The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-08-09

North? I'd Hike to say word to you
privately, said Warner; and North as
senting, they entered the hotel to-
gether.
Now" said Warner when they were
closeted in North's room, "I've come to
SEQ If you can be ready with speech
this EVENING""
"a speech?" echoed North, as he
threw himself back In IN easy-chair
with gesture of despair. In his pres
ent state Of mental and physical col
lapse he felt utterly appalled, at the
mere suggestion. N
"Yes, at our mass meeting, you
know. We're going TO have grand
demonstration at the opera house to-
night-biggest thing we've ever had In
x" he added, enthusiastically.
'But this Is the first intimation Of
the affair that have received" pro-
tested North, land am utterly unpre-
pared for speaking. Make some one
else do the talking this time, Warner.
It will be better for all concerned"
, "oh, as 70 that, you're always ready" I"
returned Warner, coolly, "and the meet
ing was gotten up this morning on tho
spur Of the moment. We've advertised
II all over town. Clippers had boys
out with hand bills, distributing them
all day, besides getting ont an extra
with double-leaded announcement Of
the meeting, and you are down In black
and white as the orator of
the evening. So you see, North,
there's no help for It; we can't
ct you of You know, you
haven't made any address since the
primaries, and the public are clamoring
for you. We've heard II on all sides
lately-'Where's North? Why doesn't
he materialize, and let us hear what he
has to say for himself9 So we've posi-
lively pledged your appearance this
!. evening, and It will never do TO disap-
point them. I'm sorry, North, that
you've had such short notice, but was
up here this morning at nine o'clock to
tell you about It, and you were gone.
Clipper sent around several times dur
ing the day, both here and TO the Office,
and you hadn't got back, and nobody
seemed to know what had become OF
you, though Wee did venture the sug-
gestion that you had at last gone TO the
lunatic asylum to give yourself upl II
was rough on Clipper, can tell you.
think I'd better go around now and tell
him that you've got back and it's all
right. For, of course, North, you'll
never think of failing usP' and Warmers
face wore an expression Of lively
anxiety for an instant.
"Oh, by no means" returned North,
perceiving that escape from this unex'
pected and unwelcome predicament was
ut least highly impracticable. II will
do my best for you, Warner, but you
must not blame me II 1t is sorry fail
ure. shall be poorly prepared for any
oratorical fourishes this evening. Tn
afraid shall disgust the honorable
voters of x by my lack Of enthusi
! asm."
Nonsense, North, you'll do nothing
Of the sort" said Warner, with encour
aging decision. You're evidently tires
and blue and inclined TO take pes
simistic view Of things. Just rest unit
dinner time, and you'll be surprised Il
see how enthusiastic you'll be then
Hang 1t, man, think OF next Tuesday
! Think OF all that's at stake for oui
party; and II that fails TO inspire yo,
I'll send brass band around with fire
works and torpedoes to stir you up
Something religious has got TO be doneI'
"Have you any serious suggestions Il
offerp" inquired North, negligently. "l
presume am TO speak In genera
way ON the political situation what
ever that may be. Or has the committe,
announced any more definite subjec
J for mep" with an air Of calm resigna
/ ton.
Don't think so; but In any case you'll
be perfectly safe in saying just wha'
you please. Any suggestions-pshaw
You know as well as do just wha'
you ought TO say. Only get your enthu
siasm up to the proper pitch and you'll
take the roof off with your eloquence
But it's time for me to take myself
off," he added, with nimble spring tC
his feet Committee meets again In
half an hour, with power to send
for persons and papers, and I'm likely
to be the first person they send for, 4
I'm not promptly on hand"
"If we candidates only work half SC
hard after we get into Office as oui
friends have worked to put us there,
observed North, with languid smile
as he arose to accompany Warner tc
the door, mo one will be put 10 the
necessity Of hunting up mischief fol
our idle hands TO perform. By the
way" he added, with sudden air oi
interest, II wonder where can get o
file Of the Times? There are various
matters connected with the campaign
that should like to look up"
"Why, the colonel's got a tile."
"Who, Clipper" ... .a.t,.,,
II mean Dayton. Down In the read.
ing-room. Better see. I'm sure you'll
find it, and Warner shot out OF the
room and rushed of TO meet his com
mittee. siI u a4pfHgi.H alI.,I iaa q
Gong immediately In search Of Col
Dayton, whom he fortunately found
without delay, North received not only
the information that there was file OF
the Times in the reading-room, but also
the colonel's permission 70 have the
aforesaid file removed at once 10 his
room. 10. .sl- ,.aH uitt t-Glt
"Now," soliioquized North, as, with the
newspaper spread out before him on the