Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-13

that he'd ..see about that"
He went to a friend. young physician. who
shared his faith in Cornhill, and together they
concocted plan to have a rival celebration,
and steal their orator from the Rodney man
ayers. 1t was this project. in part, that had
brought him out to see Miss Parkman.
Il wanted your blessing upon il" he said,
earnestly
plicity" she exclaimed. I've half a mind to
betray you to the enemy. Have you told
George Clymer?'
Not yet" he answered. "He'd throw cold
water if we told him now; but once we've got
the thing well started he'll help us through"
You'll get yourself into trouble" said
Pauline. Then the absurdity of the whole
affair flashed upon her. and she broke into the
widest merriest laugh.
'0h. Howell, you audacious boyl What if
you should succeed! 1t would get into all the
papers,"
i've been afraid Of that" he remarked
showing his fine teeth in a grin. Then, shifting
the bench with his rolled-up sombrero. ''Get
into the papers?-of course it will; it will ad-
vertise the town from Bismarck to Yankton."
II.
Two days later grand Fourth of July cele-
bration was placarded all over Cornhill Great
things we're foreshadowed in a general way
and the Grafton would be delivered from a plat
form in the public square by one of Dakota's
most distinguished and eloquent speakers"
Some miles from Rodney and 10 from Corn
hill, as the crow flies, was the village of Bris-
toll, then the terminus of the one railroad that
had pushed Its way into that quarter of the ter
ritory. hack carried passengers from the
station to Rodney, and DR.. Otis Basins con-
federate ascertained definitely that Judge STAFF
ford had been instructed to take that convey
ance upon his arrival
When the Fargo express stopped at Bristol
on the night of the Sd, and Judge Stafford
stepped down to the platform, a well-built
before him with outstretched hands.
Judge Stafford, l believe? My name is
Bash. My friend, DIR. OTIS, Judge Committee
OF reception, you see.
Glad to meet you. gentlemen" said the
judge, heartily. 81 expected to make Rodney
In the hack, but this Is much better" and he
climbed into the carriage, toward which they
mad hurried him rather precipitately
Otis took seat beside the orator and Bash.
on the front seat, gathered up the ribbons. and
touched the strong bay horses with the whip.
1t was stirring night drive, making ten miles
IN the time OF seven. When they reached Corn
hills one hotel, the Taft house. everything was
quiet there. Stafford took light supper and
retired
He proved to be a good morning sleeper,
much to the qualification of the four men now
IN the conspiracy-BashO Otis. Clymer and Taft,
U H..
When his breakfast was served, Otis and Bash
took theirs also, sitting one on each side of him.
I'VE must keep the Yahoos about town from
getting at him." said Bash to his partner in
crime, 'and we must rush him around till his
head swims, SO that he can't ask a question or
read a sign" And they did it.
III Stafford was inclined to wonder at this ex-
cess of attention on the part of the reception
committee, he was prepared also to submit to il
gracefully. He was politician. as well as a
lawyer and jurist. He had ambitions inter-
woven with the future of the territory, and was
entirely willing to be made much of as rising
public man.
After he had breakfasted he was conducted to
the land-ofice, where he met Mr.. Clymer
Then he was put into the carriage again. and
with Clymer beside him, and the two young
men on the front seat, he was whirled through
and all around the village. Returning to the
hotel, Basins private rig found standing at
the door.
Now. judge" said he, 81 want to give YOU a
little spin after the prettiest stopper in six
counties"
The judge good-nsturedly got out of the car
riage and into the light buggy. As Bash and
his prize disappeared from sight three men on
the hotel steps drew long breath of relief
We'll, said Otis, "he's taken care of till IL
o'clock. anyhow"
Taft, the landlord, gave slight shiver, as be
remarked. Il shouldn't like to be in YOU fell
lers' shoes. Doc. if he gets on to your racket
afore he leaves town. He's got pile of dig.
nifty, for all his oily talk. 1t just makes my
hair crawl to think of playin' fool trick on q
man o. that style"
The town was filling with people. Where
they came from it would be hard to say.
who makes the speech?" was asked of Taft
more than once. And he would reply:
"Oh, big gun from Fargo. Can't think OF
his name but he's on deck all right. Gone of
just now for buggy ride with Howell Bash"
Out on the plain, speeding against fresh
breeze, Bash talked to his companion like one
inspired. He talked of horses and lands; OF
politics and the approaching elections; of the
whether, the crops, and cyclones Then, as il
a sudden thought had struck him. he said: by
the-way, I'd like to show you the latest cyclone
freak: q homesteader's shack picked up anC
turned around, without breaking a pane o.
glass or tumbling the cups off the dresser. It,
less than mile there, and I'd like to call with
you. A lady lives in that shack"
THE elect LADY," queried Stafford, glancine
smilingly at the young man, into whose face
had come look of boyish difidence
He was himself a bachelor of six-and-thirty
having, with his various prescriptions, no
much to do with women: but having, never
theless, no particular dislike to making the
acquaintance Of such Of them as were sensible
and agreeable.
In reply to his playful question Bash anweret
promptly, I'm free to say she is, SO far as my
eltCtiuB pOWeT goes. Dut sue al ABOVE me
and away off. She's better then I am anC
cleverer. Then, too, she's trife older, which
of course, gives her the right to look dowr
upon me and lecture me. don't mind tn,
airs or the lecturing, but I'd give block o.
town lots II those three years were in my
| favor"
They were quite near the little house. "Per
haps we may be intruding," the judge ven
tured.
II think not" said Bash. ''She is AWAY,
glad, in friendly way, to see me, and she il
always dressed and always at ease"
Stafford glanced about him. after his intro
duction to Miss Parkman. He had seen the in
teriors of many sod house and slab shanty
but never such a one as this. Usually there
were only the tokens of a BARE hard life o.
toll. Here were evidences of culture and re-
finement. The hut sheltered adelicately-reareC
| though strong-natured woman, and everything
within its small compass bore witness to the
fact Pauline received her callers under thai
low roof with gracious courtesy that would
have adorned a mansion. After time Rita
came from a little sod house, which was theil
kitchen, bearing on small tray three glasses
Of cool milk and plate Of thin sweet-cakes
poetry. The situation seemed for the moment
idyllic, and the simple collation. was the nectar
and ambrosia of the GODS
On a table near the one small window ht
| noticed drawing materials, and slipping from
portfolio were sepa washes on Whatmani
paper, bewitching things iu brown and white
Bash noticed the Judges glance Of pleased in
terest, and drawing forward the portfolio, hs
| spread open its artistic riches.
"You won't mind, will you, Pauline? I only
| want to show Judge Stafford the things O