The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-01

sight O thinkin," as Tom Owens used to
say to his wife, who was also an ardent
admirer of the little "tenderfoot" bride
Sile Burton had brought from the States
a few months before.
Sile Burton was sleeping soundly next
morning when his wife, the usual smile
gone from her face, stole up to his bed
side, kissed him softly two or three
times and ran over to the Owens. 1t
was not until 10 o'clock that he awoke
and noticed that the woman by the win
dow was not Mary, but Mrs. Owens.
And he did not know that this kindly,
big hearted woman lied when she told
him that Mary had "just gone down to
the Springs to get prescription filled
that they couldn't put up here, and
would be back on the 2:30 train"
Tom Owens, with the blackboard and
6dgeting Bay Nell, was waiting, just
off the trail, short distance from
Chloride camp. A pretty little woman,
stared at respectfully by the numerous
men 1oafng about-for women were
scarce in Chloride, especially pretty and
respectable ones-tripped down the
street, trying to look unconscious, and
entered the door of Brad Boutwell's Of
fee. It was the noon hour, and he was
alone engaged in the pleasurable occu-
patton of disposing of an excellent lunch
and bottle of beer. He heard the hest
tating step in the outer Office, and
stepped to the door of his sanctum,
where he stood, somewhat taken aback
at the sight of his visitor. It was sew
eral seconds after her sweet voice had
asked, els this Mr.. Boutwell, that he
recovered his equanimity and gracefully
acknowledged the fact.
81 am Mrs. Burton-Mrs. Silas Bur-
ton. came to see you-to-to'--
But here her courage gave out for the
moment, and she did the very best thing
she could have done-just wept few
relieving tears, while the sympathetic
Boutwell,, who had been a bachelor
sever since he could remember" as he
himself said, "My dear madam-ed" her,
stammered, grew red in the face, vague
ly felt himself triumphant ass, and
finally led her gently to chair, where
she finished her weep.
Then she pulled herself together and
told him the whole pitiful tale. 1t was
indeed-thought Boutwell,, who had al
ways had more money than he had
known what to do with-a narrowing
state of affairs, and SO his bachelor
heart, OVERLOOKING with sympathy for
the poor, frightened little emissary who
sat before him, and being, it must be
said, rather unsettled by this extraor-
binary visit, he agreed almost before he
knew it to let the affair alone and switch
the ambitious Hobart off the track.
Then, with her heartiest handshake.
a world Of thankfulness shining IN her
big brown eyes and fervent words OF
gratitude on her sweet lips, the little
missionary was gone, and Boutwell,, his
brain in whirl, sat down to think.
Well, by Jove! Now he had done it!
Why. great sacrificed C@sarl The thing
was impossible, utterly! He rushed to
the door. His late visitor was not in
sight. He sat down to think more calm
ly this time.
In politics there are complications no
man can overlook or ignore. There are
multifarious considerations and obliga-
lions that must be attended to, and
whose existence is due more often than
not to circumstances whose discovery
by the unsympathetic world would be a
calamity to the individual or individuals
most interested. This case was such
one. Hobart had ''cinch'' on the boss
of Chloride, and was master of the situ-
alton, and no one knew it SO well as did
Jere himself, who was never slow about
gratifying opportunities.
Thus Boutwell, communed with him
self. and the result was much perspira-
ton and an uncomfortable conscience.
"Well, no use shedding any tears" he
said aloud, "but, by Jove! wish l could
keep my word with the little woman.
What a little duck she is, and how Bur
ton ought to congratulate himself! Hum
Poor thing! How rocky
she'll feel when she finds | played such
a dirty trick on her. Ye-es, and what'u
/ say to nyself?'
Teddy OHara, whose family had been
kept from starving during the strike
few months before by the charity of the
"little duck" and her husband, and who
had awakened from his MONDAY nap
under the Office window about ten min
utes previously, chuckled softly to him
self and sneaked away, remarking as he
reached the street.
"Oh-ho! Thot's it, is uti AHA! Teddy,
me bye. Oh t'ink yees had betther TEX
thrip over t. Apache the day. Yees don't
feel loike workin, do yees, now?" And he
hid his dinner pail and started down the
trail for the county seat, whistling glee-
fully.
y
Of Mrs. Burton's second interview
with the smooth Mr.. Boutwell, it is I'M
necessary to speak at length. 1t was
for him, but he kept his
wits about him and did not lower his
flag. and Mrs. Burton went away with a
white, drawn face-and with the set
lips of a brave little woman who has
made up her mind to something.
The day for the convention dawned.
The visitors from the outside precincts
Including those from Chloride, were all