The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-02-02
best horse 70 such ) HANDWRITING Jehu

FrettinR was Of no use, though, and
1watched him disappear over the next
hill with more or less resignation.
It was long road to vanderson's,
and had still half . mile to 70 when
Fred appeared az suddenly - before
around turn just ahead. He had NO
one with him, and his countenance In
dicated the greatest disappointment
He pulled up as we met, and called
out: ~. s~.s...~.; ~ E.,l-.=
Where are you going, Charley?"
! simply smiled. having no intention
OF betraying my plans.
SWELL don't tell if you don't want
to-" continued he, but know. You're
going to Vanderson'a"
''What then?" inquired. n =.
Nothing, only your man isn't IT
home. You might as we'll save your.
self the trouble of going any farther"
Now this struck me as suspicious. ]
did not precisely think Fred was tell.
ing falsehood, but my brief expert.
ence of politics had inclined me to dis.
trust everything an opponent nigh,
say. SO resolved to find out for my.
self, and told Fred as much. -.
''All right for you, Charley" replied
he, driving on offended. ''Go ahea6
and see what you'll make Of It."
resumed my way, trying to fee;
proud of my sharpness and determine
ton. but not succeeding especially
we'll, for knew l had done a NEAR
thing in doubling Fred's word. TO sus.
pect unjustly once is worse than being
cheated twice.
looking farmhouse almost certain OF
proving Fred right and myself wrong
by finding no one there. To my ex'
treme surprise saw an elderly mar
near the sta BILE, hard at work oilinR =
wagon-whccl.
"Mr. Vanderson?" inquired.
1.-THE same" he replied, hardly look
ing up.
l caught my breath. Fred had tol6
me lie, after ali. I am glad to b<
able to say that wish had believed
him.
II want you to come to town with
me, if you please" continued, after :
minute. He looked at me, quizzically
want me to vote, eh?"
"Yes, that's it. How did you know?'
'Oh! there was another young mar
here awhile ago, who wanted the same
thing"
So Master Fred had been trying t<
steal my man, had he? i no longer re-
GREETED anything. but solemnly re-
solved that Vanderson should go to the
polls II had to carry him on my back
He laid down on me pretty consid'
BILE hard. but l told him it warn't NJ
use. I'm ali sole alone to-day, for my
sons gone away and there's slathers o
things to do
1T won't take you an hour, Mr.. Van
derson. The elections awfully close
and we ueed every vote we can get"
pleaded.
do, ch? Well. We can't have mine
young SIR" answered he, looking ex
tremely obstinate. "Fustly, this wag
on's to lie"
"1'll help you ON that" exclaimed l
jumping from the buggy and graspiuf
the oil can.
''Secondly, the stoves to black" h,
continued, giving up the oiling to mt
without protest.
''lll do that, too"
'"rhirdly. the ashes is to sift TO,
mulching the apple trees"
And that, too:" persisted, wonder
ing how it happened that all his job:
should he either dirty or dusty. H.
began to show signs of yielding.
III We can git through in time, p'r'aps
I'll go with ye. young sir.'
made a hasty calculation and con
cluded that by rushing matters
might make "a close connection" a.
the town hall. So began to rush mat
tcrs-
My oiling of that wagon must hav,
been rare sight, and my backing o:
that stove a rarer. BY the time be
gan to slit the ashes my face ani
clothes were oil where they were no
all stove polish. The ashes combined
with the other substances and the per
spiration arising from my exertion.
formed a remarkable complexion pow
der.
Meanwhile old Mr. Vauders>n lighted
u pipe, seated himself comfortably *
windward of my whirling ash dust an<
talked on about his farm, family
friends and foes until thought h.
would drive me distracted. Then h.
began. to ask me questions about tn.
studies at school, and. finding astrono
my to be one of them, iumediatel,
brought out his hobby-a theory tina
the moon is inhabited.
Upon this he argued to such an uu
bearable degree that heartily wished
the moon were Inhabited by Wander
son, vote or no vote. But had put my
hand to the ash sitter and would mo-
look back. s.
I finished the work, did three or fou,
more little jobs which he pointed out
and at last, oily, dusty and tired. sue
ceeded in getting fairly on the road t,
town.
All this time nothing had been sale
concerning politics l gathered tina
Vanderson was not a strong part,
man, and cared very little about tn,
subject. which presumed to be tn,
reason why Fred had endeavored t,
win him from his allegiance. Not
withstanding my. weary and grim,
condition, l swelled with self-satisfac
ton over the success of my pcrs;stcncy
We drove up to the hail only just i,
season. The crowd seemed In NOR,
suspense than ever and our arriva
caused a great commotion. Some ap
plauded, soma checred und SOM,
laughed-not few hissed-and a gen
eral rush was made into the building.
AS l hurried my companion through
the throng l caught sight of Fred, VIII.
stood staring at us with queer mix
ture of conflicting expressions. With ,
triumphant glance ut him pressed III
to the box, in which, scarcely 4 >econt
before the clock struck the hcu: O
closing, Vanderson calmly pl.ced ,
straight ballot which carried the cleo
ton by one vote for-the opposit,
party! l.
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