The St. Johns herald., 1897-03-20

uncOmfOrtaDle plCuICdune1Il, anu ne was untving his horse from a neighbor- ing tree.
 Van Vert explained in an injured tone, adding. with as much dignity as he could command: 'I am the candi, date for Superintendent of Schools, and suppose this is sample of the meth odS Miss Smith and her cowboy friends have adopted to defeat me- They knew l was to speak at Meeker tonight, and thought that by preventing me from doing so they could gain few votes. I'll show lem when I get there.''
 The young woman laughed merrily. Politics is a funny business. isn't it?" she said. ''The idea of resorting to such measures! But" she added sohcr- ly, you should not blame Miss Smith for what her over-zealous friends have done. Miss Smith is a friend of mine, and l know she would not sane ton such thing. It-it would be most unfair to accuse her of it, don't you think, without being certain of your gTound?"
 Van Vert admitted that it would.
 Then as a favor to me-" said his fair rescuer, do not, please, say anything about 1t, at least by way of connecting her with the affair. I'm sure no one would regret 1t more than she. if she knew about it."
 After some hesitation Van Vert promised, and presently his rescuer and her escort left him, branching off on q trail that led toward farmhouse thar he could see in the distance.
 Inc candidate noted with 6 grim smile, on his return, the cOnsternation his appearance created in a certain pIrI of the room, and concluded that two or three men whom he knew to be friends of his looked rather sheepiSh, but he kept his own counsel and made no ref erence to his adventure. In the course of the excellent speech he presently made he ''took back" what he had said about his opponent in a manner so graceful as to win for him rounds of applause, and when he sat down it was with the consciousness that he had in part redeemed himself.
 As he started, along with some of the other candidates, to leave the hall, he noticed for the first time thar the young woman who had rescued him from the fix" in which the cowboys had left him had not gone home to stay when she left him, for there she was, just leaving the hall in company with an older woman in widows weeds.
 "Who is that?" he asked of the candi date for Sheriff, who was at his side.
 That girl?" queried the other "Why, boy, that's your hated adversary, Miss Smith. Hadn't you seen her beforc?"
 But Van Vert did not hear the ques- ton. He hurried to catch up with the opposing candidate, who started when he addressed her, but quickly recovered herself and smiled sweetly upon him.
 Miss Smith," he burst out impe,u- ously, II don't know what you must think of me, after all the Iow-down things I've said about you, and the holy show 1 made of myself this evening. But I hope you'll believe me when 1 say Pm sorry for the things I've said and l honestly hope you'll be elected, after all. I shall vote for you, any way, and you can count on let's 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 l-aI ..- ..., ua~ el~~.-- -y t- st----- majority, for which he was indebted to the miners On Thursday after cleo ton he went to Miss Smith.
 'I regret this as much as you do," he said, earnestly. ''I wish I had met you earlier in the campaign. But have a proposition to make. What are you go- Ing to do nOW?"
 II don't know" she said, trying to conceal the sadness in her tones. You see, I had to give up my school, and there are no vacancies now"
 Well what 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 a rosy red, then turned pale. She did not wish to be under Obliga- tlons to this man-and yet, there was the mother to be considered, and the invalid sister In Chicago, whose hos nital bills were such a severe tax on the family resources. ''Yes," she said, finally, ''and thank you, very much, for offering me the place. You have lifted n IOOH from my mind "
 There was some comment on this ar rangement by the voters of the county, but 1t was hardly adverse, and the dep utv 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 a few weeks she succeeded in making herself almost ill, 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 haH II from overw0Ik, was spending Q couple of days at home. that she got 8 brief note rom her superior which read.
 Miss Smith: For some une p.is, have been dissatisfied with you as Dep uty Superintendent of Schools, and your resignation as such will be ac- cepted. I will do myself the honor of 11;,o. ,,,,or rou and pyDIoinin1 mat