The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1892-06-16
Shouts III the CIR iilrl.> Of
His Hotel. Give Him
the First Intima ion
OF his Def ut.
He Quickly Studied the Votes of the
States, but Made no Explanation
of the DeSeTtiOn From
his Forces.

BosToN, Mass, June 13-I feel just
as well now as | did this morning."
said Mr.. Blaine to me this afternoon
when | asked him how he liked the
result at Minneapolis. He smiled as he
said it, and there was nothing forced
about the smile. But ten minutes be-
fore two men had rushed excitedly up
the stairs shouting, Harrison is nom
mated"
Mr.. Blaine received the announce
ment of his defeat in silence. He did
not even change color. Ii it was a
shock he kept it all to himself. 1t was
a great exhibition of perfect sel-con-
troll.
He was seated in IA big arm chair in
one corner.of the bay window when a
young lady operator entered. He had
just heard the men shouting in the
hall, u had had no official confrma-
ton OF its truth. He looked up in an
interested sort of way, but scarcely
more. The young lady crossed the
DON with the telegram in her hand,
leaving the door slightly ajar.
HEARD IN
Harrison is nominated" said the
young lady in almost a whisper, and
then the blood rushed to her face and
she turned away. Mr.. Blaine reached
up and took the telegram from her
outstretched hand without the slight
est exhibition of haste, anxiety or even
nervousness. 1t Vas a short d spatch,
containing but the six words "Harri-
o is nominated on first ballot" but
it took Mr.. Blaine a long time to read
it. He,had time enough to read it
half a dozen times before he raised his
eyes. Then he handed it over to his
wife without q word Of comment, and
turning to the still blushing young
lady operator, who was. standing with
averted head, said in a tone that had
no tremor in it THANK you"
The young lady took this as her dis.
missal and withdrew. There was per.
feet silence in the room for severa'
minutes, and then Mrs. Blaine got W
and went into the bedchamber. An
other telegram arrived. Mr.. Blaine
still sat in the big chair in the corner
by the bay window. He leaned or
his left hand and stroked his bearC
with his right while he gazed Of on
the window at the leaning tower 0
old South Church. He was deep il
thought!-so deep, in fact, that h,
did not hear the door open, nor tn
messenger lads first announcement
bHhb Ht Ddu dIOlIl6I l1GSruRC.
STUDYING THE VOTE.
The message the lad handed hin
gave the total vote Of $50 given Harri
son. 1t brought Mr.. Blaine out Of hi
revere, but he made no comment
simply nodding tothe messenger as
signal for him to go. Then lie sen
for a list of States an sent word Il
the telegraph operator to let him hav
the vote in full as soon as possible
She took it to him a few moment
later and helped him figure out jus
where Harrison got his strength AM
won the nomination. He took grea
interest in the vote given to him. HI
went over the list several times, stop
ping now and then to look out OF th
window in q meditative way as thong
trying to- find a reason for every vote
Even when he came TO the State
the Blaine managers had claimed a
solid for thep.umed knight and founC
their forces scattered the unrewarde,
statesman gave no sign that would tie
the keenest observer anything. II
was still working on the detailed vol
when another message arrived, tellin
that Mckinley had taken the floor
make the nomination Of Harriso
unanimous.
But, while Mr.. Blaine gave no on
ward sign OF disappointment or regr
at his defeat his wife could not contr
her feelings. All day long s the t.
.tgrams came in her anxiety and ca
erness have been apparent to eve.
one that gained access TO the room
In almost every instance she was Il
n to take a hundred odd messag
that we're received. Mr.. Blaine hin
self, I understand, had given up Il
contest long before the cry RAJ
through the corridors that Harris,
was nominated. Mrs. Blaine refus
to believe that her husbands defe
was possible.