Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-02-18

think Of me, after all the low-down
things I've said about you, and the holy
show | made of myself this evening.
But l hope you'll believe me when |
say I'm sorry for the things I've said
and | honestly hope you'll he elected,
after all. shall vote for you, any way,
and you can count ON lots of my
friends"
But his boyish enthusiasm in behalf
of his opponent came too late to be of
service TO her, for the returns showed
/ that Van Vert was elected by n small
majority, for which he was indebted to
the miners. On Thursday after elec-
| tion he went to Miss Smith.
Il regret this as much as you do" he
said, earnestly. 81 wish l had met you
earlier in the campaign. But l have a
proposition to make. What are you 60
ing to do now"
Il don't know" she said, trying to
conceal the sadness in her tones. you
see, | had to give up my school, and
! there are no vacancies now"
well, what l was going to propose is
this: Will you take an appointment as
my deputy? Remember, all the work
will devolve upon you"
Miss Smith gasped, and her pretty
face grew rosy red, then turned pale
She did not wish to be under obliga-
tions to this man-and yet, there was
the mother to be considered, and the
Invalid sister in Chicago, whose hos
pital bills were such severe tax on the
family resources. YES" she said
finally, "and thank you, very much, for
offering me the place. You have lifted
great load from my mind"
There was some comment on this ar
rangement by the voters of the county,
but it was hardly adverse, and the dep
uty soon showed that she was the right
one in the right place. She worked day
and night, and denied herself necessary
sleep that her beloved schools should
not retrograde; in fact, in the course of
few weeks she succeeded in making
herself almost i'll, for the death of the
former superintendent had left the af-
fairs of the Office in rather chaotic con-
dition, and although Van Vert and his
deputy qualified at once after the meet
ing of the canvassing board, it was al
most Christmas before they got matters
Strengthened out.
And it was just at this time, when
the little deputy, more than half i'll
from overwork, was spending couple
of days at home, that she got a brief
note from her superior, which read:
Miss Smith: For some time past I
have been dissatisfied with you as Dep
uty Superintendent of Schools, and
your resigna tion as such will be ac-
cepted. l 90 do myself the honor of
calling upon you and explaining mat
ters more fully tomorrow night. Very
truly yours,
JAMES VAN VERT"
Miss Smith burst into tears. Just to
think, mamma! After l have worked
so hard! What shall we do?"
81 suppose they want the job for
some politician that doesn't need it."
commented Mrs. Smith, grimly. But
to think he has the audacity to come
here after that! l won't let him in, the
treacherous Notwithstanding you,
after bing so friendly, and all that"
Yes, you will, mamma" interjected
the girl, recovering herself. I'VE must
not forget ourselves in our own home"
Just then the door bell rang, and the
girl FASTENED away to hide the traces
of her tears. When she returned to the
little parlor Van Vert was standing
there, big and handsome, in front of the
fireplace. He advanced to meet her as
her mother vanished from the room.
You got my note" he said. "I'll tell
you how it is," he went on awkwardly.
I'm not satisfied with you as a deputy
because-because l want you to take
the office itself and me with it."
And that was the way they arranged
it.-New York Daily Tribune.
Thn