beauty in her"
said Wilcs, shortly, although they say that
she's rather caught that id Thatcher, in
spite Of his GOODNESS At any rate she is his
pyotege. But she isn't the sort you're think
ing Of, Gashwiler. They say She knows, or
pretonds to know, something about the grant.
She may have got hold of some OF llar uncle's
papers. Those greasers were always id
fools; and, if he did anything foolish, like rs
not be bungled or didn't cover up his tra Ks.
And with his knowledge and facilities. too
Why, if Id" bGt here Mr. Wiloe stopped
tosigh over the inequalities Of f.rtune that
wasted opportunities on the less sldllful
scamp
dir. Goslwiler became digniGcd. "She
can DO nothing v.iel u, he said potentially.
Wilo5 turned bi wicked eye On him
~Manual and Miguel, WHO sold ont to our
man, are afraid o. hol. They were orr wit
ncssos. Y rily believe they'd take back
everything i she got after them And as for
Pedro, be thinks she holds the power Of life
ard death over him
"Pedro! life and !eatl-what's all this."
eeid the astoaishcd C'ashgilcr.
Wiles saw his blunder, hut saw also that he
had gone too far to stop. Pedro he said,
was strongly suspected Of having murdered
Concho, one Of The original locaters"
Mr. Gashwiler turned white as a sheet, and
theA Ausled e9alA INTO an apopleetlc glow.
no you dare to say,' he began Us soon as he
could find his tongue and his legs, for in the
exercise of his congressional functions these
extreme members supported each other-@do
You mean to say he stannmerod in rising
l,.ge, that you have dared to deceive an
American lar givel i.to legislating upon a
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