The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-11-29
Mr.. AND MRS. eowsER.
b W He Wanted to Bo IN Alderman bu
Failed to Bring It About.

Failed to Bring It About.
"Well, what do you thinks' queried Mr..
Bowser, as he looked up at me across the sup
Per table one evening.
"You-you haven't been and bought an
other horse, Mr.. BowserT"
"Horsei Can't you think Of anything but
horsea l suppose you'll throw that horse up
to me to your dying dayl"
"I'm SO glad you have decided not to buy
anotherl Is it some more chickens. or a new
fire escape, or another dog to eat us upr'
He turned pale and refused to say another
word for two hours. Then he could hold him
self no longer, and he suddenly observed:
II suppose you will feel proud of the title
of Mrs. Aid. Bowser."
''What do you mean7"
"Just what l say. You are soon to be
known as Mrs. Aid. Bowser."
Are you going to run for officer
II am. 1t was settled this afternoon.
am going to be nominated for alderman of
this ward"
'Mr. Bowser, is it possible that you are
going to let them lead you into any such fool
ishnessl l thought you had more level
head than that, in spite of all your mistakes.
my mistakesl" he shouted. II never made
one in my life. except when l married you!
Level headl I'd like to see some one who
carries a more level head than dol"
"And so you are going to be alderman"
"If live"
"But what for!"
Because it is the wish of the people. Ny
country calls. The committee have canvassed
the ward and concluded that was not only
the best man for the Office, but the only one
who stood any show against the vicious oppo-
sition. 1t is sacrifice on my part but the
true patriot must be ready to sacrifice"
didn't say any more. AS soon as he left
the house next morning prepared for visit
ors, and l was not disappointed. He was
hardly out of sight before the bell rang, and
opened the door to find a dirty looking fell
low with his hat on his ear who asked:
us Bowser homeg''
mo, sir"
'Gets out pretty early, doesn't hes Leave
any money for me?"
mo, sir"
He didn't cha Purity specimen of can
didate he isl Expects us to do all the fgurin
fur nuthin, does he?"
who are you, sir?'
"Who are Ig he repeated as he slanted his
hat little more and spit over his shoulder.
''1'm the party as carries this ward in his
vest pocket, am. and if old Bowse don't cum
down literally he gets left. Tell him to come
and see me-"
Nine times that forenoon I answered the
bell to find ward heller or some other sort
Of political parasite on the door step. One of
them even went SO far as to ask me to pledge
Mr.. Bowser to vote for him to run one of the
city hall elevators. There were three others
waiting for him when he got home to dinner,
and saw him give them money. He came
in excited and jubilant, and when I told him
what had occurred he replied:
"Let the dear people comet They know
that am the man to do all can for them if
| am elected, and elected l shall be as sure as
the sun rises on the day. What do you thinki
was talking with prominent man belong
ing to the opposition and he said it would be
no use for his party to put up man against
me. Bowser stock is way up, hey!"
For week lived in state of miserable
agitation. Every hour in the day a ward
heller rang the bell, and when he wasn't
ringing, 1t was some man who wanted q sew
er or other contract. Every evening the
house was full of politicians laying plans and
guzzling down my currant wine, and on
three nights Mr.. Bowser had to Ego the
rounds of the ward and 'see the bows" On
the last night had to help him up stairs
and the tears rolled down his cheeks as he
whimpered:
"Shay, Mrs. Bowser, it just breaks my
heart to shee how err people love me. They
cry FIR me, and-and cry FIR zhem!'
This went on for a week, and then the eau
Gus was held to nominate. Mr. Bowser said
he would go through by reclamation, but as
the boys would expect some sort of speech,
not to say a key of beer, afterwards, he
would have to be on hand AS soon as NOM
mated there would be no more heelers run
ming after him, and nomination meant
election by large majority. didn't say
much, but felt pretty sure how it would
come out.
Along about o'clock he came home. He
was running. He also breathed hard and
looked white.
What on earth is the matter now2" ask
ed as he banged into the hall.
''G-gone!" he gasped.
"How gone7'
"Gone up"
"Mr. Bowser, tell me what has happened.
You act as if you had met a ghost and lost
your senses"
IL didn't get the nom-nominationr he
whispered, his knees quaking so that he had
to sit down on chair.
"Why didn't yous"
Because they concluded that Mr.. Scott
was the more popular and the stronger man."
what! That cross-eyed loafer who was
arrested only last week for whipping his
wifeq'
Yves"
We looked at each other for long time
without speaking. Then l said:
II thought the dear people loved you, Mr..
Bowser."
"Yesn
"You were to be selected above all others
and honors thrust upon you"
Eyes"
"Your country called upon'you to down the
vicious opposition. You were the patriot who
was ready to sacrifice himself"
eyes"
"How much has this experience cost your