Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-10-01
THE HAUNTED CONGRESSMAN
BY Hezekiah Butterworth.
lConunued.l

(Continued.)
"Placide was finely strung boy and
his heart brimmed with terror. 1t was
fire cracker that he had exploded
that had set on fire the straw stack,
and this he owned up 10 when ques-
toned by the other boys After he
made his confession he was seen to
turn pale, and he sank down upon the
ground His father had been very
sensitive man, and he died insane after
a false accusation. Placide had in
! herited his tendencies. The boys
some nine in number, were touched at
his distress, and they all promised,
then and there, that they would never
| tell by what accident the stack had
been set on fire. The attempt to con-
ceal this fact was the one mistake OF
Placide's life. 1t was a weapon to be
taken up by another to smite him in
the years to come. Among the boys
who promised never to tell was Bray
ton Grant.
Grant and Placide were friends,
chums as we say They sat together
at school, they spent their evenings
together; there were years that day
didn't pass without they saw each
other. They were brothers in heart
and companionship, andat that time
Grants friendship for Placide was hon
est an true. The devil of ambition had
not entered his heart. He was not all
self yet.
Grant had money that had been left
to the family by his grandfather, who
had traded at sea- He went to Proyi-
dence, and started small cotton fac
tory His business grew, and he saw
an opportunity to make money, he had
Il mind for the business, he wanted a
man of heart to bring will to his plans
AMI he turned to Placide. lie gave him
place in the business and promised
him that he would make him partner
at some future time. Placide was like
mascot to him. From the day he
entered the doors, the factory became
Il mine Of gold Placide never doubted
Grants word.
Placide worked for Grant, and not
for himself The prosperity Of his old
friend was his happiness and life. The
two had one heart. Mr. Grant regard
ed Placide's interests as his own. The
devil of ambition had not come yet, but
he was waiting outside the door.
"Placide continued to work for the
public good, but without any ambition
for himself, but only for the cause. He
was fine public speaker, and he gave
Fourth of July addresses in many
places, and was always invited 10 be-
present on patriotic occasions His
name was a magic word: his heart won
everyone. People crowded all places
where he was to speak.
"A fever of politics came. a new
party was formed IL wanted popu- +
lar candidate for congressman in this
district, and II nominated Placide.
The people thought that he was Ger. !
tain to be elected The other party
saw how the election would be likely
to turn with such candidate. What
was 10 be done? A strange thing hap
pened The opposition party nominal
ted Brayton Grant. stranger thing
hannened Rrayton Grant accepted
m ,,o,o;nation IN the ground OF prln-
NM. tha devil ar ambition had come
trta hi he.rt from ont Of doors. The
non,inatia8. was ) most politlc thing,
anrant cav in his mind the capitol
90 wasbine,ton looming IN in the dis
tanoa and himself there. with Hon
,'asaro lis name His heart turned
AGAINST plaeide: the past was nothing
to him row and 1t became the one pur-
pose of his life to belittle his ola frlehu,
and to destroy him.
"On the day when 2 man becomes
untrue TO anyone, life becomes untrue
to him can see that, can = you
What are our heads for, doctor EVERY
ones world is what he is himseli,ls II
not? Everyone creates his own spheie.
1t was all honorable enough Tor nrahl
to run againts Placide as cahdiua.e
on the ground OF principle ana uli-
ference Of opinion, but y was hoe Ilsn,
lor MN - - ''o 1ana,,ot,sm That's