New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15
CHAPTER ".

/ agent. During the contest we famarlZcd MIN
to ourselves the Prophet Amos
Jack nodded dolefully to the mans inquiry,
to signify that he was the uckless Nafferton.
! you left your card this morning at my Offices"
Bolt continued, in a fatherly tone If voice and
with patronizng air. If he had seen many
candidates come and go. land having had in
gtructions from headquarters, ] am quite pre-
pared to commence operations on your behalf.
Thank you was Jacks nerveless response.
Put | must say. sir" remarked the Prophet.
with increasing holiness, now that he had taken
measure of my friend, that to be seen, in
| Pioughden talking to the daughter Of the pres
ent Member as saw you just now, Is almost
! fatal TO your prospects'
Nafferton turned upon the astonished Bolt with
the blood in mis- head and fire in his eye.
Look here. Bolt. II you ever dare to again re
fer to the circumstance or presume to mntion
the name Of that lady-miXing it up with your
election wisdom-IH let you know what thun
derbOlt means, Now. clear"
1t took more than little If my smooth speech
to mofy the Prophet Amos In the future days
After the man had left the hotel, with his nose
in the air. Jack remarked thar it was indeed ia
tal t. his prospects, but not 'in the way that
idiot meant"
Your prospects are a trlfe mixed" assured
him. Let us get back to town and think the
situation out"
We journeyed up The same night. and next
I day met in impressive conclave at my chambers
Naifert0n was at first inclined to give the whole
thing up. He would rather nave Ethel than the
fortune. As for Parliamentary honors, those who
wanted them could have them. so far as he was
concerned. He was always prodigal more es-
pecially of what he had not got
But, | pointed out. one could not afford to
ignore a hundred thousand in these days. and,
moreover it was in the highest degree mpr0b-
able that Colonel Brown would permit his daugh-
Ter to marry a practically penness man. Fur
Their the fact-ascertained an hour before-tnat
no other constituency now lacked candidate
from our party's point Of view. made 1t impera-
tive that we should plunge INTO the PlOugnden
Division at once
But what must I say to Ethel?"
You must tell her the truth, | counselled.
Let her into the secret. Put 1t that you must
win this election in order TO be in position to
make her happy and yourself happy also. That
otherwise you will be a ruined man. Brown
need not know. for, of course, she will not breathe
a word to him. He will not imagine you anything
more horrld than the ordinary opponent"
And make Ethel a conspirator against her
father he cried. Make her party 10 a mer-
cenary transaction like this? Make her think
/ couldn't be happy with her unless win this
wretched fortune? Make her doubt the sincerity
OF my love? In short. divert her sympathies from
the parental roof? Never.
He had worked himself to a fine passion.
Keep that eloquence for PlOughden retort-
ed with a certain disparagement. IT'S just the
sort OF thing for voters. But come down to earth
now. and let us talk common sense What other
course do You propose"
81 don't know" he said emphatically. But l
tell YOU once for all Telford, that will not put
Ethel in such cruel position would rather
explain to old Brown
That would be ridlculous," I retorted prompt
~. DO You think Brown would give up his
seat SO that you might come in for a fortune and
marry his daughter? Why, IL would be corrupt
Brown would have to retire, you be elected, then
the world would learn Of the fortune and hear
the marriage bells. Poor old Brown He would
never again be able to lift his head in the
county"
What on earth am to do. them
II can think OF but alternative" l told
him. You must fall back upon trust. Write to
Ethel and in mpassioned language beg of her
10 keep faith in YOU Hint at an imperative
mandate from the dead. and throw in remark
cha ia hpi
prostrating yourself at her feet. You would
suffer worlds rather than fight the election
against her wishes. but. If you could offer up
a sacrifice TO the Fates all your mutual anxieties
might be al an end. and both could live happily
ever afterward Finally, promise to explain eV-
erything in six weeks
Four days later there came a perfumed. pink
little note which Nafferton confdingly handed to
me to read. after his eyes had devoured 1t.
1t short.
Curlew Towers, Monday
You seem in great trouble. I cannot under
stand why you should need try and rob dear old
Dad of his seat. But, perhaps, you are per
picked too 1t is very hard for both of us. |
trust you, Jackie. and send you my love.
F. S.-You must do a you think best about the
dreadful election, only must not see you until
all is over.
shes brick" Nafferton shouted
Under the circumstances, AN angel would be
the softer word" | said.
We went down to Ploughden without delay.
The slaughtered Lamb" received US for a longer
stay. and the landlord was more anable and more
OF an extortionst than ever His bills rose with
tire iOOdtide OF his uroanity.
OF the election itself remember little save the
result We proptiated the Prophet Amos met
the party leaders, stumped the constituency and
waved the flag Sill John Weldon had given Us
everywhere
II was tumutuous time, and Nafferton. at
least. never worked so hard in his life, and never
viii again.
Colonel Brown fought desperately and made
touching and repeated reference to his possession
OF head grown gray in the service of his county
The voters seemed to fancy Naiferton far bet
ter than had dared to hope They laughed at
him. il Is true. but that Is rather promising
symptom. And the set speech concOcted
the party chairman local leaders and ourselves
went down we'll Jack had committed it thor
oughy To memory, and we taught him when to
throw out his arms. and the exact speed at which
TO roll cVt the .perOratiOn.
Two incidents. which had vital bearing upon
the result will recall. for they are to me as
trees starting out of fog.
Nafferton made his last speech. so far as the
town Of Ploughden was concerned, two nights
prior To the day Of polling.
II was the best Of meetings. In point OF numbers
in regard To the quality Of the local speeches. and
to the delivery Of Jacks one Grafton The
thusiasm had been inspritng.
Just before the meeting closed. man came out
OF the crowd. mounted the platform, and wished
to ask Mr. Nafferton question.
II was the dreaded Tweede. whom we had
avoided. Tweedie had been farmer. but
now retired. He was. for that very reason. al
ways IN evidence.
He wished for enlightenment.
Il loke ye vera mooch. Measter Nefferon," said
he an ! thinks. mysen. y'I maak, a dacent
representative, boot theirs wun thing | dornd
understood. I've heeard ezra speeach we APP
pended To a made In PlD0den an its bin tn
saam speeach ezra tonne! I've he'd doots
aboot il, an ! May bee ~ang. but II 'erdly
seams 10 me as s0Och conduc' Is whad wun owt
To- hcxpeck frum mon whad axes to make
him oawr perlymcntn representatives."
Thu audience waited brcathcssly for the an
sNer. II was an agonizng moment. ! thought
the dews OF evening had fallen upon my brow,