Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-11-05
The tories did


hamites, who had been contented with
six geraniums in flower pots and a
tomcat. now dreamed Of acres of fertile
soil tenanted by the contemplated
COW and the prolific-or, as local
speaker phrased it, ''profigate"-pig.
Sir George Redworthy, who had repre-
sented the constituency in the con-
servative interest for fifteen years, felt
that he had his work cut out and he
buckled to like man. 1t was annoy
ing to be interrupted at such time by
domestic questions; but love, which
laughs at locl<smiths, jeers at politi-
clans, and his eldest son and Miss
Dorothy Ditchford, the rector's daugh-
ter, selected the morning Of the nomi-
nation day for informing him that
they had resolved to become man and
wife at an early date, subject to his
consent. Needless to say, Dick Red
worthy met with very unpleasant re-
ception when he preached the subject
in the library after breakfast, and that
Dolly Ditchford entered an hour later
with beating heart to see what she
could do. She was great favorite
with the old gentleman, but he had
never before regarded her in the light
of future daughter-in-law; time flies,
and he had always thought her child.
After ten minutes talk with her he
knew that if she was only just out of
her teens she was certainly q child no
longer.
"Well, my little girl" he said, good
humoredly, ''if get in again, and the
party is in power, dare say can get
them to give Dick something to keep
him going till am under the daisies
never asked it for anything before"
'But suppose they don't get in?" said
Dolly, ruefully.
"Well, you'll have to wait; but mind,
l can't have any engagement till the
election is over. Meanwhile, you make
everyone in the parish vote right, and
you'll have done your best to help, ell?
They won't be able to say no to you.
My agent tolls me shall only win by
a few, if ut ALL" and Sir George took
up his pen. Dolly went to the door,
| hesitated, and came back. "Si1
Ieorge, ehe said, sly ", Iii you get
into parliament, may we be engaged
anyhow"
''Bless my SOUL" said Sir George
looking up III 1 keep my seat
though, don't know what I won't
consent to; if I lose it, advise Dick
and everybody else to keep clear OF me
for bit"
IF l can get him dozen votes, and
he only wins by ten or so, he'll feel he
owes it to me, and then I am sure he
will say yes" said Dolly to Dick Us
they walked up among the shrubbery,
land you can tell my father then"
! And that afternoon she went into the
village with sheaf of leaflets in her
hand, and failed miserably when
heclSled on topics of the very existence
of which she had never heard before.
AS matter of fact, she won votes for
the squire without knowing it, but she
was nearly crying at what she thought
was her want of success, when she
met Dick Redworthy as she came out
| of the last cottage She felt better
after leaving him. and better still
when she had had gallop after tea.
1t may be mentioned that the downs
of South Bil!lshire are free to every
one, and there was nothing surprising
in Dick Redworthy taking ride there,
too.
1t was tug Of war with a vengeance,
and there We're many interests to be
considered. "Sir Georges ticket at
the army and navy stores is No. -
was the placard which met the baronet
one day in Rotterdam, borne by doz-
en- sandwich men, with oil thu small
tradesmen rushing to their d ~rs to
look at it. ASK Mrs. Clinls where she
got her red elk stockings" was the
counterblast which brought matters
level Dorothy Ditchford had met the
radical candidates wife in the hosiery
department" at the stores a few days
after it was known that Mr.. Clinl,
would stand and that scarlet would be
his color, and Dorothy had an observ-
ant eye. Her own blue and orange hat
YVES dream" worked out under her
own directions by a Rottenham
modiste. 1t was in the window for
three days and sho saw herself dis
tinctly reflected by the bellies of Rot
tenham at every turn. When she had
done the parish she went further
aheld, and the rectory pair did some
hard trotting in those few 1eeting
days. "They all say they think they'll
vote for your father if I'll drive them
to the poll. Some of them can't walk,
poor old things" said Dorothy, and
she lined the family wagonette with
brown holland and decl1ed it with blue
and yellow, while the horses blinlsers
could not be seen for ribbons. They
were q sober pair of nags, but with
her on the box they did wonders on
the great day. The effort, however,
was reserved for the evening, when
the men got home from work.
Shall we be there by eighth" asked
Dorothy, as Dick Redworthy dashed
by her in his dogcart, nearly swinging
two of his fathers stcnchest support
ers into space as they turned into Rot
Serham road. We've got grand load
-nino votes, seven of whom thought
were going the other way"
II don't know that there's much
hurry. MISS" said the old man who
WIS standing behind her Che was Sir
Georges head keeper. bill Stumps
says this lots wrong 'uns all though,
and reckon he's right"
Wrong 'uus?"
Yes, miss. They've got the squire's
colors on to get you to drive them to
the poll. That's their little joke. that
rs" Betd old Harry R1ackwst ter, rriraly.